CNI News

22 Oct 2022

The current political crisis is the outcome of the problems between the Tatmadaw and the National League for Democracy, said Chairman Gen Yawd Serk of the Shan State Restoration Council.

He made the comment during an exclusive interview with the Thai PBS news agency over the current political crisis and peace talks.

Gen Yawd Serk said, “Actually, all ethnic armed organizations are ready to accept the ceasefire. Protests are caused by the problems between the military and the NLD. The protests have nothing to do with the EAOs. The PDFs are NLD supporters. However, the people stand together with the PDFs.”

The Myanmar military ousted the NLD government on 1st February, 2021 by declaring a state of emergency after accusing the government of attempting to form a new government without settling voters’ list disputes in the 2020 general election.

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (AFP)

Since then, PDFs have been waging armed struggles under the leadership of the NUG in cooperation with some EAOs.

The SAC is using various ways and means to sow the seed of discord between the revolutionary forces and EAOs, said Prime Minister Manh Win Khaing Than of the NUG on 18th October.

He said, “In addition to various ways and means to create trouble for the people, the military is consistently using various methods to sow the seed of discord between revolutionary forces and EAOs. So, we need to take great care not to lose sight of everything to encounter the military. It is important to take military action while scrutinizing their political moves. As the military is using various methods to sow the seed of discord between us and EAOs, our alliances are required to join hands firmly.”

Gen Yawd Serk responds to questions from the Thai PBS news agency.

Gen Yawd Serk said he had known the methods of sowing the seed of discord of the military for a long time and he had more evidence of that than the NUG.

He said, “We had known that not because of the NUG’s warning but because of our experiences of fighting the military for about 60 years. We have more evidence than they have. Actually, the conflict is erupting between the military and the NUG. It has nothing to do with our EAOs. Talks must be held with every organization. The revolution has emerged because of the absence of dialogue.”

Currently, armed conflicts have erupted between the military and joint forces of the PDF and some EAOs in Sagaing and Magway regions and Chin, Karen and Kayah states.

CNI News

22 Oct 2022

As armed clashes erupt along Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Highway frequently, sending Myanmar workers via the highway should be suspended until November, labour activists for Myanmar migrant workers told the CNI.

Labour activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, “Some agencies told us that the workers they sent via the highway had bought life insurance policies. What can families of workers do with the insurance compensations between MMK 3 million and 5 million. They should not risk the lives of the workers when the danger is imminent. Although the workers are sent through the MOU with Thailand, they are not eligible for work permits, social security benefits and insurance compensations if they encounter dangers on the way to Thailand. So, migrant workers should not rush to come to Thailand amid fighting while employers should give them more time for them until the situation has changed.”

The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation has also urged agencies to send Myanmar workers to Thailand via the highway only after the situation on the ground has been thoroughly studied and workers sent by some agencies were stranded in Hpa-am and Kyondoe.

Director Daw Myat Haymar Lin of the Pwint Phue Aung Agency told the CNI, “We sent workers to Myawady on 18th October but the highway was blocked and the workers were forced to come back from Kawkareik to Hpa-an and are staying at a monastery.

She added, “We treated from Kawkareik at 1 pm yesterday (20th October) and arrived in Hpa-am at 3 pm. Explosions of heavy weapon rounds become louder and louder near the restaurant where we were taking shelter. Local people told us that the situation was getting worse and worse. Gunfire was reported in the backyard of the restaurant. So, we retreated because we brought a lot of workers with us. All agencies retreated with their workers. We are required to do it in accordance with the instruction of the labour department, but we still haven’t received any instruction from it. So, we are staying at the monastery with the permission of the abbot and waiting. We will have to watch the situation closely for about a week.”

She urged agencies that have planned to send workers at the moment should not do so because they will incur more food and accommodation costs on the way.

She said, “Agencies should risk the danger. Nothing is more important than lives. If they are stranded, they will get into trouble. They will incur higher costs for food and accommodation. The prices for a meal of rice have risen from MMK 3,000 to 6,000. The price of a bottle of drinking water has increased from MMK 500 to 800. As the workers have already received smart cards, agencies can send them when the situation has improved.”

Armed clashes erupted between the military and the KNLA joint forces in Khanamemu Ward in western Kawkareik in the morning of 21 October, according to the Karen news agency KIC.

The Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Highway is the major route for sending workers and trade between Thailand and Myanmar. Explosions rocked the neighbourhood near No (1) Friendship Bridge on 18th October and the highway has been blocked for security reasons at the moment.

CNI News

21 Oct 2022

Intense fighting erupted in Kawkareik after an armed group led by Saw Say War launched an attack on the Tatmadaw in the morning of 21st October.

Clashes started between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA joint forces near the office complex of the General Administration Department and the District Police Force in Khanainmu Ward-3 near the checkpoint at the archway of the town at 7.30 am.

   A civilian killed by a heavy weapon round in front of Ahla Nandaw Beauty Palour in Kawkareik. (CJ)

A civilian was killed when a heavy weapon round fell in front of Ahla Nandaw Beauty Parlour in Tada-U Ward 7 of the town.

The DVB reported that the joint forces of the KNLA launched the attack to seize the town.

CNI News

21 Oct 2022

A three-year project will be implemented to transform Kalaw in Shan State (South) into a resort town for domestic and foreign tourists, Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

When the SAC chairman gave guidance to implement the project on his visit to the town, Deputy Director U Sithu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

He added that a master plan is being developed to implement the project.

He said, “We are developing a master plan first because it is important to have a master plan to implement a tour destination between 2023 and 2025. We will upgrade the Mawmyay Park in 2022-2023 fiscal year. Them, we will build Shan brother and sister statue near the archway of the town. We will also set up an LED board to display the attractions of the town and street light poles. Kalaw is popular among domestic tourists and it is located at the entrance to Shan State. The weather is pleasant. The town is shrouded by a tourism atmosphere. The town has been popular among foreign tourists for a long time. We will have to wait for them to come back.”

The master plan has been developed for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and MMK 1 billion has been allocated for the project, which will be implemented until 2025, to transform the town into a resort.

 A hotel in Kalaw.

Master plans for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years will be developed in negotiation with locals and relevant organizations.

Kalaw is a popular destination among tourists and more will visit the town when it has been transformed into a resort. A night market should also be built and rules and regulations should be enforced, an official from a hotel in Kalaw told the CNI.

He said, “Kalaw is popular among tourists because its natural environment is still intact. It is a mountain resort and its ecosystems are still pristine. It is important to implement disciplines. It is necessary to launch awareness-raising campaigns not to drop litter, which will destroy the beauty of the town. Relevant government departments must provide dustbins. Another problem is traffic and parking. There are many attractions in Kalaw. There are traffic jams on roads to famous attractions. Information centres must be established. If shops can follow disciplines, the town will be more pleasant.”

As the Tazaungdaing festival is around the corner, hotel rooms in Kalaw are being booked, according to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.

During the Thadingyut Festival, hotels in the town were fully booked and the town was visited by 600 tourists on 7th October, 3,000 tourists on 8th and 9th October and 1,500 tourists on 10th October, according to statistics of the directorate.

CNI News

21 Oct 2022

There are concerns that the armed conflicts to topple the military will lead to the disintegration of the country in the absence of the Tatmadaw.

The military has been ruling the country by ousting the National League for Democracy Government after declaring a state of emergency.

Since then, the democratic revolution has been raging to overthrow the military.

With many armed organizations and separatists, a question arises in the political circle if the country will disintegrate when the Tatmadaw collapses.

If the Myanmar military was in a chao, the country would suffer and the transformation to the federal union can be implemented through the proper system, an EAO leader Col Khun Okkar told the CNI.

Pro-democracy protestors. (Frontier Myanmar)

He said, “There is a difference between the chaotic collapse of the army and systematic security reform to transform it into a federal army. From the point of view of the military, they might think the Tatmadaw has collapsed. However, the country will not face negative consequences if systematic transformation can be carried out. In some countries, the military changed into mafia gangs when dictators fell. The best way is the security sector integration and reform to transform the Tatmadaw into a federal army.”

Myanmar is facing domestic and foreign threats and it is vulnerable to collapse without the Tatmadaw, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.

The NUG-PDF troops fighting for democracy.

He told the CNI, “Our country is under domestic and foreign threats at present. At home, we are involved in armed conflicts. At the same time, there are serious foreign threats. It is facing indirect foreign threats. The Tatmadaw is facing domestic and foreign threats. When a civilian government rules the country, it is weak because it lacks a security perspective. So, it is burdensome for the Tatmadaw. Only the Tatmadaw can bear the brunt of the consequences. Without it, the country is vulnerable to disintegration.”

Every country needs an army to defend it but the current army does not bode well for the country, Comrade Aye Lwin of the ABSDF told the CNI.

He said, “In my opinion, it is important for a country to have an army to defend it and its people. However, an army built by a dictator cannot contribute to the country. Security sector reform and reintegration are essential. We really need a federal army to defend the federal union. We do not need an army built by a dictator.

 Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP 

Armed conflicts have erupted between the Tatmadaw and joint forces of some ethnic armed organizations and the people’s defence forces in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Chin State, Karen State and Kayah State.

On the other hand, some EAOs and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing are holding peace talks and discussing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform.

CNI News

21 Oct 2022

Although it is the dry season teeming with festivals and charities, the Myanmar traditional Pathein umbrella market is as dead as a doornail, according to manufacturers of the traditional product.

The industry is mainly based in Pathein town in Ayeyarwady Region.

Ma Kyu Kyu Aye of the Thitsar Traiditional Pathein Umbrella Production told the CNI, “In the past, we received a lot of orders at this time of the year because there were many charity ceremonies. Now, as the situation of the country is unpredictable, no one has placed orders for us. We have to reduce the number of workers from ten to three. They placed orders at big businesses.”

The traditional Pathein traditional umbrellas are used in Kathina processions, religious festivals, novicehood ceremonies and ordinations as well as decoration in hotels and restaurants.

An umbrella decoration near the Sule Pagoda.

Due to current economic crisis and instabilities in some regions, there were fewer pagoda festivals but the industry had to rely on Kathina robe offering ceremonies, Daw Ni Ni Tun of the Nay Nat Thar told the CNI.

She told the CNI, “At present, the Pathein umbrella industry has to rely on Kathina robe offering ceremonies as there were no pagoda festivals across the country. In the past, we could sell umbrellas to pagoda festivals. The market is very unpredictable.”

Pathein traditional umbrellas are popular among the travellers in Mandalay, Yangon, Bagan, Nyaung-U and Mawlamyine.

Due to the economic slowdown and political crisis, the traditional Pathein umbrella industry has been suffering from the shrinking market and workers are being laid off.

CNI News

20 Oct 2022

Anchoring on self-interests of individual groups will shrink the Spring Revolution and hamper a strong public revolution, Acting President Duwa La Shila of the National Unity Government said.

The acting president made the remarks at the NUG meeting on 19th October.

The acting president said, “Our revolutionary spirit must overcome factionalism and personal prejudices. It is also necessary to avoid seeking short-term interests in relations in the coalition. Anchoring on self-interests of individual groups will shrink the Spring Revolution and hamper it from becoming a strong people’s revolution. I would like to urge all to strengthen the coalition with farsightedness and high moral grounds.”

An NUG meeting.

Then, he warned of building a coalition with narrow views and approaches.

The acting president said, “The main focus of today’s meeting is relations in the coalition. It is evident to all that the Spring Revolution of Myanmar is being launched based not on the policies of individual organizations but on the policies of all of them. We must uphold inclusive policies and practically cooperate unitedly to strengthen the coalition and carry out the activities of the coalition.”

There are weaknesses in the coalition relations and approaches of the NUG over the partnership with EAOs, General Secretary Brig-Gen Tar Phone Kyaw of the TNLA said in an interview with Myanmar Now.

CNI News

20 Oct 2022

As the security has been tightened due to the explosion near the No (1) Friendship Bridge at the border between Myawady and Mae Sot, Myanmar migrant workers have faced more difficulties, labour activists for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand told the CNI.

An explosion rocked the area surrounding the Myawaddy-Mae Sok No (1) Friendship Bridge on 15th October.

As the security has been tightened due to the explosion, Myanmar migrant workers who want to sneak into Thailand and those who want to illegally return to Myanmar have faced difficulties, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.
He said, “To put it simply, they have to return to Myanmar illegally by whatever means available for them. If the bridge and border gates are open, they go back to their country easily. However, Myawady is frequently hit by explosions. Although they are fighting the junta, it causes difficulties for migrant workers to return home or their returns are delayed. There are many armed groups in Karen State. The military will tighten the security when explosions hit Myawady. Thai authorities will also tighten the security. So, more migrant workers will be arrested due to increased security.”

   People travelling at Thai-Myanmar Border. (AP)

The bridge has been closed since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The reopening of the bridge has been further delayed due to political crises in Myanmar and Myanmar migrant workers who want to return home have to illegally cross the Taungyin River to sneak back into their own country.

Such explosions also threaten the lives of Myanmar migrant workers who want to return home via illegal routes, Labour Activist U Ba Yee from the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.

He said, “It is more difficult for Myanmar migrant workers to travel back to Myanmar as the bridge has already been closed even before such explosions, which also pose a threat to lives of Myanmar migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar. We are afraid that battles will erupt when we have to go to Myawady. Current circumstances pose a threat to migrant workers who want to return home.”

 Damage caused by an explosion at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No (1) Friendship Bridge on 15th October, 2022.

The explosions will further delay the reopening of the bridge, according to labour activists in Thailand.

Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, “I think the situation of our country will continue to deteriorate and the revolution will be delayed. As the elected government of the people cannot still effectively control the country, the people will suffer more troubles. As I support the elected government, it would like to urge it to do more to help the people. The elected government should do more to help Myanmar people in Thailand as soon as possible.”

There are millions of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand and illegal migrants are facing the arrests of Thai authorities.

More arrests are likely to be made at the end of the year, according to labour activists.

CNI News

19 Oct 2022

Myanmar has been exporting between 20 to 30 truckloads of rice and broken rice to China every day, according to Muse Rice Commodity Exchange.

As it is the beginning of the dry season and new paddy is being harvested, rice exports have increased, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of the Muse Rice Commodity Exchange told the CNI.

“Paddy is harvested in all regions in the lower Myanmar and other various parts of the country after the Thadingyut Festival. Trading activities in China have also returned to normal. So, more rice and broken rice have been exported to China than before the festival since 10th October. About 1,000 bags of rice and broken rice or between 20 and 30 truckloads (50 tons) of rice is exported to China every day. A bag of broken rice fetches Yuan 120 and a bag of rice stands between Yuan 140 to 150. It is profitable for us because we can export rice to China when the crop is harvested in Myanmar,” he told the CNI.

Before the festival, Myanmar could export only about five to ten truckloads of rice to China.

Rice prices normally fall when paddy is harvested but this year, rice prices have not dropped as the plans are underway to export 200,000 tons of rice to Bangladesh, U Min Thein added.

 Rice trading. (CNI)

“Normally, rice prices fall back when new paddy is harvested but rice prices are stable this year because plans are underway to export 200,000 tons of rice to Bangladesh. It will be profitable for farmers. We have to buy rice at MMK 45,000 per bag while broken rice is purchased at MMK 40,000 per bag,” he told the CNI.

As the prices of export rice such as 90-day variety and Emata 25-mark variety do not fall back, those of Paw San Hmwe variety have not dropped, according to rice merchants.

Although paddy from Ayeyarwady is being harvested, the most popular rice for local consumption like Shwebo Pawhsanhmwe has not been harvested, Ko Shine Win Latt of Shwebo Paw San Hmwe told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “Shwebo Pawhsanhmwe has not been harvested. So, prices for Ayeyarwady and Shwebo Pawhsanhmwe have not fallen.”

Rice from Ayeyarwady Region is being transported to Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange daily but officials from the commodity exchange refused to disclose the volume.

The total acreage of paddy dropped last year due to rising prices of inputs such as fertilizers and fuel as well as instabilities in some areas.