CNI News

24 July 2022

As the central part of Rakhine State has faced droughts, paddy yields in the state this year may decrease by half, according to All Rakhine State Farmers’ Union.

As rain has become scarcer in central townships like Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Ponnagyun, some plowed fields dried up and crops were damaged due to shortages of rain, Chairman U Kyaw Zan of All Rakhine State Farmers’ Union told the CNI.

U Kyaw Zan said, “The central part of the state including Minbya, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun has faced droughts. A large number of paddy fields were damaged. We could not grow rice on 40 percent of farmland and out of the remaining 60 percent of farmland, 30 percent of farmland was damaged due to droughts. We are likely to lose 70 percent of our usual harvests.”

Due to rising prices of inputs like fertilizers and fuel oil, cultivation costs have increased and only 60 percent of farmland was used for cultivation of paddy this year.

Although it is the rainy season, rain is scarce and farms have dried up, according to farmer Ko Maung Win in Minbya Township.

Cultivation in Rakhine State.

Ko Maung Win told the CNI, “There is no rain. Farmland dried up and hardened. There are many difficulties and I think there will be shortages of rice in the coming year. Rain is very scarce although it is time for heavy rain. Now, farmland that has been plowed relying on rain has become hardened.”

Farmers said there might be rice shortages in Rakhine State as rain is scarce in townships where rice yields are highest in the state like Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the state produced 70 million baskets of paddy but the yields dropped  40 million baskets during the pandemic.

In this year, total acreage of rice cultivation decreased due to high cultivation costs while droughts destroyed paddy fields. U Kyaw Zan said that he was worried about rice shortages in Rakhine State.

U Kyaw Zan told the CNI that the problems could be solved only by the Rakhine State Administration Council by making field trips to the areas.

Cultivation in Rakhine State.

U Kyaw Zan said, “The role of the government plays an important role in solving such an enormous problem. It is impossible for individuals to overcome such an enormous problem. So, the government should make field trips to the areas systematically and offer assistance. Most importantly, we need water and the government should provide us with pumps to supply water to paddy fields. In addition, as we don’t have dams, we will have to rely on rivers and the government should build irrigation facilities. As there is no dam in our area, costs will be very high.”

Although there are irrigation facilities in Rakhine State, farmers in the townships have to rely on river water but fuel prices are rising and farmers cannot afford to pump river water.

Rakhine State needs about 500,000 tons of rice for its populations and this year’s harvest will not meet the needs and is likely to buy rice from Ayeyarwady Region, according to experts on agriculture in the state.

CNI News

24 July 2022

Hnalonehla Blood Donors’ Charity in Malaysia told the CNI that it recently urged Myanmar nationals who intend to illegally go to work in Malaysia not to come to the country at the moment because of the mass arrests of illegal migrant workers there.

For two years, Malaysia had allowed illegal workers to apply for repatriation, stay and work permits and completely stopped the program in June. Then, the country  started rounding up illegal workers, Chairman Ko Thet of Hnalonehla Blood Donors’ Charity told the CNI.

Ko Thet said, “Authorities rounded up illegal workers in various places. Malaysia has stopped giving permission to legally work here and has been rounding up illegal workers. Those who illegally came from Myanmar to Malaysia via Thailand were frequently arrested. They stopped allowing illegal workers to return and combed various parts of the country for those who came to work illegally. The police from Kualalumpur were even sent to other parts of the country. Therefore, we have warned Myanmar nationals not to come to Malaysia at the moment. They launched the operation in June and will continue to round up illegal workers in July and August. When they have arrested a large number of illegal workers in two or three months, they usually stop their operations. I think they will stop the operations in September or October.”

Myanmar workers at a construction site in Malaysia.

Although some migrant workers managed to escape the arrests, a large number of them were detained by authorities and it is impossible to  rescue those who were arrested after crossing the border, according to Ko Thet.

Ko Thet said, “When they have been arrested, they were sentenced to 3 to 6 months’ prison term. After serving the prison terms, they were sent to camps to wait to go back home. Some Myanmar illegal workers could not contact their families as they did not remember the phone numbers of their family members. When officials from the Myanmar Embassy came to interview them, they could give the addresses of their families and could go back by paying 900 ringgits fees (more than K 300,000) to embassy officials concerned. Then, they could go back to Myanmar after serving prison terms. Otherwise, it is very difficult for them to go back.”

The minimum wage of a Myanmar worker was increased from 1,200 ringgits (more than K 400,000) to 1,500 ringgits (more than K 600,00) recently and they can also earn overtime. It was learnt that the amount is a nice income for them.

Myanmar workers at a worksite in Malaysia.

Although it is better to work in Malaysia legally, a lot of people choose to go to work in Malaysia.

Moreover, it is necessary for illegal workers to look for safe places and to study the areas they stay.

Myanmar stopped sending workers to Malaysia as of March 2020 due to COVID-19 but has resumed it as Malaysia is offering jobs to Myanmar workers who used to work there.

However, Myanmar nationals in Malaysia warned those who want to work in Malaysia to look for official agencies as there are fake agencies and frauds.

CNI News 

24 July 2022

 A new constitution that is acceptable to all should be drafted at a venue like Nyaung Hna Pin to overcome the current political crisis, Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party said. 

He said the State Administration Council should consider drafting a new constitution that is acceptable to all during the upcoming five-year term of the new government formed under the 2008 constitution in order to resolve the current political crisis. 

Dr. Aye Maung said, “If the SAC thinks the 2008 constitution is the major cause and starting point to move forward to resolve all political issues, it will have to bypass it. So, it is possible for the Sac to draft a new one through negotiations with all stakeholders at a venue like Nyaung Hna Pin within a fixed period during the tenure of the upcoming government without abolishing the 2008 constitution. Then, the new constitution can be approved during the term of the second post-coup government and parliament. Therefore, the SAC does not have to abolish the 2008 constitution, which will expire itself. So, it is possible to draft a new constitution during the five-year term of the new government which will emerge from the elections held by the SAC and rule the country under the 2008 constitution. Then, the second post-coup government will be formed under the new inclusive constitution. We don’t have to abolish the 2008 constitution, which will wither itself away. This may be recorded in the Myanmar of Myanmar as a peaceful transition.” 

SAC chairman inspect the convention hall in Nayung Hna Pin.

As the SAC said that they would amend the constitution and ethnic armed organizations said they wanted to amend the constitution or draft a new one, it is likely that a new constitution will be drafted at a venue like Nyaung Hna Pin, Political Analyst U Ye Tun told the CNI.

U Ye Tun said, “It is a possibility. Elections seem unlikely to take place. Elections are are likely to take place when they are inclusive as suggested by the ASEAN and China. Can such elections be successfully held only after negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and asking her to contest. Only then, will the people cast their votes in the elections. And the government that will emerge will gain legitimacy at home and abroad and the situation will improve. Such elections are unlikely to take place. First, if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi refuses to negotiate and calls for the recognition of the results of the 2020 elections, the SAC will not acccept the demand. If it is impossible to hold elections, the SAC is likely to tilt in favour of a new constitution.” 

  The national convention hall in Nayung Hna Pin.

If some current members of the SAC advice the body to draft a new one or to amend the old one at a venue like Nyang Hna Pin as Dr. Aye Maung suggested, there is a possibility, he added. 

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspected the Nyaung Hna Pin convention, where the 2008 constitution was drafted from 2004 to 2007. 

The inspection tour led to speculations among politicians that the SAC was making preparations to draft a new constitution.

However, SCA spokesperson Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that the purpose of the tour was just to inspect the maintenance of the historic building and agricultural and livestock breeding special projects. 

CNI News

23 July 2022

Residents of Northern Maung Taw township have faced shortages of rice and food supplies due to travel restrictions on freight trucks, private vehicles and motorcycles travelling through the northern and southern parts of Maung Taw imposed by checkpoints.

As it had been three days since the travel restrictions were imposed, residents of Taung Pyo Village in northern Maung Taw could not buy rice and faced shortages, Ko Maung Maung Tun, a local resident, told the CNI.

“It is the third day since traffic movement has been shut down to our northern part. Local residents of Taung Pyo, where I live, have faced rice shortages and cannot buy rice. As public transportation has been banned, we have difficulties like rice shortages,” he said.

As residents of northern Muang Taw have to buy rice and foodstuffs in Maung Taw, travel restrictions have posed difficulties for them.

Since they are not rich enough to store large volumes of rice, local residents have faced more difficulties.

While downtown foodstuff sellers from Maung Taw had to rely on customers from the northern part, the sale of foodstuffs had come to a halt for three days, according to a foodstuff grocery owner.

The clock tower in downtown Maung Taw.

“The sale has come to a stop abruptly for three days. There are 53 villages including Muslim villages in the northern part of the township. As checkpoints have tightened the control, they have stopped coming to town. So, no villager came to us and the sale has come to a stop abruptly,” he told the CNI.

Some residents completely avoid travelling to the town and sharing foodstuffs in their village with others, U Maung Hla, a resident of Khon Daing Village in northern Maung Taw, told the CNI.

“Under such circumstances, we do not go to town even if we need food. So, Most of them share what they have in the village. No one goes to other parts of the township for food,” he said.

Maung Taw Township is divided into the northern part, where there are 53 villages and the southern part, where there are only 18 villages. Therefore, foodstuff grocery stores have to rely on the northern villages and the sale has come to a standstill.

Furthermore, residents of some villages were allowed to carry rice as much as they can carry on their shoulders and residents from other villages were not permitted to carry rice completely, according to local residents.

After fighting erupted between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw, local residents were rounded up by the Tatmadaw and a total of eight residents have been arrested so far, according to local news agencies.

CNI News

23 July 2022

The travel warning issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the US on 21 July designating seven countries including Myanmar as places not to travel could have serious impacts, Chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He said it was found that Myanmar was designated as a country of the level-4 red alert and the travel warning from the US has influence not only on US citizens but also on tourists from other countries.

U Naung Naung Han said, “Let me take the Philippines as an example. If Phillipnos want to travel to Myanmar but their country does not issue any travel warning against Myanmar, they will look at travel warnings issued by the US or the West. Before they travel to Myanmar, they will decide whether they should go to Myanmar based on the levels designated for Myanmar. They will hesitate or withdraw.  So, it has serious impacts on tourism. When a foreign country designates Myanmar as a place not to go, it is a drawback for the tourism industry. It is a nightmare for the industry.”

The travel warning issued by the US.

He explained that if a country is designated as a place not to go, it is very difficult to remove it from the list and will it be removed from the list only after the country has made significant progress in political stability and domestic security.

U Thet Lwin Toe, a tour operator, told the CNI that arrivals of foreign tourists can drop during the one year period of the designation of a place not to travel.

U Thet Lwin Toe said, “It is important for Myanmar to be listed in white areas but it is very difficult for Myanmar, where every area can be designated as a grey area anytime under the current circumstances of the country. As no one has spare life, citizens of all countries, not just Americans, are worried about their lives. The US government will decide in accordance with their responsibilities and political motives. I still hope if the situation improves and the entire country is peaceful within the one year period, we would not even need to advertise, to the world, tourists would come to Myanmar en masse as before since it was a tour attraction. At present, inbound tourism is still uncertain within the one year period.”

A map for tourists in Bagan.

Although some foreigners came to Myanmar at present, most of them were travelling not for vacation but on business and many of them are young people, according to the MTEA.

The US Bureau of Consular Affairs stated that internal instabilities and armed conflicts were ongoing in Myanmar.

Furthermore, the bureau also cited COVID-19 and arbitrary detention of democracy activists.

The statement especially warned travelers against some towns in Chin, Kayah Karen and Rakhine State and Sagaing Region.

CNI News

22 July 2022

The resumption of fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Tatmadaw could spread clashes in the entire Rakhine State, Rakhine politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Before 2020, clashes between the AA and the Tatmadaw mostly broke out in the northern part of Rakhine State but resumption of fighting could spread to at least two thirds of the state, he said.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Fighting will spread as much as they wish because the ULA/AA mainly controlled administrative, judicial and military affairs only in the northern part of Rakhine State in 2020. However, the AA has expanded its military, political and organizational influence to the central part of the state, where the headquarters of the Western Command of the Tatmadaw is located. Their administrative and judicial branches have expanded their influence even to the southern part of the state. It can be said they have expanded their influence to the entire state. Under the current circumstances, military clashes could spread to at least two thirds of the state. Both sides are able to expand their conflict area as much as they want."

Directions for roads leading to cities in Rakhine State.

At present, the situation between the AA and the Tatmadaw is very tense and the latter have arrested 45 people in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Mrak-U and Kyauktaw while the former have detained members of security forces including a captain.

Furthermore, fighting between the AA and Tatmadaw broke out on 18 July and the AA arrested 14 members of security forces.

The attack was launched to take revenge for the airstrike of the Tatmadaw against an AA camp in Karen State on 4th July, AA spokesman Khaning Thukha told the Western News.

It is not clear whether the AA and the Tatmadaw held negotiations to prevent escalation of conflicts but U Pe Than said that he was sure neither side wanted to escalate fighting.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets Mr. Sasakawa on 13th November, 2021.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Whether they held negotiations or not, neither side seems to want to engage in extensive warfare. We can see the same view from both sides. If they want to escalate conflicts, they can do so easily because they have known each other’s posts and the conflict will spread to various places. Sometimes, fighting takes place in a certain place and fighting stops but the ULA/AA has issued warnings to the public that fighting could take place anytime.”

Japan’s special envoy for peace in Myanmar Mr. Sasakawa mediated a ceasefire between the AA and the Tatmadaw after the two groups fought intensely in Rakhine State and Paletwa in Chin State between November, 2018 and November, 2020.

Since then fighting between the two groups stopped under an informal agreement but the situation is tense at present after fighting broke out between them.

CNI News

 22 July 2022 

Splits within the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) do not bode well for the interests of Karen people, Chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe of the Karen National Democratic Party told the CNI. 

After Maj-Gen Saw Nerdah Mya announced the formation of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army on 19 July, the Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement dismissing him on 20 July. 

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNDO, also announced that it would not recognize the splintered faction. 

    Statement for formation of the Kaw Thoo Lei Army.

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe said, “We are disappointed and sad. An armed organization has splintered into different factions. We have already learnt the history of the KNU, which had splintered into factions previously. The faction led by the Sayadaw broke away from the KNU and formed the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, which again splintered into the KNLA-PC, the BGF and other factions. Such splits do not augur well for Karen people. Not only the Karen but also other ethnic groups should be aware of this. Such divisions and disunity are not beneficial for the people.”

The Kaw Thoo Lei Army led by Maj-Gen Saw Nerdah Mya said in a statement that the KNDO led by chief of staff Maj-Gen Saw Shee Lei is one of the signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the Tatmadaw and has posed difficulties for their movement.

  Statements issued by the KNLA.

The statement added that the Kaw Thoo Lei Army stands as a people's army of Karen ethnic group and will defeat the Tatmadaw until the victory of the revolution has been achieved. 

In response, the central executive committee of the KNU announced after its meeting on 20 July that it dismissed Maj-Gen Saw Nerdah Mya and the KNU would not be held accountable for his actions. 

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe told the CNI, “I am wondering whether it would be easy for them to hold negotiations among themselves. As such, I don’t know there might be further splits like the San Aung faction and the Kyaw Thet faction, who had broken away from the DKBA in the past. If they can negotiate among themselves and reach agreements, we will be happy, but we are worried about the situation.”

Current Karen armed organizations include the KNU, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA-PC and the BGF.

CNI News

22 July 2022

As Shwebo rice was in short supply in the domestic market, the prices of the rice variety surged, according to rice merchants.

The price of a 24-pyi bag of Shwebo rice rose by K 5,000 and the prices were likely to surge further, U Shine Win Latt, the owner of Shwebo Rice Trading at Wartan Road Commodity Exchange, told the CNI.

U Shine Win Latt said, “Rice prices, especially Shwebo rice, have risen. I think paddy was in short supply in Shwebo. As merchants do not have paddy to be milled, prices have surged. As the region mainly supplies rice to Yangon, the prices have soared here. Shwebo rice prices have risen by K 5,000 per bag. The prices are likely to rise further.”

Furthermore, rice supply to Bayint Naung Commodity Exchange dropped recently to only one-third of previous supply volumes, according to the commodity exchange.

The entrance to Shwebo.

As Shwebo rice was in short supply, merchants had to trade other varieties of rice, pushing up their prices, especially those from Ayeyarwady, U Shine Win Latt said.

“There are other varieties of rice like Ayeyarwady rice in the market but their prices have also risen as all commodity prices have risen. Farmers had to buy their inputs at rising prices and incurred more agricultural costs. So, consumers have started to think about mixing Shwebo rice with other varieties for their meals. If Shwebo rice is in short supply they will have to rely on other varieties. It is likely that Shwebo rice will be in short supply at present,” he told the CNI.

Shwebo rice is in short supply in the market since cultivation acreage of monsoon and summer paddy in the area dropped last year and paddy yields decreased.

As farmers in Shwebo were also displaced by regional instabilities while cultivation costs were rising, they were not able to grow as much paddy as before and paddy yields dropped.

Displaced people in Wetlet in Shwebo Township.

Farmers were worried about the shortages of seed paddy in coming years due to decreasing cultivation acreage, a local farmer in Shwebo told the CNI.

“Most farmers cannot grow paddy in our region currently as they are struggling with other problems. Only a few of them have started farming. Majority of them have not started farming as cultivation costs are rising. Farmers have to borrow money from others to invest in their farms as they are struggling with their costs of living. Most of them have not started farming. They are worried about the shortages of seed paddy in the coming years as they cannot grow rice this year. Under current circumstances, they are worried about their uncertain future,” the farmer said.

Residents of Shwebo mainly grow paddy and rice produced in the region and Shwebo rice fetches higher prices than that of other regions and gains the largest market shares in Myanmar.

As total acreage of paddy cultivated in Shwebo has decreased below the regional needs, the region is not likely to supply rice to other regions, according to rice merchants.

CNI News

22 July 2022

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is still able to exert her influence on the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and the National Unity Government (NUG), which are fighting for democracy, according to Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party.

It is widely believed at home and abroad that the role and attitude of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is vital in resolving the current Myanmar political crisis and that she is able to use her influence on the PDF and the NUG to change their uncompromising attitude.

“No one has conducted surveys on the extent of influence she can exert on the PDF and the NUG but anyone can guess she has more or less influence on them. She has influence on them to a certain extent because the NUG has included Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint in their government,” he told the CNI.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Aye Maung and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a meeting.

The NUG has still recognized Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the state counsellor and U Win Myint as the president in their government.

ASEAN special envoy Prak Sokhonn, who has been tasked with resolving Myanmar political crisis, told the CNA that he wanted to use the influence of Daw Aung San Suu to end the violence in Myanmar and to hold dialogues.

“The most important things we will ask, or discuss with her is about her view on the future of Myanmar. How she sees the way out of the crisis, her political influence could have weight on the political process, the political dialogue that could lead to peace and reconciliation,” Mr. Sokhonn told the CNA. “Another point would be to ask her how her principle of non-violence could influence all the armed factions in order to stop violence,” he said.

Prak Sokhonn and Dr. Aye Maung.

Special envoy Prak Sokhonn is planning a third official visit to Myanmar in September and hopes to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during the visit.

On his second trip to Myanmar Prak Sokhonn, AFP Chairman Dr. Aye Maung pointed out that the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be taken into consideration in resolving the crisis during the meeting between seven leaders from political parties and the special envoy.