CNI News

29 Sept 2022

Farmers, Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association and the Ministry of Agriculture have planned to discuss sugarcane prices for the upcoming milling season, according to the MSCRPA.

The meeting is scheduled for October or November and will focus on the floor price of sugarcane per ton, fuel oil needs and transportation, Chairman U Win Htay of the MSCRPA told the CNI.

“We just aim to negotiate sugarcane prices set by sugar mills in respective regions and transportation between mills and farmers in cooperation with the ministry. And we will apply for diesel if they need it. For instance, the floor price of sugarcane was set at MMK 90,000 per ton in northern Shan State So, we need to look at prices in other parts of the country like Sagaing, which may set the prices at MMK 85,000 or 90,000 per ton depending on profitability of millers. Some mills are very small and they may set the floor price at less than MMK 90,000 per ton. There will be only a little price gap.”

Negotiations among farmers, the association and the ministry will lead to transparency about sugarcane prices and help farmers to decide the cultivation acreage of sugarcane for the upcoming season, U Win Htay added.

Ground sugarcane is being collected at a sugar mill. (GETTY IMAGES)

He told the CNI, “Advantages are that millers can estimate prices and farmers can transparently how much their local mills set the floor price at, how much it costs them to purchase and transport sugarcane and how much profits they can enjoy. So, they can decide whether to expand or decrease sugarcane acreage in the upcoming season.”
Farmers and millers in the entire country have been invited to the meeting, which is scheduled in Nay Pyi Taw, and sugar merchants will also be welcomed there as sugarcane prices depend on that of sugar.

It would be beneficial for farmers only if the floor price is set at MMK 90,000 per ton at the meeting, U Maung Swe, a sugarcane farmer from Sagaing Region, told the CNI.
“At the current sugar prices, the floor price of sugarcane can be set at MMK 90,000 per ton and this will be beneficial for both farmers and millers. Only then, will farmers be willing to cultivate sugarcane in the upcoming season. We will have to ask for higher floor prices.”

Current purchasing floor prices are set at MMK 90,000 per ton in Ngweyeepale Sugar Mill in Shan State (North) but other mills in other regions have not said officially they will pay the same price.

Sugarcane farmers in Sagaing Region are also calling on Great Wall Wilmar Sugar Mill to give the same price.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

Only around 20 out of more than 5,000 Rakhine applicants in Malaysia have received refugee cards from the UNHCR in the country, Chief Patron Sayadaw U Ottara of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.

The CAR has helped the refugees apply for refugee cards to the UNHCR for two months, Sayadaw added.

Sayadaw U Ottara told the CNI, “So many people who are getting into trouble have applied for refugee cards from the UNHCR. Even refugees contacted to the Centre for Arakan Refugees have faced a lot of hardship. They didn’t have food and shelter. According to statistics we collected, there are about 5,000 to 6,000 have sought help from us. We helped them apply for UNHCR refugee cards online. We have also issued Rakhine refugee cards from our centre. They have applied for UNHCR refugee cards for two months and only about 20 of them have received the refugee cards. The number is too low. The UNHCR refugee card is very helpful. Muslims and other ethnic groups like members of Chin ethnic group can easily receive the cards. Some members of the Bamar ethnic group also sometimes get the cards.”

UNHCR refugee cards.

The CAR is offering assistance to Rakhine nationals who are waiting for UNHCR refugee cards by helping look for jobs and providing healthcare services.

Other nationals and ethnic groups are also helping members of their groups who are waiting for UNHCR refugee cards.

There are members of many ethnic groups from Myanmar in Malaysia and as all of them are having a hard time, UNHCR should help them equally, Sayadaw U Ottara said.

He told the CNI, “The UNHCR should treat them equally because not only Muslims and the Chin but also other ethnic groups are in trouble. The UNHCR in Malaysia should help them equally and issue refugee cards to all of them without discrimination.”

The Malaysian government and the UNHCR are currently holding negotiations. As the number of refugees in Malaysia is always increasing, the government has to take the issue seriously while it is impossible for the UNHCR to neglect the refugees.

Volunteers offering help to migrants to apply for refugee cards.

Undocumented migrants in Malaysia have lost their rights to work, health and education, Vice Chairman Ko Aung Min Thu of the ARRC told the CNI.

He said, “I want the UN and the Malaysian government to reach agreements as soon as possible because the situation in Myanmar has been deteriorating day by day. We can rely only on the UN in Malaysia. The UN take human rights and humanitarian issue into consideration but the country is a sovereign state. The country is owned by the people and the government. So, it cannot do as it wishes and has to seek approval from the government. It has to negotiate with the government. We will be able to enjoy benefits based on outcomes of their negotiations and will be safe. So, we want them to reach agreements as soon as possible.”

The UNHCR office in Malaysia is processing the application of refugee cards via its website but there are many refugees who do not understand the process. Refugees are not allowed to apply for the cards in person and fill all required personal data in the form at the UNHCR Malaysia website.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

The National Unity Government should have the centralized command over all People’s Defence Forces, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

He added that the NUG has not been able to control all PDFs effectively and it is the responsibility of the NUG to lay down political objectives for the forces.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Recently, Brigade (1) of the Karen National Union issued rules for PDFs. I don’t know if the brigade issued the rules for the KNU or for areas under its control. Some brigades may have friendly relations with PDFs while others may not. So, such rules may have been issued. Needless to say, the NUG is responsible for all this, I think. As the NUG is not able to exert effective control over PDFs, which are spread over a wide area with their own leadership. The NUG must also be able to control them politically. PDFs are just armed forces and the NUG must be able to lay down political objectives for them. Therefore, the NUG must try to do everything for them including disputes, future military cooperation and communications among them.”

Recently, Brigade (1) of the KNU issued 25 rules that must be observed by resistance forces in areas under its control.

NUG Prime Minister Mann Win Khaing Than and members of the PDF.

Under the rules, resistance forces in the areas are required to follow instructions and rules issued from time to time by leaders of the brigade and district level officers, to perform duties in an accountable manner and to take measures to systematically enforce rules issued by relevant battalions and units as well as localized rules.

The rules issued by Brigade (1) of the KNU seemed to be a warning for uniformity of rules and regulations in areas under its control, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

  The statement of Brigade (1) of the KNU.

He said, “PDGs are cooperating with the KNU in various fields and in many areas. There are local PDFs in all seven brigades of the KNU. Some PDFs may be under the direct command of the NUG but some of them are cooperating directly with the KNU as independent PDFs. So, the brigade issued rules for uniformity of military goals and rules among all resistance forces.”

Since the Tatmadaw ousted the civilian government on 1^st February, 2022, protests have broken out in the entire country and some protestors have taken shelter in areas under the control of ethnic armed organizations and taken part in the armed struggle and through other means.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

Members of the Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Services Association has called for the distribution of Russian fuel oil at stable prices for a certain period of time.
Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun, the leader of the information team of the SAC, said that fuel oil imported from Russia would mainly be distributed to freight and passenger transportation services and railway enterprises.

Chairman U Kyin Thein of the MHFTSA told the CNI that fuel prices fluctuated wildly on a daily basis and his association called for distribution of fuel oil at stable prices for a certain period of time, adding that such a move could lower commodity prices.

Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun. (AFP)

He said, “If fuel prices drop, it will be beneficial for transportation services. At present, all service fees we receive have to spend on fuel and we are not able to enjoy the benefits from our services. As fuel prices have risen on a daily basis, we cannot enjoy the benefits of our services and are having a hard time. Moreover, transportation services are undergoing a difficult situation at the moment with various challenges. If the government can subsidize fuel for transportation services, commodity prices will fall, I think.”

At present, transportation services are facing difficulties in setting service fees due to fluctuating fuel prices while suffering losses when fuel prices rose dramatically.

Moreover, regions and states that are remote from the Thilawa Terminal, from which fuel is mainly distributed to the entire country, received lower fuel rations, according to filling stations.
Therefore, fuel imported from Russia should also be rationed to all licensed filling stations as much as they can store, a filling station owner in Taungup Township in Rakhine State told the CNI.

A tank truck carrying fuel oil. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, “We have to buy fuel from the company by applying for permission and waiting for a certain time. It takes two days to submit the application and another one day to receive the approval. It takes altogether seven days to get fuel but we are allowed to buy only a little fuel or about 3,640 or 2,189 litres. There is a large gap between the demand and the supply of our filling station. Ours is a licensed filling station. Licensed stations are classified as A, B and C depending on their storage capacities. So, imported fuel from Russia should also be distributed to licensed filling stations based on their storage capacities. At present, we are forced to buy fuel indirectly through the company.”

Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the 20th press conference on 20 September, 2022 that Myanmar was importing fuel from Russia and the imported fuel would arrive in Myanmar soon but he did not elaborate on the exact date the fuel will arrive.

CNI News

27 Sept 2022

Bamar state issue- should be discussed after the overthrow of the junta, Political Analyst and Chinese affairs expert Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

Emphasis should currently be placed on the common goal of overthrowing the junta and the issues of establishing new states should be addressed later, she said.

She told the CNI, “I don’t understand the issue much. We have the only common goal to topple the junta. I will be more beneficial for all if the issues of new states are discussed after the overthrow of the junta. The task in hand is to unite all the forces that are against the junta and to fight against it until we win victory. I think other issues can be solved gradually later. To oust the junta and to restore peace and stability is more important than other issues. As long as the junta is in existence, no one would achieve anything even if new states are established. So, I think we would be able to take further steps after winning a decisive victory over the junta by eliminating it.”

Ethnic youths in Maijaryan in July 2016.

On 1^st February, 2022, the Tatmadaw ousted the government of the National League for Democracy by declaring a state of emergency after accusing the latter of forming a new government without addressing voters’ list issues in the 2020 general election.

Then, revolutionary forces are fighting against the Tatmadaw in cooperation with some ethnic armed organizations.

Some agreements over the formation of new states have been reached in the Union Accord, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

He said, “It is agreed in the part one of the union accord that a union based on democracy and federalism must be made up of regions/state. So, we understand that we will have to discuss whether an area should be a state or a region. It was also agreed that states/regions have equal status and their names will be discussed later. So, we understand that we need time and effort to discuss the matter.”

The union peace conference is in progress.

The 8-state solution is based on equal status of all states and calls for the establishment of a Bamar state as other ethnic groups have their own states.

Under the 2008 constitution, there are seven regions, seven states, one self-administered region, five self-administered zones and one Nay Pyi Taw Council Area in Myanmar.

Moreover, the Shanni, the Ta’aung (Palaung), the Wa and the Pa-O have called for establishment of their states while Mongla (Special Region-4) has aimed to establish a self-administered region/

CNI News

27 Sept 2022

Mizoram University (MZU) in northeastern India is launching a Myanmar language course for foreigners in October, Dr. Mary of the Institute of Chin Affairs told the CNI.

The course will cover the Myanmar alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, speaking and writing.

The first program of its kind is jointly launched by the ICA and the MZU and will be led by Dr. Elis, Dr. Mary told the CNI.

She said, “We proposed a program to establish a research centre at the university but they asked us whether we could teach the Myanmar language at their campus, which also has other language courses. So, we agreed to teach the Myanmar language at the university. We don’t know if there are Myanmar students at the university but the course aims to teach the Myanmar language to foreigners, especially Indian nationals.”

Myanmar refugees in Mizoram State. (GETTY IMAGES)

The MZU is a state-owned university and Dr. Elis, who is teaching Myanmar language at the university, received a Ph.D. in Myanmar language.

The 10-month course is divided into two semesters, Dr. Elis told the CNI.

She said, “It is a diploma course, which is divided into two 5-month semesters, and will focus on speaking but will also teach writing depending on the levels of learners. The university does not have a Myanmar language department. So, it hired me as the only Myanmar language teacher. We haven’t known how many students will attend the course. The aim of the course is to teach Myanmar language to students at the university but outside learners will also be admitted. I will use the curriculum of a partnership organization called MLT. As the university has never offered Myanmar language courses as a specialization, it may be a little difficult to teach it for the first time there.”

The university will collect Rupee 1,000 (MMK 35,000) for a learner, who will also have to pay Rupee 1,200 (MMK 42,000) for teaching materials including the textbooks.

Protestors calling for the restoration of democracy. (Frontier Myanmar)

The university also teaches other languages and the opportunity to teach the Myanmar language there is something to be proud of, Dr. Mary of the ICA told the CNI.

She said, “Teaching our own official language at a university in another country is something to be proud of. As India is a neighbour of Myanmar, it has economic relations with Myanmar and needs to understand Myanmar people. The Myanmar language is important for understanding Myanmar. In short, it is something to be proud of.”

Mizoram shares more than 300 miles of border with Myanmar and there are about 50,000 Myanmar refugees who took shelter in Mizoram after the declaration of a state of emergency in Myanmar on 1st February, 2021, according to local news agencies and civil society organizations.

About 30,000 Myanmar refugees received registration cards, which allow them to live temporarily in the state, issued by the state government.

CNI News

27 September 2022

As searches have intensified at checkpoints along routes leading to Rakhine State, there are long queues of cargo trucks, border trade between Rakhine State and Bangladesh has been delayed, according to merchants.

Cargo trucks from Yangon normally took only two days to get to Rakhine State, it currently takes them almost three days to reach the western state due to intensified searches, failing to export goods to Bangladesh in time and decreasing their prices, General Secretary U Aung Aung of the Rakhine Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the CNI.

 A road junction in Rakhine State.

He said, “When fish are exported, we must transport them to Rakhine State within 48 hours or two days but it now takes three days to do so because searches are intensified along the route. Cargo trucks fail to get to the border in time. It takes 5 days for fish trucks to get to Bangladesh and prices drop while higher service fees such as freezing costs and the falling fish prices in the market.”

Travelling along waterways and roads in Rakhine State are permitted when travellers can show their citizenship registration cards. Therefore, some passenger buses and cargo trucks have to wait two to three days at checkpoints.

Moreover, trading land routes to Maungdaw has been blocked and border trade between Maungdaw and Bangladesh has come to halt.

At present, merchants are exporting goods that are transported from Pauktaw by small boat, according to U Aung Naing, a merchant from Maungdaw.

   Personnel of the AA forces.

He told CNI, “We have almost nothing to export because routes have been closed for 20 days or so. Exports have halted because we have nothing to export. Only a few goods from Pauktaw can be transported by small boat. The goods are stored at the jetty and carried by light truck every two or three days because we are not allowed to use heavy trucks.”

Searches conducted by authorities should not hamper the commodity flow and trade in the state, said merchants and entrepreneurs.

Although the number of checkpoints in Rakhine State increased in 2020 but searches did not intensify. Since the resumption of fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw, searches have intensified.

Currently, there are more than 20 checkpoints between Sittwe and Ann including checkpoints at Sittwe Military Police gate, Kyauktan gate, Kyauktaw Military Police gate and gates at battalion 371,372 and 373 gates.

CNI News

26 Sept 2022

Assistance Committee for Internally Displaced Persons in Namtu in Shan State (North) has filed an appeal to postpone the relocation of IDP camps until students have completed the current academic year, an official of the committee told the CNI.

Authorities have asked the IDP camps in early September to shut them down by the end of October.

The committee official said, “We have filed an appeal to relocate the camps in the upcoming April because children of IDPs are still studying at schools but haven’t received their reply. If our request is successful, their children will be able to go to school until April conveniently.”

Shan, Lisu and Kachin IDP camps in Namtu Township house more than 500 people from 100 households.

A scene in Namtu. (GETTY IMAGES)

As there are no armed conflicts in Kyaukme Township, authorities have asked IDPs to return home, Chairman U Tin Maung Thein of Kyaukme Township Jivitadana Social Assistance Association told the CNI.

He said, “In the past, fighting broke out between the Restoration Council of Shan State and the alliance of the Shan State Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. Now, there is no armed clash in their area and the IDPs were told to return to their former villages.”

IDPs in Namtu.

Armed clashes between the RCSS on the one hand and the SSPP, the TNLA, the Kachin Independence Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on the other hand break out in Shan State (North). The EAOs also fight against the Tatmadaw.

An official from the IDP committee told the CNI, “There is no armed clashes but some EAOs may be still active in the areas. So, some IDPs are thinking about collectively buying land near the camp and settling there. Some of them decided to go back to their former villages while others are considering renting houses in villages near their camps.”

There are about 15,000 IDPs in 26 IDP camps in Kutkai, Namkham, Namtu, Manton, Lashio and Hseinni in northern Shan State, according to the Shwephimyay News Agency.

CNI News

26 Sept 2022

The SAC has planned to import fertilizers from Russia and farmers have called for the distribution of the fertilizers at less than MMK 100;000 per bag (50-Kg), some farmers told the CNI.

U Khin Maung Myint, an onion farmer, said, “I think they will import fertilizers at about MMK 70,000 per bag. Fertilizers must meet standards and their prices must be reasonable. We cannot afford fertilizers at current prices of MMK 170,000 per bag. If the prices fall below MMK 100,000 per bag, farmers can afford fertilizers. It is important that prices must be reasonable. They can distribute fertilizers through any system they like.”

Currently, Myanmar imports fertilizers from China, Thailand and Bangladesh and the prices have risen to MMK 170,000 per bag, according to farmers.

Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun told reporters at the 20^th Press Conference that the SAC signed an MOU to import fertilizers from Russia and farmers told the CNI that they welcomed the move.

  A woman harvesting paddy.

Chairman U Thein Aung of the Farmers Development Association told the CNI, “It can be said that they have done what they should. The most important thing at the moment is to boost paddy yields and not to reduce the total acreage of the crop. Among the inputs for cultivation of paddy, fertilizers are very important. It costs MMK 300,000 to feed an acre of paddy. They have to use at least two bags of Urea fertilizer. The most input is fertilizers. If the government can distribute fertilizers, whether they are produced locally or imported, at reasonable prices, decrease in total acreage and yields of paddy can be prevented. So, importing fertilizers is what the government should do without fail. I think the government is carefully placing emphasis on agriculture. We are glad and welcome the move. Farmers can afford fertilizers if they distribute them below MMK 100,000.”

Although they have never used Russian fertilizers, Myanmar farmers said Russian fertilizers would be effective like others imported from China, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Farmer U Aung Kyaw Mya told the CNI that authorities should distribute imported fertilizers into the hands of farmers directly when the fertilizers arrive in Myanmar.

 A paddy field.

“Under successive governments, outcomes have nothing to do with the objective. Authorities should try to distribute fertilizers into the hands of real farmers directly so that they can use fertilizers in their farms. If fertilizers fall into the hands of people who have enough money and we are forced to buy fertilizers from them, we will have to pay higher prices. We won’t get what the government gives us. So, authorities should distribute fertilizers into the hands of farmers directly by verifying with their Forms Seven.”

If the fertilizers are to be rationed, the government should distribute at least one bag of fertilizer for one acre of farmland and relevant ministries should issue standards of procedures to distribute fertilizers into the hands of farmers directly so that they can enjoy as much benefit as they should.

Currently, farmers have reduced their crop acreage due to skyrocketing prices of fertilizers and are even thinking about whether they should cultivate summer paddy or not.

If fertilizers imported from Russia can be distributed at reasonable prices, crop yields can be maintained at former levels, according to farmers.