CNI News

14 June 2023

Due to tax reduction for (SKD Semi Knocked Down) cars that are locally installed and CKD cars that are wholly installed, If the production of SKD cars increases, may impact on local car market, said car policy experts and car market analysts.

At present, car prices are the highest and due to tax reduction, if cars that are installed and produced by SKD system are re-produced in local again, it may impact on car market.

Moreover, if SUZUKI cars that are sold in accord with international price were re-prodeced, it would impact on car market, said U Min Min Maung, chairperson of Yangon Region Automobile Manufacturer And Distributors Association, to CNI.

installating and producing SKD cars 

" It depends on their intention. Is Tax reduction for SKD cars to sell a lot of SKD cars or to produce a lot of SKD cars? And Will SKD cars be re-produced from various brands? Depending on these two facts, SKD will impact on the car market.

Relevant sectors will make a decision whether SKD cars will come out from various brands and the State will decide how mush budget will be issued for how many SKD cars.It still is early for us to decide depending on these situations. Car prices are the highest at present.

To tell you mainly, I wonder if SUZUKI cars will be re-produced. If they would be re-produced, It would impact on the car market because SUZUKI is Japan brand original. When these cars are sold, they will be sold at an international price. The selling price in other countries will be nearly similar with that in Myanmar If SUZUKi cars are produced in a large scale in this country, it will impact on the market.

For the domestically produced SKD cars and CKD cars, the tax rates are relaxed from 1st June, 2023 to 31st May 2024. The tax rates have been reduced from 7.5 percent to 5 percent for 2000cc and above and from 5 percent to 3 percent for 2000cc CKD cars and above.

According to current automobile policy, business cars only are allowed to import and passenger cars and family cars are allowed to produce and sell by SKD and CKD systems only. Insted of relaxing the tax, only if car import permits are re-issued, local car prices will decrease, said U Aung Pyae Sone, car policy specialist to CNI.

SUZUKI car showroom

" About 12 million people are using cars for transportation in our country. We need more cars yearly. If the car import permits are not issued, the car prices will surely decrease. Even SUZUKI cars that are produced in local were able to produce between 3,500 and 4,000 at most." he said.
The State tend to issue how many SKD cars will be produced according to each category after April each year. But the State has not issued up to now. They would have to watch it,said car businesspeople.

Currently, all car parts have been banned to import. So installating and manufacturing cars have been stopped. Because perviously installed cars are being sold and bought, the prices are going up, said U Aung Than Win, chairperson of Yangon Automobile Trade Association to CNI.

Although cars were produced on SKD and CKD systens in local after importing car parts, because it was difficult to import car spare parts, production had to be stopped in July 2022. At present,there are new SUZUKI and KIA cars that are produced by SKD system, but they have not been able to fully produce.

CNI News

13 June 2023

Myanmar migrate workers in Thailand and Malaysia where most of Myanmar citizens go to work are being strictly inspected and arrested than other migrant workers, said those who are helping with labour affairs to CNI.

Although Myanmar migrant workers were not very restricted in the past in Malaysia, the number of Myanmar has increased more and more there this year and Myanmar people are found almost everywhere. So, Myanmar migrant workers are being mainly restricted, said Hmwar Michael, helping Myanmar people in Malaysia, to CNI.  

officials supervising detainees in Thailand

"Moreover, Myanmar people who have stayed and worked for years in Malaysia have become the self-employed. They open small supermarkets. They sell various Myanmar goods on the roadside including vegetables and so on. Malaysai citizens complain about that because their businesses are adversely affacted. So, Myanmar migrant workers are restricted more than before.

According to the current situation, among those who are overstaying in Malaysia, Myanmar population has outnumbered others. Openning coffee shops or selling goods on the roadside is not valid work permit. They have work permits. But their permits relate to factory or construction. So they are not allowed to open a shop selling goods or to work at a restaurent. But they are working in convenient places without knowing exactly what their permits are. That's why Myanmar people are mainly restricted" he said.

Moreover, Myanmar citizens break the rules more than other citizens do. So, a migrant worker need to know rules and regulations of a country where he is working, said the people who are helping with labour affairs.

Besides, another reason why Myanmar migrant workers are mainly restricted is because there are too many Myanmar citizens in Thailand and Malaysia. Mntost of illegal residents are Myanmar people only, they commented.

Myanmar migrate workers are restricted more than other migrant workers as well as facing that their rights are being violated than other citizens, said Ko Thar Gyi, who is helping Myanmar migrant workers,to CNI.

Many Myanmar citizens go to Thailand and Malaysia because they have heard that they can work there without having any educational qualifications. Because the two countries are very near to Myanmar, it is very easy to sneak in. But according to their immigration acts, when those who sneak in are arrested, before they are returned,they are extorted in prisons in order that they can go home as soon as possible.There have been the corruptions like that since under the civilian government. The main reason is that Myanmar embassies in relevant countries obviously don't work well, he added.

At present, Thai authorities are mainly searching and arresting illegal migrant workers and illegal residents in Maesot where most of Myanmar people are staying. In Malaysia, Myanmar citizens coming with visit visas are being mainly inspected.

CNI News

13 June 2023

The news that Lt.Gen Yar Pyae, chairman of National Solidarity And Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and delegation went and met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was just ,a piece of misinformation, said NSPNC. 

There were reports and broadcasts that Lt.Gen Yar Pyae and retired Lt.Gen Khin Zaw Oo went and met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw prison on 27th May and 4th June.  

" I had no relations with any news media. But that news isn't right. It's impossible. I don't have any comments about that" said an official of NSPNC.

The delegation led by Lt.Gen Yar Pyae was in Myla town from 1st to 3rd June and had a discussion about peace processes with  three northern alliances (AA, MNDAA and TNLA). After that some members of NSPNC including Lt.Gen Yar Pyae and retired Lt.Gen Khin Zaw Oo and delegates from seven ethnic armed organizations attended a workshop on federalism sponsored by India governmentin  Naypyidaw.    

workshop on federalism sponsored by India attended by ethnic armed groups and NSPNC

U Ottamasara, Thabarwa Tayar Yeikthar Sayadaw, met U Tin Oo, patron of NLD on 8th June and told him that he wanted to see DASSK and if she gave up politics and participated in peace processes, Tatmadaw's attitude might change.

Then U Ottamasara met Lt. Gen Win Bo Shain, secretary of NSPNC because of which he was accused of speaking on behalf of Tatmadaw. Moreover, the news that Lt.Gen Yar Pyae and retired Lt. Gen Khin Zaw Oo met DASSK was just a piece of misinformation, said a person who took part in peace processes.

CNI News

13 June 2023

Kareni government has been formed by Kareni revolutionary elements collectively to be included as a state in the federal union ensuring national equality and the right to self-determination, said those elements.

After Kareni interim administrative council was formed, its administration has been started, the council issued on 12th.

Kareni administration will be implemented in accord with the interim plan. And plans relating to rule of law and transition will be systematically laid down in accord with the state consultant council. And it will be included as a state in the federal union ensuring human rights, democracy, national equality and right to self-determination, which have been described in its press release.

Revolutionary elements in Kareni State were able to create a situation that can implement administration, judiciary and legislation, covering the whole Kareni region, said U Than Soe Naing, Myanma politics analyst,to CNI.

leaders of CRPH and NUG

"Of states and regions, Kareni state has been able to implement administration, judiciary and legislation, I assume. So they planned to form a government. It is also a matching situation with Federal Democratic Charter that NUG has laid down.We must hail it as a breakthrough" he said.

Khu Oo Reh from KNPP takes responsibility as the chairman of current government and Khun Bee Htoo from KNDF as vice chairman and Khu Plu Reh as general secretary and Zu Padonmar as secretary=1 and Banyar KhunAung as secretary-2 and Maw Pho Myar as Chief Financial Officer starting from 6th June, 2023.

entrance of Kayah State

The objectives of Kareni interim administration council are to carry out the administration of interim state government by collective leadership and to perform the state's stability and peace, and to practically collaborate with various elements in the state.

Kareni interim administrative council has said that it will collaborate with all the elements in the country during the transitional period to federal democratic system
Due to the political landscaping that changed on 1st February 2023, battles have been taken place between Tatmadaw and KNPP/KNDF allied forces.

CNI News
11 June 2023

60,000 tons of corn seeds produced in Ayarwady Region are being exported to Thailand by ship, said Myanmar Corn Industry Association.

By exporting by ship like that, difficulty renting large trucks could be come over and time and cost of delivery could be saved, said U Thant Zin, vice chairman of Myanmar Corn Industry Association, to CNI.

"For the time being, we are expoerting 60,000 tons of corn seeds from Pathein Port to Thailand and a Thai company receives from a port near Kantang in Thailand.

When we export products of Ayeyarwady Region to abroad directly, we can avoid crowded ships at Yangon Port and overcome the difficulty renting large trucks and cost of delivery decreases" he said.

 corn seeds are being dried in the sun

Corn seeds produced in Ayeyarwady Region are being delivered to foreign countries by road and by water and this is the first time of exporting the corn seeds to foreign countries by sea from Pathein Industrial Project Port. If the profits gained from exporting by sea are equal to those gained from exporting through borders, corn peasants will export from Pathein Port in the long run, said Myanmar Corn Industry Association.

Because Ayeyarwady corn seeds are exported, cost of delivery to Yangon is saved.So, if exporting from Pathein Port like that can be conducted for long, corn peasants in Ayeyarwady will make more money, said Ko Min Khaing, a corn peasant, CNI.

2,000-ton ships and 3,000-ton ships only can dock at Pathein Industrial Project Port and 60,000 tons of corn seeds must be delivered about 20 times.But the journey is not very distant.So the work will be finished in several days, according to corn seed traders.

Thai traders and Myanmar traders are discussing in order to go on exporting Ayeyarwady corn seeds from Pathein Industrial Project to Thailand.

As corn season will come to an end before long, corn traders are trying to export corn seeds from Pathein Port in 2023-2024 corn season.

CNI News
11 June 2023

If you consider to solve currently existed political problems in Myanmar, you cannot exclude Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said U Mya Aye, an 88 student leader on his facebook page on the 10th of June, 2023.

"Whether a politician goes on existing or not depends on his or her decision and desire of the people who support him or her. If his or her action is right, he or she will rise and if not right, he or she will fall. You can critisize a politician. But criiticizing in a vulgar way is ethically indecent. Although you pull a politician down in various ways, he or she will not fall as long as the people support him or her." he said.

"You have the right to politically point out the points of disagreement and have the right to deny or reject. May be there are lots of disagreement with DASSK. It's no   problem. But DASSK has received the support of the majority of Myanmar people. You can't pretend not to know it.

You must pay respect to the people's desire. It's a matter of liking and dislikng or agreement and disgreement. But if you will consider to solve Myanmar political problems, you can't exclude DASSK from taking into account"

U Tin Oo and Thabarwa Tayar Yeikthar Sayadaw U Ottamasara seen on 8 June 2023.

Then he prayed for the speedy release of DASSK and political prisoners. DASSK has been detained at present.

DASSK should make peace only without taking part in political affairs, U Ottamasa, Thabarwa Tayar Yeik Thar Sayadaw, explained to U Tin Oo, patron of NLD, on the eightth of June, 2023.

" She (DASSK)is nationally and globally well-known and an influential person. If she makes peace only like Mahatma Gandhi, most of the people will follow her. She has a lot of good talents. A well-known and moral person like her will be able to carry out for the sake of the country and the world without having to run the election or taking office, I believe.Only if she makes peace, Tatmadaw may change its attitude. If she gives up politics and make peace only, the country may change. When she gives up politics, tatmadaw's attitude is a little tense" he said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

having said that NLD government led by DASSK tried to organize a government without solving the vote list dispute in 2020 general election, Tatmadaw topled down the government and arrested DASSK.

After that, objections and protests against Tatmadaw arose and armed revolutions against Tatmadaw have been taking place in Sagaing, Magway, Tanintharyi regions, Chin, Kayin and Kayah States.

Due to armed conflicts,political, economic,social, educational and health sectors are deteriorating and many people are facing mental and physical insecurities.

CNI News
11 June 2023

Due to travel restrictions in Rakhine State, the people are having difficulties, said locals. SAC's ministry of security and border affairs directed the office of Rakhine State government to ban travel in Rakhine State from June 7.

Donors don't come to the pl.aces where IDPs are staying anymore because the roads and streets, said U Nyi Pu, incharge of Sinbaw Gaing IDP Camp, Mrauk U township, to CNI.  "

Donors hardly come here because streets and roads have been closed. There are the people who will come here and donate necessary materials. They says they don't come here because they don't get permission. We want the government to re-open roads and streets because when donors don't come, IDPs get into trouble." he said.

Although CNI phoned Col. Kyaw Thura, minister of border affairs, Rakhine State Admonistration Council to know more about the travel restrictions, he said he had not been able to answer because he was in the meeting room.

"Travel cannot be banned for long, which they (SAC) know. It may be related to military. It won't be long" said Dr. Aung Myo, Myanma Polotics analyst, to CNI.

In relation to travel restrictions, negotiations would be conducted after studying the reason why, Dqw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin, chairperson of Arakan Liberation Party, to CNI. She would have to take a little time to study the reason why SAC had restricted travel.  

Because Cyclone Mocha entered Rakhine State on 14th May, houses and streets were damaged and several people were killed. Reconstructional tasks have been needed up to now.

SAC has supported 70,000 lakh Kyats to carry out reconstructional tasks and rescue operations in Rakhine and food and construction materials are being delivered to Rakhine State every day.

CNI News

10 June 2023

Migrate workers with MoU expired in Thailand were renewd till 31st July, but according to MoU law, they must go back to their country and sign a new contract before the deadline, said U Aung Kyaw,advisor of MWRN, to CNI.

Employers in Thailand must send their employees back to sign a new contract and during that period, they send demand letters to Thai ministry of labour and can recall their employees,he said.

migrate Myanmar citizens seen before getting to Thailand

"It is worrisome is that workers with MoU expired may be arrested or taken action against according to Thai law. But Thai government provissionally extended MoU to 31st July and allow workers with MoU expired to stay and work.But migrate workers staying in Thailand by the millions really want that they don't have to go back to their country. So they demand relevant Thai officials to arrange in order that they can go on staying and working in Thailand. Thai government just allow the workers to stay for two months. In two months, go home. And sing a new contract and come back, said Thai government. That's it. The law hasn't been changed." he sid.

After 31st July, workers with MoU expired may be arrested, said those who are helping with affairs of Myanmar migrate workers, to CNI. Employers tend to sign new contracts with their former workers who are skilful in work rather than hiring new workers.

So, Myanmar migrate workers with MoU expired don't have to worry about their jobs although they have to go back home, they added.

migrate Myanmar citizens

Thai government tend to release particulars relating to migrate workers only when the deadline is drawing very near. So after July, an announcement mght be released, they said.

" The policy relating to migrate workers is always changing. If the cabinet issued a new regulation, it may be new labour registration Not only new labours but also former labours can register. I've heard about it for long. it is a real possibility.

If the regulation was issued, most of the migrate workers would go to register because if they had to go back, they could lose time and money. And when they go back to renew, if they take too long, their employers won't be able to wait for long. New workers can be hired.So, the number of those who wil go back for MoU will decrease" said U Min Oo, in charge of FED.

Myanmar migrate workers with MoU expired in Thailand cannot make out what will happen after July.So Thai authorities should make a press release on labour affairs early so that workers can make preparations, said those who are helping with labour affairs.

CNI News

10 June 2023

Some people say that if a general election could be held, arms conflicts would decrease and the country would be stable. On the other hand, if the election could be held, the country certainly might not win stability and peace, others said.  

Although the State Administration Council is making preparations to hold a a general election, peace and stability are depending on whether armed organizations accept a new government that will take office through the election or not, said U Thein Tun Oo, director of Grand Strategy Studies, to CNI.

a person casting ballots and another person holding weapons

" It's hard to say because SAC will hold a general election as it has announced, but what is the attitude of armed groups? Will they accept the new government that will take office through the election? To the best of my knowledge, quite a few groups change tend to change their attitudes a bit.

But many people are speaking out loud that a government is legitimate only if it comes through an election. But will current arms groups accept a new. elected government? Only if they accept, we will win the peace, we comment like this."  

arms conflicts have been taking place all over the country since February, 2021 and the country' politics, peace, economy, health, education and so on. are deteriorating.
The election that SAC will sponsor will not be free and fair, U Pe That, an arakan politian, to CNI.

a kayan ethnic girl seen after casting vote

" When an election is held, it needs to be free and fair. Their election commission has constricted opposition elements. NLD, main opposition party, has been cancelled and its members were arresetd or taken actions against and killed. Their election is not accepted by international community. There is not a real possibility to hold the election successfully. Taken up as a whole, the election will not be free and fair. The people are not interested in this election at all will not recognize it." he said.

"If a Hluttaw emerged after an election was held, because there would be representatives who would speak for the people, conflicts would decrease" U Li Paw Ye, chairman of Lisu Nationals Development Party, to CNI. However, he added he was not sure whether holding elections would get on well with arms groups and although two elected governments ruled the country, they did not fully get on well with arms groups.  

SAC released the new law relating to re-registration of political parties on 31 January 2023 and it has imposed that political parties must register or re-register within 60 days.

40 political parties including NLD and SNLD which did not register within designated period had been abolished, which the Union Election Commission released in March.