CNI News

1 Nov 2022

The Lisu National Development Party (Crossbow Party) is preparing to contest the general election slated for 2023, Chairman U Shwe Min told the CNI.

However, the chairman was not sure whether elections will take place in constituencies where their people reside.

U Shwe Min said, “It mainly depends on the decisions of the Union Election Commission along with the security conditions. If the UCE decide election should take place in out areas, we will contest elections.

    An election campaign of the LNDP.

We still don’t know how the UEC will decide and how the UEC will hold the elections. What we know is that elections will be held in 2023 and the proportional representation system will be introduced. However, we still don’t know whether the elections will be held based on township or district systems. The commission has not informed us of anything officially. So, it is difficult for us to say anything exactly. The government and the UEC know what they will do. We are just getting ready for the elections.”

The LNDP will hold a party conference in December, 2022 to contest the elections to be held by the SAC.

The UEC announced that the PR system will be introduced in the upcoming elections.

There are fewer chances for ethnic minorities to get elected to the parliament, U Shwe Min said.

An election campaign of the LNDP.

He said, “As far as we know, the UEC will introduce the PR system in the upcoming elections. The system can prevent the party dictatorship or control but offer fewer chances for ethnic minority parties. We will win in our townships under the FPTP system because the townships are resided by our people. If the PR system is based on district, it is difficult for our ethnic minorities to get elected to the parliament."

The LNDP contested in the general elections held in November, 2020 and won two seats.

SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing promised to hold a fresh general election in August, 2023 and to transfer power to the winning party.

CNI News

1 Nov 2022

The storm, which hit Rakhine State on 24th October destroyed about 90,000 acres of f Some 90,000 acres of farmland damaged by storm in Rakhine State armland in eight townships in Rakhine State, according to statistics collected by the All Rakhine State Peasants’ Union.

As a result, 3 million baskets of paddy were destroyed, U Kyaw Zan of the ARSPU told the CNI.

He said, “According to statistics collected by the ARSPU, about 90,000 acres of paddy fields, especially in Taungup, Myaybon, Minbya and Rathedaung were destroyed by the storm on 24th October. The storm also affected farmland in Ann, Kyaukphyu, Pauktaw and Ponnagyun. As a result, between 3 and 3.5 million baskets of paddy were destroyed.”

Due to salt water flooding caused by the storm damaged 20,000 acres of farmland in Taungup.

Salt water flooding in farms in Rakhine State.

As a result, farmers have suffered losses and they need salt-resistant paddy varieties for the upcoming cultivation season, a farmer from Taungup told the CNI.

He said, “In connection with assistance, we need fertilizers as farms were flooded by salt water. Farms were salty and acidified. So, it is difficult for use to grow crops in the upcoming cultivation season and we need fertilizers and salt-resistant paddy varieties. Then, we need chemicals to make soil suitable for cultivation.”

Farmers had to reduce cultivation acreage this year due to higher costs for inputs such as fertilizers, fuel and pesticides while crop yields are likely to fall as they could not use suvvisicent fertilizers. Moreover, farmers had to abandon their farms due to resumption of fighting in Rakhine State.

Farmers.

Under such circumstances, paddy yields are likely to drop in Rakhine State, according to activists for peasants.

As paddy cultivation acreage in the state fell from 850,000 acres last year to 750,000 acres this year, the state will be able to produce about 30 million baskets of paddy during the harvest, according to the peasant union.

As the paddy yield is just enough for local consumption, authorities are required to take systematic measures for self-sufficiency of paddy in the state, according to U Kyaw Zan.

He told the CNI, “If government plans are systematic, Rakhine State is likely to maintain self-sufficiency of rice. Farmers had to borrow money to cultivate paddy, they will not be able to keep the crop by themselves. They will have to sell the crop. If the paddy they harvested is transported by merchants to other main states and regions, local people will not have enough rice to eat.”

Normally, an acre of land in Rakhine state yields 60 baskets of paddy but it is estimated that only about 50 baskets will be yielded from an acre of farm this year due to falls in fertilizer use and droughts.

CNI News

1 Nov 2022

The Kawthaung-Ranong route or flights should be used instead of the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route in sending workers from Myanmar to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI.

Workers should not be sent from the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route because of the security situation along the route and taking alternative routes will be able to overcome such threats.

Labour Activist U Min Oo of the FED told the CNI, “Flights are the most convenient way to send workers to Thailand within a short time. If workers are to be sent from the Kawthaung-Ranong route, they will have to take domestic flights to Kawthaung and cross the border into Thailand by boat. So, the route is not as convenient as flights to send a large number of workers. The advantage of using the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is that a large number of workers can be sent by cars from No (2) bridge. Currently only a few workers come from the Kawthaung-Ranong route. I think agencies can send workers from the route and it will not cost much more. However, they will have to use roads and the waterway and it is difficult to send a large number of workers.”

  Myanmar workers preparing to travel to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries.

Although agencies are sending workers by plane or from the Kawthaung-Ranong route, the number of workers who took the routes is fewer compared to that of the Myawaddy route.

If alternative routes are to be used, agencies are likely to charge more service fees from workers and the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most appropriate route for sending workers, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, “The Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most convenient route because it is easy for authorities to check their documents. Agencies can also send the workers from the Kawthaung-Ranong route but the problem is that they will have to travel a long way to get to their worksites. We need to take this into consideration. The Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is much nearer to their worksites than the Kawthaung-Ranong route.”

Although the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most convenient route for sending workers to Thailand, it is necessary to take extra heed than before due to the deteriorating security situation in the area, Ko Thar Gyi added.

He told the CNI, “Agencies need to take extra heed until their workers arrive in Myawaddy. If agencies carefully listen to conflict news and send workers to Thailand, it will be safer for them. Thailand authorities including immigration, labour and health officials have already arranged for the workers to come from Myawaddy. So, they need to take extra heed for unpredictable dangers along the route until they arrive in Myawaddy.”

A checkpoint for Myanmar workers in Thailand.

Fighting erupted along the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road section of the Asia Highway on 18th October and MOU workers were stranded due to temporary closures of the highway but the road was reopened on 21st October.

The Kawthoolei Army issued a statement on 26th October, prohibiting travels along the road section without its permission.

The statement warned of travelling along the road section due to escalation of military tensions between the junta and its forces.

Despite the tensions, some vehicles and agencies are still using the road to send workers to Thailand.

CNI News

30 Oct 2022

Myanmar will not pull out of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party.

He added that the State Administration Council will continue to point out the violations of the charter by the ASEAN.

Dr Aye Maung told the CNI, “In my opinion, Myanmar will not pull out of the ASEAN. It will continue to point out the violations of the charter by the ASEAN. If it pulled out of the regional body, the upcoming government would blame it for its decision. So, it will do nothing except pointing out the violation of the charter by the ASEAN. It will leave the upcoming elected government to decide the matter.”

The Special AMM on 27^th October, 2022 in progress.

As the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) was held without Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October, the country will not be bound by the outcomes of the Special AMM, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the SAC.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI, “The SAC will not quit the ASEAN because it was a rare chance for it to have joined the regional body. U Than Shwe had to try very hard to join the ASEAN. So, it will not quit the ASEAN.”

As quitting the ASEAN will have negative impacts on the union peace process, Myanmar is unlikely to quit the ASEAN, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets ASEAN Chairman Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen

He said, “It is not geographically, culturally and politically pragmatic for Myanmar to leave the ASEAN under the current international situation. Leaving the ASEAN will have negative impacts on the union peace process. So, it is very unlikely.”

As the SAC did not implement the consensus effectively, the SAC chairman and the foreign minister were not invited to ASEAN meetings. Instead, the regional group has invited a non-political representative to its meetings.

CNI News

30 Oct 2022

Low gas pressures caused by blackouts have forced vehicles to queue a long time at CNG filling stations and drivers have to wait for one to two hours, U Myo Thant Kyu, a taxi driver, told the CNI.

He said, “In the past, we had to wait only 14 or 15 minutes. At present, we are not certain whether we will get filled even after waiting for a long time. In the past, we can drive the whole day after filling a 70-litre cylinder. Now, we can’t drive as long because the pressure is low. So, we see longer lines of vehicles."

Although long queues were sometimes seen at gas stations for a few days, the current delays have lasted for more than a month, according to drivers.

Having to wait a long time at gas stations, taxi drivers have a shorter time to transport passengers and their incomes have been dwindling, according to U Myo Thant Kyu.

A long queue of vehicles at filling stations.

He told the CNI, “We got as much as MMK 50,000 per day in the past even after we have paid the rental fees for the owners of the vehicles. At present, we are struggling to get MMK 10,000 for us.

In the past, drivers can fill gas 24 hours, gas stations are closed at 10.30 pm due to the 12 am curfew.

The longer queuing time and lower gas pressures were caused not only by blackouts but also to low supply of gas to stations, an official at the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise told the CNI.

A long queue of vehicles at filling stations.

He said, “We have generators for blackouts. When electricity is cut off, we can use them. However, we can use only two of the four generators we have. So, we have to see vehicles waiting for a long time and there are long lines of vehicles at stations. As the gas pressure is low, drivers cannot use them for a long time because gas supply is being provided from other sources like Chauk and Yadanar gas fields. If electricity is supplied regularly, the problem can be reduced.”

There are 41 gas stations in Yangon Region. There are six stations supplied by vehicles, 35 stations supplied by pipes and four stations for taxis and 31 gas stations for buses.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

Airstrikes of the junta are destructive but cannot guarantee victory for it, said Defence Minister U Yee Mon of the National Unity Government.

However, he urged members of the People’s Defence Force to exercise caution for airstrikes during a radio program of the NUG on 26th October.

U Yee Mon said, “Although it is true that airstrikes are destructive, we understand that they are not decisive for military victory. Ours is a revolution associated with wisdom. We will be able to find ways and means to thwart enemy airstrikes by employing our wisdom.”

U Yee Mon and members of the PDF.

Then, he said that the military has been too weak to fight the revolutionary forces on the ground and resorting to airstrikes heavily and urged the PDF members to alert revolutionary awareness and wisdom to the highest level.

Launching airstrikes cannot guarantee the victory for the junta and revealed that it has weakened and depended heavily on the air power, Spokesperson Salai Timmy of the Chin Nationals Defence Force told the CNI.

He said, “I don’t think they still have enough strength to maneuver on the ground. The number of ground operations has decreased significantly. Depending heavily on wicked airstrikes has revealed the they have been weakened dramatically. Airstrikes do not play a decisive role in achieving victories. As their wicked airstrikes also violate international law, it is more evident that they are losing the war.”

 An air force exercise.

Since the junta staged a coup on 1st February, 2021, joint forces of ethnic armed organizations and the PDF have been fighting the military.

The military has been carrying out ground operations as well as airstrikes and raids.

Currently, armed clashes have erupted in Sagaing and Magway regions and Karen, Chin and Kayah states.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

More people are likely to travel to resorts than pilgrimage sites during the Tazaungdaing Holiday due to the tragedy at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda on 12th October during the Thadingyut Holiday, hoteliers and tour entrepreneurs told the CNI.

Hoteliers and tour operators have expected that more people will travel during the Tazaungdaing Holiday.

Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs told the CNI, “There are not as many tour destinations as before due to security reasons and instabilities in some regions. So, people will be crowded at the destinations to which they can travel. Rooms have been almost fully booked at Chaungtha, Ngwe Saung and Ngapali beaches. Some people travel to Kalaw and Taunggyi. More people will travel during the Tazaungdaing Holiday than the Thadingyut Holiday. Some people are shocked by the tragedy at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. So, they will choose to go to less crowded destination. More people will go to beaches than pilgrimage sites, which will not be as busy as before. Some people will travel to Myeik by plane to visit Kawthaung and nearby islands. It is learnt that tour packages to the destinations are also brisk.”

The number of domestic tourists has increased since the Thadingyut Holiday with many people visiting tour destinations even during weekdays.

A large number of rooms have been booked for the Tazaungdaing Holiday in hotels in Shan State, especially those in Taunggyi and Kalaw, Deputy Director U Shthu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

 A scene at Chaungthar beach.
He said, “When we sought information from hotels as in a survey, many of them in Kalaw have been fully booked. Some of the domestic tourists are working guests. It is difficult to predict but more people will visit Shan State due to the Kyaiktiyo tragedy. The number of people travelling to Nyaungshwe will increase because domestic tourists from Taunggyi and Kalaw visit the destination on day-return trips for pilgrimage. We think we will receive more domestic tourists during the Tazaungdaing Holiday than the Thadingyut Holiday.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, most domestic tourists travelled to Taunggyi and PyinOoLwin because there were festivals in the hill resorts. However, there are no plans to organize the Tazaungdaing Festival in Taunggyi.
On the other hand, authorities are preparing to organize the Tazaungdaing Festival in PyinOoLwin from 4th to 8th November.

More people are likely to travel to such destinations than Rakhine State, Director U Tin Tun Aung of Rakhine State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

He said, “More people prefer such destinations to Rakhine State during the festivals. However, we cannot surely say that they will not come to us but we will not receive as many domestic tourists as during the Thadingyut Holiday. During the festival, many people travel to Rakhine State as well as Bagan. More domestic tourists will travel to Taunggyi because they have to travel by plane to visit Rakhine State.”

If people can travel to the destinations without any worry for their safety and security during the Tazaungdaing Holiday, more and more people will travel to the destinations during the Christmas and New Year Holiday, according to tour operators.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

China Customs has permitted Myanmar companies to export corn to China through the border trade, according to Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.

As more than 80 Myanmar companies have been officially permitted, exporters will not face seizures of their goods, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “As China Customs asked for the GACC data, more than 80 companies submitted their data and are now permitted to export corn. They have been allowed to export corn to China by contacting Chinese companies. In the past, they exported corn to China illegally and Chinese authorities sometimes seized their crop in China. Now, they will not face such problems.”

 Corn cultivated in Myanmar. (EPA)

Corn from Myanmar is mainly exported to China, Thailand and Vietnam.

As corn can be exported through the border trade, corn farmers and merchants will have more options and be more competitive, a corn merchant told the CNI.

He said, “They will have more options. In the past, corn was exported from Myawaddy or through maritime trade or supplied to feed factories. They have three options. Before corn was exported from Myawaddy, the crop was mainly exported to China from Muse, Chin Shwe Haw and Kanpaiti. Chinese authorities seized corn imported from Myanmar in China as of 2017 and Chinese importers stopped buying corn from Myanmar. So, corn was exported from Myawaddy. Now, merchants have four options and the market is more competitive.”

 Drying corn in Myanmar. (EPA)

The MCIA has urged corn farmers, merchants and companies to place emphasis on quality and pest control.

As corn prices dropped to less than MMK 1,000 per viss even before the harvest and input costs were higher this year, corn cultivation acreage has dropped, according to farmers.

As a result, there may be corn shortages when the crop is exported and corn prices are likely to rise this year depending on the demand and crop yields, according to farmers and merchants.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

As the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) was held without Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October, the country will not be bound by the outcomes of the Special AMM, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the SAC.

Myanmar was asked to assign a non-political representative to the meeting and the country did not send any representative.

Since Myanmar fully adhered to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the principle of equal rights and obligations, Myanmar did not accept the invitation, which discriminates the level of representation among the Member States, the press release says.

It continues that the meeting was held with only nine ASEAN Member States without Myanmar, which is not in line with the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. Therefore, Myanmar will not be bound by the outcomes of the meeting.

The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October.

Since it assumed the state’s responsibilities in line with the 2008 State Constitution, the State Administration Council has been implementing the Five-Point Roadmap to restore the multiparty democratic system. At the same time, as a responsible member state, Myanmar has been constructively cooperating with the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair in implementing the ASEAN five-point consensus, according to the press release.

Since implementing the five-point consensus is a process, inserting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones, the ministry said.

An ASEAN special summit was held in Indonesia on 24th April, 2021.

The summit reached a five-point consensus to end violence, to hold dialogues with all stakeholders, to offer humanitarian assistance, to release all political prisoners and to appoint a special envoy of the ASEAN.

As the SAC did not implement the consensus effectively, the SAC chairman and the foreign minister was not invited to ASEAN meetings. Instead, the regional group has invited a non-political representative to its meetings since then.