CNI News

5 Dec 2022

It has been a hot issue in the Myanmar political circle how to negotiate terms to prevent the Myanmar military from repeatedly seizing power.

Col Khun Okkar, an EAO leader, told the CNI that the issue would be resolved if the military was put under civilian control after a civilian government had been formed.

He said, "If the armed forces are placed under the democratic civilian government and they abide by the law of supremacy, such scenarios will not occur. However, it will take a certain time for the military to accept the law."

Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI that the military upheld the view that the country would collapse if it did not play in a dominant role in politics and as long as the military is not under the control of a civilian president, it would frequently stage coups.

 Anti-coup pro-democracy demonstrators. (Frontier Myanmar)

He said, "As long as the military is involved in the politics of the country, it will stage coups frequently at will. Whenever a coup takes place, the country will continue to lag far behind others. The country will not escape from the vicious circle of poverty. If military and political leaders understand this and give the right to rule the country to the civilian government alone. The military is responsible only for the national defence. Only then, will the country escape from the vicious circle of coups. The military clearly understood the consequences of coups but it felt offended when it was not recognized and staged the coup based on its prejudice, saying the country was going to collapse. We have already proved theoretically and practically that it was wrong. So, its mindset is important."

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice President Henry Vanthio.

In 1958, then prime minister U Nu transferred power to Gen Ne Win, who again seized power in 1962 by ousting the civilian government led by U Nu. During the 1988 student movement, the military took power again. On 1st February, 2021, the military again ousted the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after accusing it of attempting to form a new government without settling voters' list disputes in the 2020 general election.

As the military has declared a state of emergency and seized power, an interim government will emerge, Chairman Sai Aik Paung of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party told the CNI.

He said, "It is a period during a state of emergency declared in accordance with the constitution. The military did not seize power but has assumed it. If it seized power, the constitution would have been abolished. A state of emergency expires within two years and an interim government will be formed. Vice President U Myint Swe will lead the interim government and everything will depend on him. State power will be transferred to the National Defence and Security Council. U Myint Swe will be the most powerful in the NDSC, in accordance with the constitution.

Anti-coup pro-democracy demonstrators. (Frontier Myanmar)

The military and some political parties had announced that the political changes that took place on 1st February, 2021 did not constitute a coup but the assumption of power by the military in accordance with the constitution.

However, the NLD and other democracy forces as well as other countries said that the military staged a coup against the civilian government.

The military formed the State Administration and announced a fresh general election in 2023.

CNI News

5 Dec 2022

The road linking Kalay in Sagaing Region and Indian border town Tamu, which was closed in November, has been reopened since early December, according to Tamu residents.

Tamu resident Ko Nyein Chan told the CNI that the road had been reopened for three days and fuel was entering into the market but prices did not fall.

He said, "It has been three days since the road was reopened. Fuel tanker trucks have returned to towns but fuel is still expensive. I think it will take a week for commodity prices to be stable. Prices have not fallen significantly at present.

An archway to Kalay

The Kalay-Tamu road is an important route for the border trade with India and transportation between Tamu and Yangon and Mandalay.

The road was closed on 20 November due to armed conflicts in Sagaing Region.

However, as curfew has been imposed in Kalay and Tamu from 8 pm, the road can be used between 6 am and 6 pm, according to a local resident.

A market in Tamu

He told the CNI, "The road can be used as usual. There are checkpoints along the road but the traffic flow has not been delayed for a long time. However, curfew is imposed from 8 pm in both Kalay and Tamu, it is impossible to use the road between 6 pm to 6 am."

During the road blockade, fuel prices rose to MMK 22,500 per gallon while other commodities were in short supply and prices went up.

Moreover, there is a shortage of doctors in Tamu and residents have to go to Kalay for treatments, according to residents.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

Stopping RDTs for COVID-19 on international tourists at airports may increase their arrivals in Myanmar, the Myanmar Tour Operators and Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

As conducting RTD tests on international tourists at the airport had been a hindrance for them, stopping the practice is beneficial to the tourism industry, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, most neighbouring ASEAN countries abandoned the practice of taking samples from tourists' noses. Some of them do not even require tourists to submit their vaccine certificates. COVID restrictions in our country seem to be tighter. There are some tourists who want to visit Myanmar urgently. The restrictions had been a hindrance for them. For example, they may visit Bangkok and when they arrive in Thailand, they may decide to visit Myanmar suddenly after learning that the country is beautiful. The practice of conducting RDTs made them hesitate and cancel the plan. So, abandoning the practice is of great benefit."

Tour operators had been demanding the government to end the practice for some time.

The Ministry of Health announced that it would stop conducting RDTs on foreign tourists who do not show symptoms like high body temperatures as of 1st December.

Foreign tourists on U Bein Bridge.

However, tourists who show symptoms of COVID-19 are still required to take RDTs and they will be allowed to continue their tours when they test negative, according to the announcement of the ministry.
In the same way as easing COVID-19 restrictions for foreign tourists, search operations at checkpoints along land travels should also be eased, Chairman U Zaw Wate of Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "There are checkpoints along roads. Soldiers and the police conduct search operations there. They should change their practices for foreign tourists. Senior officers should take care of search operations for foreigners. Soldiers are not educated and some of them are drunk the whole day and are rude. Such behaviours tarnish the image of the country. Moreover, such soldiers have never seen passports and they don't know how to check the documents but they talk about irrelevant facts. Such manners hurt the image of the country and should be changed."

Tour operators and hoteliers said that easing COVID-19 restrictions at Myanmar airports must be made known to foreign tourists widely.

"Normally, inbound tourist arrivals drop in Christmas and New Year. In other countries, air tickets are more expensive during Christmas and New Year. So, they just return to their families and do not travel abroad during this period. As a result, tourist arrivals are not likely to increase significantly at present. However, it is the highest season for outbound tours and domestic tourism in 2022. Outbound tourists are preparing to travel abroad during the Christmas and the New Year while domestic tourists are making bookings for hotel rooms and vehicles. It is the highest season for domestic and outbound tourism," U Naung Naung Han told the CNI.

Although foreign tourists are no longer required to take RDTs at the airport, they are still required to submit their vaccine certificates and negative test results conducted within the past 48 hours.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

Trucks exporting watermelons to China were forced to turn back to the local market due to COVID-19 restrictions in China, according to watermelon exporters and farmers.

As lockdowns have been imposed in various parts of China to prevent the spread of the virus while some COVID-19 cases were detected in the watermelon trading market, trucks exporting watermelons were forced to turn back, Ko Thitsar, a watermelon farmer in Sagaing Region, told the CNI.

Conducting RDTs in China. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, "Watermelon trucks were forced to turn back due to the zero COVID-19 policy of China. Under the policy, lockdowns have been imposed in various parts of China. So, Chinese merchants failed to get to the trading market. First, some COVID-19 cases were detected in the trading market and the lockdown was imposed there. Then, lockdowns were also imposed in other areas. Chinese merchants who had bought watermelons from us could not transports the fruit to other parts of the country. So, truck drivers had to turn back."

It has been about a week since the first truck turned back and about 300 trucks have turned back to the local market within a week.

Trucks preparing to transport watermelons to China. (GETTY IMAGES)

The returning watermelons were distributed to nearby townships along the road such as Lashio, Mandalay and Meiktila as well as to Yangon, according to a watermelon merchant.

He told the CNI, "It has been about a week since the first truck turned back to the local market and about 300 truckloads have come back during the week. The fruit can be damaged if it is not eaten for a long time. So, we sold them in towns along the road such as Lashio, Mandalay and Meiktila. Some watermelons were taken back to Yangon and other regions."

The current outbreak of COVID-19 in China may lead to changes in trade policy and watermelon farmers are required to closely watch the policy and market of China before they grow winter season watermelons, according to Chinese policy and market experts.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

The NUG would probably have dialogue if the military agreed to five conditions including putting an end to killing civilians, vowing to withdraw from politics and abolishing the constitution, said Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government.

He made the remarks during the Reuters Next online conference organized by Reuters.

The five conditions called on the military to stop killing civilians, vow to withdraw from politics, abolish the 2008 constitution, not to hinder humanitarian assistance and allow international mediation.

Acting President participates in Reuters Next online conference.

Under the current circumstances, the military will not withdraw from politics but it said it would withdraw from politics one day, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

He said, "It is impossible under the current circumstances. The military previously said that it would withdraw from politics when perpetuation of the union and non-disintegration of union and non-disintegration of national unity can be guaranteed and the union military has been formed with all EAOs. So, its withdrawal from politics is impossible under the current circumstances. It would not agree to do so."

Similarly, abolishing the 2008 constitution would allow the military to rule the country for an unlimited term and it is difficult to say exactly how long it would take to adopt a new constitution, he added.

Myanmar troops.

As the military cannot accept the conditions set by the acting president, there is no conducive environment for dialogue, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, "It is just a probability. The NUG sets conditions, which cannot be accepted by the SAC. So, nothing will happen. Forces of the military dictatorship will never agree to abolish the 2008 constitution and to force the military to withdraw from politics. So, there is no conducive environment for dialogue."

After the military seized power on 1st February, 2021, democracy activists and lawmakers formed the National Unity Government.

Therefore, the SAC and the NUG are competing on the administrative, legislative and diplomatic front.

CNI News

2 Dec 2022

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been urged not to recognize the elections held by the State Administration Council, Chairman Khun Myint Tun of the Pa-O National Federal Council told the CNI.

Only when the ASEAN does not recognize the elections, can the association take the path it wants to and the SAC does not have the right to hold elections under the 2008 constitution, he added.

Khun Myint Tun told the CNI, "The ASEAN needs to negotiate with the SAC based on their consensus and to clearly express their view that they will not recognize the 2023 elections. Only then, will the ASEAN be able to take the path it wants to. The junta does not have the right to hold the 2023 elections because it seized power from a civilian government. As the junta is holding elections to take its own path, the international community must not recognize the elections. The ASEAN must express its views clearly. Only then, will we be able to resolve the crisis. Otherwise, we will not escape from the vicious circle. The ASEAN must implement their views firmly and comprehensively."

Voters' list for the 2020 generaL election are announced. (Anadolu Agency)

ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn is planning to make his third visit to Myanmar soon.

Some political observers said that disrupting junta elections without the capability to topple it will lead to aggravating the political crisis because there is no other exit for it.

Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI that he would advise the ASEAN special envoy to help overcome the political crisis if he had the chance to meet with the envoy.
He told the CNI, "We will discuss how the international community, especially the ASEAN, can help us to hold inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve political issues through political means and to overcome the political crisis we have been enduring for almost two years.

ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn meets Srn Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The ASEAN should discuss the issues that are accepted by both sides, Spokesperson Khun Tun Shwe of the Pa-O National Organization told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "The ASEAN should discuss with both sides. If it discusses with only one side, it will not be able to resolve the crisis. If it can create a conducive environment for discussions that can be accepted by both sides, it would be beneficial for all. When the ASEAN chairman visited Myanmar, I advised him to resolve the crisis on equal terms peacefully and said that one side views elections positively while the other side views them negatively."

The SAC chairman announced that elections would be held in August, 2023 and political power would be transferred to the winning party.

During his visit to Myanmar in July, 2022, the ASEAN special envoy met with the SAC chairman, the foreign minister, the PPST and some political parties.

CNI News

2 Dec 2022

The minimum wage will be raised only after economic growth of the country has been retained and whether to raise the minimum wage is still under discussion, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

The permanent secretary made the remarks when he was asked about the comments made by the union minister at the work coordination meeting on 25 November that the ministry was taking measures to set the minimum wage for the entire country without distinguishing regions and types of job.

U Nyunt Win told the CNI, "We are still discussing whether to raise the minimum wage or not. The prime minister said that as raising wages depended on the economic growth of the country, efforts must be made for the economic growth of the country first and then such issues would be taken into consideration. So, we are just reviewing the issue as an office procedure and no significant steps have been taken."

A demonstration of workers calling for increased minimum wages. (Reuters)

As the daily minimum wage in neighbouring Thailand is set at about MMK 35,000, Myanmar should raise its minimum wage to MMK 10,000 or 15,000 per day due to rising commodity prices, labour activists told the CNI.

It is not reasonable to refuse to raise the minimum wage due to lack of economic growth, Executive Director U Htoo Chit of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "It is true that the political situation and economy of the country have not made any progress. However, it is a tradition to raise the minimum wage to cover the daily increasing cost of living. It is not sensible to refuse to increase the minimum wage of workers due to lack of progress in politics and the economy. If they want to contribute to the well-being of workers, increasing the minimum wage is not enough. Social security is very important. One can compare the compensations for the death of a worker at the worksite in Thailand and in Myanmar. There is a wide gap between compensations for death or disabity of workers in the two countries. So, they still need to go a long way to take proper steps for social security of workers by spending social security funds."

Factory workers in Yangon.

The minimum wage in Myanmar was increased from MMK 3,600 to MMK 4,800 per day (8 hours) in 2018 due to labour strikes and demands of the federation of trade unions.

Labour activists demanded to increase the minimum wage to MMK 8,000 but authorities set it at MMK 4,800, Ma Myo Myo Aye of the Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar told the CNI.

She told the CNI, "I have participated in the minimum wage campaign since the minimum wage was set for the first time in Myanmar. The minimum must be reviewed every two years and raised based on commodity prices and the political situation. It took more than two years when the minimum wage was set for the second time. It must be raised in 2017 but the then president increased it in May, 2018. Authorities failed to raise it in 2020. We cannot expect a significant rise in the minimum wage. Some employers may not agree to raise the minimum wage significantly. So, authorities will raise only a small amount that is acceptable for employers. At the same time, trade unions are not very strong at present because they are focusing on the revolution and do not talk much about the minimum wage. So, I don't think authorities will raise it significantly."

Although it is stipulated in section 5 (J) that the minimum wage must be reviewed every two year, it has been four years since it was reviewed and raised.

CNI News

1 Dec 2022

Internally displaced persons in Kayah (Karenni) State are running out of foodstuffs and consumer products for women, an IDP woman told the CNI.

As armed clashes have broken out in Kayah (Karenni) State, there are many IDPs including pregnant women, she added.

She said, "There are many women among the IDPs. Many of them are pregnant while others have young children. There are shortages of everything but foodstuffs, consumer products for women and medicines are desperately needed. If these items can be provided, they will be more convenient."

Rice donation for IDPs in Karenni State. (Network for Karenni IDPs)

The IDPs in Saungkaing Village between Moebye and Kontha have not been able to return home.

Although it is the harvesting season, they are not able to return home to harvest their crops.

Conflicts have broken out in Kayah State and the military is firing heavy weapon shells in the state, the spokesperson of the KNDF told the CNI.

A house damaged during fighting in Kayah State.

He said, "The military is firing heavy weapon shells in Kayah State almost every day. Whether there are armed clashes or not, they are firing heavy weapons. Some local residents were displaced while others are still living in their villages. The military sometimes fire heavy weapons into villages where residents are still living. However, we haven't heard any news about human casualties."

Since 1st February, 2021, fighting has broken out between the Myanmar military and the joint forces of the KNDF, the KA, Moebye PDF, Phekhon PDG and the KRU.

Since then, the number of IDPs has increased to 1,650,611 including 126,000 in Demoso Township, which has the largest IDP population in Kayah State, according to ISP Myanmar.

CNI News

1 Dec 2022

The sales of lottery tickets have risen by about 50,000 booklets at the 45th Aung Bar Lay Lottery, compared with its sales last month, according to Aung Bar Lay Lottery Branch.

The sales of the lottery have dropped to more than 200,000 booklets since the political changes in February, 2022 but the sales hit 390,000 booklets last month, according to lottery ticket sellers.

During the 44th lottery sales, only about 340,000 booklets were sold out.

As it is easier to claim the MMK 500 million prize in cash and new MMK 10,000 prizes were added for tickets that have the same alphabet and only one the same number as the winning numbers, the sales have risen, U Kyaw San, a lottery ticket agent, told the CNI.

He said, "The government has started offering the MMK 500 million prize in cash payout immediately. In the past, it was siad that cash prizes were not offered immediately. Now, it is easy to claim the prizes. Another factor is the offering new prizes for tickets that have the same alphabet and only one the same number as the winning number. As there are more winners of small prizes, they buy more tickets, increasing the sales by 50,000 booklets."

Lottery ticket buyers at a lottery shop.

Before the political changes occurred, the lottery sales hit 42 alphabets but it has fallen to only 10 alphabets at present.

As the lottery ticket sales have recovered, he hoped that the government would be able to offer MMK 1000 million prizes soon, a lottery agent told the CNI.

He said, "As the lottery tickets rose this month, the government will be able to offer more prizes. So, ticket sales will rise again and more people will buy more lottery tickets. I think the government will be able to offer MMK 1000 prizes soon."

Lottery tickets are mostly sold in Yangon Region, Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay Region, Rakhine State and Bago Region, according to lottery agents.

The grand prize of the lottery is MMK 500 million and more prizes will be offered on 1st December lottery opening, the lottery branch announced.