CNI News

26 Nov 2022

Clashes have erupted between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army in Hpakant since 23rd November.

Sporadic clashes have broken out in Hpakant and the military is launching operations in the township, Spokesperson Col Naw Bu of the KIA told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Clashes have broken out in Hpakant sporadically. The military has also reinforced its troops in Bamaw and Moemauk. Fighting can erupt in the townships at any time.

Yesterday, fighting broke out in Hpakant. SAC troops are launching operations in Hpakant. The situation is not tense in other townships. SAC troops shot at the houses of the local residents and searched cars and motorbikes."

Due to the clashes, more than 1,000 people from Aung Kyaw Su, Kaung San, Thaung Kawt, Pinlaung and Whekhar villages from Seik Mu Village Tract have been displaced.

Fighting broke out between the Myanmar military and the KIA in Seik Mu in Hpakant, Ko Aung Khin, a local resident, told the CNI.

He said, "Fighting broke out in Saing Taung (Seik Mu) yesterday. The situation is very tense. The KIA said they do not go and launch attacks in Nay Pyi Taw and the military is launching operations in their native areas. People's Defence Forces want to fight against the military but they were not allowed to do so by the KIA. The PDFs are under the command of the KIA. The military has not launched airstrikes here."

Hpakant is a jade-mining town, where a large number of migrant workers live and work. The Myanmar military, the KIA and local militias are active in the area.

Fighting erupted in Hpakant, Bamaw, Moemauk and Tanai between the military and joint forces of the KIA and local PDFs.

CNI News

26 Nov 2022

Ta'ang National Liberation Army's message on Shan New Year Day is a good sign for the unity of endigenous ethnic groups in Shan State, Yein Hlian Han of Shan Human Right Foundation told the CNI.

As it sends a positive message, it is good for the future of Shan State, he added.

He said, "This is my personal opinion and it does not reflect the perspective of our organization. Sending a positive message to indigenous ethnic peoples is a good sign to the future of Shan State. We welcome the message to coexist with all indegenous peoples peacefully and unitedly in Shan State.

Palaung ethnic people

The TNLA message on the 2117th Shan New Year Day, which falls on 1st Waxing of Nattaw wished Shan ethnic people safety and health.

The message brings positive signs and will strengthen the unity between Shan and Ta'aung people, General Secretary Lay Poe Kamei Chai of the Ta'aung Women Organization told the CNI.
She said, "It is a positive sign and proof of unity . As it is a good time to ward off dictatorship and establish a federal union, I hope that the message will solidify the unity between Shan and Ta'aung People."

Shan ethnic people

Recently, the number of clashes among indigenous ethnic groups in Shan State has decreased and offered opportunities for peace, enhancing trust among one another, she added.
In Shan State, there are many ethnic groups including Ta'ang, Shan, Kachin, Chinese, Bamar, Wa, Kokant, Akhar, Danu, PaO, Lahu and Lisu and each ethnic group has their own armed organizations.

CNI News

26 Nov 2022

Labour activists for Myanmar migrants in Malaysia told the CNI that they hoped illegal migrants would be allowed to stay in Malaysia during the term of the new prime minister.

The general election was held in Malaysia on 19th November and veteran opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim became the new prime minister.

As Anwar made promises about foreign migrants during his election campaign, such hopes have sprung up, labour activists for Myanmar migrants told the CNI.

U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrants in Malaysia, told the CNI, "Factories and workshops are suffering labour shortages. There are not enough workers who officially come to Malaysia to solve the problem. Employers are not allowed to hire illegal migrant workers. They will be fined if authorities find out that they are employing illegal workers. So, I hope that the new government will allow illegal migrants to stay and work in Malaysia. I think they will surely do that. It will be good for illegal migrants. There are many Myanmar illegal migrants in Malaysia. They will be able to stay and work peacefully without worrying about arrests."

New Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (AFP)

Myanmar labour activists in Malaysia hope that the situation of migrant workers will improve as every new government in Malaysia does something or other for migrant workers and the new prime minister is a reformist.

He hopes for the best for refugees, an official from the Alliance of Chin refugees told the CNI.

He said, "The new prime minister was a prisoner in the past. We hope that he will be able to serve best for the country and foreign migrants. As for the refugee issue, Malaysia governments have been working with the UNHCR for many years. Last, Malaysian authorities held meetings with the world refugee body. I think they are working for the best of all."

Although the prime minister has been appointed, there will be delays to form a new government because of some political issues and security is still tightened, U Babu Gyi told the CNI.

Migrant Workers.

"We don't know exactly why security is still tightened. Although the prime minister has been appointed by the king, there is another rival of the prime minister. He has not formed a government by appointing ministers and deputy ministers. He has started going to the prime minister's office. We don't know who will be ministers because we don't understand their political systems. There may be misunderstandings, differences and divisions. A large number of people support the opposition. Therefore, we are urging undocumented workers not to go out."

During his election campaigns, the new prime minister made two promises about foreign migrants including resolving the issue of foreign migrants in Sabah State in eastern Malaysia and a better and faster process for hiring foreign workers.

CNI News

25 Nov 2022

As long as tourists are charged extra fees, the tourism sector of Myanmar will not develop, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.

They added that the practice should be ended for the development of the tourism sector.

Although domestic tourism has recovered after the COVID-19 outbreak, only a few foreign tourists have visited Myanmar, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.

Chairman U Zaw Zaw of Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI, "Actually, we need to attract tourists by easing restrictions when the demand is very low. So, we need to ease restrictions on travel and entry because we are struggling to recover for nothing.  I have been discussing the issue for a long time. Entry fees and hotel charges in Myanmar are a lot more expensive than other countries but services we offer are not as good as other countries. I think foreign tourists will visit Myanmar if the government helps adjust the supply and demand. We need to take care of them properly since they arrive at the airport and charge reasonable prices."

Tourist arrivals in Thailand have increased dramatically in the post-COVID period because the government has allowed tour operators  to take initiatives on their own discretion, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

An archway to Mandalay.

Therefore, the Myanmar government should allow tour agencies to develop tour destinations and help them if necessary, they added.

A tour entrepreneur said, "Thailand has set a target on tourism earnings. The government does not pay lip service for the sector and helps pragmatically by investing millions of US dollars  in the sector. Thailand had more COVID-19 victims than Myanmar but tourists are still visiting the neighbouring country. When Singapore imposed strict restrictions on tourists, Thailand reopened tourism. So, tourists from many countries including Myanmar and Russia have been visiting Thailand to invest there because the situation in their countries is not conducive to new businesses. People get job opportunities when the country receives new foreign investments. People get construction jobs. Thailand has developed dramatically. It is also a military regime and the country has not always had peace. Oppositions are always staging protests. On the other hand, it has guaranteed businesses. So, the economy has never been disrupted. Tourists are visiting the country as usual and the country has developed."

Compared with Thailand, the tourism sector of Myanmar is completely different.

Tour destinations in Myanmar are more beautiful and pleasant than Thailand but only a few tourists visit Myanmar because of the failures to develop tour destinations and extra charges for tourists, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

Domestic tourists in Peikchinhnyaunf waterfalls in PyinOoLwin. 

Chairman U Zaw Weik of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI, "Some tour destinations have been developed but officials like the minister and director generals never try to study the situation on the ground. They work only in their offices. They have never experienced the situation on the ground. Our beaches are much more beautiful than Phuket, which has much more facilities than ours. However, our beaches are natural ones. And caves in Phowin Mountain and Shwe Wa Mountain are caves drilled in the 11th century. They are priceless. If we can highlight such destinations, they will have great potential. There are a lot of destinations for eco-tourism in Shan State. The Alaungdaw Kathapa is an interesting tour destination. Mountains in Shan State are not too high and suitable for hiking and trekking. There are many advantages for tourism in Myanmar."

If Myanmar fails to take measures to promote its tour destinations, foreign tourist arrivals will continue to fall as usual and will have an impact on foreign exchange earnings of the country, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

The tourism sector of Myanmar cannot develop relying alone on Russian tourists and the majority of tourists to Myanmar are Thais and the Chinese, who visit Myanmar are on business tours.

CNI News

25 Nov 2022

Although news has spread that exports of corn grown as one of the opium substitute crops to China would be permitted until December, it is still possible for exporters to continue export corn to companies approved by China through other means, according to Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.

Although the opium-substitute corn import target of China has met the target, corn can be exported to China through other means. As a result, the dateline will not no impact on the corn export prices and the border trade will continue to thrive, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun of the MCIA told the CNI.  

An opium plantation.

He said, "China will stop importing corn from Myanmar as an opium-substitute crop but Myanmar can still export corn to China under the GACC , which allow imports of corn that meets the standards of the Chinese Customs."

China is importing opium-substitute crops from the border regions by setting targets  annually but it announced that it would import the crop until December, according to a corn trader in Shan State.

CNI News

23 Nov 2022

As Tamu in Sagaing Region is short of fuel supply, local residents have to make long queues at filling stations, according to local residents.

Fuel supply has been disrupted by difficulties for transportation for ten days, Ko Nyein Chan, a local resident of Tamu, told the CNI.

He said, "It is difficult to buy fuel in Tamu at present. Almost all filling stations have run out of fuel. Only one filling station is still selling fuel. So, everyone has to queue at the filling station. fuel supply to other filling stations have been disrupted. It has been about ten days since the fuel shortage started. It is difficult to buy fuel in Tamu."

The shortage also pushed up fuel prices, which rose from MMK 4,500 per gallon for Octane 92 to more than MMK 20,000 per gallon, Ko Khant Thu, another local resident, told the CNI.

An archway to Tamu.

He said, "In the past, we paid MMK 4,500 per gallon for Octane 92. The prices of Octane 92 have risen to MMK 22,500 per gallon. The prices of Octane 95 rose from MMK 5,000 to MMK 27,000."

Tamu is located in the border area with India but the south Asian country has shut down its borders recently at the moment.

Residents have faced transportation problems and high commodity prices due to the fuel shortage, Ko Nyein Chan told the CNI.

He said, "Commodity prices have also risen. Residents can't even buy eggs because of commodity shortages. We have to buy commodities which are not produced in our area from other areas. We are facing shortages of commodities that are not produced in our areas."

Local People's Defence Forces have warned against using the Kalay-Tamu road since 12th November due to military tensions and road closure was extended for another week on 20th November again.

CNI News

24 Nov 2022

There were no reports of right abuse against Myanmar workers who were sent to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand received not a complaint about right abuse in a month, he added.

U Nyunt Win said, "Myanmar workers who were complaining about right abuse might be illegal workers. Every worker who was sent to Thailand under the MOU has their employment agencies in Thailand and Myanmar. We have collected all their personal data including addresses, ages, types of job. I think some illegal workers were pretending to be workers sent under the MOU and complaining about right abuses to tarnish the image of the country. Frankly speaking, we have not received a major complaint in a month. As we are responsible for the labour affairs of the country, we can firmly say this."

However, labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI that some Myanmar workers sent under the MOU are sometimes forced to work in jobs that are not stated in their contracts or jobs in contract as well as other jobs.

 A garment factory.

As hundreds of Myanmar workers make complaints to labour activists in Thailand, it is impossible that the embassy did not receive a complaint in a month, Labour activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He said, "It is irresponsible to say that there is no right abuse against Myanmar workers because they did not receive any complaints. It is impossible that the embassy and the labour attache have not received any complaints. They must have received complaints. There is no smoke without fire."

Myanmar labour attaches might have reported no problem during their tenures to the ministry to show that they are capable of performing their duties, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist told the CNI.

He said, "The statement of the labour ministry is not true or they might have been refusing to help Myanmar workers. Four labour attaches sent to Thailand by the ministry do not welcome complaints from Myanmar workers. They do not answer phones. So, workers seek help from us, we post the incidents on social media. Only then, the labour officials communicate with the workers. It is completely wrong that the ministry receives not a complaint a month. Even now, some agencies are sending workers who have not received jobs officially and many of them are making complaints to us. This simply means that they are seeking help from organizations that really help them."

A work site for fishery workers. (AFP)

After resumption of sending workers to Thailand following the suspension due to COVID-19, they have helped hundreds of workers who did not get jobs stated in their contracts. They were sent by about seven Myanmar agencies under the MOU, Ko Thar Gyi added.

When Myanmar workers who came to Thailand under MOU quit the job which were not stated in their contracts, some employers sought compensation from such workers, according to the labour activists.

Some of such workers wanted to get another job arranged by their agencies but others sought help from labour activists to resolve the issues according to Thai laws.

CNI News

24 Nov 2022

Union Solidarity and Development Party Chairman U Khin Yee urged party members to wipe tears, hold swords and move forward one day.

U Khin Yee made the remarks at a meeting of party members and families of members who were killed from some districts and townships in Monywa Region at the regional headquarters in Monywa on 22nd November, 2022.

He said, "What you need to bear in your mind from now on is that you are not alone. We have a collective body called a political party. If we cannot carry out a task, we will cooperate with the strength of many others. At the back of and beside you, you have your father and your brothers, who are ready to sacrifice for you. You will have to think about what you are going to do for your children in the future. I have come here to offer help and to listen to you and to resolve your problems. Let's wipe tears, hold swords and move forward."

U Khin Yee meets party members in Monywa 21st November, 2022.

U Khin Yee was accompanied by Central Executive Committee Member U Myint Soe and advisor Dr. Myint Thein, according to a statement of the party.

U Khin Yee was elected chairman of the USDP at the third conference of the party held on 5th and 6th October.

Previously, he served as the vice chairman and the immigration minister of the SAC.

Recently, U Khin Yee has been travelling to states and regions for organizational tasks and offering condolences to families of party members who were killed.

More than 2,000 party members and over 2,000 civilians have been killed since the political crisis started on 1st February, 2022.

CNI News

23 Nov 2022

Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local People's Defence Forces were collecting money from travellers in Tanai Region in Kachin State, according to locals.

The two armed groups has been separately collecting human taxes, Ko Myo Min, a local resident, told the CNI.

 Archway to Tanai.

He said, "They were collecting human taxes along Lawar route. The KIA asked for MMK 50,000 per person but we apologized to them and paid MMK 30,000 per head to them. They might collect MMK 200,000 to 300,000 per vehicle. Then, they issued us receipts. So, when we travelled past the area again, we showed our receipts to an armed groups but they said they were PDF and collected funds. So, each of us had to pay MMK 20,000 to them. So, it cost a total of MMK 50,000 to travel in the area that day."

Although amber miners have already paid taxes to the KIA, their amber was seized by KIA troops and the miners were forced to pay an amount set by the KIA to retrieve their amber.

KPDF troops under the command of the KIA. (KPDF-Hopin)

KIA Spokesperson Col Naw Bu did not respond to a request for comments.

The PDF did not used to collect money but they likely to do so beacuse of the instructions from their superior, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Kham told the CNI.

The KIA levied MMK 5,000 taxes for a bag of amber but it has raised the taxes to MMK 20,000 per bag since the first week of this month, Ko Zaw Naing, a Tanai resident, told the CNI.

 Testing amber. (Hkun Lat)

He said, "KIA troops seized amber from the merchants. They all have already paid taxes set by the KIA at the transportation terminal but they KIA troops seized their ambur worth MMK 100 million because the taxes were not paid to them. They merchants were forced to retrieve their amber by paying more taxes two or three days ago."

Tanai area is under the control of KIA brigade (9) and joint forces the KIA and PDF are active in the area.

Fighting has frequently erupted between the KIA and the military