CNI News

6 Jan 2023

The Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan Liberation Army issued a statement on 5th January, strongly condemning the assissination of its Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya, Commander of No (101) Battalion Lt-Col Khaing Kyaw Soe and Capt Khaing Thurainda by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army.

The three were shot to death with several bullet wounds while travelling in a car in Sittwe at about 8 am on 4th January, 2023 when they were assassinated by the ULA/AA, according to the statement of the ALP.

The ALP said in its statement, "As the inhuman assassination of Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya and two other commanders by the ULA/AA amounted to terrorist act committed against ethnic Rakhine people by ethnic Rakhine people that not only undermines the unity of the entire Rakhine people but also shocks the public, we have strongly condemned the assassination."

The ALP statement said, "The ULA/AA has been detaining, torturing and assassinating not only our party/army leaders, party members and personnel but also leaders and members of other Rakhine ethnic parties, innocent monks and the public unlawfully, the ALP will bring those who are responsible to justice."

The AA has not responded to the accusation and its information centre did not answer the phone.

CNI News

6 Jan 2023

A large number of travellers visited Bagan and all rooms were occupied during the New Year holiday, hotels in Bagan suffered losses due to blackouts, according to hoteliers there.

Chairman U Zaw Weik of Bagan Hoteliers Association told the CNI that hoteliers suffered losses during the new year holiday although all hotel rooms were occupied during the holiday because of prolonged blackouts.

He said, "As all hotel rooms were full, a large number of travellers visited Bagan. Guests usually turn up at hotels for two or three days during new year holidays and do not come back until the next holiday season. All our hotel rooms were full but electricity supply to hotels was turned off for a long time. Everyone suffered losses as diesel prices skyrocketed. We still don't know what will happen to the industry this year. The industry has been suffering losses for about three years. So, a lot of hotel owners are selling out their hotels.

Electricity supply to Bagan is not regular and turned off randomly. Electricity is unavailable from 5 to 8 hours every day, according to hoteliers there.

Pilgrims in the precinct of the Shwe Zegon pagoda.

Currently, the hotel industry in Bagan is struggling for its survival, most hoteliers are trying to sell out their hotels, according to U Zaw Weik.

Despite rising general commodity prices, it is inconvenient for hotels to raise their services fees as guests stay at hotels only during holidays and very few guests  visite during off-seasons. The hotel industry has become an unviable business, according to U Zaw Weik.

He told the CNI, "The hotel industry is different from other businesses. All other businesses have raised their prices. Automobile and food prices have almost doubled but we have to lower room charges significantly. We can charge only MMK 30,000 for a room we previously received MMK 50,000. Everything we need to buy for our hotels including tissue paper has skyrocketed. And we have to operate generators. Frankly speaking, the hotel business is not viable at the moment." 

Pilgrims in Bagan.

About 70 percent of hotels in Bagan were full of guests during the new year holiday and about 150,000 guests visited Bagan during the holiday, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (Bagan Branch) told the CNI.

He said,"About 150,000 guests visited pagodas in Bagan. On 31 December, about 15,000 pilgrims visited teh Shwe Zegon Pagoda. We collected statistics for pilgrims to pagodas. Data about pilgrims are not the same as occupancy rates. Hotel occupancy rates are much lower than the number of pilgrims."

Out of more than 100 hotels in Bagan, only about 70 hotels are in operation due to low occupancy rates and prolonged blackouts and hotels which are in operation are struggling for their survival, according to hoteliers.

CNI News

6 Jan 2023

The reconstruction of Myanmar requires national reconciliation without any prejudice, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

To build a union based on democracy and federalism, he has opened all the doors from every front, SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said in his new year speech for 2023.

U Pe Than said, "If he opened all the doors from every front and reconstructed the country, the first step he must take is national reconciliation, which means the unity of all and trust in the political process without any prejudice. Opening doors to their political traps to support the regime and to cooperate with the military amounts to deceiving the oppositions to accept their political exit. So, everything depends on their intentions. Everything today is caused by the coup to oust the democratic government and they should correct their mistakes."

As the conquences of the coup, the country has faced multiple crises in the political, economic, health and other sectors and it is necessary to release detained political leaders, he added.

A 10+10 summit in progress.

Words without deeds don't mean anything, Kachin Politician Kwan Gan Aung Kham told the CNI.

He said, "Everyone should be doing what they can. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did what she could and didn't do what she could. U Thein Sein did in the similar way. Now, the NUG and Min Aung Hlaing should be able to do as they said. If they cannot prove their words with their deeds, their words are meaningless."

Currently, situation of Myanmar including in the political, economic, health and social sectors has deteriorated and efforts are being made to reconstruct the county.

CNI News

6 Jan 2023

As an extreme personality cult, which leads to division in the society and undermines national unity, is opposite to democracy, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said.

He made the remarks in his speech on the 75th Anniversary of the Independence Day on 4th January, 2023.

He said, "People with diverse perspectives and goals could not be viewed as the adversary; they should not be subject to prejudice or exclusion because such beliefs are incompatible with democratic ideals. A cult of personality is opposite to democracy, which is not only detementral to union cohesion but also to  social division."

He added that there are various interpretations of the federal system that use different norms. However, the expression implies cohesion and concordance in essence.

He continued to say," As rule of law is prerequisite to stable and strong democracy, no one is above the law. There are divergent views on democracy and the federal system when it comes to building a Union aspired by all ethnic nationals. Regardless of differences, it is crucial to choose a that best suits our country. Just as democracy calls for fulfilling the wishes of the majority, it is also required to heed the aspiration of the minority."

Myanmar regained independence from the British on 4th january, 1948 and thus this year marks the 75th Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of independence.

After regaining independence, differences of ideologies have led to armed conflicts until now.

As there are diverse opinions on building a democratic federal union, stakeholders are holding talks.

CNI News

5 Jan 2023

As basic jobs in Thailand do not require educational qualifications and it is a neighbouring country migrants can travel easily to, Myanmar migrants should work there, labour activists told the CNI.

Thailand is a country Myanmar migrants should work because the basic wage in Thailand is much higher than that of Myanmar, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi in Thailand told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Thailand is the best country Myanmar migrants should work. While a Myanmar basic worker earns less than MMK 300,000 per month, the monthly salary of a basic worker in Thailand is as much as MMK 700,000 at the current exchange rates. Thailand has set its basic slalry at Baht 9,000. At the current exchange rate of one Baht to MMK 61.12, a worker in Thailand earns more than MMK 700,000. As basic jobs in Thailand do not require educational qualifications and Thailand is a neighbour, it is the best country Myanmar migrants should work."

Most Myanmar migrants work in Thailand either officially or illegally and the flow of Myanmar migrant workers into Thailand has accelerated recently.

Millions of Myanmar migrants are working in Thailand because it is easy to travel to the country, jobs in Thailand do not require educational qualifications and language and the basic salary in Thailand is much higher than Myanmar, labour activists told the CNI.

Workers in a plastic factory in Thailand.

In terms of the basic salary, Myanmar migrant should work in Thailand but it is not the best country for Myanmar migrants, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "I don't think Thailand is the best country for Myanmar workers because there are many other countries which are better than it in terms of wages, treatment and protection. Thailand has employed millions of Myanmar migrants for more than 30 years because it is easy to travel to Thailand at low costs and to get manual jobs. They are different from workers who go to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. However, when ordinary workers have faced difficulty to survive in Myanmar, they have no other choice except Thailand.

Social security system and labour laws of Thailand are sufficient enough to protect workers, according to labour activists.

However, there are disadvantages for Myanmar workers in Thailand and authorities are issuing documents by collecting extra fees, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

A fishery worksite in Thailand.

He said, "It is safe for Myanmar workers in Thailand if they have official documents of whatever kind. They can enjoy much higher wages than in Myanmar. If they come to Thailand illegally, Thai authorities tried to earn revenues by issuing work and stay permits for illegal workers, who had to pay authorities from Baht 15,000 to 20,000 last month. It can be said that the Ministry of Labour of Thailand failed to behave properly as a good neighbour because it issued pink cards to Myanmar workers by collecting unprecedented excessive amounts of money. And the pink cards are valid for less than a year."

Currently, Myanmar migrants are working in Thailand under the MOU between the two governments while some of them are working illegally.

Although some Myanmar workers went to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, they failed to get the jobs in their employment contracts and faced other problems, according to labour activists.

CNI News

5 Jan 2023

China has officially issued an announcement that all Myanmar-Chinese border gates in Muse, which have been closed for almost three years, would be reopened starting from 8th January, according to border merchants in Muse.

The Chinese side has closed all border gates since early April, 2021 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the gates will be reopened on 8th January, 2023, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of the Muse Rice Exchange told the CNI.

 A border gate at the China-Myanmar border.

He said, "China issued a statement dated 2nd January to relevant authorities, stating that the Muse-Jiegao, Manwain, Hsinphyushin and Nandawgate would be reopened from 8 am to 11.30 pm, starting from 8th January." However, the statement did not clearly express how to handle COVID-19 restrictions despite opening the gates for trade and movement of people.

Although the border gates will be reopened soon, it is still necessary for Chinese authorities to ease COVID-19 restriction to return to normal before the outbreak of COVID-19, U Min Thein told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "The situation will gradually return to normal if Chinese authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions but this will not happen immediately. It could take about 6 months if Chinese authorities allow entries of people, vehicles, motorcycles and other vehicles to return to the situation before the pandemic in 2020."

 A border gate at the China-Myanmar border.

The border gates scheduled to reopen on 8th January include the Manwain Gate, which handles about 500 trucks a day, this will create trade and job opportunities for local residents.

As it is around the corner of the Chinese New Year, the watermelon market, which had almost collapsed previously, has recovered.

CNI News

5 Jan 2023

As its troops are overstretched, the Myanmar junta has declared a one-year ceasefire, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Despite declaring ceasefires, the junta launches operations by making various excuses, he added.

Security forces on duty. (GETTY IMAGES)

U Pe Than told the CNI, "They are just paying lip service and it doesn't mean anything but they will launch military operations and halt them when they think it is necessary to do so to when their troops are overstretched. Another factor is that they are creating a good image that they want peace and cooperating with ethnic armed groups as the 2023 elections are around the corner. They have often declared ceasefires again and again but armed clashes have erupted in the entire country. They are just creating an image that they want peace but they have to respond to the attacks of the opposition."

The Office of the commander-in-chief of defence services announced on 31st December, 2023 that it extended the ceasefire from 1st January, 2023 to 31st December, 2023.

As the military strategies have changed since the end of the Second World War, the junta is fighting against the resistance forces by saving its strength, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.

A commando team. (EPA)

He said, "Whenever we extended the ceasefire, the EAOs said our troops were overstretched. Military strategies and tacts have changed significantly since the end of World War II. Since then, militaries have saved their troops and heavily depended on weapons, smart weapons, precision weapons and guided weapons. So, ways of thinking that the ceasefire was announced because troops are overstretched is outdated. I think that they are not capable of thinking properly. I don't want to say much but it is quite opposite to the situation on the ground."

The Myanmar military has been announcing ceasefires for at least 21 times within more than four years since 21st December, 2018.

CNI News

3 Jan 2023

Three Brotherhood Alliance made up of the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army announced on 1st January that they would cooperate with certain popular revolutionary organizations amony the forces that emerged during the Spring Revolution.

They said they have sympathized with displaced persons due to domestic military and political instabilities caused after the Myanmar military ousted the civilian government, according to their statement.

The statement said, "Our three brotherhood Alliance will cooperate with certain popular and revolutionary organizations among the forces that emerged during the Spring Revolution to continue to take appropriate measures to achieve the common goal aspired by us and the entire people of Myanmar, to overcome the current crisis and to eliminate the military dictatorship."

Troops of the BPLA. (BPLA-fb)

However, the statement did not elaborate on which popular and revolutionary organizations it was referring to. During the Spring Revolution, various organizations have emerged including the National Unity Consultative Council, the National Unity Government, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the People's Defence Force, Local Defence Forces, the Karenni National Defence Force and the Bamar People's Liberation Army.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance has been fighting against the military relentlessly and their decision to join hands with revolutionary forces should be welcomed, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

He said, "Their decision to join hands with revolutionary forces should be welcomed. We will have to wait and see how they choose revolutionary forces and what they will do. They will achieve success to a certain extent because the assistance offered by the US is linked to all anti-junta forces. I think they wanted to consolidate their strength."

The term revolutionary forces must be defined on their own standards but he welcomed the decisions to join hands with certain Spring Revolutionary forces, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

Troops of the TNLA.

He said, "I don't know how they will decide if an organization is revolutionary or not because they will do so on their own standards and ways and means. However, they are not under the direct leadership of Spring Revolution leaders like the NUG and the CRPH. It is difficult to say exactly which organizations they will cooperate with. We will have to wait and see. Nevertheless, they have recognized the Spring Revolution and decided to cooperate with it as necessary. So, we must welcome the move."

After the Myanmar military seized power on 1st February, 2021, peaceful protests and armed struggle have erupted in the country.

CNI News

3 Jan 2023

As relevant authorities have failed to take effective action, illegal overseas employment agencies are mushrooming in Myanmar, labour activists in neighbouring countries told the CNI.

Another reason is that those who fell victim to frauds of overseas employment agencies did not know how to file reports against illegal agencies and some of them were discouraged by legal fees and time required.

The main reason is that only a few victims of illegal overseas employment agencies filed reports about the latter, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand told the CNI.

He said, "Even if the victims filed complaints, staff failed to take effective action not only against officially registered agencies but also against illegal ones, who were recruiting migrant workers in samll town without licenses and relevant authorities. Failures to take action against them is also due to the situation in the country. As there is no rule of law in the country, staff do not take action against them and such frauds are mushrooming in Myanmar. I think all staff are involved in the cases. In the social media age, we know everything that is happening in Myanmar from Thailand in real time but it is impossible that authorities do not know the problems. To make the long story short, they are corrupted and unaccountable. Illegal agents took enormous fees from workers and sent them to agencies, which in turn bribe the authorities. So, authorities did not take action against them and crimes were undetected."

Migrants trying to work in Thailand under the MOU between Myanmar and Thailand.

Although agencies and agents have been in Myanmar for a long time, the number of them have significantly increased because a large number of Myanmar nationals are trying to work abroad.

However, the workers were cheated of their money by unlicensed agents who were unaccountable for securing a job when workers were abroad. As a result, workers face extreme hardship abroad.

In taking action against illegal overseas employment agencies, failure to arrest main culprits will not discourage them, U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Malaysia told the CNI.

Detained illegal Myanmar migrants.

He said, "Illegal overseas employment agencies are mushrooming because authorities have fail to work effectively and it is difficult to combat such agencies. It is important that workers who intend to go abroad choose among agencies properly. Such agencies would manage to survive even if authorities took effective action. Even relatives like aunts and uncles are cheating workers of their money. They arranged for their nephews to work in Malaysia but when the workers arrived here, they could not find their nephews jobs. Eventually, the workers were detained by immigration authorities. They failed to take accountability for the detained workers. There are no agents who take accountability for workers they sent here. It is difficult to take action against them because they are bribing authorities. So, the main culprits are still at large and they are operating their illegal overseas employment agencies. It is almost impossible to combat them."

As overseas employment agencies do not have their company signboards, it is difficult to know whether they are operating officially or illegally.

As the Ministry of Labour is not responsible for launching operations against illegal overseas employment agencies on the ground, they have to rely on the public to file reports about illegal overseas employment agencies to township labour offices.

As the employment rate is very high in Myanmar, nearly 40,000 Myanmar workers are leaving the country every month, according to statistics released by the International Organization for Migration.