CNI News

17 July 2023

Dr.S. Jaishankar, Indian Minister for External Affairs and U Than Swe, Foreign Minister of the State Administration Council (SAC) discussed collaboration in security and economy between the two countries on 16th July in Bangkok, Thailand. 

U Than Swe attended the 12th Foreign ministers Meeting of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and the meeting of the foreign ministers from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). 

After that, U Than Swe separately  discussed with Dr.S. Jaishankar, and Don Pramudwinai, deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand.

U Than Swe and S.Jaishankar discussed about expanding mutual-benefit corporations including promotion of long friendly relation between Myanmar and India, border region development and integration and connection relating to security as well as closer cooperation on the regional and international affairs including Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and Bimstec.

There are Naga, Kathe,Kuki (Chin) rebels waging armed revolutions against the Indian government, using the territory of Myanmar and there are Rakhine, Chin rebels and PDFs waging armed revolutions against the Tatmadaw as well, using the territory of Myanmar. 

 Don Pramudwinai, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Thai Foreign Minister was discussing with U Than Swe, the SAC's Foreign Minister on 16th July, 2023

So,peace and stability are weak along the India-Myanmar border with the trade suspension and some Indian citizens were killed. There is an ethnic conflict between Kathe people and Kuki people in Manipur Province in India near the India-Myanmar border, resulting in instabilities.

On the other hand, Myanmar discussed with the Thai government about strengthening partnership relations, promoting trade and investment and more cooperation in UN and ASEAN on 16th July. 

There are armed organizations waging revolutions against the Tatmadaw along Thai-Myanmar border and they are the National Unity Government (NUG),People's Defense Force (PDF), Karen National Union (KNU), Karen National Progressive Party (KNPP) and Kareni National Defense Force (KNDF).

CNI News

17 July 2023

Acting president U Myint Swe, former president U Thein Sein and U Tin Aye, former chairman of the Union Election Commission were seen together with the chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) in Naypyidaw on 16th July. 

They came to attend Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing's clarification ceremony relating to the completion of the great Maravijaya Buddha Image reportedly.

CNI News

17 July 2023

The National Unity Government (NUG) has asked the US government for over 500 USD in aid in order to help and care for internally displaced persons( IDPs) and to procure non-military items, which US-based VOA news agency reported.

NUG asked 200 million USD to pay humanitarian aid to over 1.5 million IDPs, and 325 million USD, to purchase non-military drones, armored vehicles and radar surveillance equipment, NUG requested USA for a total of 525 million USD in aid.

officials from NUG and US government

US congress has enacted the 2023 US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in which Burma Act is included in order to provide aid and support for Myanmar's democracy  

CNI News

16 July 2023

Commodity prices in Myanmar came to rise in 2022 and 2023 due to not only a wide gap between production and consumption but also high cost of production, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

State-owned factories and private manufacturing enterprises which have stopped for various reasons needed to fully operate, said chairman of the SAC.

It is necessary to stop fighting in order to operate manufacturing enterprises and only when peace processes are strong, agro-based and other products can be produced, said U Thiha Paing, a businessman, to CNI News.

" Stop fighting, stop fighting, we have to shout like that. May they in peace. Only when there is peace, we can surely cultivate. Many crops are grown and many products are produced in Sagaing Region and also many other regions, but now production has decreased. So, we have to demand the two sides to be peaceful. We must push them to strengthen the peace process. Only when there is a stable situation, we can produce peacefully. If we go on like this, we will face starvation in the near future. Now it is said that there'll be a famine even in the world." he said.

A place selling lobster from a shopping mall in Yangon

Because the prices of fertilizers, pesticide, herbicide, machinery tools, fuel and engine oil used in agriculture come to rise, the prices of locally produced crops come to rise, said peasants.

If agriculture and livestock activities decrease, prices will rise. More investment in agricultural and livestock activities is needed and it is also necessary to provide support to these enterprises, said peasants.

"Input costs and labor charges are production cost. If input costs and labor charges are high, the production costs will be high and then  the price of product will go up.

Those who raise cows and chickens don't get much profit and the price of meat has decreased. If producers don't make a profit, their products will be scarce." said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association.

A view of a row of shops in a market

Raw materials, fuel, and machineries used in local manufacturing enterprises are imported. So, if international prices go up, local prices will also go up. Besides,  because the value of Myanmar Kyat and the price of USD are based, it is impossible that local prices will decrease, said peasants and businesspeople.

Because farming lands are being used to build buildings, it is affecting agricultural enterprises. So, in accordance with the law, it is necessary to strictly scrutinize and fully plant on the cultivated land, said chairman of the SAC.

CNI News
16 July 2023

As that anymore of six months has been extended to the state of emergency on 31st January in accord with the Section 425 is drawing near to expire, there are reviews and discussions among political community about whether the SAC will extend to the state of emergency any more or not.

The Commander in Chief who has taken power according to the state of emergency must hand over power to the elected government. But how the C in C will carry on after  expiry must be watched, said Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party to CNI News.

"If we review, he was given the responsibility for one year. Because it was not enough, the state of emergency was extended twice with six months each in the normal situation. After two years, the state of emergency was extended for another six months in the abnormal situation according to the Section 425. As the chairman of the SAC and C in C, he will have to decide if the state of emergency should be extended twice in the abnormal situation. He has the rights to extend the state of emergency twice in the abnormal situation, but he will try to extend the state of emergency once only, I think. So, people estimate what will happen at the end of this month. After the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on 1st August, 2023, under a transitional government, after a general election is held, he will hand over power to the elected government." he said.

acting president U Myint Swe seen in the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council

When the Tatmadaw has taken the responsibilities of the State after declaring a state of emergency according to the Section 417, there were internal/external disturbances and because the situation was not normal, the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council decided to extend the state of emergency for another six months.

It was hard to say how it might procced because security issues are being dealt at the current period, said U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, to CNI News.

" There are many reviews about it. But we have to watch. SAC has told that it will hold a general election at the parts that can be controlled. When the election is really held, whether SAC will be able to carry out for the security of the parties that will run the election  The pieces of information relating to security become to think about a lot. So, we need a little time to watch, I think. In my opinion, only after the rainy season is over, we will be able to review how that part will be possible. Now is the rainy season as well. Because the security issues are still in progress, it's very difficult to review what will happen. So, we need a liitle time to watch." he said.

while the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council was being held

The Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February, 2021 after saying that NLD tried to form a government without solving the ballot dispute that took place  
in the 2020 general election and then declared the state of emergency after which the Tatmadaw had taken the responsibilities of the State.

The state of emergency declared had been two years in January, 2023 after which, according to the Section 425, the state of emergency was extended for another six months. Although it will expire on 31st July, another six months can be extended to the state of emergency.

CNI News

15 July 2023

A bomb blast took place in front of Zwe Htet gold shop in Myoma Market in No.2 Ward in Lashio on 15th July, which injured over 10 people, said locals. 
Two men came on a motorcycle and parked the motorcycle in front of Zwe Htet gold shop and left. Soon after that, a bomb placed in the motorcycle exploded. 
six men and six women were injured due to the explosion.

Currently, the 2 people who detonated the motorcycle bomb have not been arrested reportedly. 

The two men who detonated the bomb were PDFs, said local residents and the Shan State Police Force.

However, the PDF groups active in Shan State (northern) have not issued any statement as yet in relation to the bomb blast. Not published yet.

CNI News

15 July 2023

There are reviews and discussions among political community and international diplomats whether the people of Myanmar are ready to adopt the democratic system. It has only been a few years since the democratic system was implemented in Myanmar and the people still need to know the standards of democracy, said some politicians.
Politicians are more responsible to make the people know the rules of democracy, said U Ye Tun, Myanmar political analyst to CNI News.

" A political system, especially a constitution - how should a constitution be?. It needs to have fewer flaws. What I mean is whether a constitution possibly encourages separatism or unity. And to what extent will give autonomy and self-selection to choose their governments to the units involved. They are generally decided by those who are skillful in politics and political parties. So, it's important how much the people believe in the organization or the party that will decide. What I want to say is, as a matter of fact, most of the people don't understand clearly how the constitution works and its effectiveness. If a party that they believe supports or presents something, they will also support. So, politicians are more responsible." he said.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

Although the democratic system was implemented in 2010, democracy was destroyed because the Tatmadaw took power in 2021, some people pointed out. However, he was implementing and adopting democracy, said often Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.  

Most of the people don't know the rules of democracy that the people must abide by, said U Li Paw Reh, chairman of Lisu National Development Party(Dulei Party), to CNI News.

" Our public still doesn't understand the rules of democracy, that I dare say. Democracy has its rules.It doesn't mean absolute freedom. Everyone has to abstain from making others go into trouble or embarrass others in a democracy. To tell you frankly, our democracy was fledgling. Many people think that they can do what they like,"he said.

casting ballots in an election

The fact that it is based on a multi-party democratic system is included in the 2008 Constitution. Hluttaws are formed with elected representatives and executive power can be applied.

According to the multi party democratic system, 2010 general election, 2012 by-election, 2015 general election, 2017 by-election and 2020 general election were held in Myanmar.

CNI News

15 July 2023

South Korea will apply a policy that foreign workers, including Myanmar, will be restricted from working outside the designated regions starting from September, said the people helping migrant workers in South Korea.

In the past, foreign workers were able to work in any regions in South Korea if they were matched with their documents. 

While most of foreign workers tend to seek jobs in cities only anymore, factories in remote areas are facing with a scarcity of workers. So, foreign workers have been restricted like that reportedly.  

Foreign workers are finding it difficult due to the restriction, said Ko Khant Ne Kyi, in charge of the Se Center for Supporting Migrants and Migrates in Busan to CNI News.

"Even If you are allowed to change the worksite, you can't work at the places outside the city or region where  your company is located. You must work at the place designated whether you are satisfied or not. So, there will probably be rights violations. Although some workers left current jobs because they want to go to better places, those who are really difficult to go on working at the current place suffer more." he said.

In the past, a worker had to secretly give the reason why he wanted to change the worksite to the new employer and according to the restriction, a worker must give the reason why he wants to change the worksite to the new employer reportedly.

A crowded subway station in Seoul

Due to political instabilities in Myanmar since 2021, Myanmar people have been going abroad for jobs and further studies than in the past and the number of Myanmar people who want to go to South Korea has increased. Currently, Myanmar people studying Korean have become more than pre-Covid period and those who will go to work and those who will go to work, doing further studies have increased reportedly.

" Currently, many people are interested in further studies in South Korea and because South Korea's EPS (Employment Permit System) has called more people from Myanmar, many people have left for South Korea. Like in the past, if the youths could go to the university, they might not go abroad. Due to political instability, those who want to go abroad have increased since 2021." said an official from the Royal Korean Language Center.

Myanmar citizens leave for South Korea to work through agencies or with their own plans and most of Myanmar citizens are working in Seoul, Incheon and Busan reportedly.

CNI News

15 July 2023

Although violences have decreased, they go on existing and there are still requirements to fully carry out for the stability, peace and rule of law, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administrative Council(SAC). 
He said as above at the Union Government Meeting held on 13th July.

The SAC must carry out for the peace, stability and rule of law and many innocent people, government employees and monks or religious people were killed between 2021 and 2022. So,in relation to the state of emergency, because the SAC needed to go on carrying out, he had clearly said to renew the state of emergency, said Chairman of the SAC. 
"Terrorists conducted 489 explosions and 782 people were killed up to 11th July this year. Although violences have decreased, they go on taking place. There are requirements to fully carry out for the peace, stability and rule of law." he said.

Among the violence incidents, the worst incidents are taking place in Sagaing Region, Chin State and Kayah State. So, They needed to carry out more for the public security, he added.

“When the SAC had renewed the six months to the state of emergency two years after it took the responsibility of the State, it laid down the five processes to be carry out and has carried out, which must be urgently conducted and the government has to implement them, said Chairman of the SAC, adding that among the processes, the most important one was that they must carry out emphatically to fully achieve stability, peace and rule of law.
Among the processes, the last one was that when the provisions for the period of emergency have been carried out completely, a free and fair general election must be held again in accord with the 2008 Constitution and the responsibility of the State must be handed over to the winning party in accord with the democratic standards. To do so, first process must be carried out emphatically” he said.

They can't carry out the state building work, the state development work and the state peace and stability work without national income and if the economy was not good, crime would increase. Some violence incidents are kidnapping and asking money and family members were included in some violence incidents, he said.

The SAC renewed anymore of six months to the state of emergency on 31st January 2023 according to the Section 425 after a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council was held.

As the state of emergency was extended by six months on 31st January 2023 and it will expire on 31st July 2023. A meeting of the National Defense and Security Council is called on 1st August and whether the SAC will renew anymore of 6 months or not must be decided at the meeting. Normally, the emergency period can be extended by two times with 6 months for one time according to the Section 425. 
According to the speech of Chairman of the SAC who said that there are still violences, six months will probably extended to the state of emergency, said politicians.