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CNI News
19 June 2024
The Arakan Army (AA)'s warning the residents of Maungdaw to leave the town has solved the Bengali issue, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.
The AA announced that it has surrounded and blocked all the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Maungdaw and around and because it was worried about the lives of residents of Maungdaw, it warned them to leave the town starting from 9:00 p.m. on 16th June, 2024 as soon as possible.
"The AA warned Rohingya people, most of the people living in Maungdaw to prove that it wouldn't unjustly act. There are complexities there. There are the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the Arakan Rohingya Students Union ARSU) and another one in Rakhine State. One of them got on well with the AA. But that organization is no more. Rohingya groups want to get weapons. So, they cooperate with or join the Tatmadaw temporarily. Rohingya people from the refugee camps in Bangladesh are gathered and sent to Myanmar and asked to get weapons, which the AA doesn't accept it at all. So, it made a decision to fight against decisively. When it fight, it warned Rohingya people to leave the town so that 195 international organizations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) don't put blame on the AA." he said.
While seeing the statement released by the AA
The Myanmar Tatmadaw has made preparations for quite a long time to use Maungdaw Town as military camps to wage an urban warfare.
As all the remaining camps of the Tatmadaw would be attacked, it warned, said in the statement released by the AA on 16th June, 2024.
Maungdaw, a Myanmar - Bangladesh border town, is very important to bilateral relations and trade, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.
While seeing the entrance to Maungdaw Town
" It is a Rakhine State's border town with Bangladesh as well as the western gate of Myanmar. If we trade with Bangladesh, Maungdaw is essential. It is very important to bilateral relations and trade." he said.
The Bengali issue has arisen in northern Rakhine State since early this year. After the AA captured Buthidaung Town on 18th May 2024, it was criticized by western countries and civil society organizations in relation to the Bengali issue.
At present, the AA has already captured Pauktaw, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U, Myebon, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Ranbye and Buthidaung.
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CNI News
19 June 2024
Vice chairman of the State Administration Council and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Tatmadaw Vice Senior General Soe Win and the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar H.E.Mr. Abhay Thakur discussed the stability of the border between the two countries in Naypyidaw on 17th June, 2024.
Stability and peace in the Myanmar-India border areas, issues related to increasing cooperation, trade and investment as well as development issues the two countries are cooperating were discussed during the meeting, stated the SAC.
Moreover, to increase cooperation between the two armies of the two countries and to be able to systematically produce skilled labors and human resources for the industrial sector development were discussed at the meeting.
The battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region as well as in Tedim and Paletwa Townships, Chin State on the Myanmar side bordering with India.
Due to the battles, Myanmar IDPs had to enter India to take refuge there and because the stability of the border areas became weak, the trades have suspended.
Moreover, The Indian government has wanted the Myanmar Tatmadaw to clear the Naga and Meitei rebels that are fighting against India.
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CNI News
18 June 2024
Overseas employment agencies were finding it difficult because they were asked to present remittance accounts of workers they sent to foreign countries, said overseas employment agencies.
The agencies must submit whether the workers they sent abroad transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families within Myanmar, said in the letter released by the Ministry of Labor a few days ago.
So, they were finding it difficult, an official from the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, told CNI News.
" The agencies that can't submit remittance accounts, they will be suspended. The workers will transfer their money to their families on their own plans. They probably will transfer 25 percent of their basic salary to their families through the banking system. We have to submit remittance accounts of the workers. We can't go and take their money. We can't ask them to transfer their money by force. We, agencies, told them all to transfer money through the banking system. Some of them transferred money, I think. Others have to transfer money plus interests." he said.
Those who have signed the contract with agencies to go abroad
25 percent of basic salary must be transferred to the families within Myanmar through an official channel, said in the contracts between the workers and overseas employment agencies.
However, it was difficult to enforce the contract, overseas employment agencies told CNI News.
Because of the difficulties like this, it was a situation where the ministry and agencies have to renegotiate, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.
Dollar and kyat
" We have sent so many workers abroad. They are from many different parts of the country. It's not easy for us to go to their native places to collect remittance accounts. Agencies are asked to do so. Agencies must take responsibility. But it's not easy. It will be convenient only if the ministry present difficulty to the top officials. We can work only if they relax." he said.
As the age of the people who will go abroad to work has been limited, the business of overseas employment agencies is showing the red reportedly.
So, agencies are sending workers from the old demand letters and as the rate of cost from the new demand letters in the neighboring country has been high, agencies can't send new workers abroad reportedly.
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CNI News
18 June 2024
There were onion cultivations in Meiktila District, Mandalay Region and by carrying out to improve the yield of onion, it could help regional and national economies a lot, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).
He said the above while he was meeting with elders of the town and departmental officials.
After carrying out to improve the yield of onion, it could exported to local and abroad; moreover, onion-based value-added products could be produced; so onion should be produced and sold all the year round, urged Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Although there were onion cultivations in Meiktila District many years ago, it could produce 80 vises.
However, starting from the last 3 years, locals have been expanding cultivation in the district and at present, the onion yield of the district has been the same as those of Myingyan and Pakokku Districts, U Aung Myint, an onion trader from Myingyan, told CNI News.
" Onion was cultivated on a small scale many years ago, but since three years ago, locals from Meiktila, Pyawbwe, Thaedaw and Wundwin have been expanding onion cultivation. Onion was not cultivated in Thaedaw and Wundwin Townships. Now the onion production of these regions, Pyawbwe and Meiktila has been the same as those of Myingyan and Pakokku districts. There are creeks in Taungtha and Myingyan Townships and there are not creeks in Thaedaw and Wundwin, but the quality of the onions from Thaedaw and Wundwin is even better." he said.
While seeing Myanmar onion
Summer onion only is grown in Meiktila District and locals start growing it in December and it is produced in March reportedly.
Myanmar onion is being exported to China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. Fried onion is being produced as a value-added product and distributed all over the country by the lakh viss reportedly.
Some businessmen were exporting fried onion to foreign countries, U Thaung Naing, an onion trader, told CNI News.
"As a finished product of onion, the main is fried onion. First, onion is dried. And then it is fried. And then fried onion is exported. The fried onion that is being sold within the country is the export reject and the fried onion produced in Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing Regions that is distributed all over the country is about 100,000 vises." he said.
Although Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged locals to grow onion in Meiktila District for availability throughout the year, because the amount of water available from the creeks was low, the lack of rainfall and the fields were higher, it might be difficult to grow onion in the rainy season, said onion farmers.
Moreover, if rainfed onion was grown, the yield might be lower and it could affect the yield of summer onion, they said.
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CNI News
18 June 2024
The State Administration Council (SAC) was making preparations so that a free and fair multi-party democratic general election could be held, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.
He said the above while he was meeting with Meiktila district and township level departmental officials and elders of the town on 15th June, 2024.
"We are carrying out in order to be able to conduct population and census taking during October this year and making preparations so that a free and fair multi-party democratic general election in 2025." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
By reason of politics, if they did not not carry out the work that they must do, progress would be delayed, he added.
While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with departmental officials in Meiktila
Census-taking would be conducted all over the country and a general election would be held in 2025 after which Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing seemed to hand over the State power to the winning party in 2026, reviewed political analysts.
Armed conflicts are taking place across the country and because of territorial instability and weak rule of law, in practice, it is impossible to hold elections, pointed out some people.
Not only was it necessary for the SAC to end the armed conflicts, it needed to implement territorial stability and rule of law, said political parties.
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CNI News
17 June 2024
Because there was an abundance of migrant workers on the Thai-Myanmar border, the Thai employers didn't want to raise wages or salaries, those who are carrying out for the affairs of migrant workers, told CNI News.
The number of migrant workers has increased by two times than before on the Thai-Myanmar border.
If the workplace and the number of workers were compared, as the number of workers was more, the Thai employers didn't want to raise wages and salaries, U Moe Kyaw, associate secretary of the Yaung Chi Oo Workers Organization, told CNI News.
" The Thai government has said that it would raise wages and salaries. The Thai trade unions are demanding to raise wages and salaries. It is being discussed at the parliament. But employers on the border don't want to raise wages and salaries because the number of workers is very large." he said.
Myanmar workers who have arrived in the Labor Registration Office in Samut Sakhon District, Thailand (Photo-EPA)
The reason why there has been a sharp increase in the number of workers on the border is because so many people have entered Thailand for many reasons.
So, financial scandals have arisen because the workers have to make documents for residence permits and security cases.
The reports that migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have to go to the border to renew their visas and work permit in February, 2025 have come out, according to the people performing the affairs of migrant workers.
If they must renew like that, workers and worker organizations should demand to renew on the Thai side, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Rights Foundation, told CNI News.
While a Myanmar worker in a factory in Pathum Thani City, Thailand was recorded in 2018 (photo- AFP)
" We have always demanded to provide service for all the documents within Thailand only. But if they have to renew their documents on the border, because they will no danger to their lives or other troubles rather than going to their native country to renew, it won't affect in a big way." he said.
After the Thai government approved to issue the Thai pink ID cards to undocumented foreigners, an operation that will last four months is being planned by the Thai government to arrest undocumented foreigners.
So, undocumented people should travel and work with care and should try to get the Thai pink ID cards, suggested the people helping migrant workers.
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CNI News
17 June 2024
Because ethnic armed organizations and the Myanmar Tatmadaw are making more military preparations in northern Shan State, locals are worried that battles will resume.
Battles may resume in northern Shan State and the locals who could afford have fled to safety, a resident of Kyaukme, told CNI News.
" Political and military situations are not good in northern Shan State. Battles can resume. Those who could flee have fled to safety. Those who couldn't flee have to be living in fear. Moreover, locals suffer from higher commodity price." he said.
The Myanmar Tatmadaw is reinforcing forces in northern Shan State and at the same time, the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) is making preparations for the military affairs reportedly.
While seeing the TNLA
If the TNLA launched an offensive against the Myanmar Tatmadaw, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) probably would join the TNLA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw would be on the defensive condition, a Myanmar political analyst, told CNI News.
" The Myanmar Tatmadaw just can respond as a defensive action. We heard the Tatmadaw is making preparations for offensive, but we have never seen it. The TNLA may launch an offensive and then, the MNDAA might join the TNLA. To tell you the truth, battles can resume. " he said.
Because armed conflicts are breaking out across the country, the public was receiving just a little assistance, battles might resume at any time, said a resident of Kyaukme.
While seeing the MNDAA
" If they are in trouble, they can't even save each other. when the IDPs came to our region by the thousand, we helped them with food and other things. When our urban areas are unstable, where shall we flee to? When the people from rural areas run towards cities, they have things to depend. Because battles can break out at any time, we find it difficult." he said.
The TNLA and the MNDAA were able to capture many townships in northern Shan State during Operation-1027 that was started on 27th October, 2023 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
At the China's mediation, the Haigen ceasefire agreement was reached and then a ceasefire arose in northern Shan State. However, military tensions between the two sides have increased.
At present, the TNLA is approaching towards Lashio City with a lot of forces and the Myanmar Tatmadaw also excavated the Mandalay-Namtu road and cut the transportation reportedly.
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CNI News
17 June 2024
U Zakhung Ting Ying, leader of the Border Guard Force in Kachin State ordered the Kachin Border Force and militias serving in Hsawlaw, Chipwi Townships and Kanpaikti Subtownship to attack and crush down the Kachin Independence Army and Kachin People's Defense Force in a letter issued on 7th June 2024 released by U Zakhung Ting.
Ying. Commanders of the border guard force battalions 1001, 1002 and 1003 and regional militias have been ordered to decisively attack and crush down the KIA/PDF joint forces who come into to attack, kill and destroy by U Zakhung Ting Ying, chairman of the Special Region-1 of Kachin State, said in the letter.
" As the KIA/PDF joint forces have invaded to destroy the State and the peace and tranquility of the ethnic people's lives, the Border Guard Force and militias serving in Hsaw Law, Chipwi Townships and Kanpaiti Subtownship have been ordered to decisively defense, attack and crush down the KIA/PDF joint forces for every inch." said U Zakhung Ting Ying.
While seeing the statement released by U Zakhung Ting Ying
The BGF and militias must prevent and crush down any enemies who entered their region. The enemies must not be allowed to go back, said in the letter.
At present, the KIA/PDF joint forces enter and are attacking the territories of U Zakhung Ting Ying and trying to control the Kanpaiti border trade.
And then, U Zakhung Ting Ying's BGF troops and militia are defensing and fighting back against the KIA/PDF joint forces.
U Zakhung Ting Ying seceded from the Burma Communist Party in 1989 and made peace with the Tatmadaw. And then, he established the New Democratic Army – Kachin (NDA-K) and in 2009 the NDA-K was changed into the Border Guard Force.
Hsaw Law, Kanpaiti, Panwa and Sadon that were controlled by U Zakhung Ting Ying were designated as the Kachin State Special Region-1 in 1989.by the Tatmadaw.
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CNI News
17 June 2024
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has not received the instruction regarding the demand of TNLA to intervene and solve the growing problem between the KIA and the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA), Col. Nawbu, information officer of the KIA told CNI News.
A letter requesting the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) to intervene and resolve the territorial and administrative disputes between the KIA and the TNLA arose.
There has been no instruction from the above about it and they still didn't know it as well, said Col. Nawbu.
" Our information department hasn't received any instruction from the above. I don't know whether the letter has reached the members of our central committee or they negotiated and discussed with their counterparts. We haven't instructed yet." he said.
While seeing the TNLA and two comrades of the TNLA
The KIA was hindering the Baw Ho Kyant mining activities in Uilaw-Mong Baw region under the management of the TNLA, administrative activities in Mangtong, Namtu and Kutkai regions and trying to operate education and health services for the general public, said in the letter of the TNLA.
Because of the actions of the KIA, several engagements between the KIA troops and the TNLA troops were taking place on the ground, the situation that was difficult to control reached.
So, the TNLA requested the FPNCC to intervene and resolve the problems between the two sides, said in the letter sent by the TNLA to the FPNCC.
The FPNCC contains the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the TNLA, the KIA, the Arakan Army (AA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
While seeing two comrades of the TNLA
Although CNI News contacted the TNLA by phone about it, it made no answer. However, the problems had been resolved through political discussions with its ally EAOs and other armed organizations, Lwe Ye Oo, information officer of the TNLA, told CNI News by the end of May.
they have to find a solution through negotiation to avoid conflict, U Aye Maung from the Ta'ang National Party (TNP) told CNI News.
" In my opinion, to find a solution through negotiation is the best to avoid the conflict. As a member of the Hluttaw, I don't want to talk about it thoroughly. We, politicians don't want to comment about military affairs." he said.
The TNLA has captured Mangtong, Nansang, Namkham, Namtu, Kutkai, Mong Ngor and Mong Long Towns after Operation-1027 launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State and is establishing administration.
Territorial and administrative disputes arose widely among armed organizations that are active in northern Shan State and engagements are taking place among them.
The MNDAA, the TNLA, the KIA, the AA, the SSPP, UWSA, the PDFs, militia, the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the border guard force are active in northern Shan State.