CNI News

5 July 2022

The Tatmadaw will continue to play a leading role in national politics in the interest of the country, said Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The senior general made the comment when he met officers and other ranks and families of Pathein Station in Northwestern Command on 4th July.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said, “ The Tatmadaw has taken a leading role in current reforms of the country and will continue to play a leading role in national politics in the interest of the country while taking appropriate measures properly.”

He also said that the country is moving forward on the democratic path and measures must be taken in accordance with the law in performing duties of the country in line with the 2008 Constitution.

“As I said previously, it is stipulated in the 2008 Constitution that the Tatmadaw will play a leading role in politics and they will continue to do so in accordance with the constitution. They also accept that the Tatmadaw will have to quit politics when the danger of disintegration of the country has been eliminated and peace has been restored but they do not set the time frame exactly. The NLD set the time frame for the Tatmadaw to quit politics and therefore, proposed constitutional amendments during the term of the previous Hluttaw to force the Tatmadaw to quit politics phase by phase by reducing the number of Tatmadaw representatives,” Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

It is stipulated in section 6(f) that the union’s consistent objectives are “enabling the Defence Services to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the state.

However, ethnic armed organizations have said it is necessary for the Tatmadaw to withdraw from politics.

They hope to amend the provision by substituting the phrase “enabling the Defence Services to participate in the national political leadership role” with “to withdraw from politics at an appropriate time” or “to allow the Tatmadaw to participate in national political leadership during an appropriate period of time.”

CNI News

4 July 2022

Despite the permission to accept Yuan and Baht payments in border trade with China and Thailand, exporters are required to deposit their export earnings from rice, pulses and beans, corn and oil crops at the Central Bank of Myanmar in US dollar as of 1st July, according to exporters and merchants.

The CBM sets the price of maize at US$ 360 per ton and will reimburse the export earnings in Myanmar kyat to exporters at the exchange rate of K 1850 per dollar after deducting 2 percent commercial taxes, Secretary U Thant Zin Tun of Myanmar Corn Industrial Association told the CNI.

“The government set the price of corn at US$ 360 per ton. It doesn’t matter whether you export corn at US$ 400 or 500 per ton. The government sets the corn price at US$ 360 per ton. Even if you get lower prices than the set one, you are required to deposit US$ 360 per ton. If you export 100 tons of corn, you will have to deposit US$ 36,000 at the CBM. The CBM will deduct seven dollars and two cents for commercial tax per ton and reimburse the remaining US$ 350.8 in Myanmar kyat at the fixed exchange rate of K 1850 per US$,” he said.

As exporters are required to deposit their export earnings in US$ at the CBM, which will reimburse Myanmar kyat at a fixed exchange rate that is lower than the market rates, exporters are likely to suffer exchange rate losses, according to exporters.

As exporters have to take the gap between the government exchange rate and market rates into consideration, they will have to buy crops from farmers at lower prices and farmers will get lower prices for their crops, U Thant Zin Tun added.

“As we have to pay K 2,200 or K 2,100 per US$ in the market, we have to suffer exchange rate losses of K 250 or 350 per dollar. If we have to deposit US$ 360 at the CBM for one ton of corn, we will lose K 108,000. So, we have to try to cover the losses. If we buy corn from farmers at K 1,100 per viss previously, we can pay K 950 per viss to cover the exchange rate losses caused by the government exchange rate at K 1850 per US$. Therefore, exporters will buy corn from farmers at lower prices,” he told the CNI.

Although the government has instructed traders to export rice, pulses and beans, corn and oil crops only in US$, the instruction has not been implemented in border trade with China so far, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of Muse Rice Exchange.

“The order was issued on 30 June. Prices of all commodities exported to China will be set in US$ and exporters will have to pay taxes in US$ in the same way as maritime trade. However, the order has not been enforced so far,” he said.

There is no exchange rate gap in the Yuan-Kyat direct payment system but exporters will have to suffer losses due to exchange rate gaps in the US$ payment system.

It seems that the government is hoarding US$ by issuing the order to export commodities in border trade in US$ and to deposit export earnings at the CBM but the orders create chaos in trade and commodity prices, according to exporters.

CNI News

6 July 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on 6 July saying the reports that Myanmar nationals whose passports have expired abroad are required to renew them at home is not true.

The statement says that reports have spread on social media that Myanmar nationals abroad are required to renew their passports at home.

The ministry says that the reports are not true.

The statement added that Myanmar nationals who are working or residing abroad for various reasons can renew or apply for passports at Myanmar embassies and consulates of respective countries and the embassies and consulates offer the services as usual.

Myanmar embassies, representative offices and consulate have been issuing and extending seven types of passports including business passports (PB), dependent passports (PT), job passports (PJ), religious passports (PR), seaman passports (PS), student passports (PE) and visit passports (PV) in accordance with relevant rules and regulations in a timely manner, according to the ministry.

CNI News

9 July 2022

Despite the announcement to hold elections in 2023, the State Administration Council has still failed to explain how it would guarantee the elections, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

He said the SAC and the Union Election Commission (UEC) should lay out their plans for the elections, which are required to be acceptable for all, to the public instead of just saying they will hold elections.

“It would not go far enough for the SAC just to announce the elections in 2023. It should lay out its guarantees and plans for the 2023 elections, which are required to be acceptable for all, to political parties and the public during the interim period. U Ko Ko Gyi often pointed out that what happened in the 2020 election and what will happen in the 2023 elections should be disclosed during the interim period between now and the elections. The public should be able to cast their votes in physical and mental safety. It is also necessary to establish the rule of law. I think the government still needs to take measures to enable the public to cast their votes independently. It may be necessary to lay out their guarantees for the 2023 elections to the public,” Dr Aye Maung said.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing casts votes in the 2020 general election.

National League for Democracy (NLD) issued a statement on 9 July, saying the Tatmadaw declared results of the 2020 elections null and void by staging a coup and again trying to hold upcoming elections in an attempt to deceive the public and the international community.

The statement also said that the NLD will never recognize the elections held by the SAC.

However, General Secretary (2) Khun Tun Shwe PaO Nationals Organization told the CNI that the country will be on the path for stability if elections can be held.

Protests against Tatmadaw.

“If all agree that political issues must be solved through political means, elections are a political means. Only when elections are held and a government and a legislature can be elected, will the country be a stable one. If elections are not held and destabilization persists for a long time, the country will suffer. National races will lose confidence gradually. There are many consequences as you journalists know,” he said.

The Tatmadaw ousted the NLD government declaring a state of emergency after accusing the NLD of forming a new government without settling the disputes of invalid voters’ lists in the 2020 general election.

The SAC chairman has promised to hold elections in 2023 and hand over the state power to the winning party.

CNI News

4 July 2022

Chinese embassy in Myanmar issued a statement on 4th July that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed three points to solve Myanmar’s bloody political crisis including returning power to the Myanmar people.

The Chinese foreign minister laid out the proposals when he met with ASEAN Envoy Prak Sokhonn in Bagan on 3rd July.

First, Wang expressed his hope to work together with the ASEAN to push forward national reconciliation in Myanmar. China expects all parties in Myanmar to prioritize the big picture and the interests of the people, adhere to rational consultation, and realize political reconciliation and lasting peace and stability at an early date within the framework of the constitution and laws.

Second, Wang pointed out the needs for China and the ASEAN to find a development path that meets the requirements of Myanma in order achieve the aims to resume Myanmar’s democratic transition and to return power to the people.

Third, Wang said China hopes the ASEAN to maintain its perfect unity and leadership role by constructively implementing the five-point consensus of the ASEAN through consultation and overcoming obstacles based on the principles of non-interference and consensus building.

Wang visited Myanmar to attend the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Summit from 2nd to 5th July. Cambodia Foreign Minister and ASEAN Envoy Prak Sokhonn was also in Myanmar from 29th June to 3rd July to find a way to solve the Myanmar political crisis.

Wang also held discussions with the special envoy.