CNI News

1 August 2023

As there are already 25 percent of military members of the Hluttaw, if any more of 25 percent were added, the Hluttaw could reach a quorum and could be held, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 
He said as above at the meeting the National Defense and Security held on 31st July, 2023. The meeting decided to extend the state of emergency for another six months.

" According to the 2008 constitution, if more than half of the Hluttaw members attended the Hluttaw session on the first day, the meeting could be held successfully. And then if only one third of the Hluttaw members attended the next sections, the Hluttaw could be held successfully. As there are 25 percent of military Hluttaw members, if any more of 25 percent were added, the Hulttaw session could be successfully held," he said.

Military members of the Hluttaw (Teza Hlaing)

If the Hluttaw was held like that, there might be an image problem that the Tatmadaw forced the meeting to reach a quorum. 
In the same way, when the union president, vice president, members of the government and chief ministers of the regions and states were elected, it could be performed as he discussed as above, but it's not suitable in terms of dignity, he said.

The SAC was trying to get 75 percent of elected representatives from a general election and it would be difficult to hold a general election that achieved 100 percent, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

U T Khun Myat, speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw

The Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February 2021 after saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the ballot dispute that took place in the 2020 general election and announced the state of emergency. The meetings of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw and Pyithu Hluttaw have been stopped up to now since that day.

Most of the members of Hluttaw have earned the pensions rewarded by the State and some members of the Hluttaw are waging armed revolution to oust the Tatmadaw.

CNI News
1 August 2023

If Myanmar people go on facing not only monetary inflation but also rising commodity prices until 2024, the number of Myanmar nationals who will go abroad may increase, those who are helping migrants said to CNI News.

The prices of foreign currencies are going up with current monetary inflation and because there is a situation that commodity prices will go on rising, the number of Myanmar people who will go abroad legally or illegally may increase, they said.

" You can enter Thailand illegally and work there without any educational qualification. But it's not easy to sneak into Japan, South Korea and Dubai. You can enter Malaysia illegally,but it's a little more difficult than to enter Thailand. Most Myanmar people are likely to sneak into Thailand" said Ko Thar Gyi, one who is helping migrant workers.

Because there are rising basic commodity prices, job scarcity and low basic salary, the number of people who go abroad has increased and at the same time, workers might be scarce locally, those who are carrying out migrant worker's affairs said.

Somewhere downtown Yangon

Although some countries including Thailand are calling the workers from Myanmar, Malaysia has not called Myanmar workers as yet reportedly.

Relevant departments do not tend to negotiate and discuss the problems relating to illegal workers reportedly. There are people who are sneaking into Malaysia at present and more people are likely to sneak into Malaysia in the future, said U Barbu Gyi helping Myanmar nationals to CNI News.  

" According to the current situation, it will be more difficult for Myanmar people.The current government cannot do anything. We need a change. Some people can't do it for a living or can't live anymore in some places of Myanmar.I'm sorry to say that but famine will happen" he said.

Because new 20,000 kyat notes will be issued, basic commodity prices have also gone up. So, if relevant authorities can't control rising basic commodity prices, thefts and robberies probably will be rampant, those who are helping migrant workers said.

CNI News
1 August 2023

The people are facing crises amidst the strength competition between the State Administration Council (SAC) and the National Unity Government (NUG) and there are reviews among political and economic circles in relation to what the people are mainly facing.

There are competitions between the two sides in administration, judiciary and legislation including diplomatic affairs in the international community. Because there is a political crisis in Myanmar, the economy is also in crisis. So, the people are facing a livelihood crisis, said U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert to CNI News.

"The number one thing is that we have to settle it politically. The political inconvenience has been quite a long time since Myanmar gained her independence. What number two is that we were weak in ideology. We were not able to identify ideology from international relations. For example, China and Vietnam - they know the difference between ideology and international relations. Only if the politics is good, the economy will be good, too. We had to learn that when we were young. When we studied both politics and economy, we found that both of them are equally important. Sometimes, politics is superstructure and economy is infrastructure. Sometimes, economy is superstructure and politics is infrastructure. Now Vietnam and China have no problems. Only when both politics and economy are on a right tract, we can go on thinking about the rest." he said.

workers receiving meals donated by donors

The SAC's Central Bank announced that it would issue new 20,000 kyat notes in a limited edition number on 23rd July and the NUG announced that it designated 20,000 kyat notes as illegal banknotes on 27th July, 2023.

Due to the strength competition between the SAC and the NUG to be a legal government, the people are facing more crises reportedly. An elected government is needed to arise as soon as possible to recover the politics and economy, said U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman to CNI News.

" We need a government that is elected by the people as soon as possible. So, we need to hold a general election as soon as possible. But only when there are stabilities in Sagaing Region, Magway Region and Chin State, we can hold the election. As long as there are not stabilities in these regions, C in C will have to ask another six months at the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council, I think." he said.

At present, in Myanmar, most of the sectors including politics, economy, education, health are facing crises and the people are also experiencing difficult livelihoods and rising commodity prices reportedly.

CNI News

31 July 2023

The meeting of the National Defense and Security Council is held today (31st July, 2023) and U Henry Van Thio, Vice President 2 under the NLD government also attends the meeting.

Moreover, U T Khun Myat, speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, and U Myint Swe, Acting President attend the meeting as well.

The State of Emergency was extended for another six months under the the Section 425 of the constitution reportedly.

CNI News

31 July 2023

Because there are ones who are selling basic foods with higher prices, based on rising prices of gold and dollar, effective action should be taken against those who make commodity prices higher, said businessmen and economic analysts. 

Although some people who are making speculations on gold and dollar are being arrested at present, they were only small-scale speculators without being effective and those who are making speculations on a large scale should be effectively taken actions against, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst to CNI News.

 A fuel station

"There are unfairly greedy people. Action must be taken against those blokes. I want to ask the authorities if they don't dare to take action against. Based on the dollar price, all the prices seem to go up. Apart from fuel and medicine, the price of palm oil is going up. Now you have to pay 10,000 kyats for a viss ( 3.6 lb ). Shall we have to be sitting tight like that? If the people can't stand it, if they are getting mentally weak, what will happen? Think about the consequences a little.

"There are still no effective actions. Large-scale gold speculators have not been arrested as yet. But small-scale ones have been arrested. In fact, there are consumer affairs departments in the markets. You don't have to arrest more than 15 people who sell with higher prices. And then all the prices will fall again. Myanmar people tend to have fear. As soon as there are arrests, prices will fall." he said.  

Rich Myanmar citizens have increased buying real estate, gold and dollars without holding Myanmar currency for long. At the same time, commodity prices also come to rise. In order to control the current situation, the State should buy its reserve gold and land lots, said Myanmar economic analysts. 

 A rice shop

If large-scale business people who are trading gold, dollars and fuel and who are making prices higher were arrested, the country's productive power could be damaged. So, it should be thought over, said U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman.  

" 10 large-scale business people from gold trading, 10 from dollar trading and 10 from fuel trading_ as soon as they are arrested and sent into jail, the country's GDP(gross domestic product) will be reduced to almost half. That should be thought of again. There is monetary inflation in every country. There are more monetary inflations in countries with armed conflicts like Myanmar. The money's value tends to fall very quickly. So, rich people don't want to keep the Myanmar money any more. They have increasingly held dollars and gold. As a result, the prices of gold and dollars come to rise. So, the government needs to make some policies that can encourage the people to hold Myanmar money." he said to CNI News.

 The government needs to provide loans depending on the manufacturing sector so that local productivity can be increased with the people's basic salaries, said business people. At present daily income of basic salary has been designated as 4,800 kyats which is equal to the price of 4.375 lb of rice reportedly.

CNI News
30 July 2023

Due to the administrative rivalry between the Arakan Army (AA) and the State Administration Council (SAC), Rakhine locals are finding it difficult to report for damages coming from the weak rule of law reportedly.

Although robberies are rampant in Sittwe where the SAC's administration is based, they have not been able to take actions against, said Ko Kyaw Min Khaing, a local from Rakhine State to CNI News.

" There were thefts only in the past. But now, not only thefts there are also robberies, assaults, and murders. It's because there are a lot of weaknesses between AA's administration and the SAC's one. It's also because there are weak accountability and responsibility between the two sides, I think. Both sides tend to chase and arrest anyone who they want in urban area. But if a robbery arises, neither of the two sides takes actions against effectively. That's why the robberies have become more daring." he said.  Urban residents live with anxiety without mental security because robberies and murders have increased, said Ma Thein May a Sittwe resident. " when the robberies like that are taking place, as a woman, I feel insecure. Am I safe if I go out? And because we are all women living together, it's getting worse." she said to CNI News.  

A robbery was occurring at a gold shop in Rakhine State

The motorcycles are stolen and phones are robbed and there are also murders in Sittwe Township. In the same way, there are house burglaries and robberies in gold shops in Mrauk U, Kyauktaw and Taunggoke, said locals.

Two robberies occurred near Sittwe University while students were riding in a taxi in the 2022-2023 academic year, said Sittwe University Students Union on 10th February 2023. Moreover, the two youths heisted a gold shop near the Town Hall in Taunggoke on 28th July, 2023, said locals.  

locals from Rakhine State

On 7th April, 2023, a young man heisted a gold shop with a fake gun in Mrauk U Township reportedly. Although there are no battles between the Tatmadaw and AA at present, there are competitions in administrative sector and in organizing the publics reportedly.  

Although thefts and robberies are taking place every now and then in some townships in Rakhine State, locals are finding it difficult without knowing which organization they should ask for help, said locals.

CNI News
30 July 2023

Because business people are making speculations on foodstuff prices under the pretext of 20,000 kyat banknotes that will be issued, although the prices of rice have risen, the prices will fall again in two months, said rice farmers and traders.

Although the prices of rice usually rise in July and August, because the news that 20,000 kyat notes will be issued came out, rice prices went up even more.

At present, the prices of commodities including rice have come to rise due to reporting 20,000 kyat notes will be issued, but the prices of rice will fall again in October when the rain rice is available, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, to CNI News.

" The prices of rice tend to go up a little at a time like this, but under the business people's pretext that 20,000 kyat note will be issued, the prices are raised and all the prices are going up. If one billion 10,000 kyat notes were printed without issuing 20,000 kyat notes, who would know that? That all prices are going up is the action of the businessmen. When it's time to harvest rice in October, the businessmen drop the prices. And then, the prices will surely fall." he said.

rice was being sold

There are 37 million acres of rainfed rice in Ayeyarwady, 2 million acres in Yangon Region and 35 million acres in Bago Region. Rainfed rice will appear abundantly in October, November and December and the prices of rice also decrease, said farmers. At present, the prices of rice are going up from 2,000 to 3,000 kyats a bag (about 105 lb) and the prices of Shwebo Paw San are going up from 5,000 to 6,000 kyats, said U Zaw Khaing, joint secretary of Wahdan Commodity Depot in Yangon Region to CNI News.

The local prices of rice depend on exporting and as export revenue policy is relaxed, rice is being bought increasingly to be exported. So, the prices at the same time  tend to rise, said U Than Oo, secretary of Bayintnaung Rice Commodity Depot to CNI News.

" If exporters don't buy rice, the prices fall. If they buy, the prices go up a little. The rice yield will be low in Augusta and October and so those who store rice will sell their rice at the end of October when new rice appears. It seems at all less likely to drop the prices." he said.

Although the price of rice that is exported was about 53,000 kyats a bag before, now is about 58,000 kyats because the demand is high reportedly.

The rice whose price is about 60,000 kyats a bag is currently being increasingly bought reportedly from the Bayintnaung Commodity Depot.

CNI News
30 July 2023

The chairman of the State Administration Council should deliver a speech that can capture the hearts of the people and ethnic armed organizations, said U Kyaw Zeya, former member of Hluttaw to CNI News.

Because that the six months had been extended will expire on 31st July, the speech the chairman of the SAC would deliver to the State whether he would extend the state of emergency for another six months or not was important, he said.

" What I want to give a bit of advice, the National Defense and Security Council is called and at that meeting, the speech Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will deliver to the State is very important. The kinds of phrases that can capture the hearts of the people and ethnic armed groups should be chosen to put in the speech. Some people who are better than me know what kinds of phrases should be chosen. The phrases like that should be carefully chosen." he said to CNI News.

People who support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

That the state of emergency had been extended in accordance with the Section 425 of the constitution on 31st January will expire on 31st July.

There are various comments among political circle about whether the state of emergency can be extended for another six months or not and what kind of political landscape can arise.

The chairman of the SAC should deliver a speech that help to make the country stable rather than speaking about the SAC's political objectives, said U Kyaw Zeya.

" He have repeatedly talked about political objectives and religion. So, he should deliver a speech that can capture the hearts of the people. They(the Tatmadaw and its supporters) don't want to very much recognize, but they must know the reality. The reality here means Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's current situation. In any case, she still has power to an extent.That must be talked. The speech Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will deliver on 31st July to the people should be the one that can work for the stability of the country that I'd like to advise." he said.

People demanding democracy

The Tatmadaw ousted 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 has declared the state of emergency.

The state of emergency was two years long in January 2023.

Although that the emergency period was extended for six months in accordance with the Section 425 of the constitution will expire on 31st July, the SAC has the rights to extend the state of emergency for another six months.

An interim or transitional government might be formed without extending for another six months, commented the people from the local political circle.

CNI News

29 July 2023

Due to skyrocketing commodity prices, the people's livelihood crises have arisen and it can cause psychological damage to the people, said housewives and small-scale business people. 
Commodity prices that have risen gradually because of political instabilities that have been arising since 2021 have risen more than before during the past few days. 
So, the people are facing an unbalanced situation of income and expenditure, said Daw Than Yaing Sein, a housewife from Sittwe Township, Rakhine State to CNI News.

" The money earned from working can't catch up with rising prices. We are not alone. Everybody is disappointed. We don't want to prices to go up. The poor get into trouble. Thieves and robberies have increased. If the prices go up more than now, it will worsens. Sometimes I feel so confused." she said. 

Because of prices going up like that, small-scale business people were also finding it difficult, said Daw Sandar who is doing business of pottery to CNI News.

street vendors selling journals (Photo-CNI)

" Since we heard 20,000 kyat notes will be issued, prices have gone up.I'm so disappointed that I don't want to go on working, but it's impossible to do so. We don't dare to go up our prices because we don't sell foodstuff. We don't know how much we'll have to pay the workers. We pay them 5,000 kyats each day. On the days when they have to work hard, they are paid 7,000 Kyats a day. We want to pay more. But we can't. There are only watercress dish and fried fish paste in their lunch boxes. We are sorry to see them." she said.

Because the livelihood becomes difficult with the commodity prices going up, some people might commit suicides, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst to CNI News. 
" If there's no way out, anything may happen to a man. Finally, he can even commit suicide." he said.

Since the Central Bank released a statement which said it would issue new 20,000 kyat notes in a limited number, the prices of basic foodstuff, consumer goods, fuel, gold, dollar have gone up, which has adversely affected to the lower class and small-scale business people, said business people. 

The price of Paw San Hmwe was 95,000 kyats for a bag (about 105 lb) before, now is over 100,000 kyats and the price of cooking palm oil was 8,400 kyats a viss(3.6 lb) before and now is over 13,000 kyats reportedly.

Relevant governments and departmental officials should effectively take actions against speculators who are performing to raise prices to solve the livelihood crisis, pointed out economic analysts.