CNI News

17 July 2022

People were confused about the announcement of China to halt permission to take out goods that were stuck in China and rumours spread that China-Myanmar border trade would be closed on 15 July but China-Myanmar border trade is being conducted as usual, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of Muse Rice Commodity Exchange told the CNI.

“It has been about two years since about 600 truckloads of goods were stuck in warehouses in Jiegao. The goods were allowed to be taken back from Jiegao to Ruili, from Ruili to Wantain and Kyin San Kyawt gate. Goods stuck in Chin Shwe Haw were also allowed to be taken back. Chinese authorities allowed this for two months and announced on 14th July that they would halt the permission temporarily as of 15th July. The Kyin San Kyawt border gate is open for entry as well as for departure,” he said.

Goods stuck in Jiegao and Wantain were allowed to be brought back as of 23rd May and the permission has been suspended now.

About 100 truckloads of goods are traded at Kyin San Kyawt gate daily and Jiegao gate is closed, truck driver Ko Thant Zin from Muse said.

“Border trade is open. About 100 truckloads of goods are traded daily recently. Chinese authorities just closed the road from Jiegao to Wantain,” he told the CNI.

As a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Chinese authorities have closed border gates in Chin Shwe Haw, Jiegao, Muse and Mant Wain but Kyin San Kyawt gate is still open for border trade.

CNI News

17 July 2022

The PDF suicide bomber is recognized as a hero but suicide bombing is not encouraged, political analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

A suicide bombing was carried out by the PDF when Tatmadaw personnel, who stationed at a monaster in Thedaw Village in Yesagyo in Magway Region, tried to shoot and arrest PDF members.

“This is the first suicide bombing carried out by the PDF. I recognize that this is the most violent reaction to the atrocities of the SAC but I do not want to encourage such methods, which amount to kamikaze carried out by Japanese soldiers who sacrificed their lives with highest morale during the Second World War. Such methods could not bring victories in battles, which can only be achieved by the struggle of the entire people,” he told the CNI.

A PDF member from Yesagyo told the Khit Thit Media that at least ten soldiers from the Tatmadaw were killed during the bombing.

 A protest in the Spring Revolution.

U Than Soe Naing said, “I honour him but I don’t want the people to pay a price for adventurism because we cannot win victories in our revolution through such methods. As I believe that it is necessary for the entire people to join the revolution in order to achieve victories, I express my own opinion.”

The suicide bombing in Yesagyo is the first of its kind in the Spring Revolution.

The Tatmadaw staged a coup to oust the NLD government by declaring a state of emergency when the NLD tried to form a government without settling voters’ lists disputes in the 2020 general election.

After the coup, anti-military pro-democracy armed struggles have broken out and armed conflicts have spread to Magway and Sagaing Regions and Chin,  Kayin and Kayah States.

CNI News

17 July 2022

The transportation of medicines, fertilizers, wires and ironwork has been prohibited by checkpoints around Pakokku, according to truck drivers in the town.

Although local authorities have not issued the prohibition order officially, checkpoints at the entrance and exit of the towns and along the highways have told truck drivers not to carry the goods.

Moreover, the transportation of rice has also been restricted, truck driver Ko Myint Zaw, who transported onions from Pauk Township to Pakokku, told the CNI.

“Transporting more than five bags of rice is not allowed. It is said that oral and injectable medicines, batteries, wires, solar panels and generators are prohibited,” he told the CNI.

However, medicines are allowed to be transported together with doctors, he explained.

Goods are being inspected at a checkpoint at the entrance to Pakokku.

As restricted goods were not announced officially, truck drivers faced difficulty and refused to transport some goods.

Some truck drivers who carried restricted goods were sometimes punished by authorities at checkpoints, according to truck driver U Nay Lin.

U Nay Lin told the CNI, “Most truck drivers are afraid of authorities at checkpoints and have stopped transporting goods. If they have to transport goods, they dare not carry restricted goods because it is dangerous for them. Some truck drivers who carried prohibited goods were punished by authorities  by forcing them to put their hands on their heads and to stay under the sum for a long time.”

When prohibited goods are found to be transporting, authorities at checkpoints seize the goods, refuse to give permissions to pass through the checkpoints or impose fines, according to truck drivers.

Transportation of such goods is prohibited in townships around Pakokku including Pauk, Monywa, Yaw, Pale, Seikphyu and Salin.

CNI News

16 July 2022

Measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce to issue licence and permit to export only after remittance has been received through the advance payment system aims to strengthen the market, Secretary U Thant Zin Tun of Myanmar Corn Industrial Association told the CNI.

Previously, pulses and beans, corn, sesame, peanuts and oil crops were allowed to export with the agreement between the buyers and sellers but exporters are now allowed to export oil crops only after US$ remittance has been received.

U Tant Zin Tun said “ The government might want to raise the prices of exports and enable exporters to sell their goods at a fixed price in a dignified manner instead of going to the border and selling goods.

The Ministry of Commerce issued an order on 2nd July that oil crops can be exported through the desired payment system but it is necessary to set the prices in US$.

Oil crops.

According to the order, exporters are required to deposit their export earnings in US$ at the Central Bank of Myanmar, which, after deducting 2 percent tax, reimburse the earnings in Kyat at the exchange rate of K 1850 per dollar.

In the order issued on 14th July, in exporting pulses and beans, corn and oil crops through border trade, the advance payment system is introduced and export licenses will be issued only after receiving remittances for the crops.

As the system is applied only to maritime trade previously, there may be some difficulties in border trade, said In-Charge U Nay Win Soe of Ayeyar Trade Centre.

“Countries importing goods from Myanmar are not trading only with our country. Thailand can import goods from Vietnam and Laos. India can import goods from Pakistan and other countries. The main demand comes from China.  China needs goods from Myanmar but they have taken an upper hand. So, payment system used in maritime trade is introduced in border trade, there will be some difficulties,” U Nay Win Soe told the CNI.

Exports from a port.

Repeated changes of policies in the export sector cause delay in trade and create instabilities in the market, according to exporters.

Moreover, many exporters have suffered losses due to policy changes and price instabilities and have to buy corn from farmers at lower prices for the upcoming cultivation season, corn farmer Ko Min Khaing from Ayeyarwady Region told the CNI.

“Corn exporters have suffered losses this year. So, they have learnt a lesson and buy corn from farmers at lower prices than the previous year. They will buy corn from farmers at lower prices, I think,” he said.

However, some exporters at border trade said that it is still necessary to closely watch the new policy on exports of pulses and beans, corn and oil crops as there are some difficulties at first, but the policy may work in the long term.

CNI News

16 July 2022

In finding ways to overcome Myanmar's political crisis, the assumption that elections are the exit from the political crisis is not correct , Rakhine politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Although the State Administration Council has pledged to hold elections in 2023 and hand over power to the winning party, elections are likely to be an exit just for the SAC and will have no impact on national development and ending the civil war.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “As some political parties have decided to run for election, the SAC gains support from some political entities and it seems that those who cooperate with the SAC have some advantages. However, the elections will be held under the PR System, it is not a real exit from the political crisis for the country. It may be an exit for the SAC. As the PR system is introduced at a time when the opposition parties do have a say or are weak, the decision is not based on development and ending the civil war and there will be no impact on the issues.”

A Demonstration for democracy. (AP)

Political observer Sai Tun Aung Lwin told the CNI it is uncertain that elections can bring stability to the country and dialogues are essential for stability of the country.

Sai Tun Aung Lwin said, “It is uncertain that elections alone can bring peace and stability or the return to the situation after 2010. So, other means including dialogues are important. Dialogues only with ethnic armed organizations cannot guarantee peace and stability. Now, they have invited ethnic armed organizations only but some ethnic armed organizations refused to join the dialogues. As a result, so many problems will persist and be complicated in the future. They may hold elections for their exit. It is an issue to be taken into consideration for the long term.”

Furthermore, de added that it is difficult to say for sure under current circumstances that the public would accept the elections to be held by the SAC to overcome the political crisis.

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced that elections would be held in August 2023.

The Union Election Commission said that the PR system will be introduced in the elections.

CNI News

15 July 2022

Introducing the guest list management system in hotels in Myanmar has contributed not only to domestic and foreign guests but also to the country, according to Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association.

Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the MTEA said, “The government can collect data on whether a  tourist visited Myanmar with the arrangement of a tour company or on a flexible independent travel or on business or on vacation. It can also collect data about the nationalities of tourists. Otherwise, we will have arrival data tourists gave at the airport and cannot know other data including destinations they went to. Now, we can know how long they stayed in Myanmar by studying data from hotels. If we know a tourist’s passport number, we can know where he stayed. If we learn that a tourist was infected with an infectious disease,  we can know where he stayed and take necessary protective measures. If a tourist was robbed or had an accident, we can offer help at once.”

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has been implementing the GLMS as a health and safety measure.

The GLMS can record routes and other data of tourists.

A hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

Although implementing the GLMS is beneficial for the hotel industry, some tourists do not want to give their data, a travel and tour agency told the CNI.

“It is not as bad as they think. There are advantages as well as disadvantages. Authorities have to ask for the personal details of tourists as it is necessary for them. Recently, they need to retrace the route of tourists. On the other hand, tourists do not want to give their details because of their privacy. As the current situation of the new normal requires such details, it is the responsibility of tourists to give their details. Tourists have to show their passport when they check in a hotel. Hotels can know their details from passports and where they came from and where they are going. If necessary, they need to give their details. I think tourists should accept this,” an official from the agency said.

Currently, there are more than 1,700 hotels that have registered to use the GLMS in the entire country, an official from the ministry told the CNI.

Guests at a hotel.

As the system is also in use in the international community, introducing it in Myanmar can enhance the security, tour agent U Thet Lwin Toe told the CNI.

U Ther Lwin Toe said, “At present, we should be especially cautious about security. As we don’t know who’s who, some control meauses must be taken.  We can make up for security by registering tourists in the system. Such measures are also taken in other countries. I think if the police can do their work effectively, crime can be exposed. In other countries, the system is used for tracing crimes. It is not a violation of human rights even in democratic countries. One has to do one’s job. The system does not violate human rights. We must do what we should.”

As it is the rainy season, the number of domestic and foreign tourists has dropped and most foreign tourists come to Myanmar on business and only a few of them visit Myanmar on vacation, according to the MTEA.

SSPP and delegation led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae hold talks

CNI News

14 July 2022

Delegation led by Vice Chairman Sao Khun Saing of the Shan State Progessive Party (SSPP) and Tatmadaw delegation led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae held talks at the headquarters of the No. (2) Bureau of Special Operation Command in Mong Nawng on 14th July.

Mong Nawng is a town in Kyethi Township in Mong Hsu District in northern Shan State.

It was reported that the Tatmadaw delegation and the delegation led by Vice Chairman Sao Khun Saing are likely to discuss the issues caused by the demand of the Tatmadaw to relocate three camps of the SSPP, according to sources close to them.

The letter sent to the SSPP to withdraw the latter’s troops from three camps.

On 4th June, the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae sent a letter to the SSPP to withdraw its troops from three SSPP camps by 10th June.

However, no agreement was reached until 30 June and no agreement was struck between them until 30th June.

The SSPP and the Tatmadaw held negotiations again in Mong Nwang in Shan State (South) on 14th July.

CNI News

15 July 2022

It is necessary for the government to ease its policies to prevent the continued suspension of production of vehicles through the semi knock-down system, experts on vehicle policies and automobile entrepreneurs told the CNI.

Most automobile companies that import parts and assembled vehicles in Myanmar through the SKD system have temporarily suspended their operations due to exchange rate discrepancies and policies of the government to import parts, vehicle policy experts U Aung Pyae Sone told the CNI.

“While companies have to comply with government policies, they can also adopt their own policies. For example, Suzuki imported parts in UD$ and assembled them into vehicles here. As it is a Japanese company, we can also ask the company whether it is possible to import parts in yen instead of US$ because US$ has caused exchange rate problems, which leads to difficulties in importing parts. Is it possible for the company to take measures to import parts in yen as they are made in Japan. In the same way as the Yuan payment system was introduced, is it possible for the company to try to introduce the Yen payment system? It is possible for the company to resume its operations by taking this into account,” he said.

Instead of using the US$ payment system for vehicles made in China, Japan and Korea, payment systems in currencies of respective countries should be introduced and it is possible to solve the problem, he added.

A vehicle factory 

“We don’t know how companies adopted their policies and ran their operations but the two major issues are exchange rate fluctuation and difficulties to import parts. The companies that face both issues may have to suspend their operations first. If the government does not change or ease their policies over time, production of vehicles through the SKD system will gradually halt. It is likely that companies that import parts in US$ will come to a halt first,” he said.

The problems faced by vehicle assembling companies through the SKD system are mainly caused by the exchange rate control of the government, Chairman U Min Min Maung of Yangon Region Automobile Manufacturing and Distribution Association told the CNI.

“I think the government as well as authorities should allow them to manufacture vehicles as usual because foreign investment is scarce. When they have left the country, it is very difficult to invite them to invest in Myanmar again. Companies like Suzuki (M)and Hyundai (M) are fully foreign invested ones. Appropriate measures should be taken to discourage the outflow of foreign investment. Actually, the SKD system is the process of assembling vehicles from imported parts domestically. It is important to consider the livelihood and incomes of workers they are employing. The amount of their investment is very huge. So, they should take appropriate measures that will protect them from the suspension of their operations. On the other hand, the government is partly trying to control the depreciation of Kyat against US$ and importing vehicles is impossible,” he explained.

An assembly line of vehicles.

The SKD vehicle assembling factories, which are still running, are doing so by already imported parts and all SKD factories are facing the same fate, added U Min Maung Maung.

"Most SKD factories have been encountering the problem for a long time. They are assembling vehicles from parts they have already imported. Actually, the problem is not a new one because they have not been able to import parts for a long time. Now, they are running out of their stocks and the issue has come up. We don't know what will Jetour do when it has nothing left. Similarly, the BAIC and Ford cannot import anything," he told the CNI.

More than ten companies are manufacturing vehicles in Myanmar through the SKD systems including Suzuki, Hyundai, Jetour, Nissan, KIAS and Ford.

CNI News

14 July 2022

The State Administration Council was likely to expel the British ambassador to Myanmar due to his contempt for Myanmar, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI News.

On 13 July, British ambassador Mr. Pete Vowels said on Twitter that he was pressured to leave the country.

U Ye Tun told the CNI, “He came to Myanmar after being appointed as the ambassador but he refused to present his credentials to Myanmar. This amounted to contempt for the country and did not comply with the provisions for appointment of ambassadors under the Geneva Convention. So, it was assumed that he showed contempt for the country.

“Sad & Sorry to have been forced by the Junta to leave but glae we didn’t cave to pressure to legitimize their coup,” Mr. Pete Vowels tweeted.

 Tweets of British Ambassador Mr. Pete Vowels.

After the Tatmadaw took over power on 1st February 2021, both the SAC and the opposition group tried to be recognized and the British ambassador had to leave the country as a result of the recognition struggle, Political Analyst U Sai Tun Aung Lwin told the CNI.

He said, “It was found that powerful countries have differing views on how to treat the country and on the other hand, countries are concerned that they recognize the legitimacy of either group to a certain extent. The British diplomat was first sent to Myanmar as an ambassador but they were concerned that appointment of the ambassador amounted to recognizing the junta’s legitimacy. When such concerns were raised, the diplomat’s rank was lowered to charge de affairs. At first, he was not allowed to enter the country when he was appointed as an ambassador in July 2021. Later, he was allowed to enter the country and forced to leave. He was a victim of the battle for legitimacy.”

Mr. Pete Vowels served as the British ambassador to Myanmar as of August 2021.

The British government has imposed targeted sanctions on the SAC for ousting the civilian government