CNI News

28 July 2023

There is a military tension between Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA)/ People's Defense Force (PDF) joint forces near Naung Bo Aung
Village in Homalin Township, Sagaing Region reportedly battle took place between SNA and KIA/PDF joint forces in Hlwa Zin Gon Village in the morning on 21st July, 2023 and the two sides are in military tension. 
Moreover, local residents from Hlwa Zin Gon and Aung Bin villages have displaced, said a local resident to CNI News.

SNA forces have deployed at Hlwa Zin Gon and KIA/PDF joint forces, at Aung Bin Village, so battles may take place at any time." Because the sides fired with big weapons each other, villagers from the two villages did not dare to go on living in their villages, he said.

The place where a battle took place between SNA and KIA/PDF joint forces

There are over 300 households in Hlwa Zin Gon and about 70 households in Aung Bin. Due to the battle, villagers from the two villages have migrated to Naung Bo Aung, Min Bwe and Thaphan Gone villages, he added.

" They have just surrounded us. Sometimes, some of them fired from a distance and run away. That's all." said Lt-Col Sai Aung Mein, spokesperson of the SNA.

HPDF-124 that is being active in Homalin Township

The battles between SNA and KIA/PDF joint forces are taking place in Banmauk Township and although KIA/PDF have wanted to penetrate into Homalin Township through Banmauk Township, they haven't able to penetrate as yet and have been active more reliably on Nam Nan - Naung Bo Aung route reportedly.

SNA is an ethnic armed organization that is struggling to establish the Shanni State containing Maulike District, Kalay District, Khamti District, Kathar District and Tamu District in Sagaing Region and Bamaw District, Myitkyina District, and Mohnyin District in Kachin State.

CNI News

28 July 2023

Media coverage impacts peace, stability,development and unity a lot and so, media need to be ones that help to build unity, said U Maung Maung Ohn, Information Minister of the State Administration Council. He said as above at the workshop on the four pillars held in Horizon Lake View on 26th July, 2023.  

The workshop was intended to build mutual-respect relations between the media, the fourth pillar, and three other pillars _ legislation, administration and judiciary based on media ethics and develop cooperation, to develop Myanmar news media, to win more rights to information independently, to build better relations among the four pillars and mutual collaboration regarding rights to information, said in the report.

"Media called the fourth pillar is serving the duty to make three other pillars correct on behalf of the people and so it's necessary to perform mutually regarding the rights to information and reportings by media very much impact on the country's peace, stability, development and unity, so media need to be ones that help to build unity." said U Maung Maung Ohn, Information Minister of the SAC.

 the meeting of the four pillars was being held

No matter what political system was applied, unity among the government, the people and organizations all was needed and the media should carry out emphatically to strengthen these situations, he added.

" It's nice to hold a meeting among the four pillars, but I wonder how many reporters who learned journalism and are hunting news with journalistic standards came here. If only they attended, we could know transparently what's happening really. If so-called reporters who are standing on only one side or who have never been  journalists attended, it would be difficult to find the way to close the gap among the four pillars, I think. Every government tends to see journalists as enemies or critics rather than as friends. Because pieces of information were not released or answered in real time, it would be weak in building the peace and stability of the country.The public is trapped between misinformation. To overcome that, the authorities must open the freedom of the press and release the information in real time. Journalists must report in accordance with the journalistic standards." said a news media person.

Ma Kay Zin Nwe from Myanmar Now news agency was being arrested on 27th February 2021

The Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February, 2021 after saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the ballot dispute that took place in the 2008 general election and had announced the state of emergency.

After that, the freedom of the press was reduced when news media persons were arrested and news agencies were closed.

On the other hand,some journalists are weak to abide by the journalistic standards and have been reporting for the sake of the side they are supporting and become weak in scrutinizing facts and information on the ground.

CNI News

28 July 2023

The issuance of 20,000 kyat notes would not cause monetary inflation and but it was a political attack to cause economic chaos, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said as above at the meeting of economic committee held on 26th July, 2023.

New 20,000 kyat notes would be produced in a limited number and the State had no financial need. 

Moreover, monetary circulation within the country was also balanced. And 20,000 kyat notes would be only issued in commemoration and monetary circulation within the country had come back to the normal situation.

 Design of a 20,000 kyat note

Besides, there were also many financial deposits in banks, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

"Insuance of 20,000 kyat notes won't cause the monetary inflation at all and opposition elements are attacking politically to cause economic chaos. Government businesses are to help the development of the country rather than to make a profit. But there shouldn't be making a loss. The economic committee plays an important role and I want the committee to pay attention to promote the national economy." he said.

adding that he wanted it to carry out the tasks with a view to the benefit of the country.

A foodstuff seller

" Ordinary civilians will think that monetary inflation will increase because new banknote is the two times of the current highest denomination banknote. if new banknotes that will be issued are 10,000 Kyat notes, the people's interpretation will be indifferent. But when they know that 20,000 Kyat notes will be issued, the people who understand or do not understand economics get shocked. So, because the people know or believe that commodity prices will go up, they are buying the goods more and more. But most of our people are still weak in economic knowledge in comparison with the people in the neighboring countries." said U Htay Aung Kyi, an economist to CNI News.

Since the Central Bank announced that it would issue 20,000 kyat notes on 31st July, the prices of foodstuff, cosmetics, gold, dollar, real estate, car and so on have skyrocketed.

CNI News

27 July 2023

In relation to the matter that 20,000 Kyat note will be issued, not only the foreign currency prices are unstable, but also because the prices have gone up, the workers who will abroad may spend more money, said foreign employment agencies to CNI News. 

After the announcement that new 20,000 Kyat note will be issued to mark the one year anniversary of White Elephant's birth on 23rd July, 2023, the prices of foreign currencies including USD, Baht and Yuan came to rise more than on 22nd July.

In front of the Directorate of Labor and migrant workers who will go abroad Myanmar citizens who will go to South Korea

" It is difficult for the workers who will go abroad. Due to the impact of 20,000 Kyat note, when the price of Baht has gone up, even the labor market is almost damaged because we have to work with foreign currency. We have to use USD when we send people to Japan. We have to use Baht when we send people to Thailand. The prices  are changing so ofetn, so the people who are working with foreign currencies are finding it difficult. Moreover, the workers who will go abroad have to spend so much." said Myat Hayman Lin, managing director of the Pwint Phu Aung Oversea Employment Agency.

Although the amount of foreign currency designated for a worker does not change, because the price of foreign currency comes to rise, the cost is much more, said oversea employment agencies. Instability of the foreign currencies' prices impacts on both workers who will go abroad and oversea employment agencies, said the agencies.

"The money price is unstable. At this rate, we are less likely to make a profit. If we don't make a loss, we'll go on because we don't want to make the youths get into trouble. All the businesses which are related to foreign countries make a loss. It has worsen due to greedy business people." said U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky agency.

If only responsible officials controlled the instability of foreign currencies' prices, the large cost of workers could be reduced, said U Kyaw Htin Kyaw, vice chairman of Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Fedration (MOEAF) to CNI News.

MoU workers

"If the money prices go up, it will affect workers. For example, a worker paid 1,000 Kyats for one dollar before, but if he have pay 1,500 Kyats now, he has to pay 500 Kyats anymore. As soon as a piece of news comes out, prices are going up. These are sort of monetary speculations that need to be controlled. There is one thing. If employers and agencies from abroad reduced designated money, it will cost workers less. We here in Myanmar largely take service only" he said.

The Central Bank will issue new 20,000 Kyat notes in limited quantities and so, it is unlikely to cause monetary inflation, the SAC has reported. 

Although the price of one dollar was around 3,100 Myanmar kyats on 22nd July, 2023 before the statement saying new 20,000 kyat notes will issue, the price of one dollar is 3,400 Myanmar kyats on 26th July, 2023.

CNI News

27 July 2023

Assaulting the State Administration Council (SAC) was related to protecting the lives and properties of the people, so revolutionary activities needed to be expanded, said Duwa Lashi La, acting president of the National Unity Government (NUG).

The public was suffering from monetary inflation after the announcement of the Central Bank that it would print new 20,000 Kyat notes and SAC was replenishing foreign currency by all possible means, he said.

" If you look back at the history of our country, you will find repeatedly successive military regimes have applied random policy and not taken care of the public affairs. Now, without understanding the side-effects, SAC is printing new 20,000 Kyat notes. The people are struggling with daily living costs. So, members of our NUG need to expand revolutionary activities with a broader perspective." he said.

Members of the NUG

Moreover, the Tatmadaw was desperately in need of money for the military cost and was taking the easy way out by printing new banknotes, he added.

The public was experiencing losses amidst the current political crisis, said U Sein Win, former member of Pyithu Hluttaw to CNI News.

"In my opinion, the spring revolution can't succeed. As you know, since the beginning, they have been doing things that are not right.If you want the people to be part of a revolution, you need to gain their trust. Some people take sides with (revolutionary elements) but not because they like. On the other hand, some people don't like that the Tatmadaw has kept the power. Others don't like the way the Spring Revolution has carried out. At last, the people are suffering. Revolutionary elements are saying they will win by relying on the online media. I want to tell them. They can't get the power. I know better who is talented or who is not talented because I had worked in the NLD party" he said.  

The Tatmadaw was performing security 

The Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February, 2021, having said that NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute that took place in the 2020 general election. 
After that, Some NLD MPs and members of the Central Executive Committee are waging an armed revolution in collaboration with some armed organizations.

The armed conflict is taking place widely in Sagaing Region, Chin, Kayah and Kayin States.2023 is the decisive year for the armed revolution which the acting president of the NUG has said.

CNI News

27 July 2023

The public anxiety has increased soon after the Central Bank annoubced that it will issue new 20,000 Kyat notes on 31st July, 2023 and the prices of commodities including gold and dollar have gone up. 

So, how to control the anxiety should be explained, some people have pointed out . 

To mark the completion of the Maravijaya Buddha Image, in Nay Pyi Taw and to mark the first birthday celebration of a white elephant “Ratha Nandaka”, 20,000 Kyat notes will be issued on 31st July, 2023, said on 23rd July, 2023 in a statement released by the Central Bank. 

Soon after the statement was released, the people's anxiety so much increased and the prices of foodstuff, consumer goods, fuel, engine oil, construction materials, gold and Dollar have gone up.

The design of a 20,000 Kyat note

" Ordinary civilians will think that monetary inflation will increase because new banknote that will be issued is the two times of the current highest denomination banknote. if new banknotes that will be issued are 10,000 Kyat notes, the people's interpretation will be indifferent. But when they know that 20,000 Kyat notes will issued, the people who understand or do not understand economics get shocked. So, because the people know or believe that commodity prices will go up, they are buying the goods more and more. But most of our people are still weak in economic knowledge in comparison with the people in the neighboring countries." said U Htay Aung Kyi, an economist to CNI News.

Due to the news saying that new 20,000 Kyat note will be issued, commodity prices have gone up in the Regions and States, said Ma Ma Chay, a housewife from Kyauk Tan Chay Village in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State, to CNI News.

" Livelihood is not convenient. All the prices are greatly going up. A big packet of tea was paid 6,000-6,2000 Kyats not very long ago. Now, its price is 7,000 to 8,000 Kyats. We are worried prices will go up much more than now. People think that they will face a lot of difficulties after new 20,000 Kyat notes come out." she said.

A greengrocer

That commodity prices are going up is due to the people's extreme anxiety and maybe due to the business people's exploitation as well, said U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, to CNI News.

" That commodity prices are skyrocketing is related to our people's emotion. Because they are afraid of losing their properties, they quickly buy precious materials such as car, house, gold and so on. That's why, their panic is leading to high prices. But there's one thing to say. When the Central Bank starts issuing 20,000 Kyat notes, if it explains on detail, the people's anxiety can be reduced a little." he said.

Because of rumors and misinformation saying that currently-used banknotes would be abolished after new banknotes came out, the prices of Dollar, gold and fuel were showing signs of rising. Because the 20,000 banknotes would not be massively issued, the people had nothing to worry and the banknotes the State has issued would not be abolished, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the State Administration Council on 25th July, 2023.

Section.36 (e) of the 2008 Constitution has imposed that the State does not designate officially-published banknotes as illegal ones.

CNI News

26 July 2023

The State Administration Council's Central Bank of Myanmar is making the public poorer by printing and issuing new 20,000 kyat notes starting from 31 July 2023, so members of the National Unity Government (NUG) need to expand the revolution, said Duwa Lashi La, acting president of the NUG. 

He said as above at the NUG's 25th meeting that was held at 10:00 a.m. on 25th July, 2023.

" If we look back our country's history, we can find repeatedly that successive military governments have applied the random policy and ignored the public affairs. Now, without understanding the side-effects, they will issue the 20,000 kyat notes. The people are struggling for the daily living cost. So, members of the NUG need to have a broader perspective and expand the revolutionary process." he said.

While seeing the design of a 20,000 kyat note that will be issued by the Central Bank

As the NUG has officially opened the Spring Development Bank, it should be the people's hope that can replace the unstable Myanmar Kyat. The public is depending on Kyat. So as not to make the public labor be destroyed by the instability of the Kyat currency, NUG need to protect with modern financial strategies, he added.

"In order not to automatically lose the values of the people's labor in the air, we have to systematically establish a financial system that doesn't depend on the kyat currency so that the people can enjoy the financial system that is free from the control of the military council" he said.

In commemoration of the completion of the Maravijaya Buddha Image and  in celebration of the one-year birthday of a white elephant, “Rattha Nandaka,” born on 23 July 2022, 20,000 kyat notes will be issued in a limited number which the central bank reported on 23rd July, 2023.

Because the statement was not thoroughly and clearly issued, the people were greatly worried and commodity prices including those of gold and dollar have skyrocketed.

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun

" 20,000 kyat notes will be issued not massively but as a commemoration. Gold coins were issued to commemorate the 75th Independence Day. At that time, how much money you have, you were not able to buy as much as you wanted. This time is also like before. When you change your very old currency notes with better ones, you will receive 20,000 kyat notes. But you won't get 20,000 kyat notes alone if you change 100 lakh kyats. You will be issued just three 20,000 kyat notes." Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the SAC.

20,000 kyat notes will be issued in a limited number and the SAC has no plan to abolish the currencies the State has officially issued and it has no rights to abolish them, the SAC reported. The officially-issued currency by the State cannot be designated as illegally under the Section 36 (e) of the 2008 constitution

CNI News

26 July 2023

The Tatmadaw probably has been attacking Kachin Independence Army (KIA) because it wanted to control KIA's supporting activities to Sagaing Region and Chin State, said U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, to CNI News. 

Because the KIA has interfered with the domestic stability, the Tatmadaw is attacking it, he said.

"A place that often ignites armed conflicts will be included in the military solution. It goes without saying. KIA has greatly increased its supporting activities to upper Sagaing Region and Chin State. The Tatmadaw needs to control that, I think. And KIA's military activities have interfered with the domestic stability." he said.    

Nam Sanyang area where battles are going on

There are reviews saying that the KIA is giving or selling a lot of weapons to the PDFs. The battles were taking place between the Tatmadaw and the KIA starting from 1st July in Nam Sang Yang. Until now, the two sides have been tense in military, and there were bombings in Nam Sang Yang on 21st July.

CNI tried to contact Col. Nawbu, KIA's information officer, but has not been able to contact him. Nam Sang Yang is an important place to trade with China, so the Tatmadaw is possibly attacking the place, said U Kun Gaung Aung Kham, a Kachin politician to CNI News.

A PDF Force under the command of the KIA

" Nam Sang Yang is a geopolitically important place because it's the nearest place when trading with China. Nam Sang Yang - Laiza route is the nearest one to China. And there are a lot of democratic forces in the KIA control area including Bamar and other ethnic youths. Moreover, the Tatmadaw probably wants to occupy that part. In any case, KIA also is not in a situation to give in when fighting breaks out. KIA has a lot of alliances including Arakan Army (AA), the People' Defense Force (PDF) and Gorkha forces. KIA and its alliance forces have occupied around that area by the thousand and they have been strongly defensing. So, the Tatmadaw dropped the bombs on Nam Sang Yang, I think." he said.

However, the Tatmadaw doesn't seem to drop the bombs on Laiza, headquarters of KIA, because it is too close to the Chinese border, he added. 

Nam Sang Yang Village is on the road between Myitkyina and Bamaw and it is the nearest village to the KIA headquarters. It is just 10 miles from Nam Sang Yang to Laiza.  

CNI News

26 July 2023

Those who have lost their passports in local have to wait six months, which makes difficulties for the people who will go abroad for work or for medical treatment, said the people who carry out for the affairs of workers, and oversea employment agencies to CNI News.

Those who have lost their passports in local have to announce that they have lost their passports in the State-owned newspapers with the recommendations of ward or village administrators and police stations concerned. 

Then, six months after the newspaper in which the announcement has been described was published, one who has lost its passport has to go to Myanmar passport issuing offices with that newspaper and have to apply for a new passport after paying a total of 91,000 Kyats ( 35,000 Kyats for the book and 56,000 Kyats for lost/damaged fine).    

People waiting in line to apply for passports

" Those who have lost their passports find it difficult. Youths who returned from Thailand apply for new passports because They did not get their passports fully stamped in Thailand. For example, job passport (PJ) holders might go abroad to receive medical treatment or to work. If they lost their passports, they would have to wait six months to apply for new passports. How many days does it take? You might not get a new passport just after six months? They will make appointments for QR code." said Daw Myat Hayman Lin, managing director of the Pwint Phu Aung Oversea Employment Agency to CNI News.

Myanmar citizens abroad must go to the relevant embassy in person with necessary documents if they lost or damaged their passports and can apply for new passports after paying a total of 140 USD (35 Dollars for the passport book and 105 Dollars for fine). 

The currently designated amount of money for the passport book and fine was much more than before and a person who lost his passport had to spend over 2,000 Baht when he applied for a new passport before the Covid-19, said Ko Thar Gyi who is helping in the affairs of migrant workers to CNI News.

People waiting in line to apply for passports

" Much, so much. 100 Dollars are equal to 4,000 Bahts at present. The ministry which has designated the amount need to know a worker's daily wage that has been designated by a country concerned. Over 100 Dollars is currently equal to monthly wages of a Myanmar migrant worker. That a Myanmar migrant worker has to pay the amount of money equal to his wages of a month to apply for a new passport shouldn't be. For example, there are about five million Myanmar people in Thailand. That I want to tell the countries where Myanmar people are staying most, if you have to pay over 100 Dollars to apply for a new passport, the amount of money is equal to about 15 day wages. This is exploiting one's own people. This is violating human rights. You could get a passport if you spent about 2,500 or 3,000 Bahts in the past. But now Myanmar citizens who have lost their passports haven't get new passports from Myanmar Embassy in Thailand for eight months or a year." he said.

Because a passport is an evidence that is mainly needed, although it is costly to get it, everyone who goes abroad must get it. So, those who need passports want to get them without delay. 

Moreover, those who had lost their passports in foreign countries have to pay Myanmar money equal to 105 Dollars for fine and 35,000 Kyats for the passport book each when they apply for new passports reportedly.