CNI News
30 September 2023

The entry fee for foreign tourists who visit the Bagan ancient cultural zone has been raised and the number of days allowed to stay there has been changed, according to the Department of Archeology and National Museum ( Bagan Branch).

In order to make more foreign tourists enter, the entrance fee should be collected in Myanmar kyats and the number of days allowed to stay there should be designated five days at least, said U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism.

"Bagan Zone entrance fee is raised because of inflation. 10 years ago, the entrance fee was 10 US dollars. I sort of thought days allowed to stay were five days at that time, but now three days only. The entrance fee is 30,000 kyats. it is equal to about eight US dollars according to the current dollar price. If it was calculated  based on the dollar price, it wouldn't be expensive. But the days allowed to stay should be five days because there are different kinds of guests who come to Bagan. Three days is enough for some guests to visit the Bagan Zone. But those who mainly want to come to Bagan should be allowed to stay for five days, I think. The authorities concerned imitate the style of Angkor Wat. But the value of Bagan is different from that of Angkor Wat. When Cambodia and Vietnam are very successful in tourism industry, it is regrettable for Myanmar. If the government want to make more foreign tourists enter at a situation like this, it needs to relax such as raising the number of days allowed to stay and  collecting entrance fee in kyat." he said to CNI News.

Bagan region

The entrance fee was 25,000 kyats in the past and now is 30,000 kyats. Moreover, the period of visiting and staying permit was reduced from five to three days reportedly.

Another entrance fee must be paid if staying  more than three days and the entrance fee changed will start to be collected starting from 1st October 2023 reportedly. That the entrance fee and period of staying permit have been changed would have no effect, said U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) to CNI News.

" In my opinion, 30,000 kyats for entrance fee is less. 15 US dollars should be at least. Even in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the entrance fee is 37 US dollars. It will have no effect." he said.

Although in the past, companies were allowed to work on the collection of zone entrance fees through tenders, due to the decrease in foreign tourist arrivals during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Archeology Department is collecting.

Bagan region

The places where the zone entrance fee is collected are the archeology counter at Bagan Airport, Arnanda Pagoda, Mya Cedi and Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myinkaba).

Although the entrance fees in the flagship places in other countries are more than those in Myanmar, because the service is better, it is deserved. Although Myanmar has raised entrance fees, its service has not been upgraded.

So, it still necessary to systematically manage things relating to the tourism industry, pointed out travel service providers.

CNI News
30 September 2023

The Tatmadaw armed militia (indigenous) in Namhkam with weapons in the hall of Northeast Command on 28 September 2023 reportedly.

 Lt-Gen Aung Aung from the Office of the Chief of Defense Staff (Army) armed the Namhkam militia force with some weapons. After that, he also gave honorariums to the security forces.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing discussed with the leaders of the militia (indigenous) force in northern Shan State about security issues on 10 September 2023.

The discussion was attended by U Ai Sam, leader of the Namhkam Myoma Militia in northern Shan State, U Kyaw Myint, leader of the Pansei Militia, U Sai Moon, leader of the Man Pan Militia, U Loi Maung, leader of Sein Kyawt Militia, U Sai Moon, leader of the Mong Si Militia,and U Khin Maung Lwin, leader of the Htin Par Kyaing Militia.  

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with militia leaders in Shan State (North) on 10 September 2023

After that, the Namhkam Militia was armed with weapons. Currently, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has been active widely in Shan State (North) in collaboration with PDFs and is fighting against the Tatmadaw.

In the same way, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) collaborates with PDFs and is fighting against the Tatmadaw. Moreover, explosions and robberies are widely taking place in Shan State (North) and the rule of law becomes weak there.

So, the Tatmadaw is carrying out security measurements for the security of Shan State (North) after arming indigenous militia forces.

CNI News

29 September 2023

The designation saying that 25 percent of basic salaries of expatriate Myanmar citizens must be transferred through legal channels to their families in Myanmar is sort of pushing remitters towards illegal remittance channels, said the people performing the affairs of migrant workers. 
10 percent of income of expatriate Myanmar citizens will be collected as income tax as well as 25 percent of basic salary must be transferred to Myanmar through official channels said in the statement released by the State Administration Council (SAC).

 The 25 percent must be exchanged at the price designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar without the rate of the market price, so there might be hardly anyone who will transfer to Myanmar and those who will transfer through unofficial channels may increase, pointed out businessmen and the people helping in the affairs of workers.

If the government allowed to exchange the foreign currencies that would be transferred from abroad at the market price, the workers would transfer due to lack of loss and if not so, it would be pushing Myanmar migrant workers to be illegal ones, said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from Thai-based FED, to CNI News.

"The problem is the price designated by the government and exchange rate. If there is not a wide difference between the Hundi and the government's price, the workers will transfer. But now if you transfer 5,000 bahts from Thailand, your family in Myanmar will get 3,000 bahts only.  So, the workers lose a lot. Myanmar workers in average get about 10,000 bahts in average. But they don't get full salary. They have to pay the tax, social security fee and others. They get 75 percent of the salary only in the end of the month. If they have to transfer about 3,000 bahts, it won't be just and fair." he said.

Myanmar citizens who will go abroad for work

The SAC should designate about 15 percent to be transferred rather than 25 percent and if it exchanges the money transferred at the market price, workers from abroad can transfer their foreign currencies to Myanmar, suggested domestic businessmen and economists.

Myanmar workers from abroad find it difficult to transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries because they have to spend money to renew their labor identity cards and relevant legal documents, not to mention monetary inflation and wages that are not raised.

The law to collect 10 percent tax from Myanmar workers abroad will come into effect on 1st October 2023 and the workers must pay foreign currency only as the tax. If a worker doesn't transfer 25 percent of his basic salary to Myanmar, he will be banned going abroad for work, warned in the statement.

" The government will not allow at the price designated by the traders. It asks workers to transfer 25 percent to Myanmar. When we went abroad, we had to pay 10 percent as the tax. But now the government has relaxed. It doesn't ask the workers to pay 10 percent as the tax. It just ask to transfer. You will get your money back. It is necessary to build the country. You must not so selfish. Not only Myanmar migrant workers but also other citizens should transfer about 25 percent to their countries. The workers might lose a bit. You might lose about 600 kyats per dollar. You don't have to split hair about it, I think." said U Thet Zaw, a economic analyst.

Because the SAC asks the workers to transfer money without ability to solve the difficulties of the workers, it is very unlikely that the workers will transfer money. Moreover, incredibility of the SAC could reduce the possibility, said Ko Thar Gyi, helping Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, to CNI News.

CNI News

29 September 2023

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council said that to focus on tourism which supports the country's economy was needed. 

He said the above at the ceremony marking World Tourism Day on 27 September 2023.

 The tourism industry was playing a leading role in creating employment opportunities and 10 pkingercent of the workers in the world were working in the tourism industry whose ability to create jobs for women and youths was so high, said chairman of the SAC.

" The individuals concerned need to focus on the fact that the tourism industry has been designated as an important sector to make investments for the people and to make the tourism industry develop sustainably. Moreover, in order to implement the tourism that will sustainably develop, using natural resources effectively in construction of tourism industry infrastructure and  making investment in the green building development projects that are implemented by energy saving methods are needed." he said.

Tourism industry could directly distribute to the national economic development, earn foreign currency, create jobs, make income directly or indirectly for various classes of people and it was a smokeless industry, he added. 

while the celebration marking the World Tourism Day was being held

International airlines were allowed to resume operations starting from April 17th, 2022 as well as the E-Visa for traveling around the world was allowed to start on 20th May.

In 2022, a total of over 200,000 international tourists entered Myanmar through ports, airports and border gates and That number had increased by more than 43 percent in comparison with 2021, said chairman of the SAC. 

Over 600,000 international tourists entered Myanmar from January to July this year and it increased by six times than the same period last year when over 100,000 only entered, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.  

So, while the State government was working hard to make the country's economy recover from all sides, it was necessary to perform emphatically the tourism industry and the tourism industry would reach the situation before the Covid-19 pandemic in the near future, he believed.

During the tourist season, hotel accommodation fees increase exponentially and in the same way, the prices of food, local goods and travel tickets increase as well. If these situations cannot be controlled, Myanmar can be left behind other countries, said domestic tourism operators and tourists.

Due to the current political crisis, there are security concerns and because the places to visit this year are the same as last year, the development of the tourism industry is delayed, pointed out domestic tourists.

CNI News

29 September 2023

Political community is discussing about whether a new approach to Myanmar political crisis can appear after the State Administration Council (SAC) was reshuffled. 

When the SAC was reshuffled on 25 September 2023 under the Section-419 of the constitution, General Maung Maung Aye and Lt-Gen Nyo Saw joined in the SAC after Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and Lt-Gen Soe Htut were expelled from membership.

Myanmar is facing with crises due to an unstable government and its wrong policies and so the SAC was reshuffled, which he thought, said U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News.

Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun who was expelled from the SAC

" The reason for this is that while the SAC is facing with the Spring Revolution, due to the military pressure of the PDFs led by the National Unity Government (NUG), and some EAOs, the number of the SAC's commanders, battalion commanders, and soldiers who are killed on the battlefield has increased more and more. This is a military factor. Another factor is wrong policies. Due to its poor governance and financial management, the value of the Myanmar And currency has fallen exponentially. And then, commodity prices have gone up. At the same time, as the foreign currencies have dried up, various problems have arisen. Due to an unstable government and its wrong policies, general crises are happening in Myanmar, which can be reviewed in general." he said.  

The SAC was reshuffled on 1 August 2023 for the first time and  2 August 2023, for the second time and 25 September 2023, for the third time.

 Although she was not able to know what was the intention of reshuffle exactly, she thought that it was performed in order to overcome the current crisis, said Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein from the Federal Democratic Party, to CNI News.

Lt-Gen Nyo Saw who has become a member of the SAC

" We only know our political path. The army is ruling the country. Then, what are they going to do? Their intention is mentioned on the newspaper everyday. They will be trying to achieve their goal in their own way. We are not close to those from the Tatmadaw. We are going with the statements released by the Union Election Commission (UEC). We, the politicians, are doing like this for the time being. The people from the army that is ruling the country will be trying to overcome their difficulties, I think." she said.  

A nationwide census-taking will be conducted in 2024 after which a general election will be held and then the State power will be handed over to the winner party, the SAC has said. 

Discussions about holding a general election were also included in the peace meetings between the SAC and some EAOs.

CNI News

28 September 2023

As there are attempts to arise a crop insurance system for Myanmar farmers, whether the system can protect them or not should be carefully carried out, said farmers to CNI News. 

Because the crop insurance system was the weather index insurance based on rainfall, it was unlikely that the system would protect farmers, pointed out farmers.

In order to properly manage and protect losses due to climate change with an insurance system, after forming a joint task force which contains government and private led by the Myanmar Insurance Enterprise, they are carrying out to arise a crop insurance system, said in a statement released by the Myanmar Rice Federation.

As there was not much variation in annual rainfall inches in Myanmar, if the crop insurance was based on rainfall inches during a year, it would not convenient for farmers, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, to CNI News.

" For example, this year, in a total of 80 inches for a year, in the four months of rainy season, if there are 20 inches in a month, it is no problem. But if there were 40 rainfall inches in July and 10 inches only in the rest months each. In the end of the year, there might be 80 or 90 inches for a year round. But if it rained heavily in a month to reach up to many inches, plantations would be damaged by flood. There is not a very wide gap of rainfall inches between last year and this year or between this year and next year. The difference is 10 inches at most. If you are going to measure and set with that rainfall, this insurance business will have problems. There is a possibility of an argument," he said.

While the relevant parties were meeting and discussing to implement the crop insurance system

The insurance system should contain the percentage of damage per acre that will get insurance compensation if there are plantations that are damaged by heavy rain and if only half an acre was damaged, insurance compensation would be paid, which should not be, pointed out farmers.

As there are various rainfall inches depending on regions, it should be taken into account and insurance system should change, depending on regions, suggested some people. 

Because Myanmar people are weak in knowledge about insurance system, it is necessary to make awareness processes for farmers, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, to CNI News.

“If the insurance was designated consistently on all regions, it would not convenient because the crops are different depending on regions. I've heard that insurance companies don't take risk so much in this insurance system.  If there were organizations that measure rainfall regularly, the insurance might be okay. But there's one thing is that farmers in Myanmar don't know about the crop insurance pretty well.  So, firstly campaigns and awareness processes need to be performed to make farmers know about the insurance. After that, if the insurance system is implemented, there is a possibility. Farmers and insurance companies like this system in other countries. It is not a conventional insurance based on crop damage due to climate change and is based on rainfall. So, farmers can choose the plants based on rainfall." he said.

As this insurance is already widely implemented in other countries, under the direction of the Head of State, this insurance will be started, said the Myanmar Rice Federation. 

Discussions are underway to introduce this crop insurance system in the cold season based on Farmer Participatory Approach reportedly.

CNI News

28 September 2023

US is using Myanmar as a proxy war and interfering in the affairs of Myanmar, said Dr.Aung Myo, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News. 

US gives money directly to the opposition elements and providing them with other types of aids, he said.

" US government is directly providing the opposition elements with financial support including money from private donors. As a government, according to the law, US can't provide weapons. All the money they support reaches into the hands of the National Unity Government, not towards the government that is officially working. These money reached towards the end users. After buying weapons through arms smugglers in Thailand with these money, opposition forces will fight back against the government. The US government has already known that these money will be spent for the proxy war." said Dr. Aung Myo.

People protesting against the Tatmadaw in February 2021

The US became to interfere more in the affairs of Myanmar after the US National Defense Authority Act (NDAA) in which Burma Act is included was approved in December 2022. 

The Act contains the program to help Myanmar and according to the program, the US can provide technical and non-arms assistance to the pro-democracy activists and the EAOs that are fighting against the Tatmadaw.

People protesting against the Tatmadaw in February 2021

The US was providing assistance to some EAOs to control China, said U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party), to CNI News.

" The US helped and help some EAOs but not like helping Ukraine obviously. In my opinion, the US probably will not help opposition forces like Ukraine." said U Li Paw Reh.

To control China, which has become a powerful country, the US is performing to destabilize Myanmar that is a Chinese neighboring country, pointed out Myanmar political analysts.

At present the battles between the Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDF joint forces are taking place in Kayin, Kayah, Chin States, Sagaing and Magway Regions.

CNI News

26 September  2023

After Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun who had been the Chief of Staff of the Tatmadaw (Army) was removed because of bribery, rumor has that Lt-Gen Kyaw Swar Lin has been appointed to replace him.

Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun was the fourth highest official in the Tatmadaw (army) and the fifth in the State Administration Council. So, he was known as a powerful super general.

When he was a member of the SAC, he was assigned as chairman of the foreign currency supervisory committee and of the Myanmar investment commission. And then he was accused that he committed bribery when he dealt with local businessmen and he was inspected after which he was removed from all the positions.

The statement that has mentioned the reshuffle of the State Administration Council

General Mya Tun Oo was appointed as chairman of Foreign Currency Supervisory Committee and of the Myanmar Investment Commission as a replacement and Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye was appointed as a member of the SAC as a replacement.

Moreover, after Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun was removed from the position of the Chief of Staff of the Tatmadaw (Army), Lt- Gen Kyaw Swar Lin has been assigned to replace him reportedly.

Lt-Gen Kyaw Swar Lin is from the batch number-35 of the Defense Service Academy and served as the commander of the Central Command and as the Quartermaster General.

They have heard that Lt-Gen Kyaw Swar Lin has been assigned as the chief of staff of the Tatmadaw (Army) and it was very likely, said some people who are close to the Tatmadaw, to CNI News.

CNI News

27 September 2023

China will buy about 60,000 tons of corn from Myanmar as a substitution crop for poppy this year reportedly. 

China is buying corn grown in Shan and Kachin States yearly and bought over 30,000 tons of corn last year. 

There have been discussions to promote buying corn this year, according to the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.

However, because the price China pays is lower, to sell corn from Shan and Kachin States will not be convenient and although the corn price is 1,150 kyats per viss in the domestic market, the price China want to pay is around 1,000 kyats only, said U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, to CNI News.

Myanmar corn plantation

" It's not too bad that China will buy 60,000 tons of corn when we can't export corn to Thailand through Myawady. Myanmar corn has started appearing. The corn in Bamaw and Waingmaw has started appearing a bit. And roast corn has started appearing in northern Shan State. In the previous years, about 30,000 or 40,000 tons of Myanmar corn were exported. We are told to export corn through Chinese border gates - Lweje, Kan Pite Tee, Muse and Chin Shwe Haw. But the price is not very convenient. We can't export because the price is low. Corn cannot be bought in Myanmar at the price China gives. China gives about 1,000 kyats a viss. Domestic price is about 1,150 kyats.I haven't heard of much trading." said U Thant Zin Tun.

Although the corn price that China offers is the world corn price, because of current export earnings policy of Myanmar, it is not convenient, said corn traders. If the world corn price go up, the price China offers will increase and if the price doesn't increase, corn will be exported at the price they offer, said a corn trader, to CNI News.

Myanmar corn

" Exporters are planning to export, I think. But it hasn't realized exactly. They are still watching. The price is not convenient for them because of export earning policy. Exporters don't get full money earned from selling at the dollar price. According to 50-50 policy, exporters get half of the money from sale at the rate of 2,100 kyats per dollar and another half at the rate of 2,920 kyats per dollar. They have offered at the world market price. But we don't make a profit. They might raise the price for many reasons. If they don't raise the price, we will sell at this price." he said.

The corn produced in Shan State is exported to China as a substitution crop instead of growing poppy yearly from September to December, said corn traders.

 As substitution crops to replace poppy, tea, sugarcane, avocado and corn including other long-term fruit trees are grown in Shan State and they are being exported.