CNI News

22 August 2022

The State Administration Council announced on 21st August that Ko Kyaw Thura, the owner of Myanmar Thura Gems Company, has been charged with providing financial support for the People’s Defence Forces and his properties and assets were confiscated.

Mon Thu Aung, who lived in Ye Mon Taung Ward in Maha Aungmye Township in Mandalay Region and financed the PDFs, was detained on 17th August 2022. He confessed that he worked as a driver for Myanmar Thura Gems Company and Ko Kyaw Thura, owner of the company, was providing large sums of money to the PDFs.

Ko Kyaw Thura was arrested at his house on Zeyarthiri Lane between 34th and 35th streets and between 88th and 89th roads in Chanayetharzan Township in Mandalay and a Sigsaur pistol, 12 rounds of its bullets and two magazines were seized from one of the bedrooms of his house in the compound of the company in Namphyit Village in Hpakant Township, according to the announcement of the SAC.

The SAC announced that Ko Kyaw Thura provided MMK 615 million, an Alphard, US$ 10,000 and Yuan 19,000 to protesters, CDM staff and the PDFs, according to the announcement.

Therefore, the Myanmar Thura Gems Company and four buildings in its compound at the corner of 33rd street and 52nd Road in Kankauk Ward in Chan Aye Tharzan Township, five assorted vehicles, three buildings on 88 (B) Road between 34th and 35th streets in Pyigyi Pyawbwe (West) ward in Chan Aye Tharzan Township, two assorted vehicles, two generators, about 80 tons of assorted jade pieces, one building and its compound at the corner of Sagaing Road and Thazin 6th street in Uttathiri Ward and Ottarathiri Township in Nay Pyi Taw Council were confiscated.

Two buildings and their compound on Lonekhin Street in Kyaukmyet War in Kyarpin Group in Dakhina Thiri Township, one building and its compound in Shwe Road between A and B streets in Shwe Aik Ward in Myitkyina in Kachin State, 18 buildings and the compound of Myanmar Thura Company in Namphyit Village in Hpakant, 193 tons of assorted jade pieces, two fire safes, a Mitsubishi truck were also confiscated.

A ten-acre jade mine of the company, seven buildings, four rock drilling machines, four jade cutting machines, 30 tons of jade pieces, 14 dumpers, two water trucks and five backhoes in Sapot Village in Seikmu Village Tract in Hpakant Township in Kachin State were also confiscated.

All confiscated moveable and immoveable properties worth MMK 11,849.9 million of Ko Kyaw Thura, the owner of Myanmar Thura Gems Company, were impounded.

According to the confession of Ko Kyaw Thura, other jade company owners are also involved in providing financial support to the PDF and effective action will be taken against them in accordance with the existing law.

CNI News

22 August 2022

An outpost of the Shanni National Army in Namtaung Village in Banmauk Township in Sagaing Region was attacked by allied troops of the Kachin Independence Army and the People’s Defence Force.

About 200 troops from the KIA and the PDP attacked the outpost at about 6 am on 20 August, SNA Spokesperson Col Sai Aung Mein told the CNI.

Col Sai Aung Mein said, “An outpost in Banmauk of ours was attacked by a 200-strong force of the KIA and the PDF. It was at the end of Namtaung Village. The small outpost was attacked. Our troops had to withdraw to avoid collateral damage.”

The Shanni National Army.

The outpost was manned with only ten troops, who withdrew without any casualties.

As internet connection has been cut off in Banmauk and surrounding villages, he was unable to reveal the details, Sai Naung, a local resident of Banmauk told the CNI.

He said, “We haven’t heard any casualties from either side. It was said that the clash started at 6 am. We are still waiting for information.”

The CNI contacted a KIA officer but he said he was unable to confirm the incident immediately.

The alliance of the KIA and the PDF.

Similarly, an outpost of the SNA near Hsezin Village in Hpakant Township was raided by allied troops of the KIA and the PDF on 8th August.

The SNA is active in Hkamti, Homalin, Phaung Pyin, Pinlebu, Wuntho and Banmauk in Sagaing Region and Moehyin and Moekaung including along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kachin State.

The SNA is an ethnic armed organization fighting for founding Shanni State by integrating Mawlike District, Kale District, Hkamti District, Katha District and Tamu District in Sagaing Region and Bhamo District, Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District and Moekaung District in Kachin State.

CNI News

22 August 2022

In the villages in Shwebo Township, rice remains to be sold, but with the owners of the machinery, traders and brokers are having difficulty buying, said the millers from Shwebo.

Although the farmers in Di Pe Yin Village and other villages in Shwebo Township still have remaining rice in ther hands, but due to the volatile situation of the area, it is not possible to make the purchases and the mill has to take a halt from running, said the owner of the mill in Shwebo Daw Htwe Yee (Name changed) to CNI News Agency.

“In some small villages, there is still Shwebo Bosan (Shwebo rice). There is still some left in Dee Peyin, and the areas between Dee Peyin and Yayoo out of many Shwebo townships. But there has not been a sharp increase in the price of rice in that area and there is remaining rice there. No one dares to go there nor do they dare to come out since there are armed forces there. And the army carries out the operations a lot. When there are armed forces, we as the mill owners and the brokers, have to be afraid of the soldiers as well as the others. When we go to buy rice, we bring the money for the rice with us. If not, they will not allow us to go though. At the moment, we are compelled to pay it since we are on the money-related business. When they demand 200,000 lakhs or 300,000 lakhs, we have no choice but to pay. Even if they take 10,000,000 from us, we cannot do anything. It’s about the use of an organization there. Even life is not guaranteed there. Going means sending the workers there. They have their families. So, if there comes up a problem within their family, it is on us. So even if it doesn’t work, we can’t do it like this. We are just taking a break with no rice. Running the mills is also on a halt,” she said.

According to rice traders, due to the lack of traffic instability in transporting Shwebo bosan and the shortage of the remaining ones in their hands, the price of Shwebo bosan has rose from around 70,000 kyats per bag to about 100,000 kyats at the present.

while seeing a rice mill along the banks of the Irrawaddy River in Bo Kalay Township

Currently, due to the increase in the price of Shwebo price, people have been consuming the Irrawaddy rice instead. There followed the increase in the price of Irrawaddy rice and subsequently deficiency of it, said U Shai Win Lat, the owner of San Shwebo trading from Wah Tan Road Commodity Depot.

“Of course, the price is on the increase when you buy rice. When it is up by 5 to 7 thousand, the prices are very high in the buying market. And the material is not as abundant as before anymore. It is that way now when we buy things. Transportation is difficult. Some drivers cannot do much business in making the transportation.

When the price is too high, the consumer will only go for the cheaper side which is Irrawaddy rice compared with Shwebo rice. Even the price of Irrawaddy rice has gone up. Because of the surging price of Shwebo san, people now eat Irrawaddy rice. Some rice can’t even be bought as they are out of stock in the depots. We can also see situations like these, he said to CNI News Agency.

It is reported that Shwebo rice is widely consumed in Yangon and hilly regions and that there is little consumption of it in regions and states.

Due to the territorial instability in the Shwebo region, the farmers are finding it difficult to grow rice. The miller owners have said the planting rate is not even 75 percent this year.

In addition, although the planted rice must be harvested in December, the miller owners and the traders will not be able to make the purchases in the absence of territorial stability.

CNI Interview

22 August 2022

On 2021 On February 1st, after the army seized power, armed conflicts broke out along with counter-protests.

After that, as SAC and NUG competed to be recognized as legitimate governments, the country's mechanisms such as politics, economy, and health have also been facing crisis.

Due to these conditions, there are reviews that the country is heading towards complete demise.

CNI news agency has contacted Dr. Aye Maung, Chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) about the situation.

Q ။ ။ What do you think about political parties being restricted from meeting with foreign organizations? Why are they being restricted?

A ။ ။ I think only UEC can answer why. But when we look at the current situation, we see that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly objected to the Malaysian Foreign Minister.

Another thing is that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing also announced his intention to take the five ASEAN consensus points seriously when he presented to Kalon concerning with current six months. And I have also heard that ASEAN’s special envoy will be coming to Yangon around coming September 15. We can think of it related to each other. There is also a thing called political registration law. In that law, there is a provision as they have announced. It is also in the constitution as well.

The main reason behind that text is for international organizations, international governments, and foreign forces to not have any influence over the political parties. We assume that the crux here is the financial relationship. I think that there is no such restriction to the exchange of diplomatic opinions, meeting, knowledge sharing, etc. This is what we review. In the meantime, it is up to the Election Commission to decide whether the Election Commission needs to be this strict or not.

From our point of view, as you know these days, there is a lot of conflicts between the armed forces. There are also some armed forces that negotiated with each other to reach a settlement. For example, even if the most elite forces meet up, the political parties are prone to be put on the back burner. After meeting with the top political organizations, they take a political and military solution.

Dr. Aye Maung and political party leaders meeting with the ASEAN Special Representative

That's where the military in Myanmar came to the front. There are many aspects of solving the political problems of the armed forces through armed means. Of course, the political sector was pushed off further and further. Everyone said that the political sector needs to be enhanced again, that we need to find a solution through political dialogue.

We also need to analyze the so-called international opinion about Myanmar when it comes to considering the political problem in Myanmar. In addition to the opinion of my fellow armed organizations, we also need the public opinion. The political parties have become more interested in public opinion.

An objective and a purpose of a political party might be concerned with the ethnic regions, ideologies and many other things. So, the political parties can learn more from the voice of the public and the will of the public. Because of this, limiting the political parties sector needs special attention in times like these.

That's what I want to happen, even if it is stipulated in such laws. Even if we are facing this period of political, military and diplomatic crisis, we need to open the sector of political parties. Rather than having to report it before seeing it, if possible, I should be allowed to see it freely. International aid, financial aid, etc., must be opened according to the laws and regulations.

During the meeting between ethnic armed leaders and the ASEAN Special Representative

One thing is that in the case of political and military diplomacy, after the meeting, every political party that meets, the person that is met, the content that they met for, and the situation that is unique, should be submitted to the Election Commission as an instruction that is stricter than the current instruction. In this period, the UEC side should approach this way.

First meet and then present it to political parties, foreign governments, foreign government organizations, foreign parties, etc. As for the financial relationship, There is an instruction to stay clean according to the statutory law. If so, would it be more convenient? As much as that.

Q ။ ။ Yes sir. Now, with their strict instructions, aren't they contradicting the democratic system they are talking about?

A ။ ။ It's the opposite. As for the finance they say, they may need to ban it according to the law. When communicating with an international organization as a government, it is a kind of thing. It may be necessary for political parties to have no international communication.

After the government comes to power, it will be concerned with the nation. There is a possibility that these provisions are stipulated in order to no let a political party groomed by a foreign government or an organization that would attempt to rule and meddle in Myanmar's politics.

But now is the time to speak openly. If it is necessary to open the political sector during the period when the war is the main thing, the political sector is broad. We have to keep our ears peeled for the voice of the public as well as the military. We also have to take up a habit of listening to international diplomatic communications.

At the moment, political parties are seriously recognized as the parties that will carry out the work of the next government. That's the law that requires political parties to practice. Meeting with the envoy, our political views, his political views, their goodwill towards Myanmar, what do you call them Goodwill can also turn out to be harmful, etc? Good and bad need to be studied from the side of political parties.

During the meeting with the UN Special Representative and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

Things to do and to avoid. That is why we are going towards a multi-party democracy, a federal democracy, and as political parties, we should not limit the meeting, discussion, and exchange with foreign organizations and foreign diplomats. As I said just now, it has been determined that there is a distinct provision stipulated to ensure that there will be no manipulation of finance and power-grooming. For now, yes.

Q ။ ။ Yes. Another thing is whether the next election that will be held by SAC will be a political outlet for this country. Some analyze that it is a political outlet only for SAC and will be of no use to the country. May I ask what is your take on this issue?

A ။ ။ We have to make an exit that is beneficial for both sides. We have to make it a good exit for both SAC and the entire public. Behind the work public, there is also the role of political parties that represent the public to do political campaigns. We must try to build a good exit that will benefit both sides. This is about the need.

We have to think broadly when it comes to the the upcoming election. So, let’s think based on a little bit of information. If the upcoming election is the exit for SAC as provided by the 2008 Constitution, then we need to think about whether all current conflicts, military and political conflicts can be turned into an exit for the whole Myanmar. Then we need to create a good exit.

And other people also say it like this. The next month marks our 75 years of independence. 75 is the last phase of age in terms of human life. It is considered a very old age. It is one thing whether we will try hard to solve the problem that Myanmar is currently facing until the next election, or will they continue to cycle this same issue again and again for ten years, centuries or decades later? In this current time, we need to think about whether this exit can be created as an exit for all of us. That’s why we say to most people.

We say it like this when we meet with others and answer this way when we meet with media. We think that we need to try to create and build the exit that will benefit all of us. There is a provision in the 2008 Constitution. Because of this, after the 2020 election crisis, SAC has become a part of the constitution that is responsible for governing for a period of 2 years.

If you think about all the current political and military problems in Myanmar, almost everyone accepts that it is a constitutional problem. Will we try to maintain Myanmar’s existence, or will we deliberately push ourselves to pursue its disintegration? Considering these two sides, I believe almost everyone will not want to see its disintegration.

How will we establish it? If we think about the general election and the aftermath of the general election, the first thing is that the constitutional issues in the system of armed conflicts have entailed the lack of national equality. First of all, to say this frankly, how will we solve this long-term problem of Myanmar.

Those who demand democracy (Frontier Myanmar)

One answer is to solve this in accords with the act of constitutional issues under the constitution. So, if we look back at NUG, CRPH, and PDF that appeared about a year and a half ago, it is the current state-related power issue.

So there followed the power struggles basing on the line that one side took the power that the other had taken. There’s an identity tug-of-war. When the current situation is between the two, we need to solve this situation constitutionally in order to create a good exit just like we were saying earlier. It needs to be created according to the current power issue.

According to the provision of 2008, SAC is responsible for carrying out in accordance with the 2008 constitution during the 2-year term of SAC. That’s why the election may or may not be the exit of 2008, the election of SAC and the exit of the power issue. It may or may not be the solution to the problem of power.

This is how power-concerned people would think about. That’s why big countries such as US have said that they only recognize the 2020 election and that they will not recognize the upcoming election. Many Western countries also said the same way. Therefore, the election is not a way out for some. And there is a sense of power struggle that is out for banning the election. This is the current situation.

In resolving the constitutional issue, either rewriting the constitution or creating a new one will solve the chronic political problem that has been going on for 75 years. It is a problem that has existed since the beginning. Now, the power of problem is that the election must not happen. It is also a force that states that there is a need to recognize the previous election to prevent the upcoming election from happening.

So, if you mull these two things over, when I was saying that we need to create an exit that is beneficial for both sides, SAC will make this exit according to the 2008 constitution no matter what. This exit will pave the way for the election.

So, this is a gap between the time before the election and the coming constitution, causing a forced constitutional crisis. So the court must ask. They do this election. But if the election falls apart, will SAC, in other words, the Commander-in-Chief of Defense continue to be given power under the constitution or not.

Whether or not it will be handed over will be a scene that will happen in the aftermath or even before the election. If the exit is closed because of the forces that do not want to give the exit like this, what will SAC do? Will it be renewed for another year or two years? This will be a scene before the election where the constitutional court will determine how far the constitution can go without being abolished. This is one thing to go.

So, I told you about the case again just to make you understand well. If we consider what I just said to be a constitutional problem, to be a chronic political problem, this election is a way out to solve this. For the parliament and government which will be formed as a result of that election, SAC must create an environment where this election is fair and square, everyone can and should participate starting from this duration.

SAC should make a soft approach and the Election Commission also needs to align the political parties role with the soft approach.

Only after discussing and negotiating with all revolutionary organizations that are under military tension, the political package which shows the steps how to build the Union in coming period and what to do next beyond the election period.

The law needs to be able to get that. Only after taking that, the parliament and the government will be formed. For the circumstance beyond the election, if the public political parties, armed organizations can be shown in advance what will happen during the upcoming situation, in other words, if the solution can be shown after making a political negotiation according to the law, the upcoming election will be an exit that the armed organizations and political parties can willingly accept.

Those who demand democracy (Frontier Myanmar)

We need to try to make it since now. SAC also needs to try. This is the political package. It is important to build a political covenant before this election. For that to happen, SAC needs to have a moderate attitude and needs to think ahead and see ahead.

What we think is that, in the beyond-election period, after analyzing all the issues Myanmar has faced for 75 years, understanding the tight-corner of the constitution of 2008, understanding the national equality and the right to self-determination that the armed organizations want, the ability to resolve is a new constitution.

That is what we understand. SAC needs to make a statement before the election about one-by-one agreements made with the EAOs and political parties regarding the new constitution which can be drawn up by the next government and parliament for the upcoming 5-year term of the government beyond the election. There, only after analyzing the rigid nature of the current constitution of 2008, a new constitution will be issued, considering that all can accept, by the coming parliament in the short term, then will be confirmed publishing.

It will be like the military retreats from politics and all the EAOs gave up their weapons to end the armed conflicts. So, that is the package of how to build the Union of Myanmar. From this period onwards, if an agreement about all the information which can be negotiated, can be made with SAC before the election and they can be made known to the public and the world, the election will be the exit for SAC according to the 2008 Constitution and 2008 Constitution will also be a foundation for the entire union.

According to the new Constitution, if we can all try to build the new union of the new country, Federal Union and create a way out of the conflict, Tatmadaw can retreat from the mire of the armed way. Followed by this, The political leadership of the Tatmadaw may also leave behind.

Concerning the right of national equality and self-governance of all the armed revolutionary organizations that build the politics through the use of war and conflict, they can lay down their arms only after the drafting and enforcing a new constitution. If that situation can be created from now on, it will be a good way out for both sides in the election and beyond election.

It could be the exit for SAC as well as the exit of 2008 Constitution. And it could also be the exit for the armed resistance organizations, political parties, and the entire union. So, as Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, he should believe that the only thing that will end all the conflicts regarding the whole union in the coming period is a new constitution that is accepted by all and if drafted, it will be the fourth constitution.

If this can end the 75-year long civil war, can make everyone enjoy the taste of freedom and the taste of democratic federalism, it will be a good thing for everyone. This is my comment.

CNI News

21 August 2022

State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he was lenient with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi although he could take more severe action against her.

The SAC chairman made the comments when he reveived Ms Noeleen Heyzer, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, on 17 August.

The special envoy called on the chairman to return Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest before she is officially convicted and allow her to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The chairman said they had given special privilege to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by letting her stay in a home-like arrangement.

The chairman said, “Although we can take more serious action against her, we are lenient with her. However, if we have to compare priorities between democracy and anti-democracy, we will prioritize democracy and we will carry out the appropriate action that we should do.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing discuss issues related to the ICJ.

“Regarding the prosecution, as an example, Mr. Najib Razak, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, was also convicted at the court. The similar legal punishment was inflicted upon Ms Park Geum-hye, the former President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). As all of them are politicians, they have the obligation to understand the law and abide by the law. Due to this obligation, they have the responsibility to solve the problems by legal means,” the chairman told the special envoy.

Currently, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been convicted under the Anti-corruption Law, the Myanmar Electronic Transaction Law and the Natural Disaster Management Law and sentenced to different prison terms.

Then, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from the house she was detained to Nay Pyi Taw prison and a special building was built for her, according to a statement issued by the SAC.

CNI News

21 August 2022

Chairman of State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing asked the UN special envoy why the United Nation does not recognize the SAC.

The SAC chairman raised the question at his meeting with Ms Noeleen Heyzer, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, in Nay Pyi Taw on 17 August.

The SAC chairman asked, “The Tatmadaw took the responsibility of the State after declaring a state of emergency in accordance with the State Constitution (2008). While Myanmar has been taking lawful measures, it is incomprehensible why the United Nation does not acknowledge and there are many questions around. While the United Nations has been talking about non-interference, I wish to ge a clarification why the United Nations does not realize the measures we have taken?”

An anti-coup protest. (The Frontier Myanmar)

Political Analyst U Ye Tun told the CNI that the junta was likely the Western countries including  the US, which do not recognize the SAC whatever it says and was likely to question why the Western nations recognized the government of Thailand, which also had staged a coup d'etat.

U Ye Tun said, “From his point of view, he could have compared Myanmar with neighbouring Thailand, where the militry government was not critized as much as Myanmar has been. So, he questioned the Western countries why they had been imposing such severe sanctions on his junta. It has something to do the mindset of the Myanmar military junta. Western countries do not trust its mindset. Western countries have recognized the army of the Kingdom of Thailand considers itself as a professional army. Another factor is that it is a west-leaning army. Their democracy is more mature than Myanmar’s.  However, the Myanmar Army was born out of so-called socialism and left leaning military dictatorship. So, Western countries have more trust in the words of the Thai Army.”

The Myanmar Tatmadaw. (the EPA)

UN Special Envoy Ms Noeleen Heyzer called on the SAC to engage in dialogue with the oppositons for overcoming Myanmar political crisis, to place Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, to stop executions after the SAC has executed four democracy activists and to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The SAC chairman said, “While Myanmar was facing many difficulties, the UN and other organizations applied political pressure on them. Although we tried to elucidate, our representative was not accepted by the UN.

The SAC chairman told Ms Noeleen Heyzer, “The special envoy’s statement is one-sided and the SAC accepted the visit of the UN Envoy to improve the relations between the UN and Myanmar constructively.

CNI News

21 August 2022

With mass arrests of illegal migrants in Malaysia, there were more than 50 Rakhine migrants within two weeks and most of them do not have UNHCR cards.

Without the refugee cards, it is difficult to offer help for their release, Vice Chairman Ko Aung Min Thu of the Arakanese Community Malaysia (ARRC) told the CNI.

He said, “When our people are detained, we almost always ask for help from the UNHCR. If they are registered with the UNHCR, we just need to inform the arrests of the UN agency, which will contact the relevant officers and ask them to release the detainees at the court. Detainees who have not yet registered with the UNHCR may be sentenced to one to three months in prison at the court instead of four months prison terms usually handed down on them if the UNHCR offers help. authorities may only be able to reduce the prison terms. It also depends on relevant officers, who can reject the request of the UNHCR. Then, UNHCR officials can’t do anything more.”

As there is no agreement concerning the refugee card holders between the UNHCR and the Malaysian government, the card holders are allowed not to work but to stay in the country.

Among more than 40,000 Rakhine migrants in Malaysia, only about 6,000 have the refugee cards.

The registration of refugees in Malaysia was processed online in 2020 due to COVID-19 but some Rakhine migrants did not know this at the time due to a lack of knowledge. At present, there are too many applicants to issue the cards to all of them and some Rakhine migrants do not have the cards.

Ko Aung Min Thu of the ARRC said, “If a refugee or a expectant refugee come to them, they arrange a date for him or her to come again. Therefore, he or she are required to the UNHCR office on the scheduled date. It seems that the UNHCR office is unable to process many applicants within a short time and the application forms have piled up. Moreover, Malaysia is not a signatory to the agreement to accept refugees but it has already accepted about 190,000 refugees so far. I think it does not want to accept any more refugees because it worries that the refugees will settle in their country permanently.  So, they may accept more refugees or not but the UNHCR has told us to continue to apply for refugee cards.”

Malaysia has already rounded up more than 200 Myanmar illegal migrants recently.

Currently, Malaysia is launching an operation against illegal migrants and prisons in Malaysia are crowded with the migrants form different countries. Detained Myanmar migrants are facing difficulties in prisons in Malaysia.

CNI News

20 August 2022

The Pao National Liberation Organization, the Arakan Liberation Army and the Lahu Democratic Union, all of which are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the State Administration Council, will join the second round of talks with the SAC.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI that they had requested the SAC to hold talks with all participants as a whole and the second round of talks would be held with the three EAOs.

An ALP delegation meets the SAC chairman. 

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt said, “We have requested the arrangements to meet all EAO participants as a whole but the SAC is not able to meet all the seven or ten EAOs as a whole. At the moment, it invited the three EAOs to meet on 21st, 22nd and 23rd August for the second round of talks. So, the three EAOs has called on the SAC to meet them as a whole on 22nd August. We haven’t known whether other EAOs have been invited.”

The SAC chairman said on 16th August that the second round of peace talks would resume this month, talks would be held with all EAO participants as a whole and the new round of talks would be scheduled for September.
The SAC chairman also added that affords would be made to sign agreements with the EAOs and there would be no reason not to achieve peace as fundamental agreements had been reached with the EAOs.

A PNLO delegation meets the SAC chairman.

As the invitation was not extended to the PPST as a whole, the team has not discussed the matter, according to Col Saw Kyaw Nyunts.

“It can be said that the talks will be very extensive according to the invitations sent to the three EAOs. They said talks will focus on amendments of constitutions based on parts (1), (2) and (3) of the union agreement and how to implement the post-2020 political process stated in the part (4) of the agreement,” Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt told the CNI.

The first round of peace talks with the SAC were joined by leaders of signatories to the NCA including the RCSS/SSA, the NMSP, the DKBA, the ALP, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the PNLO and the LDU.

Non-signatories to the NCA such as the UWSA, the NDAA (Mongla) and the SSPP/SSA joined the first round of talks with the SAC.

CNI News

20 August 2022

Sugar mills are offering farmers about MMK 80,000 for one ton of sugar cane in the 2022-2023 sugar cane harvesting season, according to sugar cane farmers.

The current sugar cane prices are beneficial for both farmers and mill owners, Vice Chairman U Win Htay of the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association, told the CNI.

“Sugar cane prices have hit MMK 80,000 per ton. They are advance reference prices for the 2022-2023 sugar cane harvesting season. As farmers got as much as MMK 68,000 per ton last years, they expanded sugar cane cultivation. New sugar mills were also built in some regions like northern Shan State. So, farmers expanded sugar cane cultivation. Sugar cane prices at MMK 80,000 is profitable. The advance prices are for sugar cane farmer cultivated last year. However, prices are likely to rise further in the upcoming season because of the rising diesel prices. Current prices are beneficial for both farmers and millers.”

Sugar cane reference prices were set at about MMK 60,000 last year.

Millers are offering higher prices for sugar cane to encourage farmers to expand sugar cane cultivation amids rising sugar prices and increasing costs for inputs of farmers.

 A pile of sugar cane.

U Maung Swe, a sugar cane farmer from Sagaing Region, told the CNI, “It is profitable for farmers. Farmers can make a profit of about MMK 30,000 per ton after deducting transportation charges even as diesel is very expensive.”

According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture, sugar cane is cultivated on about 400,000 acres of land in the country but the actual acreage may be higher.

Some farmers are cultivating sugar cane in forest land and if the Forest Department abandons the land and gives farmers rights to work the land, sugar cane cultivation will expand in Myanmar, U Win Htay told the CNI.

He said, “In fact, forest authorities should abandon some forest land to some farmers who have been cultivating sugar cane for about 15 to 20 years for the development of the sugar industry. If forest authorities can do so, farmers will be able to apply for Form-7, which will enable them to get agricultural loans. There are many farmers who cultivate sugar cane on forest land in the entire country including Sagaing Region, Shan State and Bago Region.”

The current reference prices set for sugar cane cultivated in 2021 is profitable for farmers, they should be offered higher prices in the upcoming harvesting season due to increased cultivation costs incurred by rising prices of fertilizers, pesticides and fuel oil, according to sugar cane farmers.