CNI News

20 August 2022

Although sugar to be exported from Myanmar to Vietnam has been exempted from tariffs, it is necessary to prove that the exported sugar was produced from sugar cane grown in Myanmar or the country of origin, according to the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association.

The requirements have offered an opportunity for local sugar merchants and enhance their competitiveness, Vice Chairman U Win Htay of the association told the CNI.

He said, “We are not comparing advantages and disadvantages. It is an opportunity for us to export sugar to Vietnam. Therefore, it is necessary for us to use the opportunity in a correct manner. We cannot export sugar from Thailand or India to Vietnam by changing packages. So, it has enhanced the competitiveness of local merchants.”

Although Vietnam has exempted sugar from Southeast Asian countries except Thailand from tariffs, it has imposed 47 percent tariffs on sugar produced in the kingdom. Therefore, Thai sugar merchants evaded the taxes by exporting sugar through a third country, according to exporters.

  A worker carrying sugar cane. (EPA)

As Myanmar sugar merchants also used to reexport sugar from Thailand and India to Vietnam when sugar prices rose due to the growing demand, Vietnam authorities had to impose the requirements for the country of origin.
“There arose a dispute last year when a Myanmar company exported sugar imported from Thailand to Vietnam. So, authorities imposed the requirements to prove the country of origin and import sugar from exporters who can prove this” he told the CNI.

Imposing such requirements is beneficial for local sugar cane farmers and sugar mills and can increase the sugar cane acreage, U Maung Swe, a sugar cane farmer from Sagaing Region, told the CNI.

“It is beneficial for farmers as well as sugar mills. If we can export sugar produced from sugar cane grown in Myanmar, all farmers will expand sugar cane cultivation competitively,” he said.

So far, three Myanmar companies have exported 40,000 tons of sugar to Vietnam. As Myanmar exported 100,000 tons of sugar to Vietnam last year, sugar exports to Vietnam has dropped.

CNI News

20 August 2022

Regarding the reformation of the Unity Government under Article 419 of the 2008 Constitution, the chairman of the State Planning and Administration Council (SAC) Major General Min Aung Hlaing has signed and released it today (August 19).

In the amendment, the position of Union Minister in the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower was changed to U Myint Kyine instead of U Khin Yi whereas Dr. Aung Naing Oo who was serving the position of the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Communications has been assigned as the Minister of Economy and Commerce.

CNI News

19 August 2022

The visit of Noeleen Heyzer, the special envoy of the secretary general of the United Nations, to Myanmar is unlikely to bear fruit for Myanmar at the moment, Chairman Khun Myint Tun, the chairman of the Pao National Federal Council told the CNI.

He said that the envoy’s talks with the SAC after the execution of four democracy activists including Ko Jimmy and Ko Pyho Zeyar Thaw would not result in tangible progress.

Khun Myint Tun said, “I would like to point out that any kind of communications between the UN and the SAC will not bring about any tangible progress for the current developments in Myanmar after the SAC executed four democracy activists including Ko Jimmy, Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw and Ko Thura Aung despite the strong objections from the international community including the UN.”

Ms Noeleen Heyzer arrived in Myanmar in the morning of 16th August and met with SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin on 17th August.

Pro-democracy demonstrators. (the Forntier Myanmar)

UN envoy’s first visit to Myanmar in one and a half year would not lead to significant changes but each of the issues in Myanmar must be approached separately, Spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team Nang Yin Yin Soe told the CNI.

She said, “It also depends on the extent to which the current situation allows. So, it is difficult to exactly guess the result, which depends on how they discussed. We will have to move forward step by step. We will have to watch the discussions closely because it is her first visit to Myanmar in one and a half year and it was the first time she had been granted visa by the SAC. Then, we will have to take the next step. For example, Prak Sokhonn visited Myanmar visited twice, one visit after another. We must approach the issue like that. The analysis of the situation depends on the results of the talks.”

The UN should take the issue of Myanmar seriously, said Chairman Khun Myint Tun of the PNFC.

ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn meets member of the PPST.

He said, “As the UN announced prior to the visit that the trip didn’t mean to give legitimacy to the regime, the statement made by President U Win Myint at the court is important because the military said state power was transferred to them. Actually, it seized power and the president also said at the court that he was ousted by the military coup. So, it is very difficult for the UN to recognize the junta. It is necessary for the UN to take the Myanmar issue seriously. The junta executed four democracy activists including Ko Jimmy amidst the objection of the entire international community. So, the junta will meet anyone who pays a visit to them as the last straw whether the latter says it recognizes the junta or not.

The SAC announced that it discussed promotion of trust and cooperation between the UN and Myanmar during the visit.

However, Ms Noeleen Heyzer office said the special envoy urged the SAC to release detained youths and to end violence.

CNI News

19 August 2022

Due to continuous and heavy rain in Myanmar these days, flooding and landslides are occurring in some regions and states but the charity teams are having difficulty carrying out relief work due to the price of fuel.

The fuel costs nearly fifty thousand (50,000) for a car per day in conducting help and rescue procedures, said U Bo Bo Win, chairman of the rescue group, to CNI News Agency.

He said, “The current situation is that when it rains, we can buy as much oil as we need. There is no problem in this area. When the price of fuel goes up, although we want to go all out in helping the community, there are some things that we need to consider. Let’s say we will go to another place. Is another group already in that area? If they are, we stay put. The main thing is that since the price of fuel is escalating, there are hindrances in our work even though we want to do extensive relief work. More or less, when there is a large-scale influx of people in a neighborhood, help and relief is available within a short period of time and it is convenient to do the job. When there is less man power, there can be delays. There are such things.”

Tachileik City floods

Owing to the difficulties such as the current increase in fuel prices in Myanmar, inability to buy to our desired amount in some regions and the closure of gas stations, the current natural disaster relief operations cannot be conducted as widely as before, said the charity associations to CNI News Agency.

Ko Ditan from the Flower Garden Charity Association in Putao City said, “There are a lot of difficulties. Being located at the far north of Myanmar, it is not a very well-off city. Now we are having difficulty doing charity and social work because there is no more oil available at the gas station. Even if we want to help, cars cannot run due to the lack of fuel. With the current price in Putao, social cars can only run with over 50,000 worth of fuel price. We can help nearby accidents and pregnant mothers who want to go to the hospital. But it is not convenient for us to run long distances anymore. It’s just not available in the gas stations anymore. They are now closed and there is no sign of reopening at the present. It’s just nowhere to buy gas in Putao anymore. There was one station that opened yesterday only for around one hour. If we couldn’t buy it within that window, we just can’t get gas anymore.”

While waiting in line to fill up gas in Lashio on August 13

As the number of donors donating to charity organizations are also getting sparse at the moment, it is reported that the association funds for disaster relief are now being used.

When it comes to encountering awfully bad natural disasters, we are now required to asking for help to the respective government committee if it is according to the current fuel price, said the charity associations.

Currently, due to heavy and continuous rain in some states and regions in Myanmar, the local people who are facing floods have been moved to monasteries as temporary relief.

The current floods in Tachileik City are worse compared with the floods occurred in 2020 and 2021, said an official from Shwe Mae Yang Charitable Association to CNI News Agency.

Tachileik floods philanthropical activities

He said, “How things are going here is the aftermath of the Mekong River basin. After the water rises, the water comes down here and stagnates. So it needs a bit more effort to make things work. It’s more than usual. Now it’s a case of a tropical storm, so this time it’s a little bit bad. About a foot taller than usual. Usually, if you enter about 3 feet in the house, this time the water is almost 4 feet.”

It is seen that the incessant rain on the night of August 16 has caused floods in Yangon as well as in other townships.

According to the weather forecast to today’s evening (August 17th) because of the strong monsoon in the Kapali sea, there can be heavy rain regionally in Yangon Region, Irrawaddy Region, Tanintharyi Region, Rakhine State, Kayin State, and Mon State and the heavy rain may occur in places in Bago Region, announced by the Meteorological Department.

Senior Military Leader Tar Bone Kyaw said that it is necessary to prepare to build the country

CNI News

19 August 2022

If countries come out with the revolutions accelerating and Myanmar cannot be built as a true union, Ta’ang (Palaung) people should be prepared to build the country, General Secretary of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA), Tar Bone Kyaw said.

He said as above in the interview with PSLF/TNLA’s press office that aired on August 18.

Senior General Tar Bone Kyaw said, “Political tide will rise. Depending on the geopolitical situation, current world political situation, if this country cannot build even a Union, it will break into pieces and scatter into small countries.

That’s why, we Ta’ang (Palaung) people also need to think about this thoughtfully. And we need to prepare carefully. At the time when this Union is actually built, we also need to prepare ready and make efforts to protect our ethnic group, our people as a state. If it is not like that, a Union cannot be built and countries will come out with the revolutions speeding up due to the geopolitics, world politics and necessity, we also need to prepare to be ready to build our country.”

 PSLF/TNLA troops

Currently in Myanmar, Tatmadaw declared the country a state of emergency on February 1st, 2021, with the reason that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) formed a government without resolving the 2020 general election ballot dispute.

After that, starting from the opposition of the Tatmadaw and the protests asking for the reconstruction of Democracy, it widens to the armed revolution. So, fights have been taking place in Sagaing, Magway, Kayin, Chin and Kayar.

However, there have not been wars and it has been stable between Ta’ang (Palaung) armed PSLF/TNLA, that have been active in Mogok-Mongmit district, Shan State (Northern) and Mandalay, and Myanmar Tamadaw.

Although wars had been taking place daily between Myanmar Tatmadaw and TNLA until February 1st, 2021, the fights are now at peace.

Union Peace Conference

PSLF/TNLA is on the way of armed revolution in order to get Ta’ang (Palaung) area and to obtain autonomy.

Senior General Tar Bone Kyaw from PSLF/TNLA said, “we are doing this armed revolution for autonomy, to attain National equality, this kind of opportunities. That’s why our autonomy and personal freedom plays quite an important role for us. So, we are doing this revolution. If that problem cannot be solved, the same problems will continue, the cycle of coup will continue.”

Then, if a true federal union is to be built, it cannot be built only by focusing on the eight ethnicities; Kayin, Chin, Kachin, Kayar, Mon, Myanmar, Rakhine and Shan, it will be a true federal union only if the rest of the ethnic groups are also considered as equals. Otherwise, equality will not be practical, and the other races will just exist as the second class only after the eight major races.”

CNI News

19 August 2022

There are people from the domestic National League for Democracy (NLD) who want to meet and discuss regarding the current crisis in Myanmar, said the spokesperson of SAC General Zaw Min Tun.

He said the above statement at SAC’s 19th press conference held on August 17.

General Zaw Min Tun said, “There are people within NLD party who can go to the path of negotiation. They themselves are the 88th generation descendants. We have known from their statements that most of NLD party members have long been in the country who have always believed in the path of negotiation and have still been holding on to it.”

seeing Major General Min Aung Hlaing and NLD leaders

Although he said there are people who want to meet and discuss, he did not disclose who they are.

Then, he said that about 3 out of 4 members of the NLD party have signed stating their willingness to peacefully stay in the country and that those who are now in the forest are those who joined the NLP party only after 2012.

Currently, the NLD Party Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the Vice-chairmen U Win Myint and Dr. Zaw Myint Maung were arrested and charged after the military overthrew the NLD government. Then other central executive committee members were arrested and charged as well.

seeing anti-miliary protests (Frontier Myanmar)

A political analyst has shared his take on the issue that after 2012 or not no matter the joining time, a person registered in the NLD party will always be a NLP Party member; and it will be difficult to implement the process of negotiation since most of the NLD members are still in opposition to negotiation and that there is no prospect of implementation from SAC’s side as well.

He said, “If we look at the before part of February 1, we don’t see much willingness from NLD side when the military proposed negotiation. After that, a coup d'état happened. Now that the miliary is building the situation he wants after throwing a coup, there is a question about whether they still want to do the negotiation. I guess the answer is no. If we look at the public, they are standing firm on the side of no negotiation when it comes to blood debt, we still have to watch whether NLD will go that way and how far the third party will come to play at this scene.”

Currently, there is an ongoing competition between SAC and NUG for international recognition as the legitimate government and there are armed conflicts taking place that aim towards annihilating the competition.

CNI News

18 August 2022

Every armed organization is accountable for landmines they planted as the people in Rakhine State often lose their lives and limbs in landmine explosions, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

U Pe Than said, “They must be held responsible for landmines they planted. Landmines are laid not against the people but against their enemies. However, members of the public always fall victim to these landmines. So, it is necessary for all armed organizations to take responsibility for landmines they planted and to be humane. How can the public know the places where landmines were laid. They have never seen landmines. If the Tatmadaw continues to use landmines under such circumstances, the public will be in danger. So, every armed organization is responsible to remove the landmines they laid when they move to another place or after a certain period.”

The Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for landmines as most of them were found in the surrounding areas of the camps and temporary camps of the Tatmadaw, he added.

AA leader Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing and Col Kyaw Han.

Since landmines were not effectively cleared during ceasefire between the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw, local residents have fallen victim to them and the increasing use landmines due to current military tensions between them is worrisome, Writer Wai Hin Aung told the CNI.

He said, “Now that military tensions are escalating between the AA and the Tatmadaw and armed clashes have broken out, it is very difficult to put blame on one side or the other. International non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations have to clear landmines on a self-help basis and launch awareness campaigns for the villagers. However, it is impossible for these organizations to clear and destroy all these landmines. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the problem and will have to beat the responsibility. However, tensions are escalating between them and civil society organizations are put into a very difficult situation.”

The Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Although local residents know that landmines were laid in several places, they have to go into mountains and forests for their living and just launching awareness raising campaigns is not enough to locate landmines on the ground, U Pe Than said.

He said, “What they are doing now is insufficient. No one knows where landmines were laid exactly. Having been hit by landmines, victims will not recover by receiving first aid or taking care of their health because they have lost their limbs, which have to be amputated. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the victims. The government is responsible for everything for victims including medical treatment, removal of landmines, livelihood and artificial limbs. They should be humane.”

In July, there were about seven landmine explosions in Rakhine State and there were two landmine explosions until 18th in August. Most victims lost their limbs, especially legs.

CNI News 

18 August 2022

 The depreciation of Myanmar kyat and reduced kyat holding have raised questions on where the currency has been flowing into. 

With the economic downturn due to political instabilities in Myanmar and the appreciation of foreign currencies, Myanmar kyat is depreciating and inflation has risen. 

The Myanmar public has lost confidence in the kyat and buy gold and US dollars in the black market or purchase property.

The flow of the kyat into the property market is not beneficial for the economy in the long run, Economic Observer U Htay Aung Kyi told the CNI. 

He said, “Where has Myanmar kyat gone to? Extremely rich people hoard US dollars. Even if they cannot get it in the official market, they buy US dollars in the black market. Those who are worried about government action hoarding US dollars buy gold. So, Myanmar kyat has gone to foreign exchange and gold industries. Those who do not buy US dollars or gold purchase property. Excessively investing in the property market is dangerous for the economy in the long run. It can lead to property bubble bursts similar to what happened in South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in 1997. Generally speaking, excessive investment in the real estate market is not beneficial for the economy in the long run.” 

  Academy gold bars.

Due to political instabilities in Myanmar, many people are withdrawing their deposits from banks and buy US dollar, gold or property to avoid concerns caused by holding Myanmar kyat. 

In early August, the local gold demand increased dramatically, pushing up prices to MMK 2.8 million per tical and setting new records. 

As Myanmar kyat has depreciated and people hoard gold, the kyat  has flowed into the gold industry, according to gold market researchers. 

There are speculations that a large sum of Myanmar kyat has gone into the gold market as buyers purchased the precious metal by visses. 

    Deposits at a bank.

Ko Nay Lin Khant, a gold market researcher, told the CNI, “Myanmar kyat circulates not through bank transfers but through cash payments. So, a large sum of Myanmar kyat will flow into the hands of gold traders and goldsmith shops. When the supply is low in the market because gold mining halts during the rainy season and the demand rises, gold hoarders will resell their precious metal and prices will fall. They will resell their gold if they can get a little profit.”

U Htay Aung Kyi told the CNI that facilitation of the trade and investment sectors is important to reduce inflation and streamline the circulation of Myanmar kyat. 

    US$ notes.

He said, “It is important to improve the business environment. The economy must be running normally and trade must be conducted as usual. Confidence in trade and investment must be restored for the economy to recover. So, favourable business, political and legal environments are essential for economic recovery. Another important factor is the economic environment like exchange rates, inflation rates, interest rates. The interaction of the three rates must be in a favourable position for the country. 

Public confidence in banks is also important to reduce the impacts of the depreciation of Myanmar kyat  on the economy and it is necessary for banks to make cash withdrawals easier, according to businesspeople.

CNI News

18 August 2022

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on 16th August that the SAC had set two political objectives of implementing the multiparty democracy system and building a federal union.

“We are trying to achieve peace. Those who understand this come to peace talks while those who do not are still complaining outside. We have already held talks with 10 organizations. I held talks with the SSPP a few days ago. Everything was successful. I asked them if they could agree on the multiparty democracy system and building a union mandated to exercise federal power and they all agreed on them. We will meet for the second round of talks. We are trying to meet again this month. We will hold talks with all ten organizations as a whole and we will meet again in September. Then, we will try to sign agreements with them. I could not say how long it would take. As we have reached fundamental agreements, I think there is no reason not to achieve peace. I can’t understand why some EAOs cannot realize this.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets RCSS Chairman Gen Ywek Seik.

He added that if efforts were made based on the two points with the aim of promoting the affairs of the national races and the union, there was no reason not to achieve success.

Maj Mai Aik Kyaw, a spokesperson of the Palaung State Liberation Front/ Taaung National Liberation Army told the CNI that it was impossible to achieve peace in the entire country as the SAC did not invite some groups currently fighting with it.

He said, “The SAC invited EAOs, which are not engaging in armed clashes with them at present. However, they did not invite People Defence Forces, which are launching major battles against them. If they really wanted genuine peace, they would have to deescalate fighting and talks would be inclusive. So, they have left some groups and talks are not inclusive. Peace will never be achieved in the entire country, I think.”

  The UWSA vice chairman and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

So far, seven EAO signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and three non-signatories have joined the peace talks invited by the SAC chairman.

Nang Yin Yin Soe, a spokesperson for the Peace Process Steering Team, which is made up of the seven signatories to the NCA, told the CNI that the PPST would uphold the principles in the NCA.

She said, “We accept the concepts of non-antagonistic and antagonistic contradictions. Now, we are now following the non-antagonistic trend, which prefers dialogue. If we followed the antagonistic trend, which clearly divides the line between the two sides and expands armed conflicts, those who would suffer would be the people. As we have chosen the path to resolve political issues through political means, we can actually reduce the daily losses of lives and property of the people by contracting war and expanding dialogue.”

 NMSP Chairman Naing Aung Min meets Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

She also added that all EAOs should take the sufferings of the people into consideration.

Since the military coup on 1st February 2022, armed clashes have broken out between the military and the alliance of EAOs and PDFs in Karen, Karenni and Chin states and Sagaing and Magway regions.