CNI News

9 Dec 2022

Authorities in Thailand have rounded up foreigners who are overstaying their visas in an operation, labour activists based in Thailand told the CNI.

Unlike previous operations, authorities have been arresting illegal migrants by setting up checkpoints, using smart patrol vehicles and applying face scanning technologies.

Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.

Ko Thar Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, told the CNI, "Many Myanmar migrants have been arrested recently. They arrested migrants in places where foreigners are likely to be staying such as apartments, condominiums and labour quarters and security has been tightened at border gates. Overstaying foreigners who could not go back to relevant visa sections were blacklisted. They will be deported to their countries. Those who tried to sneak into Thailand were also arrested."

As employers will also be punished if their workers are found to be illegal or overstaying, they are also trying to get residence permits for their workers through agents.

Although authorities in Thailand issued residence permits for illegal migrants in October and the program has ended at present, the permits are still available through agents, according to labour activists for Myanmar workers in Thailand.

People in Thailand. (PBS)

However, the application of residence permits now is more expensive than it was previously, Executive Director U Htoo Chit of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He said, "It costs between Baht 16,000 and 20,000 to get a residence permit. In the past, it cost only about Baht 12,000 to do so. Authorities collect between Baht 4,000 and 5,000. As the valid period for application of residence permits have expired, authorities have to launch a special program to issue residence permits for them. So, they have to pay as much as Baht 20,000 for a residence permit. Employers never pay the fees. Workers have to pay for them by themselves. The best way is to work officially in Thailand. Workers who have not received residence permits should be careful when they go out. If they go to festivals and events, it is very dangerous for them. If they stay at their worksites, it is safe for them. I would like to urge workers to get official residence permits."

Thai authorities.

There are many Myanmar migrant workers who do not have residence permits because they could not afford the fees.

Labour activists for Myanmar workers in Thailand have urged them to work officially in Thailand as authorities are not likely to ease their operations and it is difficult to predict new policies about illegal migrants.

CNI News

8 Dec 2022

Onion yields have dropped in Myittha and Pakokku townships and Yaw area, major onion cultivation hubs, as farmers had not been able to use sufficient fertilizer during the cultivation season, and onion prices have risen, according to merchants.

Although onion prices stand at MMK 3,000 per viss in warehouses in Pakokku, they hit MMK 5,000 in Yangon and Mandalay regions.

The skyrocketed prices of onions must be attributed to excessively low yields, Merchant U Hla Thaung of the Pakokku Merchants and Brokers Association told the CNI.

A buyer at an onion shop. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, "Onion yields dropped because farmers had not been able to use sufficient fertilizer during the cultivation season. Some farmers who sold onions to us could harvest only about 800 visses of onions per acre. Normally, they can harvest as many as 3,000 viss of onions per acre. The yields were very low and the prices have skyrocketed."

The price of onions harvested in Myittha is sold at abut MMK 4,000 per viss in warehouses at Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange in Yangon Region.

As a result, onion pirces have risen to MMK 5,000 per viss in the retail market due to transportation charges, according to onion warehouses.

Onion prices are likely to hover around current prices until January, when summer onions are harvested, U Soe Win from Manaw Thu Kha Brokerage in Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange told the CNI. He added that onion prices are likely to fall to around MMK 1,000 per viss in March.

An onion farmer. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, "Onion prices will remain at this level until January and new onions will be harvested in March. When summer onions are harvested, the prices will fall to about MMK 900 per viss. Last year, the old summer onions had dropped to MMK 300 and 400 per viss when monsoon onions were harvested in December. So, their prices stood at about MMK 600. Yields and trading were normal last year and prices did not rise. This year, yields and cultivation acreage dropped this year."

Normally, prices drop when new onions are harvested but this did not happen this year due to decreased cultivation acreage, low yields and transportation problems.

CNI News

8 Dec 2022

The military junta has been using weapons purchased for national defence against ethinc peoples, a spokesperson of the Karenni National Defence Force told the CNI.

Recently, armed conflicts have erupted between the Myanmar military and allied forces of the KNDF in Kayah (Karenni) State and the military is using assorted weapons during the fighting.

The KNDF spokesperson told the CNI, "They are using assorted weapons including airstrikes, bombing, howitzers, missiles and landmines, which are mainly and excessively. Landmines were excessively laid in large numbers of villages, where the military had stationed, by junta troops that it was impossible for villagers to return to their villages. The military is using weapons purchased for national defence against ethnic peoples."

KNDF troops fighting against the military. (KNDF)

The military has been relying more on airstrikes in armed conflicts since 1st February, 2021.

The military is using weapons compatible with the current battlefield, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.

He said, "It can be said that the military is using weapons compatible with the current battlefield. However, the other side, which does not possess airpower, may criticize the military for airstrikes. On the other hand, when a battle is fierce and the other side is using various ways and means to win victory, the military will use all necessary weapons for a limited period of time. The indiscriminate use of the term 'national defence' is inappropriate. I think the military is using weapons compatible with relevant battlegrounds."

A protest against the military rule in Myanmar. (GETTY IMAGES)

Resistance forces said the military was using air support, warships and air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles in the ongoing fighting.

Currently, fighting has erupted in Sagaing and Magway regions and Chin, Kayah and Karen state and local residents have been displaced while their properties were burnt down.

CNI News

7 Dec 2022

Replacing the online booking system for appointments in applying for passports with a new one is likely to increase the number of passport agents, labour activists and overseas employment agencies told the CNI News.

As applicants could make bookings for appointments only within office hours under the old system but the new one will allow them to apply for passports 24/7, labour activists and overseas employment agencies predicted that the number of passport agents would increase.

Ko Nay Oo, a director of an overseas employment agency sending workers to Japan, told the CNI, "As the old system allowed applicants to use any QR codes, some people resold the QR codes they had received by bribing responsible officers. We wanted authorities to stop such a practice. It is true that QR codes bear the names, national registration card numbers and dates of birth but as agents had already bribed the officers, the latter permitted any applicants to come to them. If such a practice could be prevented, there would have been no place for agents."

People who have received QR Codes queuing at the passport office. (CNI)

At present, the old online booking system to make appointments at the passport office has been suspended and it will take three weeks to introduce the new system, according to the News Information Team of the SAC.

Moreover, those who have received QR codes for appointments under the old system can still come to the passport office, according to authorities.

The passport office has also urged the public not to buy QR codes nor to use other people's QR codes as the system has been suspended as of 5th December.

There are advantages and disadvantages in both the in-person application process and the online booking process, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

Surrounding areas of the passport office. (CNI)

He told the CNI, "If people apply for passports by themselves, no one cannot cheat them. However, when some applicants complete forms, they lack basic knowledge and education. They don't want to go through red tape. So, they hire passport agents, who take advantage of the situation. As most of our workers lack IT knowledge, passport agents take advantage of the situation in one way or another. If authorities can create an environment in which workers can apply for passports easily, the number of passport agents will decrease. I think the number of passport agents will swell under the new system."
Therefore, labour activists and overseas employment agencies have urged authorities to adopt a new simple online booking system to apply for passports.

Recently, workers had to pay as much as MMK 500,000 to agents and some of them were even cheated through fake QR codes, according to labour activists and overseas employment agencies.

CNI News

7 Dec 2022

The National Unity Government issued a statement on 5th December, vowing to investigate the murder of a woman in a street in Tamu in Sagaing Region and take action against those who committed the crime.

Instructions have been given to military officers to investigate the details as to whether the PDFs were involved in the crime or not, according to the statement.

The NUG statement said, "As the incident is completely unacceptable under military ethics and rules, an investigation will be launched into the incident and action will be taken effectively against whoever involved in it."

The NUG.

People Defence Forces are required to abide by military laws and instructions in launching anti-terrorist and people's resistance war, the statement stated.

Such incidents took place only in Sagaing Region but the NUG has been unable to take action against them effectively, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "The NUG said that such problems must be prevented from happening. However, the NUG does not have such a mechanism but it is impossible for the NUG not to take action against the murder. It said it will take necessary action against such incidents to prevent division and differences among the NUG. Such incidents had happened in Sagaing but effective action could not be taken against them because the NUG lacks investigation mechanism and detention centres. However, the NUG said it was unacceptable and must be prevented. I understand that the NUG will take action against the murder appropriately."

An archway to Tamu.

The NUG said it had investigated the violation of the military ethic and taken action against them but it was difficult to reveal the details, he added.

The NUG said it would monitor the situation not to repeat such incidents in an accountable manner with the aim of building the future federal democracy union, according to the statement.

Physically abusing and killing a woman in the street in Tamu showed the threat against women rights, according to women rights activists.

CNI News

7 Dec 2022

There is no reason to worry about the closure of border gates due to COVID-19 restrictions, according to border traders.

As COVID-19 infection rates are very low in Myanmar, China is unlikely to close border gates and Myanmar has regularly exported rice, pulses and beans and corn to the neighbouring country on a daily basis, Vice Chairman of the Muse Commodity Exchange U Min Thein told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "China has imposed lockdowns in cities due to positive cases found there. However, this doesn't have an impact on the border trade. Rice, broken rice, corn and pulses and beans are entering the border market on a daily basis. If the outbreak of COVID-19 in China is very severe, they may close the Kyin San Kyawt gate. However, it is very unlikely. Chinese authorities closed the gate during the third wave in July, 2021 because the outbreak of COVID-19 in Myanmar was very severe. At present, COVID-19 outbreak in Myanmar is very low and almost no COVID-19 cases have been detected recently. So, they have opened the border gate."

A freight truck heading to China.

Kyin San Kyawt, Wan Dein and Chin Shwe Haw gates are currently but Nandaw, Sin Phyu and Manwain gates have been closed.

The currently opened gates were opened and closed frequently due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. As a result, border traders have become used to trading at the currently opening border gates, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun of Myanmar Corn Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "They will close the Kyin Sam Kyawt border gate when the positive rate is high in Muse but they will leave open border gates at Chin Shwe Haw and Laukkai. because there was no outbreak. So, we don't need to worry about dry foodstuffs. We need to worry about seasonal crops which can easily be damaged."

Trucks carrying crops.

Recently, a large number of COVID-19 cases were discovered in China and lockdowns were imposed in many parts of the country and as a result, many merchants in the country were not unable to come to the border.

As a result, there are only a few traders who import watermelons and muskmelons from Myanmar and their prices have dropped.

Some watermelon trucks had to turn back to the local market.

CNI News

6 Dec 2022

Electricity should be supplied to hotels in busy tour destinations in the same way as factories are supplied with electricity, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.

Currently, electricity is supplied to the public in a rationing system in some regions but some areas do not have access to the electricity throughout the day or night. Therefore, hotels have to resort to generators and have difficulties, Chairman U Zaw Weit of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.

A generator running during blackouts.

He told the CNI, "As fuel prices have risen to MMK 12,000 and 13,000 per gallon, it is not profitable for us. Generators used in hotels consume four gallons of fuel per hour. So, we have to spend MMK 50,000 per hour. We get MMK 25,000, 35,000 or 45,000 room charges and have to spend all our room charges for fuel. If we have to run generators for five or six hours, we suffer losses. We are facing such difficulties at present. It would be beneficial for us if authorities supplied electricity to hotels, especially at night. Lawpita hydropower station cannot run to its full capacity during the dry seasons as it does not have enough water. If it run all its three generators, electricity will not be available during many months in the entire summer.

Electricity has been supplied to wards in the entire country alternatively every four hours since November and some areas are suffering electricity shortages severely.

Lack of electricity supply in tour destinations which are popular among foreigners tarnish the image of the country, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

A woman riding a bicycle among pagodas in Bagan.

He told the CNI, "The entire world will come to know that we have electricity shortages. This will tarnish the image of the country. Some tourists are visiting Myanmar to study investment opportunities. Public services should be available at such destinations. Electricity should be available so that services will not be disrupted. Priority should be given to such destinations in supplying electricity. The hotel and tourism industry should have access to electricity supply in the same way as industrial zones."

As hotels may raise service charges, this will have an impact on travellers, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

People crossing to Sagaing.

Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI, "If we have to run generators when we have only a few guests, we suffer losses. We haven't raised service charges but are closely watching the situation with the hope that electricity will be supplied more regularly. If the situation does not improve, we will have to raise room charges. Hoteliers will face challenges. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen again recently. The fuel demand exceeds the supply. Hotels will be forced to raise room charges. So, tourists will stay at guest houses or may decide to stop travelling."

Hoteliers said they would call on the authorities to supply electricity to them as a priority.

Currently, there are only a few travellers at present but it is expected that the number of tourists will crease during the Christmas and New Year, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

CNI News

6 Dec 2022

As the Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway has been reopened since 3 Dec, rice and commodity prices have dropped in Paletwa, according to residents.

Although the waterway has been reopened, small boats have not been allowed to use the waterway and authorities are just operating state-owned z-craft twice a week, Paletwa resident U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "A few days ago, rice price rose to MMK 100,000 per bag but rice was not available. We could not buy rice anywhere. Now, rice is available at MMK 71,000 per bag at present. Rice consumed here is not the first class Pawsanhmwe, which is popular in lower parts of the country. We consume second class Pawsanhmwe here. Fuel supply has arrived but fuel prices have dropped. It still costs MMK 20,000 or 21,000 to buy a gallon of fuel."

As fighting had resumed between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, the waterway were shut down as of August but the waterway has been reopened after the two sides reached a ceasefire deal on 26th November, 2022.

A z-craft operating along Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway.

U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI, "The waterway has been reopened. A vessel arrived at Paletwa on Saturday and went back to Kyauktaw on Sunday. Authorities said the vessel will arrive in Paletwa on Tuesday again. They said they would operate the vessels twice a week. When the vessel arrived on Saturday, it carried full of commodities"

However, the vessels are operated only twice a week and each of them can transport only about 100 passengers, residents are still facing difficulties.

Therefore, residents are calling on authorities to allow small boats to run along the water way and to reopen the land route which has been blockaded for years, according to residents.

Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway is the major route for health, food and basic needs and business.

CNI News

6 Dec 2022

If the ASEAN special envoy is allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, negotiations between the junta and the ousted leader are likely to take place, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

The current political crisis can only be resolved through negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy had announced, he added.

U Ye Tun told the CNI, "The focal point of the international community, especially the ASEAN, and political observers is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. They will hold negotiation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and if she and the NLD agree to contest the 2023 general election, I think the NLD will win the elections and the NUG and the PDF will wither away. The NLD has aready announced that they will accept the decision of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and negotiation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is essential. So, I think negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi matter."

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets ASEAN Envoy Prak Sokhonn.

Whether negotiations between the SAC and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will take place or not depends on the support of the ASEAN, Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that nothing is impossible in politics. Under the current circumstances, the SAC will think about the potential benefits from negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We will have to think about what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can do for them. She may be able to mediate between the SAC and the NUG. How shall we overcome the current political crisis? Whether negotiations between her and the SAC will take place depends on the support of the ASEAN and how the SAC views the current crisis. I think the SAC seems to be prepared."

ASEAN Special Envoy Prat Sokhonn has called on the SAC to allow him to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the SAC has promised him to do so on his next visit.

Meanwhile, some observers in the political circle viewed that if negotiations between the special envoy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were successful, the conducive environment for dialogue would emerge.

Demonstrations supporting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (GETTY IMAGES)

It is impossible for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to hold negotiations with SAC without consulting with the NUG, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "I don't think there will be any dialogue. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would not hold any negotiations with the SAC without consulting with the CRPH and the NUG."

Since the military staged a coup on 1st February, 2021, protests and armed conflicts have broken out in the entire country.

Since then, Myanmar has faced crises in various fronts including the political, economic, social, health and educational fields.