CNI News

15 Feb 2023

A new export earning policy for rice and broken rice through border trade has been announced, according to rice merchants.

Exporters are required to sell 65 percent of their earnings at the designated price of the central bank of Myanmar within one working day and remaining 35 percent of the earnings have been allowed to be kept by merchants, according to merchants.

Previously, the policy was adopted only for mercantile trade of rice and broken rice and has now been expanded to the border trade.

The policy will affect rice exports through border trade and rice merchants will have to export rice and broken rice only after thoroughly calculating the prices, an official from Myanmar Rice Merchants Association told the CNI.

  A rice shop

He said, "Border traders export rice in Yuan and Baht. As they can keep their earnings, it is profitable for them. Now, they won't be as profitable as before and rice exports from borders will decrease. The policy has been adopted in the mercantile trade since June or July. It has been rumoured that the policy would be adopted in the border trade. Now, it has been officially announced. Exporters will have to trade rice carefully because they are forced to sell 65 percent of their earnings at the designated price of the central bank. They can sell only 35 percent of their earnings at the market prices."

The policy was adopted only for other export items except rice and broken rice.

As the new policy will take effect on 1st March, traders are exporting as much rice and broken rices as they can before the deadline and have stopped buying rice and broken rice in the domestic market, according to border traders.

In the border trade with China, the market exchange rate for Yuan stood at MMK 426 but the central bank rate for Yuan was set as MMK 308 and traders are likely to suffer MMK 10,000 per bag losses, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of Muse Rice Exchange told the CNI.

He said, "The new poicy will take effect at the end of the month. Before the end of the month, trader are allowed to keep their export earnings by themselves. When they exchange their export earning into the Kyat, they will get MMK 426 for one Yuan. When the new policy takes effect, they will get only MMK 308 per Yuan for 65 percent of their Yuan earnings. They will suffer MMK 10,000 losses per bag. So, they are trying to export as much rice and broken rice as they can before the end of the month and have stopped buying rice in the domestic market."

 Workers preparing to load rice bags

As exporters are likely to suffer losses, they may try to buy rice from farmers at lower prices but it is unclear whether farmers can sell their rice at the prices they offer, Secretary U Than Oo of Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange told the CNI.

He said, "Merchants will have to lower their buying prices of rice as it is not profitable but we will have to watch closely whether farmers can sell rice to them at their buying prices. As farmers will harvest their summer paddy in April, it is still difficult to predict the situation."

Although the Central Bank of Myanmar sets the US$ exchange rate at MMK 2,100 per dollar, market exchange rates have hit MMK 2,800 per dollar.

Due to the exchange rate gap of about MMK 700 per dollar, exporters will have to lower the buying prices of rice and rice prices are likely to fall, according to some observers.

CNI News

15 Feb 2023

Although the political parties registration law and rules have been announced, the Arakan National Party is still undecided over the types of registration, Chairman U Thar Tun Aung of the ANP told the CNI.

The ANP was registered as a party to contest elections in the entire country but it has failed to meet the requirements under the new political parties registration law, he added.

He said, "The new law implies that all ethnic groups except the Bamar are not allowed to contest elections in the entire country. As a result, we have not decided over the types of registration we will choose so far."

U Thar Tun Hla

He added that his party opened offices in Rakhine State, Paletwa Township in Chin State, Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions but the number of offices still failed to meet the requirements under the new law.

The new law and rules pose difficulties for the Mon Unity Party as the party contested elections in Mon State, Kayin State, Tanintharyi Region and Yangon Region, an official from the party told the CNI in early February.

A political party registered for a particular state or region are not allowed to contest elections in other states or regions, the Union Election Commission told the CNI.

UEC Chairman U Thein Soe signed the political parties registration law.

As the country was under extraordinary circumstances, such new laws and rules should not have been enacted, he added.

He said, "It was not time to enact the law. The entity that enacted the law admitted that the country was under extraordinary circumstances. So, it was not time to enact new laws."

Under the new law, existing political parties are required to re-register within 60 days after the enactment of the law and rules and those who fail to do so will cease to exist spontaneously, the SAC announced on 31st January, 2023.

CNI News

14 Feb 2023

Labour activists have warned Myanmar workers in Thailand off selling their bank accounts opened with their personal information.

If amounts of deposits and withdrawals of such accounts are found to have exceeded their salaries, Myanmar workers are likely to be detained for investigation, labour activists in Thailand told the CNI.

Labour activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, "If employers use bank accounts of their workers for money laundering, action will be taken against the workers according to the law. The bank accounts will be closed and workers will be detained for investigation. Myanmar workers should know that no one is above the law and their passports will be blacklisted. The bank accounts are opened with their names and it is very dangerous for workers if the accounts are used for money laundering.

Migrant workers staged a protest for unemployment on 9th December, last year

Under Thai laws, selling bank accounts to others is not allowed but some Myanmar workers are selling their bank account.

It was reported that prices for bank accounts range between Baht 1,500 to 20,000.

A Myanmar worker who sold his bank accounts was detained last week after authorities had found that large sums of transactions were made through his bank account.

Labour Activist U Min Oo from the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI, "More than Baht 300,000 is deposited, withdrawn or transferred from an account, authorities will check the transaction. Authorities can ask for information about the account users even when about Baht 100,000 is transacted and banks cannot refuse to do so. Actually, bank accounts cannot be sold to others. Everyone must open bank accounts in their own name. Some Myanmar workers opened bank accounts for friends or siblings. If something goes wrong, action will be taken against account owners.

Thai currency notes

Myanmar migrant workers can open bank accounts easily if they can submit their official documents.

So, some Myanmar workers opened bank accounts for their friends who do not have official documents. A large sum of transactions are made through such accounts, there will be problems, according to labour activists.

They have warned Myanmar workers off opening more than two bank accounts and allowing other people to use their accounts.

CNI News

14 Feb 2023

NOK Air is resuming Yangon-Bangkok flights as of 26th March, an official from the airlines told the CNI.

The CNI contacted the airlines as rumour spread on social media that NOK Air has halted its Yangon-Bangkok flights, an official from the airlines said they had plans to resume the flights.

NOK Air airline.

She told the CNI, "We have not halted the flights and are making changes in flight schedules. So, we made some cancellations and suspended the flights as of 12th February. We will resume the flights as of 26th March. We did not make any announcement because we have not halted the flights."

She added that passengers can buy tickets for Yangon-Bangkok flights as of 26th March.

NOK Air is an economy class airline based in Thailand.

CNI News

14 Feb 2023

The National Unity Government has claimed that administrative bodies have been founded in 158 townships in the entire country and it has 70 percent control over 73 towns.

NUG Home Affairs and Immigration Minister U Lwin Ko Latt made the claims during an online Q&A session between the NUG and Myanmar people around the world on 12th February.

U Lwin Ko Latt said, "We have founded administrative bodies in 158 townships in regions. Among them, we have 70 percent control in about 73 towns in Sagaing, Magway and Bago regions."

A map showing territories controlled by the military, EAOs, PDFs. (ISP)

Formation of administrative bodies has gained momentum in other townships, he added.

When territories have been expanded through military means, administrative bodies will carry out tasks for the rule of law for local people, he said.

It is questionable how the NUG has controlled the townships it claimed, Political Observer Dr Aung Myo told the CNI.

He said, "What kind of control are they exercising in the townships. EAOs like the KNU, the KIA, the RCSS and SSPP has controlled their territories from the jungle. If they have taken responsibility for administrative, social and economic affairs of the townships, it can be said that they have controlled the townships. Now, they are stationing in the jungle and claiming to have control over some townships. I have never seen such control."

 Three NUG ministers

Since the military seized power on 1st February, 2023, democratic forces have launched the Spring Revolution armed struggle.

Fighting has erupted between the military and allied forces of some EAOs and local people's defence forces in Kayin State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

CNI News

13 Feb 2023

Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association has been preparing to resume gold jewelry to Japan and gold merchants from Japan have proposed to buy gold jewelry from Myanmar, according to the YRGEA.

Although the association exported gold jewelry to Japan, the jewelry exports have been disrupted by the outbreak of COVID-19. Now, Japanese merchants have proposed to buy gold jewelry from Myanmar and the association is also ready to export the jewlery to Japan. Currently, negotiations are being held between the two sides, Chairman of the YRGEA U Myo Myint told the CNI.

He said, "We had exported gold jewelry to Japan but the exports was disrupted by the pandemic. Now, the other side has proposed to buy the jewelry from us and goldsmiths are ready to export the jewelry to Japan. Currently, we are holding negotiations. They are seeking information about licenses and measures for prevention of COVID-19 because they don't want to be placed under quarantine when they arrive here. When they come, exports of gold jewelry will resume."

Local entrepreneurs have enough raw gold to export jewelry to Japan and it will be beneficial for local goldsmiths and goldsmith shops, he added.

Gold jewelry

Although Myanmar exports only a few items of gold jewelry to Japan, it would contribute to stability of the local gold market, according to a market observer.

He added, "It is beneficial for us to export gold to foreign markets because gold jewelry will not pile up in the local market and gold prices in the local market are likely to fall. Currently, the demand for US dollars has stagnated but the demand for gold has fluctuated. Some speculators are taking advantage of the situation. Some merchants are speculating prices based on some data in the international market. However, such data are not important. However, prices partly depend on people who trade gold on such information."

Finished gold jewelry is exported to Japan.

Myanmar is likely to resume gold jewelry exports to Japan when gold prices drop in the international market while South Korea is interested in establishing gold jewelry CMP businesses in Myanmar but is still closely watching the situation of COVID and trade restrictions, according to the YRGEA.

CNI News

13 Feb 2023

Political parties that are registered in a particular state or region will not be allowed to campaign and stand for election in other states or regions, the Union Election Commission told the CNI.

Section 3 (a) of the political parties registration law stipulates that A group of at least 15 persons who desire to organize and form a political party in the entire Union or a region or state stating a desired name for the party shall apply to the commission for granting permission to organize party members in accord with the law.

The UEC told the CNI, "Therefore, political parties that will campaign for elections only in a particular state or region will not be allowed to campaign for or participate in elections in constituencies in other regions or states.

Moreover, political parties registration rule (26) stipulates that if a political party that is established to organizes in the entire union wants to change its registration to a party that will orgnizes in a particular state of region or a political party that is established to organize in particular state or region wants to change its registration to a party that will organize in the entire union, the party can apply for permission to the UEC by submitting the decision of its central executive committee and two copies of form (e), according to the UEC.

If a political party that is established to organize in a particular state or region is required to register again to stand for election in constituencies in other states and regions, political parties will have to face difficulties for funds and recruitments, political parties said.

Under the provision, state/region parties will be forced to register again to run for election in other states or region, according to them

CNI News

13 Feb 2023

The Panglong Agreement is the key to resolving the Myanmar political crisis, Kachin politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.

It is necessary to establish the union in accordance with the Panglong Agreement and Panglong commitments, he added.

He told the CNI, "The crisis we are facing now in not a crisis that has just arisen. It has reached ite climax since the coup of Gen Ne Win in 1962. We will have to go back to the Panglong Agreement and it is necessary to establish the union in accordance with the agreement, which is the key to resolving the current crisis."

Leaders agreed in principle to exercise self-administration and self-determination in Shan State, Kachin State, Kayah State and Chin hills in the union to be established under the agreement. The agreement guaranteed the same rights for the ethnic groups as the Bamar ethnic group, according to him.

 A demonstration calling for democracy

The agreement has nothing to do with federalism to be adopted in the future union, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, "The agreement has nothing to do with federalism because it was an agreement for the rights of ethnic groups in Myanmar. It was just an agreement between the plain regions and hilly regions to restore independence from the British together. However, Gen Aung San told the ethnic groups that they could establish independent states of their own after a decade if they did not like the AFPFL rule. He promised such clauses would be stipulated in the constitution. The 1947 constitution guaranteed such rights. Some people who have not read the agreement are making wrong conclusions. It is very disappointing."

If the agreement puts an end to the current armed conflicts and political changes take place through bloodless political means, it is likely to be key to resolving the current political crisis, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

NUG Defence Minister U Yee Mon and the PDFs

He said, "The country, which regained independence from the British in 1948 under the 1947 constitution, has been gripped by the political crisis for 75 years and the vicious circle of the civil war has never ended. When we think about overcoming the current political and military crises, it is understandable that some people remember the Panglong Agreement which enbable Myanmar to regain independence after 75 years of crisis. We will have to transform the agreement into a key element to overcome the constitutional crisis and to turn the bloody politics into bloodless politics. It can be said that it is a correct stance and an exit from the crisis."

Establishing the union under the Panglong Agreement will turn 75 years on 12th February but the armed conflicts have not ended.

CNI News

11 Feb 2023

A majority of Myanmar workers who went to work under the MOU between the two countries in 2022 have been exploited and lost their labour rights, labour activists in Thailand told the CNI.

Most of them are subject to being employed in jobs that are not stated in their contracts, denying the rights to keep their own documents by themselves, sacking without sound reasons, losses of salaries and compensations for workplace injuries.

Taking advantage of the instability in Myanmar, unscrupulous persons are exploiting Myanmar MOU workers, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, "Exploitation mainly refers to denying workers their salaries. However, abusing the rights of workers amounts to violation of the law. They are exploiting the rights of workers. When an MOU worker comes to Thailand, he or she has to pay Baht 1,000 for social security fees. So, they must be sent to the clinic when he or she is ill. They are entitled to receive treatments in Thailand as soon as they arrive in Thailand. Moreover, they have bought health insurance policies to receive treatments at government hospitals. The Thai government knows all these and that the military junta in Myanmar will not pressure on such issues. As there are many serious problems in Myanmar, labour issues are not taken seriously by government agencies."

Myanmar workers.

In sending MOU workers to Thailand, some agencies are sending more workers than employers have requested and asking for quitting fees from workers who leave jobs because they are not employed in jobs that are not stated in their contracts.

Executive Director U Htoo Chit from the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI, "In principle, employers are required to issue job quitting permits if they cannot employ their workers in jobs stated in their contracts. Some companies issue such permits but others ask for job-quitting fees from workers. Therefore, it is very difficult for workers because they cannot seek jobs for other employers without the permit. As a result, they have become illegal migrant workers."

Overseas employment agencies play an important role in exploitation of MOU workers and workers are required to scrutinize their agencies thoroughly before they are sent to Thailand, according to labour activists in Thailand.
Moreover, responsible officials from the Myanmar embassy in Thailand take effective measures to protect the rights of workers when workers stage protests, they said.

Myanmar workers in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.

Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, "Responsible officials from the embassy seek compensation when Myanmar workers die and have been incinerated to save face for themselves in front of the bereft families. Myanmar labour attaches rarely offer assistance to Myanmar workers on the ground. That is why, labour activists including me, private organizations and other Myanmar people have to offer assistance to workers who are in trouble. This indicates the labour ministry of our country is corrupted and is seeking self-interests."

Labour activists based in Thailand said workers would not face exploitation if labour officials at the embassy handled labour issues seriously.

The Ministry of Labour of Myanmar resumed sending workers to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries in May, 2022 and has sent about 100,000 workers to the neighbouring country so far.