CNI News

6 Oct 2022

Plans are underway to organize the Ngapali Autumn Festival at the Ngapali Beach in Thandwe Township in Rakhine State, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Hotels in Ngapali are preparing to provide services to visitors for the festival, Director U Tin Tun Aung of Rakhine State Hotels and Tourism Department told the CNI.

U Tin Tun Aung said, “We are making arrangements for the festival in November as we did last year. Last year, we held the festival on 14th November. I think the festival will be organized during the same period. In October, the rainy season has not ended. As the Ngapali is a major tour destination, hotels in the region are preparing services to the guests. During the rainy season, there were only a few guests.”

A sand pagoda.

The festival is usually held for five days and includes events such as market fairs, Rakhine traditional wrestling, volleyball, bicycle, running, climbing oiled posts, tug of war and sand pagoda designs.

Authorities are preparing for health and safety issues of visitors and services for them, according to officials of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Although the Ngapali Beach is relatively stable in comparison with other areas in the state, fighting has flared in other parts of the state, authorities are required to guarantee the security of the visitors, Managing Director U Thet Lwin of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism told the CNI.

 A sculpture of a fish made in the sand.

He said, “It is difficult to predict the situation precisely because Rakhine State is not a government-controlled area. However, unlike the northern Rakhine State, Ngapali is located in the southern state. However, it is too difficult to predict what will happen to the state. Everyone whether they are domestic or foreign tourists, should be careful. If something undesirable happens to the visitors, the image of the country will be tarnished. I think everyone should be cautious.”

As there were so many visitors to the festival last year, hoteliers have expected that there will be many visitors during the festival.

CNI News

5 October 2022

Remittance of salaries by Myanmar workers abroad to their families can bring benefits not only to the country but also to Myanmar workers abroad, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

Myanmar workers abroad are entitled to enjoy tax exemption if they can provide evidence of remitting salaries to their families through designated banks, he told the CNI.

He said, “If they remit their salaries to their families through designated banks, the remittances are incomes they legally earn. So, they can keep the remittance receipts and apply for tax exemption when they buy immovable property. If they remit their pay through the illegal hundi system, they will have to pay taxes. It is said that the government is desperately trying to receive foreign currencies but on the other hand, it is beneficial not only for the country but also for Myanmar workers abroad. As they contribute to the interests of the country, they can take pride in themselves. When they buy immovable property like land plots and apartments, they can enjoy tax exemption by submitting the remittance receipts. It is also beneficial for them.”

The SAC should try to restore public trust first if it intends to force Myanmar workers abroad to remit a certain amount of their money through designated banks, Ko Moe Lay, a Myanmar migrant worker in Thailand, told the CNI.

A site of the fishery industry.

He said, “Frankly speaking, no one has trust in the government at present. So, the SAC must try to restore public trust in it. If they have trust in the government, they will remit their money through the designated banks. If you ask me if I want to remit my money to Myanmar through the official channels, I will have to remit my money to Myanmar when the country has a trustworthy government. If I remit my money through the official channels, they will ask for NRCs and addresses and charge higher service fees than before whether the remittances are made through designated banks or Wave Money. We don’t see any benefits for us in it.”

Currently, the government is holding discussions over the amount migrant workers are required to remit through official channels and nothing has been approved.

A present, most Myanmar workers abroad do not use official remittance channels and rely on unofficial channels.

Banknotes of Myanmar and US dollars. 

Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win said, “People are talking about the move as if it were a new system. It can also contribute to the interests of the country and it is safe. Myanmar workers abroad are currently using the hundi system, which comes to them, as they cannot go to banks. As hundi system is easy to use, workers are relying on the system. Hundi businesses, which have controlled the largest market share in the market for many years, are worried about the situation. They are not pleased with the decision of the government.”

It was also said that awareness-raising campaigns will be launched among Myanmar workers abroad.

Remittance restrictions will be imposed on Myanmar workers whether they are working abroad through overseas employment agencies or on their own arrangement.

A large number of young men in Myanmar are working in other countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Dubai.

CNI News

5 Oct 2022

The SAC chairman said that efforts must be exerted to make the upcoming election free and fair.

He said at a meeting with entrepreneurs of small and medium businesses in Pyay that he had to assume the responsibilities of the state due to irregularities in the 2020 elections, which were held despite the calls to postpone them due to COVID-19.

Snr Gen said, “Economic downturn caused by irregularities in the elections and political consequences and violence can be overcome with the cooperation of the government, the people and the Tatmadaw. As voting irregularities led to the current situation, it is necessary to exert efforts to make the upcoming elections free and fair.”

The elections held by the SAC will never be free nor fair, Advocate U Kyee Myint told the CNI.

A woman casts her vote during the 2020 general elections. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, “If leaders of the NUG, forces of the Spring Revolution and EAOs fail to put effective pressure on the SAC, it will hold the elections without fail because it is their exit and lifesaver. It is the best exit for them to trick the international community, to save their lives and to cling to power. So, they will surely hold the elections forcefully  regardless of whatever would happen to the public or whether the public and international community trust them or not.

Holding elections requires an environment for voters to cast their votes safely and independently, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

He said, “It is important that voters can cast their votes safely and independently. So, such an environment must be created first. Otherwise, the consequences of the election will be questionable.”

His party has yet to prepare for the elections to be held by the SAC, he added.

The SAC chairman said the council would hold elections in 2023 and would transfer power to the winning party. 

CNI News

5 Oct 2022

The government is considering the amounts to be officially remitted to families by Myanmar workers in other countries, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

He said, “It is a normal practice for migrant workers in the international community to remit their salaries back to their families through official channels. Successive governments failed to enforce the practice effectively and allowed Myanmar workers in other countries to do anything they like with their money. Actually, it is not something new. For example, the Philippines send a large number of workers to other countries. What I want to highlight is that we are just considering the enforcement of an international practice. We are still discussing the time to introduce the practice and the percentage of salaries to be remitted officially.”

The program covers workers who are going abroad under MOUs with respective countries, those who work abroad through overseas employment agencies and those who are working abroad under their own arrangements.

 Inside a garment factory.

Myanmar migrants are working not only in Thailand but also in other countries.

The minimum amount of salary to be remitted officially to families is still under discussions, said Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour.

He told the CNI, “It is too early to say how to set the rate precisely because everything is still under discussion. There are many options. It may be set by percentage or under agreements with individuals because some people are working through agencies while others are doing so under their own arrangements like chefs, pilots, air hostesses, doctors, nurses, IT experts and so on. The program must cover all of them. It must be fair and acceptable to all.”

Overseas employment agencies said they had not received any instructions over the issue.

  Inside a sawmill.

The government might be considering the issue as it desperately needs foreign currencies, Ko Nay Oo from an overseas employment agency told the CNI.

He said, “Some do not remit any money to their families while others send their money back to their families through the hundi system, which offers market exchange rates. They can remit their money through official banks but the private banks use the official exchange rate. If they offer market rates, workers abroad can send their money back to their families through banks. This will channel their foreign currencies into the banking system. Some cannot accept this.”

As there is a wide gap between the official exchange rate and the market rates, Myanmar workers in other countries use unofficial remittance services to send their money back to their families.

The Ministry of Labour said it was planning awareness-raising campaigns for Myanmar workers in other countries.

CNI News

4 Oct 2022

Negotiations are underway to launch technical cooperation with Russian ships in fishing in Myanmar waters, according to Myanmar Fisheries Federation.

As fishing boats currently used in Myanmar can catch fish up to the depth of 200 meters under sea, negotiations are being held to apply Russian technologies, which can be applied at the depths of 1,500 meters and 2,500 meters under sea, Vice Chairperson Daw Tow Nanda Tin told the CNI.

She said, “Negotiations focused on deep-sea fishing. Fishing boats in our country can catch up to the depth of 200 meters under sea. So, they cannot catch fish in waters that are deeper than 200 meters. If we can cooperate with Russia in technology, we will be able to catch fish from deeper waters and enhance our catching capacity with technological development.”

A Russian fishing boat.

Myanmar and Russia have reached agreements to cooperate in conducting surveys on stocks of fishery resources in Myanmar waters and other fields. Currently, both sides are discussing rules for cooperation, which is expected to start soon.

Cooperation in deep-sea fishing with Russia will only contribute to the government and is unlikely to have much benefit for coastal fishing and fish breeding, U Khin Maung Aye, an oyster breeder in Kyaukphyu, told the CNI.

He said, “Fish stocks have depleted in coastal areas but deeper parts of the sea are still abundant in fish resources. This will not have any impacts on ordinary people. Most fishing entrepreneurs have to invest as much as MMK 60 million and catch anchovies and cuttle fish with the use of Thai technologies. Even then, fish stocks have depleted in coastal areas. Cooperation in deep-sea fishing with Russia will contribute only to the government and ordinary people in coastal areas will not be able to enjoy much benefit.

A site of the fishing industry.

Currently, Thai technologies are being applied in fish-breeding and fishing in Myanmar. Development of the fishing industry requires not only technologies but also investment and penetration into new markets, according to fishing entrepreneurs.

Myanmar is abundant in fish resources but the country still lacks fishing equipment and technologies. As a result, Myanmar fishing boats can catch fish at the depth of a few meters under sea. By cooperating with Russia in the fishing industry, Myanmar will receive assistance in technologies and equipment, according to the Department of Fisheries and the Myanmar Fisheries Federation.

CNI News

4 Oct 2022

Two Naga youths for Tayon Village in Shinbweyan Township, Tanai District in Kachin State were conscripted by the Kachin Independence Army, local residents and Naga organizations told the CNI.

The KIA has long been conscripting Naga youths and the two youths were abducted from their home, a resident who did not want to be named for security reasons told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “The first youth was abducted at night on Saturday and the KIA tried to kidnap another youth last night but the youth managed to flee. So, the KIA abducted his elder brother for conscription. The KIA is active in our Hukaung Valley. They are recruiting new soldiers.”

Tayon is a village of about 600 households from Kachin, Naga and other ethnic groups, all of whom are conscripted regularly, according to the local resident.

Shinbweyan Township Administration Office.

The CNI contacted KIA Spokesperson Col Naw Bu, who did not answer the phone.

No one prevents anyone who voluntarily join the KIA but abducting youth at their homes for conscription is not acceptable, Ko Kyaw Lin (the name has been changed), a local resident, told the CNI.

He said, “They should not conscript Naga youths. I have nothing to say about those who join the KIA voluntarily. Some young people join the KIA voluntarily to support their parents. However, the KIA is abducting youths from their homes for conscription. It is not acceptable for me. This is my personal opinion.”

The KIA conscripts youths from other ethnic groups and gives them Kachin names, according to the local resident, who did not want to be named.

Members of Naga ethnic groups.

He said, “If we are required to enlist in armed organizations, we will join the armed forces of our ethnic group because the KIA forcibly changes names of the conscripts. As names given by their parents are not permitted to use in the KIA, it is difficult for their parents to retrace their children. They lose contact with their children. The KIA is engaging not in politics but in racial interests. It is not in our interests to join the KIA.”

Brigade (2) of the KIA is active in Hukaung Valley in Tanai Township in Kachin State.

Nga ethnic group has its own armed organizations like the NSCN and Naga PDG, which was formed during the Spring Revolution.

Most Myanmar UNHCR card holders in Malaysia refuse to register via TRIS

CNI News

3 Oct 2022

Although UNHCR card holders in Malaysia are required to register through the Tracking Refugees Information System, most Myanmar UNHCR card holders have refused to do so, according to Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.

The Minster of Home Affairs of Malaysia has adopted a policy to force UNHCR card holders through the TRIS system but most Myanmar refugees have refused to do so, Myanmar organizations told the CNI.

Secretary Steven of the Alliance of Chin Refugees told the CNI, “They are worried about their security but they think they already had UNHCR cards and do not need to worry about the system. As they have been recognized as refugees by the UN and there is no benefit for them to register through the TRIS, the UN has never encouraged them to register through the system, the main aim of it is to track the locations of refugees. The system does not protect the holder from arrests as the police do not know what the card is.”

Although most Myanmar refugees do not register through the system, some of them have already done so.

However, the UNHCR has not confirmed the adoption of the system.

   UNHCR refugee cards issued in Malaysia.

The UNHCR has unable to monitor refugees from various countries in the entire country and some of them even committed crimes there.

So, the move of the Malaysian Government could not have undesirable effects, General Secretary U Chit Kaung of the Assistance Association for Myanmar Workers in Malaysia told the CNI.
He said, “Authorities can locate suspects easily in crimes. They will issue identity cards which have microchips in the same way as Malaysian citizens. If a UNHCR card holder commits a crime, they can easily track him or her. Another factor is that there are too many UNHCR card holders in Malaysia. When they arrested illegal migrants, it was found that some were using fake UNHCR cards. I think authorities want to investigate such issues.”

He added that Malaysian government is taking such measures from the security point of view as there are too many refugees in their country.

U Chit Kaung said, “The government is taking such measures from the security perspective because there are too many foreign workers, especially illegal migrant workers and refugees in its country. However, only a few of them are officially come to the work in their country. They think they will be able to address the problems of official migrant workers, who make up only one percent of foreigner in their country. So, they record everything including passport data, work permits and fingerprints so that they can find them easily if they commit crimes. I think this will not affect the refugee status.”

It was also learnt that the process of registering for UNHCR refugees through the TRIS system is lengthy.

UNHCR cards are issued to refugees who can prove that they were abused in their home countries, according to Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.

Undocumented migrant workers lose their rights to work, health and education, according to illegal migrant workers.

CNI News

3 Oct 2022

As Shan ethnic armed organizations are distancing themselves from the ongoing Spring Revolution, some people are beginning to question their stance and have called for them to join the revolution.

Some local political observers said that it was difficult for Shan EAOs to join the revolution as they are undergoing a different situation from others and they have to take great care of areas under their control.

However, China-based Myanmar political observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw said that EAOs in Shan State were likely to join the revolution gradually.

She told the CNI that it bodes well for EAOs to hold talks in Pangsang recently. Some of them are engaging the military in armed conflicts, others are holding talks in Nay Pyi Taw but they are united. It bodes well for them. So, even SSA might join their alliance gradually. Saying that, it will not be easy form a united front because the junta will not sit idle. It will sow the seed of discord among them. All our politicians and revolutionaries are clear about that. We should do everything to undermine the junta from multiple fronts. So, EAOs will join the revolution gradually not only in Shan State but also in the entire country. Everyone must exert efforts to that end.”

Meetings between leaders of the MNDAA and the UWSA.

Under current circumstances, EAOs in Shan State are not in a position to fight the junta unitedly, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, “EAOs in Shan State are in disagreement. The Shan State Progressive Party and the Restoration Council of Shan State are fighting each other for territorial control instead of fighting the military. So, EAOs in Shan State cannot fight the military unitedly. There is a alliance of three brotherhood, which can operate in the state to some extent including the TNLA, the MNDAA, and the AA.”

Currently, the National Unity Government does not have much influence on and is less active in Shan State, he added.

 Vice Chairman Brig-Gen Tar Gyokegyar.

The SSPP, the RCSS/SSA, the UWSA, the MNDAA, the NDAA, the KIA, the TNLA, the PNLO, the LDU and many other militia groups are active in Shan State.

Among them, the UWSA, the NDAA, the SSPP, the RCSS, the PNLO and the LDU are holding peace talks with the junta while the TNLA, the KIA and the MNDAA rarely fight the junta.

Militia groups are under the command of the junta and they cannot be counted on.

The UWSA considers the current crisis a conflict between two Bamar leaders and urged them to address the issues through negotiations, according to a statement from them.

At present, joint forces of some EAOs and local PDFs are fighting against the military in Sagaing and Magway Regions and in Kayin, Kayah and Chin States.

CNI News

3 Oct 2022

Although UNHCR card holders in Malaysia are required to register through the Tracking Refugees Information System, most Myanmar UNHCR card holders have refused to do so, according to Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.

The Minster of Home Affairs of Malaysia has adopted a policy to force UNHCR card holders through the TRIS system but most Myanmar refugees have refused to do so, Myanmar organizations told the CNI.

Secretary Steven of the Alliance of Chin Refugees told the CNI, “They are worried about their security but they think they already had UNHCR cards and do not need to worry about the system. As they have been recognized as refugees by the UN and there is no benefit for them to register through the TRIS, the UN has never encouraged them to register through the system, the main aim of it is to track the locations of refugees. The system does not protect the holder from arrests as the police do not know what the card is.”

Although most Myanmar refugees do not register through the system, some of them have already done so.

However, the UNHCR has not confirmed the adoption of the system.

The UNHCR has unable to monitor refugees from various countries in the entire country and some of them even committed crimes there.

So, the move of the Malaysian Government could not have undesirable effects, General Secretary U Chit Kaung of the Assistance Association for Myanmar Workers in Malaysia told the CNI.
He said, “Authorities can locate suspects easily in crimes. They will issue identity cards which have microchips in the same way as Malaysian citizens. If a UNHCR card holder commits a crime, they can easily track him or her. Another factor is that there are too many UNHCR card holders in Malaysia. When they arrested illegal migrants, it was found that some were using fake UNHCR cards. I think authorities want to investigate such issues.”

 UNHCR refugee cards issued in Malaysia.

He added that Malaysian government is taking such measures from the security point of view as there are too many refugees in their country.

U Chit Kaung said, “The government is taking such measures from the security perspective because there are too many foreign workers, especially illegal migrant workers and refugees in its country. However, only a few of them are officially come to the work in their country. They think they will be able to address the problems of official migrant workers, who make up only one percent of foreigner in their country. So, they record everything including passport data, work permits and fingerprints so that they can find them easily if they commit crimes. I think this will not affect the refugee status.”

It was also learnt that the process of registering for UNHCR refugees through the TRIS system is lengthy.

UNHCR cards are issued to refugees who can prove that they were abused in their home countries, according to Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.

Undocumented migrant workers lose their rights to work, health and education, according to illegal migrant workers.