CNI News

6 Sept 2022

Border trade with Bangladesh in Maungdaw is likely to come to a halt due to stagnant commodition under transportation restrictions imposed in Maungdaw in Rakhine State, according to merchants in Maungdaw.

As authorities closed Maungdaw-Angumaw Road indefinitely in August, Z-crafts transported trucks along Sittwe-Buthidaung waterway. Two days later, authorities closed the waterway again and trucks cannot travel to Maungdaw.

Therefore, border trade with Bangladesh in Maungdaw is being conducted with goods that have already arrived in the town, U Aung Naing, a merchant in Maungdaw told the CNI.

He said, “We are almost short of goods to be exported. We have to carry out border trade with the stocks we have. On 1st and 2nd September, goods were transported from Buthidaung. Now, the road has been closed for three days. Before 2nd September, trucks could travel from Sittwe checkpoint to Buthidaung jetty. Three days after the Maungdaw-Angumaw road was shut, the route was closed. A cargo boat from Maungdaw runs every other day.”

Goods transported form Yangon and other states and regions are being unloaded at Sittwe Port currently, according to merchants.

A cargo truck in Maungdaw border trading camp.

Border trade with Bangladesh has been delayed because it takes longer to transport goods from merchants in Maungdaw to Sittwe border trading camp, U Aung Naing added.

He told the CNI, “Goods we have already ordered are now unloaded in Sittwe and exported to Bangladesh. Fishery products are also exported from Sittwe to Bangladesh. If we can export goods from Maungdaw  to Bangladesh by boat, it takes only one hour to get to Bangladesh. It takes 20 hours to export goods from Sittwe to Bangladesh by sea.”

Through the border trading camp in Maungdaw, Myanmar exported goods worth US$ 2.83 million in May, US$ 2.32 million in June, US$ 1.562 million in July and US$ 1.483 million in 2022.

As goods cannot be transported to Maungdaw, Merchants there face difficulties, Vice Chairman U Aung San Thein of Maungdaw Border Trade Chamber of Commerce told the CNI.

He said, “Goods have not arrived in Maungdaw for two or three days. So, we cannot export goods to Bangladesh. Merchants want to export goods but it is difficult.”

Due to clashes between the military and the AA, transportation routes have been closed indefinitely and export volume to Bangladesh has dropped and merchants think that border trade from Maungdaw will come to a halt soon.

CNI News 

6 Sept 2022

As China has given the cold shoulder to Myanmar, it is likely that leaders of the State Administration Council travelled to Russia frequently and the country has edged closer to Russia, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, an expert on China, told the CNI. 

It was also likely that the Tatmadaw was displeased with the warm relations between the National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she added. 

Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw said, “The NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and China fostered good relations in recent years. The military was displeased with that warm relations. China was also greatly disappointed with the decision of the U Thein Sein government to cancel the Myitsone Project. Since then, the relations between the military and China have soured. When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi developed warm relations with China, the military was displeased. So, when he planned the coup, he discussed the matter with Russia first. During an interview with a Russian newspaper, he said that he would continue to engage in politics and that some powerful countries were helping ethnic armed organizations, referring to China. He may think he needs the backing of a powerful country but relations with China have soured. When he met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he complained that there were irregularities in the general election. However, China refused to side with him. So, he turned to Russia. Without being invited, he is visiting Russia. When Yang Yi visited Myanmar again, he refused to meet with him in Nay Pyi Taw. So, as the relations with China are tense and he has edged closer to Russia.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets President Xi Jinping.

If the SAC chairman can meet with President Putin, it will be a diplomatic victory for him but as the head of state of the host country, President Putin will have to meet with any leader attending the forum. 

Dr. Aung Myo told the CNI, “The chairman has gone to Russia because we will receive high-tech and cooperation from Russia, especially in the energy sector. We cannot rely on China in the energy sector. We will have to rely on Russia especially for energy.  So, I support the chairman’s visit to Russia. On the other hand, we will have to develop friendship with China because it is a big market with a population of more than one billion.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Russia.

The SAC chairman arrived in Russia on 4th September to attend the EEF on 7th September.

Russian President Putin will meet with leaders of Myanmar, Armenia, Mongolia and China, who will attend the EEF, according to the Tass news agency of Russia.

CNI News 

6 Sept 2022 

Service fees for jobs in Thailand, Malaysia and Japan have almost doubled  due to appreciation of foreign currencies against the Kyat, overseas employment agencies told the CNI. 

As service fees for jobs in Malaysia and Japan are paid in the US dollar, which closed at MMK 3,550 recently, the service fees have almost doubled. 

Although service fees for jobs in Thailand can be paid in the Baht, which is also appreciating against the Kyat and recently hit MMK 100 per Baht, service fees for jobs in Thailand have also risen twice as much as before.

Managing Director Daw Myat Hayman Lin told the CNI, “In the past, the Baht exchange rate was  about MMK 60. Now, it has risen to MMK 100. Service fees approved by the government of Thailand is Baht 6,000 per person which was MMK 360,000 previously. Now, it has risen to MMK 600,000. As all foregin currencies are appreciating against the Kyat, service fees for jobs in Thailand and Malaysia have risen. Value of foreign currencies  depends on their exchange rates against the US dollar. So, all foreign currencies are appreciating against the Kyat. MMK 10,000 is equal to Baht 100 at present. As we have to work resting on exchange rates, it is not convenient for workers as well as our agencies.” 

Myanmar citizens preparing to go abroad are seen at the airport. (Getty Image)

Service fees for working in Malaysia and Japan hit MMK 3.2 million per person and MMK 8 million per person respectively. 

As workers for Malaysia and Japan are sent by air, they have to pay for their air tickets in the US dollar or the Kyat equivalents of the US dollar. 

Currently, it is difficult to buy the US dollar in the market because no one wants to sell the green buck. So, workers are forced to pay for their air tickets in Kyat and suffer exchange rate losses. 

Director Ko Nay Oo of Naytic Asia Agency told the CNI, “There is no problem with appreciating foreign currencies. The real problem is the huge gap between the official exchange rate and market exchange rates. As long as the gap exists, we will have problems in buying air tickets  and paying service fees. If the official exchange rate and market exchange rates were the same, there would be no problem. The government cannot sell the US dollar to the market. So, it is very difficult to buy the US dollar even if we pay MMK 4,000 for one US dollar. The government sells the US dollar only to those who are close to it.” 

Myanmar workers waiting to go to work in Thailand on 25th May, 2022. (Information Sheet)

As Malaysian companies have not sent new demand letters and it takes a long time to work in Japan because it is necessary to study Japanese and only a few jobs in Japan are offered to Myanmar, most workers are jostling for jobs in Thailand. 

Daw Myat Hayman Lin told the CNI, “All workers are trying to go to Thailand, which traditionally  employs a large number of Myanmar workers without any educational requirements. All Myanmar workers who are strong enough to work can go to Thailand. Moreover, the two countries have land links and share the same nature. It is easy to go to Thailand.” 

Although service fees have nearly doubled, there is no shortage of Myanmar workers who want to work abroad, according to overseas employment agencies. 

Despite the doubling costs, incomes of Myanmar workers who earn foreign currencies in other countries have risen in terms of the Kyat. 

CNI News

5 Sept 2022

Farmers as well as SMEs will be eligible for the MMK 10 billion loans the Rakhine State Administration Council is planning to offer, Rakhine State Attorney General U Hla Thein, a spokesperson of the council, told the CNI.

He added that larger part of the loan will contribute to rural areas and will flow to agriculture and livestock farmers in rural areas.

U Hla Thein told the CNI, “Priority is given to rural residents. There are some rural residents who own modern ricl mills. As they have to store paddy and mill it. If they can get loans, they can store more paddy. Moreover, there are big livestock farmers in rural areas. If mill owners can store more rice, their workers will get jobs all year round. As they buy paddy from farmers, farmers will get more money from them. There are SMEs in urban areas. They are registered with departments. We will offer loans to them as well if they need.”

The MMK 10 billion loan has not been granted to farmers because state level government departments have held the first meeting about the loan.

Heaps of harvested paddy.

Unlike agricultural loans normally offered, the loan will be supervised by officials of the Rural Development Department, the Cooperatives Department, the Mechanized Farming Department and the Myanmar Agriculture Department.

U Hla Thein said, “For example, a farmer grows crops during the rainy season. He has five acres of land. So, he will receive loans from the Agriculture Bank. Our loans will be offered to farmers who have farmland on the banks of freshwater creeks so that they can grow summer paddy. If three or four such farmers can grow 100 acres of summer paddy, it is beneficial for them. If they grow oil crops, they must choose farms that are viable. We offer loans to them. They must provide evidence that they really own their farms and recommendations from the Agriculture Department. We will offer loans to farmers who meet all requirements.”

As agricultural loans were granted to people who did not do farming during the terms of successive governments, measures should be taken to make sure that the MMK 10 billion loan is granted to people who actually do agriculture and livestock farming, farmers from Rakhine State told the CNI.

A livestock breeding farm.

U Aung Kyaw Mya, a Rakhine farmer, told the CNI,” Instead of offering loans, they should provide us with fertilizer because it is very difficult to buy it. We cannot buy as much as we need. Cargo trucks are not permitted to transport fertilizers. There are many checkpoints along highways. Fertilizers are transported to Rakhine State by ship. So, it takes at least three weeks to transport fertilizers to Rakhine State by sea. It is beneficial for farmers if fertilizers are available for them.”

Farmers also said MMK 10 billion will not be sufficient for all farmers in Rakhine State.

Due to higher costs of fuel and inputs, farmers in Rakhine State have reduced the cultivation acreage of monsoon paddy this year and yields may be one fourth of previous years in the upcoming harvest, according to farmers in Rakhine State.

CNI News

5 Sept 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 has resurged in Myanmar, according to announcements of the Ministry of Health at 8 pm daily, and on 4th September, a total of 70 people tested positive.

Among the cases, 68 were local transmission and only two were people who came back from other countries.

They have made preparations to offer assistance to victims of the resurgence of the pandemic, Ko Wai Phyo of Saytanashin Charity told the CNI.

“The number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 has increased, according to the MOH. There were local transmissions. However, the number is not as many as before. We have made ourselves ready to offer assistance. We have testing equipment and swab tests, oxygen concentrators and cylinders. In our East Dagon Township, there were some COVID-19 suspects but no one has tested positive.”

At present, the highest number of positive cases and deaths was found in Yangon Region and patients were between the ages of 30 and 90.

The MOH has also prepared routes to transport patients, oxygen and wards for COVID-19 patients, Dr Than Naing Soe, the director of the Health Education Division of the Department of Public Health, told the CNI.

An oxygen distribution centre.

“If a patient tests positive, we will decide whether he or she will be placed at home or admitted to specialist hospitals like Yangon General Hospital and routes to transport the patient. Oxygen can be produced more than the highest level during the third wave. There are about 6,000 oxygen concentrators in hospitals and plans are underway to receive more from donors and the government budget allocation. Some people do not want to stay at home when they test positive because there are older people there. We have prepared treatment centres for such people. For example, priority is given to YGH in Yangon and to Kandaw Nadi Hospital and Traditional Medicine Hospital in Mandalay.  If necessary, we can expand the program to other hospitals like Waybargi Hospital and Yoma Centre.”

The number of cases has risen since August and some patients with medical conditions lost their lives. During the period from 11th August to 5th September, a total of six patients died after contracting COVID-19.

People who have not been vaccinated suffered severe symptoms in the current resurgence while those who were fully vaccinated had mild symptoms.

As current symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of the seasonal flu, people who suffer the symptoms for many days should go to hospitals and clinics.

CNI News

5 Sept 2022

Due to clashes between the Tatmadaw and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army, the number of internally displaced persons in Rakhine State has increased by more than 10,000, Thabarwa Nadi Sayadaw, who has been helping IDPs, told the CNI.

Sayadaw added that the number of IDPs had increased since the fourth week of August, 2022 and the exact number of IDPs would be released in the coming week as he was still making a list of them.

Sayadaw said, “It is difficult to say the number of IDPs exactly. We are still collecting data and conducting a survey. We are compiling the names of their villages and the number of households and population.

We have compiled a rough list but we are still trying to get the exact number of them. I think we will be able to release the exact number of them next week. As far as we know, about 16,000 or more than 10,000 people were displaced.”

Civilians taking shelter in Sasana Beikman temporary IDP camp. (Thabarwa Nadi Sayadaw)

They were the villagers who had to flee their homes due to the fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Maung Taw, Rathedaung, Taungup and Mrauk-U in Rakhine State and Paletwa in Chin State last month.

The Arakan National Party is making preparations to offer assistance to the IDPs, U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the policy-making body of the ANP, told the CNI.

He said, "We discussed with the general secretary of the ANP and other organizations to do something to help the IDPs. We are compiling statistics to study what we should know and to understand the situation. We will announce the exact number of the IDPs and offer assistance as much as we can by inviting donations from the public. We would like to point out that ours is neither a ruling party nor a business organization. As it is just a political party founded on nationalism, we don't have financial resources. So, we will invite donations from the public and offer assistance to the IDPs depending on the total amount of the donations."

Thabarwas Nadi Sayadaw offers assistance to IDPs. (Thabarwa Nadi Sayadaw)

U Tun Aung Kyaw said the ruling body should offer assistance to the IDPs.

Thabarwa Nadi Sayadaw said, "We don't want to say anything about the fighting, which broke out between armed organizations. However, when civilians were targeted and there was collateral damage, the government should permit civil society organizations to go to IDPs and offer assistance. This is what the government should do. Only then, can the CSOs and charity organizations help the IDPs, who were caught in the crossfire. The government should allow them to go to the IDPs and offer help. If the government suspects something illegal, it can take action against them. Current complete travel ban is something that the government should not do."

Fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw started in Paletwa in Chin State and Maungdaw in Rakhine State and has spilled over Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Mrauk-U townships.

As more than 42,000 people have been displaced by previous clashes, the number of IDPs in the area has increased to nearly 60,000.

CNI News

5 Sept 2022

As prices of medicines and medical equipment are exorbitantly high in Myanmar, patients with chromic diseases are getting into trouble, Dr. Thurein Hlaing Wim, the chief editor and founder of Hello Sayarwon Health Information Page, told the CNI.

They can’t afford expenses at hospitals and specialist clinics and are forced to go to free clinics for treatments.

Dr. Thurein Hlaing Win told the CNI, “They patients with chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and hypertension. It is difficult for them to get medicines and medical equipment. And medicines are getting more and more expensive, they can’t afford them. They have to struggle disproportionately. They can’t afford medicines even when they have high blood pressures or blood sugar levels.

The prices of a common medicine called Decogen have risen from MMK 10,000 previously to 19,000 per pack at present.

Some cancer patients are forced to reduce their normal dosages of or completely stop taking cancer medicines, which are normally too expensive for grass roots to buy and necessary to take long-term, when their prices have skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, wholesalers and retailers of medicines and medical equipment have not been able to replenish the depleted stocks, Ma Theingi, the owner of a wholesale/retail pharmacy, told the CNI.

As prices are rising hour by hour, pharmacies have to reduce their stocks. Pharmacies, which keep ten bottles of medicines normally, now store only two to three bottles in their stocks. Some pharmacies come to us and buy very expensive medicine only after they have received orders. My stocks are running low as I mainly distribute medicines and gloves made in China,” said Ma Theingi.

During the third wave of COVID-19, the prices of medicines rose dramatically due to shortages of medicines and oxygen.

Currently, imports of medicines have fallen due to the appreciation of the US dollar and medicine prices are rising dramatically.

CNI News

3 Sept 2022

To tackle the depreciation of the kyat against the US dollar, it is necessary for the Central Bank of Myanmar to inject US$ 200 million every month until the US dollar depreciates, political observers and economists told the CNI.

After the Central Bank of Myanmar announced that it would provide US$ 200 million to address the rising prices of basic food items due to increases in fuel prices, US$ exchange rates and fuel prices dropped a little.

Therefore, it is necessary for the CBM to inject US$ 200 million into the market every month until the US dollar depreciates to provide true fuel oil importers, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “I came across a report that the CBM will provide another US$ 200 million next month. If it is true, it is a good step and the situation could return to normal. When US dollar prices fall back to the official exchange rate, the CBM no longer needs to inject the US dollar into the market. It is an attempt to lower fuel prices. However, it is important for the CBM to sell the US dollar at the official exchange rate of MMK 2,100, which is much lower than market rates, to true fuel importers.

The Central Bank of Myanmar. (The Myanmar Time)

As Myanmar needs to import fuel worth about US$ 400 million every month, recent injection of US$ 200 million by the CBM is likely to have short-term impacts only, said economists.

Fuel oil imported from Russia is the only hope for Myanmar to lower fuel and US dollar prices, an economist, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, told the CNI.

He said, “As Myanmar needs US$ 400 million worth of fuel oil every month, US$ 200 million is enough for half a month. So, it will have short-term effects only. It is difficult for the CBM to inject the US dollar into the market in the long run because it has limited foreign reserves. So, the only hope for them is to lower fuel and US dollar prices is fuel imported from Russia. Half a month’ consumption of fuel oil will deplete in two weeks and it is difficult to inject the US dollar in the long run. They injected US$ 200 million to lower the prices of the US dollar, which jumped up exponentially. Fuel prices resurged to MMK 2,300 per litre yesterday and MMK 2,500 per litre today.”

A filling station.

At present, there is a wide gap between the official exchange rate set by the CBM and black market rates and the prices of imported goods have increased exponentially, pushing up the prices of basic food items.

To tackle the rising prices of basic food items caused by the surging prices of imported fuel, the CBM announced on 31st August that it would inject US$ 200 million into the foreign currency market with the approval of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee.

CNI News

3 Sept 2022

The United League of Arakan/AA might be eyeing independence, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

The Arakan National Policy Coordination Committee (ANPCC) organized a forum entitled the fundamental principle of human security to be adopted in building a new Rakhine State (or) future federal democracy union and suggestions. Despite being invited, the ULA/AA failed to attend the forum.

U Pe Than said, “The ULA/AA should not have responded in this way. It has demanded confederate status at least. The demand could not be accepted by the other side. Even if the ULA/AA had attended the forum, it would not have wanted to hold discussions with political parties like the Arakan Liberation Party. However, it was entitled to hold separate discussions and invited separately. As we do not have military might, we had to humbly request it to join the forum. However, the ULA/AA seems to have decided to build their own strength to the maximum and will shape what they want based on that maximum strength. It seems that it has such an attitude and was not interested in joining the forum. Everyone is talking about federalism but no one has rolled out the federal system they prefer. On the other hand, the ULA/AA has already demanded confederate status. So, it considers federal status is lower than their expectation and it wants more than what it has demanded or independence.”

A statement of the ANPCC.

The ANPCC organized the forum for the fundamental principle on human security to be adopted in building a new Rakhine State (or) future federal democracy union and suggestions from 19th to 21st August, 2022 and it was attended by 32 representatives from members of the ANPCC representing two Rakhine revolutionary parties, the Arakan Liberation Party, Rakhine political parties including the Arakan National Council, the Arakan National Party, the Arakan Front Party and the Arakan League for Democracy and three indigenous ethnic parties, 18 representatives of civil society organizations and three independent representatives.

All organizations in Rakhine State were invited to the forum but there were some organizations that failed to attend the forum, Coordinator U Khin Maung Tun of the ANPCC told the CNI.

A road junction in Rakhine State.

He said, “We invited all organizations in Rakhine State. All of them participated in formation of the ANPCC. I think they might have been too busy to take part in the forum. When the ANPCC was formed, all of them including all political parties, all revolutionary parties and a large number of civil society organizations representing women, persons with disabilities and the environmental sector. It can be said that we invited all organizations in respective sectors. Some of them joined the forum while other did not.”

The political trend the ULA/AA prefers and the political approaches of other organizations are not the same and he thinks the ULA/AA will build its strength and take its own path, U Pe Than said.

A statement of the SAC over the attack on the outpost at the 40-mile border post by the ULA/AA.

ULA/AA Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing disclosed that their organization prefers the confederate status similar to the Wa Special Self-Administrative Region.

Currently, the ULA/AA is enjoying the wider public support and clashes have broken out between it and the SAC troops.