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CNI News
1 August 2022
Shanni Youth Network in Hpakant Township issued a statement strongly condemning the beating and abduction of its member Sai Yay Kyaw, who lived in Hongpar Village, Hpakant Township in Mohnyin District by an identified armed group.
Sai Yay Kyaw was fetching his wife in Nantparhoke Village when an armed group in two Pajeros beat and abducted him in the back of a car, according to the statement.
Sai Yay Kyaw is a famous instructor of singing, dances and music for the promotion of Shanni literature and culture as well as a member of the Red Cross Society.
The statement strongly condemned the unlawful abduction of him.
Sai Yay Kyaw and friends.
Frequent abductions, torture and killings of Shanni ethnic members and activists by armed groups amount to violation of human rights and an attempt to instigate ethnic conflicts, the statement says.
The youth network also called for the unidentified armed group to release Sai Yay Kyaw immediately without any harm.
Similarly, an unidentified armed group shot and killed U Than Pe, a patron of Shanni Literature and Culture Committee at his house in Hongpar Village in Hpakant Township on 25th June, 2022.
Vice Chairman of Shanni Youth Network Sai Kyan Aung (a) Sai Sei Lai was arrested by the PDF on 15th June, 2022 but he was released on 24th June after Shanni and Shan civil society groups and Shanni political parties called for his release.
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1 Augsut 2022
Thai Baht and Japanese Yen saw brisk sales at money exchange counters in Yangon recently.
Most buyers were people preparing to go to work or study abroad.
“More people are buying Thai Baht. People who are preparing to go to Japan are buying Japanese Yen. Most of them are youths who are preparing to go to these countries. The sale of other foreign currencies like the Malay Ringgit is rare because people here are not going to other countries currently. As a retailer, we sell small amounts of Baht between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht to a buyer. The US$ trading is stagnant because no one wants to trade it according to designated prices, said a staff member from Khaing Money Exchange. (The name has been changed.)
When US$ are sold at money exchange counters, it is traded at designated prices of the Central Bank of Myanmar. So, no one sold US$ to money exchange counters.
Although the CBM set the price of US$ at a fixed price, the prices of US$ in the market are unstable and rose to as much as MMK 2,500 per US$ on 29th July.
Myat Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “That is what is happening in the market. If there are sellers of US$ to us at the official exchange rate, we buy and sell the same amount to buyers at the government approved rates. If there is no one who sells US$ to us at the official rate, we explain to buyers thoroughly that there are few people who trade US$ at the official rate. Trading US$ has halted and we have only a little work to do.”
As only a few people sell US$ at money exchange counters recently, the counters have halted their operations due to shortages of US$.
Aye Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “We temporarily halted currency trading due to price instabilities. No one come to us to sell US$ at the official exchange rate. We are allowed to buy US$ only at the official rate. So, people do not come to us to sell their US$.”
Currently, the MMK has depreciated against foreign currencies and prices of foreign currencies like US$, Baht, Yuan are rising against the MMK, pushing commodity prices up in the market.
Furthermore, those who are trying to work abroad are also incurring more costs, according to overseas employment agencies.
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1 Augsut 2022
After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, resistance forces have rejected the democratic political exits rolled out by the chairman of the SAC, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at the SAC meeting held on 29 July that the SAC carried out tasks in accordance with the constitution and democratic political exits had been rolled out.
Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI, “After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, the public and the opposition against the SAC seemed to categorically decided that there is nothing to negotiate in blood debts as they vowed previously. So, I think that the time has arrived when the political forces are not interested in the political exits and elections rolled out by the SAC.”
An SAC meeting.
The SAC chairman said that the Tatmadaw has to assume state responsibilities in accordance with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy elections.
The SAC chairman said, “The Tatmadaw had to assume state responsibilities in line with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy general election. The Tatmadaw is performing its duties in accordance with the constitution as much as possible while rolling out political exits. Except for instigating instabilities, conferences and meetings of political parties as well as those between them have been permitted and democratic political exits have been offered.”
A conference of the SNLD in progress.
However, the chairman did not elaborate on circumstances in which political parties were allowed to hold meetings and conferences.
The Mon Unity Party held its conference from 18th to 20 March, 2020 while the conference of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy took place on 26th and 27th May.
Myanmar has been in a political crisis and armed conflicts are raging in the entire country, leaving more than one million people displaced, according to the United Nations.
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1 August 2022
It is understood that the Tatmadaw had asked the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army to withdraw from their three camps over security concerns, General Secretary Sai Leik of the SNLD told the CNI.
The Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the United Wa State Army and it was possible that the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw camps on the Sanin mountain range, he added.
Sai Leik told the CNI, “ The problem at Mong Hsu and Tangyan is not the one that arose recently. It started in June, when the Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the UWSA, as far as I know. The alliance of the SSPP and the UWSA has controlled Shan State (South) including Panglong area and Phalaing and Mong Pyin to the west of Sanin Mountain, providing easy access to Kyauk Gu, Indaw which is adjacent to Lawksawk, that is too close to security lines of the Tatmadaw. So, it asked the SSPP to withdraw from the three camps in Monghsu. In my opinion, if the SSPP withdraws its troops in the western part of Panglong because it cannot withdraw from the three camps, the issue can be solved.”
The map of locations of the SSPP camps, from which the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw their troops.
The SSPP replied on 22 July that they could not withdraw troops from the three camps.
The most appropriate solution to the political crisis is the complete withdrawal from politics and ceasefire in the entire country and remaining issues can be solved through negotiations, Sai Leik added.
However, Director U Thein Tun Oo of Strategic Studies told the CNI that the Tatmadaw needed to solve security issues first and was likely to respond to regional instabilities.
U Thein Tu Oo said, “Security issues are priorities that the Tatmadaw has focused on. It doesn’t matter whether the SSPP cooperates with the UWSA or not, the main issue is that if the camps threaten the stability and security of the areas, the Tatmadaw is likely to respond to the issue. It is difficult to comment on the relations between the two EAOs because I don’t know the nature of their relations in detail. However, it is more likely that the Tatmadaw is responding to military threats and regional instabilities.”
Tatmadaw and SSPP representatives hold negotiations on 14th July, 2022.
The Tatmadaw sent a letter to SSPP on 4th July to withdraw three SSPP camps active in Loinoi and Manwain in Monghsu Township by 10th June and another letter to do so by 30th June but the SSPP refused the retreat from the areas.
As the situation remained tense, representatives of both sides met for negotiations on 14 July but the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw the camps within seven days. The SSPP has sent a letter, refusing to withdraw its troops.
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CNI News
30 July 2022
As Thailand has planned to employ Myanmar workers to solve labour shortages and issues of illegal workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers to Thailand, labour activists told the CNI.
Thailand currently needs 500,000 foreign workers and plans are underway to employ workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. As Thailand has planned to employ the largest number of Myanmar workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers.
The kingdom will employ foreign workers under the existing MOU system as well as the border pass system and issuing temporary work permits (Baht pink card) to illegal workers, U Min Oo, a labour activist from FED.
U Min Oo said, “It is true that they have approved the plan but they haven’t issued a statement about it. They haven’t announced the date to implement the plan. They said they would give priority to the MOU system and then would allow people from ten border provinces to apply for border passes under section 64 to work in Thailand. However, it will be difficult for them to employ 500,000 foreign workers. Even now we have been able to send only tens of thousands of Myanmar workers. I think they will have to issue official permits to illegal workers.”
A Baht pink card. (KIC)
Thai authorities rarely issue Baht pink cards but illegal workers should try to receive those cards, which guarantee full labour rights, Executive Director U Htoo Chit told the CNI.
U Htoo Chit said, “Situations are different from one province to another. Migrant workers can earn a basic salary of Baht 320 to 340. It also depends on skills and types of job. Most importantly, they can enjoy the benefits of social security funds. They will be able to change jobs if they do not like their current jobs. They will be able to enjoy full labour rights. Pink card holders can enjoy the same rights as MOU workers.”
Thailand has planned to employ more than one million foreign workers by 13 February 2025 and pink card holders, who are required to renew their cards once a year, are also included under the scheme.
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30 July 2022
Trishaw operators in Thingangyum Township in Yangon Region have begun installing electric systems on their trishaws to transport passengers.
Since electric trishaws could reduce the use of physical strength and increase incomes, operators started installing electric systems on the trishaws, Ko Than Cho, a trishaw operator in Thingangyun Township told the CNI.
Ko Than Cho said, “We use electric bicycles for our trishaw because they can reduce the use of physical strength. We have to use physical strength daily. So, we are very tired and we cannot earn much. Now, we can make more money because electric trishaws reduce the use of physical strength and are three times as fast as pedal trishaws.
An electric trishaw operator and a pedal trishaw operator.
It cost MMK 300,000 to install the electric system on a trishaw previously but the cost increased to as much as MMK 470,000 recently.
Electric trishaws were introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of electric trishaws has increased gradually. Now, there are at least three trishaws at a trishaw stand.
However, pedal trishaw operators who cannot afford to install the electric system see their incomes drop due to their electric rivals, said U Kyaw Myint, a pedal trishaw operator.
He said, “Whether to install the electric system or not depends on investment because it costs as much as MMK 700,000 to do so. I don’t have that much money and I have to pedal my trishaw as much as my physical strength allows me. When they have completed three trips, we can make only one trip. Passengers also want to get to their destinations faster. We are old and very slow. So, passengers prefer electric trishaws.”
A trishaw installed with the electric system.
There are more than 100 electric trishaws in Thingangyun Township, especially near Nga Moe Yeik and Sanpya Market wards.
Licenses have been issued for pedal trishaws by the Yangon City Development Committee, which haven’t issued licenses to electric trishaws.
However, action is not taken against electric trishaw operators because they follow traffic rules like their pedal counterparts.
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30 July 2022
Duwa Lashi La, the acting president of the National Unity Government, has urged political parties on 28th July not to contest the elections held by the State Administration Council.
In his emergency state of the union address, he urged political parties to reject the elections to be held as its political exit in 2023 by the SAC.
He said, “Finally, I would like to call for political parties not to support and contest the elections to be held in 2023 as their political exit by Min Aung Hlaing and the junta.”
Elections are peaceful means of resolving political issues and the Pao National Organization would contest the elections held by the government, Secretary-2 Khun Tun Shwe of the PNO told the CNI.
Khun Tun Shwe said, “The PNO will uphold peaceful means of resolving political issues and elections are peaceful means. Only when elections are held, will the public be able to participate in politics gradually as they did previously. We urge the government to hold elections to establish a government of the people as soon as possible when stability has been restored. Only then, will the military be able to withdraw from politics. We will contest the elections held by the SAC.”
The Arakan National Party.
Similarly, Political Bureau Member U Tun Aung Kyaw of the Arakan National Party told the CNI that political parties would be abolished if they did not contest in at least three constituencies under the political parties registration law.
He said, “From the point of view of law, we have the political parties registration law which has been accepted by successive governments. Under the law, if a political party has been registered with the union election commission, it will have to contest in at least three constituencies. Otherwise, it will be abolished by the commission under the law.”
The SAC chairman promised to hold elections in 2023.
The Mon Unity Party.
The Mon Unity Party is a political party officially registered with the Union Election Commission and if it does not contest elections, the party will be abolished. Therefore, we will have to contest elections whosoever holds, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than told the CNI.
He said, “As I always said, if an officially registered political party does not contest elections, it will be abolished. So, we will have to contest elections whosoever holds.”
Currently, there are 92 political parties officially registered with the Union Election Commission, according to the UEC.
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29 July 2022
As checkpoints have tightened security control on transportation of goods from the mainland including Yangon to Rakhine State, the commodity flow slowed down and truck drivers had to wait for a long time to pass through checkpoints, resulting in rising prices of goods in Rakhine State, according to local residents in Rakhine State.
Security was tightened at the checkpoint Ann Township at the entrance to Rakhine State and trucks had to wait three day to one week to pass through the checkpoint. As a result, goods were delayed and prices rose, U Aung Kyaw Mya, a local resident, told the CNI.
“As inspections are carried out thoroughly for goods transported from the mainland to Rakhine State at the checkpoint in Ann, one of the entrances to the state, goods have been delayed. So, prices have risen when the goods were delivered to us. All goods can be transported with the permission of the regional Ministry of Border Affairs and Security. It is very difficult to get permission. Even when the permission has been received, the inspected goods very thoroughly. So, goods are delayed unnecessarily,” he explained.
Some goods were in shortages frequently due to delays, according to local residents.
Moreover, goods that were transported via waterway due to road restrictions were also delayed, an official at Lay Wadi Construction Materials Shop in Kyauktaw told the CNI.
Freight trucks and passengers being inspected at a checkpoint in Rakhine State.
“Currently, we are transporting our goods via waterway from Yangon to Sittwe and again use road transportation here. So, commodity flow is again delayed due to various difficulties. Inspection is tightened everywhere. In the past, about 50 trucks operated along the Asia Highway but there are only ten trucks on the highway. We can’t understand why the trucks were delayed,” she said.
Furthermore, NRC cards are also being checked in townships in Rakhine State and even travel from one township to another is controlled tightly.
Transportation of goods, fertilizers, cement and some items were restricted in the past, but electric equipment and medicine are also permitted to be carried with the permission of the regional border affairs and security ministers currently, Ko Moe Oo of Shwe Pyi Thit Passengers and Goods Transport told the CNI.
“Roads are in very bad conditions and vehicles have to face difficulties. And they are closed at 6 pm. It takes two to three days to travel a trip that took only one day previously. As there are checkpoints, commodities are in short supply. Truck drivers cannot transport refrigerators, wires and medicines without the permission of the regional ministry of border affairs and security. Without the permissions, trucks had to stop at checkpoints for a long time and were allowed to continue when some money was given to them,” a local resident said.
As the control of goods was tightened in Rakhine State and transportation was delayed, some goods were damaged and local farmers suffered losses.
In addition, travels between the northern and southern parts of Maungdaw Township, commodity flow in the northern part was disrupted and some commodities are in shortages, according to local residents.
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29 July 2022
The Kachin Independence Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army told the CNI that they had no decision on whether to join the second round of peace talks invited by the SAC or not.
KIA spokesperson Col Naw Bu said that the central committee of the KIA had no decision on whether to join the peace talks and their current stance was the same as that in the statement issued on 5th May.
He said, “Our central committee doesn’t have any decision on whether to join the peace talks. Our stance will be the same as that in the statement issued on 5th May. Nothing has changed.”
The KIA issued a statement on 5th May that they would not attend the peace talks offered by the SAC because there was no agenda on political dialogues and those who should be invited were not done so.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets the vice chairman of the UWSA.
The SAC has designated the National Unity Government and the People’s Defence Force as terrorists organizations.
There were no discussions about joining the second round of peace talks, The NDAA (Mongla) General Secretary U Kyi Myint told the CNI.
U Kyi Myint said, “We haven’t had any discussion about it so far. Recently, we have been busy with COVID-19 prevention and other issues. We haven’t had any communication with them recently.”
During the first round of peace talks invited by the SAC, the NDAA, the Shan State Reconstruction Army (RCSS/SSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) held separate negotiations with the SAC.
However, the KIA, the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Bruma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) refused to join the talks.
During the 18th press conference held on 26th July 2022, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that preparations were being made for the second round of peace talks.
However, the SAC has not disclosed the organizations that will join the peace talks so far.