CNI News

24 Feb 2023

It is diffiuclt to export onions to the Philippines through the government-to-government system due to trade policies adopted by the country, according to the Myanmar Onion, Garlic and Vegetable Growers and Exporters Association.

At present, the Ministry of Commerce of the SAC and the government of the Philippines are holding negotiations to export onions from Myanmar to the country.
Although negotiations are being held to export onions to the Philippines through the emabassy, Myanmar has never had a chance to export onions to the country, Chairman U Khin Han of the MOGVGEA told the CNI.

He said, "The Philippines has permitted only four or five people to import onions and vegetables and they have to apply for import permits to buy onions from a Myanmar company again. They are also required to submit so many documents for species and pests. We have held negotiations with the embass but have never succeeded. I have already talked about this during a recent meeting. However, authorities think that it would be easier to export onions to the country through the G-to-G system."

 Onion farmers.

Although most of Myanmar export onions are consumed by Indonesia, the country has to illegally import onions from Myanmar through Malaysia due to its policies, according to its onion merchants.

Myanmar exports onions to Bangladesh, China, India, Thailand and Malaysia through border trade.

However, farmers will be able to enjoy benefits only when border trade thrive, Onion Merchant U Hla Thaung of Pakokku Township Merchant Association told the CNI.

He said, "In my opinion, China and Myawady (Thai) are the main importers. Exporters do not rely much on Bangladesh because the country imports onions from Myanmar when it faces severe shortages. Bangladesh imports onions from Myanmar only for its domestic consumption. China and Thialand reexport Myanmar onions to other countries. Border trade is the main export route for merchants in small towns. Farmers will be able to enjoy benefits only when border trade thrives."

Transport of onions.

Although Myanmar onions are high in quality, other countries import onions from India, which are twice as cheap as Myanmar counterparts.

As onion harvests in Myanmar exceed its consumption every year and farmers have to rely on export markets, it is necessary to promote the export market, an onion merchant from Myingyan Township told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Onion yields in Myanmar exceed its consumption every year. So, farmers are relying on the export market. So, it is necessary for departments concerned, companies and merchants to facilitate exports of onions."

Onions are mainly grown in Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing regions in Myanmar and Myanmar exports 50,000 tons of onions to other countries.

CNI News

24 Feb 2023

Peace talks have lacked progress in the current political climate, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

He added that there were issues and challenges to create an environment conducive to inclusive dialogue.

He said, "We have been making efforts to create an environment conducive to inclusive dialogue of all stakeholders including federal forces and democratic forces that can represent the people to build a federal union based on democracy. However, no progressive has been achieved so far."

Members of the NSPNC and the PPST.

He continued to say that each EAO engaged in talks with the State Administration Council and efforts were being exerted to hold talks with all stakeholders simultaneously to end armed conflicts.

Since the military took over power on 1st February, 2021, protests and armed resistance have erupted and union-level peace talks have come to a halt.

The SAC has been holding separate peace talks with signatories to the NCA including the RCSS/SSA (Shan), the DKBA (Kayin), the KNU/KNLA-PC (Kayin), the PNLO (Pa-O), the ALP (Rakhine), the LDU (Lahu) and the NMSP (Mon) and non-signatories to the CNA including the UWSA (Wa), the NDAA (Mongla), the SSPP/SSA (Shan).

The NSPNC and leaders of the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA-PC.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt told the CNI, "Before the coup on 1st February, 2023, we held peace talks in accordance with the NCA and achieved success to a certain extent but since then, the political climate has changed and there are changes in the stakeholders. As a result, there are many more challenges in peace talks. This is the reality, as far as I know."

The PPST was formed with signatories to the NCA including the RCSS, the KNU, the PNLO, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the CNF, the ALP, the ABSDF, the NMSP and the LDU.

CNI News

24 Feb 2023

Thailand has denited entry to Myanmar nationals who hold vaccine certificates with QR codes at the Myawady-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge (1), an official from the General Administration Department in Myawady Township told the CNI.

The bridge was closed for almost three years from March, 2020 and reopened on 12th January, 2023.

The GAD official said, "Those who have vaccine certificates with QR codes can visit Thailand. Thai authorities will not permit such people to visit Thailand. They will have to come back. It doesn't matter whether they have received booster shots or not. QR codes matter. At first, Thai authorities permitted those who hold vaccine certificates without QR codes. Now, Thai authorities have denied entry to such people even if we permit our citizens to go to Thailand. Our health workers check their vaccine certificates and let them go to Thailand but Thai authorities will deny entry to them because they hold certificates without QR codes."

Myanmar nationals who cross the bridge to go to Thailand are required to submit their national registration cards, vaccine certificates with QR codes and temporary border passes that are valid for six-nights and seven-day and border passes that are valid for 13-night and 14-day.

When the bridge was reopened, those who have received two times of vaccination were allowed to visit Thailand but later they are required to have received the booster shots.

A Myanmar-Thailand border pass.

Those who have not received booster shots are given the shot at the entrance of the bridge and in ward administration offices.

Myanmar workers who returned home from Thailand also faced the problem, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, "When migrant workers return home, Mae Sot authorities check health insurance policies and vaccine certificates. If the returnees cannot submit the required documents, they are not allowed to go back and it is difficult for them to get vaccination there. Every Myanmar worker has already received two or three times of vaccination but they cannot show their vaccine certificates. They will force to incur more costs. The costs do not matter for those who are well-to-do people but it is a burden for those who have to go back for emergencies of family members cannot afford the costs."

Between 150 to 200 Myanmar nationals visit Thailand by crossing the bridge every day.

Similarly, about 100 Thai citizens also visit Myanmar by crossing the bridge every day, according to statistics from the immigration department.

The Tachilek-Mae Sai bridge which was closed due to COVID-19 was reopened on 20th February.

CNI News

23 Feb 2023

As lakes have run dry before the summer, some townships including Kyauktaw, Minbya, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Sittwe in Rakhine State have been hit by water shortages, according to local residents.

Lakes at IDP camps have dried up fast this year due to the scarce rains and residents have pumped river water into lakes but they will dry up within one or two months, an internally displaced person from Yahta Butar IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township told the CNI.

He said, "We have faced water shortages earlier this year than previous years. Water is scarce. Normally, lakes dry up in April. There was little rain during the monsoon. There are three or four lakes near the IDP camps. The lakes have dried up since December. We had to go to town to fetch water with carts. It was very difficult for us. We collected money from IDPs and pumped river water into the lake with the help of the CDN, an INGO. Now, difficulties have eased but the lakes will dry up again within one or two months."

Lakes have dried up earlier because some well-to-do people are pumping water from the lakes to their homes through pipes and they do not rely on water supply from development affairs committees, some residents said.

The entrance to Kyauktaw.

Residents of IDP camps have been hit harder by water shortages, Ma Oo Moe Nwe, a local resident said.

She told the CNI, "There is a water supply network in Kyauktaw but some people are pumping water from the network. As a result, water is not available in some areas of the town. So, people rely on water from dams and there are water shortages, which will be more severe than previous years. Some well-to-do people pump water from dams by using pipes. They do not use water from creeks. Residents of IDP camps are hit harder by water shortages."

As lakes have dried up in some villages, residents have to go and fetch water from distant places. Water shortages will be more severe in the summer, according to residents.

Although lakes have dried up in Sittwe, residents do not suffer difficulties as they have dug tube-wells. However, people in Kyauktaw, Pauktaw and Ponnagyun townships cannot rely on tube-wells, most of which produce salty water.

CNI News

23 Feb 2023

Scarce job opportunities, low wages and economic and political situations since 2021 have increased the number of the workers who go abroad to work.

Although job opportunities can be created at home, workers will continue to go abroad if wages are still low, In Charge Ko Khant Nay Kyi of the Migrant Workers Assistance Centre in Busan, South Korea, told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Job opportunities alone will not solve the issue and we need to take wages into consideration because people are working to earn more money. They won't work at home if they earn just enough to eat. When wages are as high as Thailand or Singapore, workers will not go abroad to work. As long as they are allowed to choose, they will go abroad to work. Even people in Singapore are going to Japan or the US to work. Similarly, Myanmar people will go to other countries if they get higher wages. It is necessary to raise the wages of workers to encourage them to work at home."

Some entrepreneurs said that jobs are not scarce in Myanmar and the problem is low wages.

Myanmar citizens leaving the country at the airport.

Workers are going abroad because wages are too low and commodity prices are too high, forcing them to try very hard to meet both ends, they added.

Some job applicants ask for high salaries although they don't have necessary skills for their jobs and cause difficulties for employers, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

He said, "Some workers asked us why their salaries were not raised. The difficulties we have faced at present is that job applicants come to us and ask for MMK 500,000 or 600,000 per month without any skill and experience. They said they would work if we could show them how to do their tasks. However, they changed to another job after working for us for two or three days because there are many job advertisements. If they want higher salaries, they need skills and qualifications and to exert efforts. Then, they will get high salaries."

At present Myanmar workers are mainly leaving for South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore and UAE and some of them are leaving for the West.

A garment factory in Myanmar.

However, passport offices around the country have been closed, Myanmar workers are illegally going to work in neighbouring countries. As a result, the government has lost its revenues, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, "First, the government does not get taxes and loses human resources. As they cannot get passports, they simply went to other countries by contacting agents. It amounts to opening an easier route for workers to work abroad.

Most people leaving Myanmar for work and study and basic workers make up the biggest chunk of them while some of them are leaving for technician jobs, according to labour activists.

CNI News

23 Feb 2023

After Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government said that the year 2023 was the decisive year, political observers have been wondering whether the year will be decisive or not.

Some observers are of the view that the armed struggle may prolong the crisis while others see the year as decisive and have stepped up momentum of the revolution.

He has not seen coordination among various People's Defence Forces militarily and politically, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

He said, "The main problem for the NUG is the coordination among different local people's defence forces. When we look at the history of Myanmar, U Nu formed the Democracy Party and based in the area controlled by the KNU to form a patriotic army, which grew in strength and possessed arms and ammunition. However, unity was the main problem and factions of the army fought against each other and the KNU. Eventually, it collapsed. At present, local people's defence forces are formed on the self-help basis. They are not organized ideologically, politically and militarily like the Communist Party of Burma."

NUG Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than and the PDF.

Although the year may be a turning point for military operations, it may not be decisive for the revolution, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "I don't think it will be a decisive year for the revolution because among about 500 PDF battalions, about 200 battalions are not under the command of the NUG. And the process to transform the forces into a regular army has not been completed. They are just local defence forces. The NUG has yet to form them into brigades. Then, only about 60 percent of the PDFs have been properly armed. However, they have limited heavy weapons for counter offensives."

There are some EAOs that have cooperated with the Spring Revolution while others are holding peace talks with the junta or have reached ceasefire agreements with it.

The Myanmar military.

Without assistance from EAOs, this year cannot be a decisive year, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.

He said, "I don't think the NUG alone will be able to decide it because those who have weapons and control the areas are EAOs. Without their assistance, it would be difficult for the NUG to make such a decision. However, it would be difficult to predict if it gets assistance from the US, the EU, Japan and the ASEAN. Anyway, it is difficult for the NUG to decide this by itself. EAOs will decide the matter."

At present, fighting has erupted between the junta and the allied forces of some EAOs and the PDFs in Kayin State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Right activists have called for not only damages but also action against older nuns from Thikhitayama Nunnery in Kyauktan Township in Yangon Region, who committed right abuses against Ta'ang children, they told the CNI.

After negotiations, the nunnery agreed to pay compensations for children who have been receiving medical treatments but action should also be taken against the nunnery for physical harms and mental trauma suffered by the children, Spokesperson Lway Chi Sa Ngar of the Ta'ang Women Organization told the CNI.

A victim nun named Lway Mya Aung, who can no longer walk or speak due to injuries. (Shwe Phee Myay)

She said, "From the perspective of our organization, it is necessary to take mental trauma suffered by children into consideration. As far as we know, some children faced life-threatening situations. Giving compensation alone is unacceptable. In addition to compensations, other action should also be taken against those who are responsible. Abusing children in the name of religion is completely unacceptable. To prevent such abuses in the future, action should be taken against them. However, we don't know the details at present. The issue should be further discussed."

Sixteen children from Khongnin and Kyaungkham villages in Kyaukme Township were allowed to enter novitiate and sent to Thukhitayama Nunnery to study there by their parents in April, 2022.

However, five nuns from them were sent back to Kyaukme on 10th February, 2023 after they had sustained injuries caused by senior nuns there.

 A victim nun named Lway Win Win Khaing demonstrates how she was tied and tortured. (Shwe Phee Myay)

A seven-year old nun has been maimed so badly that she is undergoing treatments at the Kyaukme People's Hospital.

To prevent such incidents in the future, Sangha Nayaka committees in respective townships are required to give instructions on child rights to monasteries and nunneries in their townships, Woman and Human Rights Activist Dr Nyo Nyo Thin told the CNI.

She said, "Some parents trust their children to monasteries and ask monks to punish the children by beating in accordance with Myanmar tradition. However, traditions can be accepted to a certain extent. Excessive measures will not be accepted by the society and action will be taken against those who are responsible. Some traditions must be changed if necessary. If the children were exploited for economic interests, it would amount to human trafficking. Whether they are novices or not, they have their own rights as children."

A nun from Kyaukme, who is left at the nunnery reportedly called her father and said she was happy at the nunnery and told her father not to come and fetch her, according to the Shwe Phee Myay News Agency.

A victim nun named Lway Nwan Kham with injuries all over her body. (Shwe Phee Myay)

However, the father said she might have been forced to say that by senior nuns and he wants to go and fetch her because he is worried about her.

The Ta'ang Sangha Organization (Yangon), the Ta'ang Literature and Culture Association, nuns, Shagha Nayaka committees and responsible officials from the ward held negotiations with the nunnery.

Responsible nuns from the nunnery have agreed to send the remaining nuns to Myaukme and to pay medical charges for the injured nuns.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry H.E. Mr Deng Xijun was reported to arrive in Mongla, the capital of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Mongla, on 20 February.

He held discussions with vice-chairmen U San Pae and U San Lu of the Peace and Unity Committee of Shan State (East) Special Region (4) in Mongla.

However, it is still unknown what they discussed.

Chinese special envoy Mr. Deng Xijun greets NDAA leaders.

The NDAA is a member of the Federal Political National Consultative Council, which is made up of the UWSA, the SSPP, the KIA, the AA, the TNLA and the MNDAA.

It is also joining peace talks with SAC chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the SAC peace negotiation team.

Mr Deng Xijun replaced the former special envoy and visited Myanmar on 29th December, 2022, and met with Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Chinese special envoy Mr. Deng Xijun arrives in Mongla.

He served at the military attaché in Myanmar in 1985 and performed duties in Southeast Asia and South Asia from 1990 to 2017.

He was appointed the special envoy for Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019 and the ambassador for the ASEAN from 2020 to 2022.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Kayin ethnic armed organizations have always divided historically and are still struggling to unify themselves, Chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe of the Kayin Democratic Party told the CNI.

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe told the CNI, "Karen people are always struggling for their unity because they are always divided historically. Now, the situation has deteriorated notoriously. They are fighting against one another. We cannot accept the situation. It is necessary for them to unify themselves as much as possible."

Fighting erupted between Brigade (4) of the Karen National Union and the Kathoolei Army in the morning of 20th February the former was able to occupy the Battalion (1) of the KTLA, according to statement released by the Myeik-Dawei Administrative Office of the KNU Brigade (4).

Dawei-Hitkhee road section.

Two members of the KTLA were killed while one soldier of the KNU Brigade (4) was injured during the fighting, according to the statement.

At a time when efforts are being made to establish a federal democracy union, divisions among the same ethnic group is worrisome, Mahn Aung Kyi Soe added.

He said, "It is very difficult to negotiate between the government and ethnic groups to build a federal democracy union, divisions among the factions of the same ethnic group is worrisome. We are sad and want to stop their divisions. I want to say just that."

KNU troops. (KNU-fb)

It was found that tensions escalated between KNU Brigade (4) and the KTLA and resolving issues among Karen EAOs through armed conflicts is completely unacceptable for the Karen public, people in Tanintharyi Region issued a statement.

Then, tensions between both sides reached climax with exchanging fires, threats and accusations and armed conflicts erupted.

The KTLA was formed by Brig-Gen Saw Ner Dah Mya, former chief of staff of the KNDO who was terminated from duties in July, 2022 and is active in areas controlled by the Brigade (4) of the KNU.

There are various factions of the Karen ethnic group including the KNU, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA/PC, the KTLA and the BGF.