CNI News

13 Sept 2022

The Kachin Independence Army would return to the two fallen outposts near Shaduzup Village in Hpakant Township, a Hpakant resident told the CNI.

He said, “The Tatmadaw takes KIA outposts and leaves them without stationing troops there. We have seen this since childhood. When they retreat, KIA troops will return to the outposts. The Tatmadaw cannot station troops there and will have to withdraw. The KIA will come back.”

The Tatmadaw and militia troops attacked and occupied the two KIA outposts with the assistance of air power in the morning on 12th September.

Militia troops.

Hukaung Area, where the two outposts are located, is famous for its gold and amber mines and an economic hub.

The CNI contacted Spokesperson Col Naw Bu for comments but he was not available.

The KIA has accused the militia of supporting the Tatmadaw and frequently attacked them but the militia also accused the KIA of committing destructive acts in villages, according to Hpakant residents.

Tatmadaw and militia troops take over an outpost of the KIA in Donban Station on 12th September, 2022

A resident of Hpakant said, “Both the KIA and the militia are trying to control the area. If they continue to fight for the control of the area, it will be impossible to restore peace in the country. It will be difficult to carry out regional development tasks. If they stayed in areas under their control peacefully, there would be no clashes. Now, they want to expand their territories. So, armed clashes break out frequently and many of them die during fighting. We have seen such incidents since childhood and don’t know when they will end.”

Tensions between Shaduzut militia and the KIA escalated frequently and clashes broke out between them on 12th September, according to local residents.

Clashes break out frequently between militia groups and the KIA in Hpakant, which is famous for its jade mines, and Tanai, which is renowned for its gold and amber mines.

CNI News

12 Sept 2022

As Malaysian authorities have proposed to shut down the UNHCR office in their country, Myanmar nationals who hold refugee cards are likely to face more difficulties, activists for refugees told the CNI.

Vice Chairman Ko Aung Min Thu of the Arakanese Community Malaysia (ARRC) told the CNI that Myanmar refugees in Malaysia had to rely upon the support and assistance of the UNHCR and its partner organizations.

Ko Aung Min Thu said, “It is shocking. If the UNHCR office is shut down, we will encounter a serious situation. Under the protection of the UNHCR, refugees are not subject to arrests and forced repatriation. Without that protection, refugees may be considered illegal migrants and are likely to be repatriated forcefully even if their home countries are in trouble. They may face various problems. We are not sure whether the office will be completely shut down or refugees will be allowed to stay in a designated place like camps.”

Malaysia has proposed to shut down the UNHCR office as it wants to handle the situation by itself without being intervened by third parties and it once tried to shut down the office around 2015-2016.

The UNHCR office in Malaysia.

Malaysia is planning to create job opportunities and training courses undocumented refugees, Chief Patron Sayadaw of (CAR) U Ottara told the CNI.

Sayadaw U Ottara said, “If the UNHCR office is to be shut down completely, the Malaysia Government should issue work permits for Myanmar refugees. If the government and the community of Myanmar refugees cooperate, the situation will improve. Malaysia needs workers for its factories, workshops, rubber plantations, restaurants and businesses. So, the businesses will get workers they need if the government issues work permits for them. It is beneficial for both sides.”

Sayadaw U Ottara added that he didn’t know what was at issue between the Malaysian government and the UNHCR but the issue should be settled through the cooperation of the Malaysian government, the UNHCR and organizations in Malaysia.

Myanmar nationals in Malaysia stage a protest against the UNHCR office in Malaysia in 2018.

Sayadaw U Ottara told the CNI that Malaysia must take the issue of refugees seriously although it had to make the move for national security reasons and it was difficult to shut down the UNHCR office.

He said, “They faced many difficulties during the pandemic. The entire country was under complete lockdown. Malaysian citizens were entitled to cash assistance from the government. Refugees were neglected and as they did not have jobs, they faced hardship. Ethnic communities could offer assistance like food and medicines to their members. During the vaccination program, authorities vaccinated UNHCR card holders, and passport holders but refused to give the shots to others. We had to negotiate with authorities for three days to get everyone vaccinated.”

There are about 200,000 Myanmar refugees who hold UNHCR cards and it is worried that they will get into trouble if the UNHCR office in Malaysia is shut down.

CNI News

12 Sept 2022

As towns and villages outside Yangon are not connected to the national grid or lack regular supply of electricity, Wave Money agents there have difficulty installing CCTVs, Ko Aung Phyo Paing, a Wave Money agent in Nattalin in Bago Region told the CNI.

The Central Bank of Myanmar issued an instruction for Wave Money agents requiring them to install CCTV cameras or to secretly take the photographs of their customers in order to record them.

Therefore, Wave Money agents in off-grid areas are likely to be forced to shut down their businesses.

Ko Aung Phyo Paing told the CNI, “Our customers are not happy with the instructions to bring their national registration cards. It is also impossible to install CCTVs because ours is an off-grid area. As our town is a rural area, I know all my customers very well. If they have difficulty, I have to try to help them as much as possible. If they forget to bring their national registration cards, I help transfer their money by using my own national registration card number. However, I don’t offer such services to strangers.”

The instructions for Wave Money issued by the CBM. (GETTY IMAGES)

Some Wave Money agents in Yangon have already shut down their businesses, which serve customers who transfer or take out small amounts of money, because the instructions of the CBM and Wave Money put them in trouble.

A staff from Wave Money Call Center told the CNI, “We are using this system in accordance with instructions for mobile money services to record the data of customers. It is safer for agents. If customers are not happy with the new system at present, we are trying to help them to get used to the new system one day.”

Wave Money issued a statement on 8th September that it was upgrading its security systems for the safety of cash transfer and withdrawal services in accordance with instructions for mobile financial services.

CNI News

12 Sept 2022

Clashes between the Tatmadaw and Karenni armed forces (joint forces) in Moebye near the border of Shan State (South) and Kayah State damaged more than 100 houses, according to a statement issued by the Progressive Karenni People’s Force on 12th September.

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the joint-forces of the Karenni National Defence Force and the Karenni Army has escalated in Moebye Township since 8th September and more than 100 houses have been damaged until 12th September.

Houses damaged during clashes in Moebye. (PKPF)

“Random firing of heavy weapons by the Tatmadaw destroyed more than 40 houses in Ward-1, Ward-2 and Ward-3 on 11th September evening. Four days of intense fighting damaged more than 100 houses,” the statement of the PKPF information bureau on 12th September said.

As clashes continued on 12th September for the fifth day, Karenni groups urged the public not to use Moebye-Phekon Road.

CNI News

12 Sept 2022

Internally Displaced Persons in Depayin Township in Sagaing Region have faced food shortages, organizations supporting the IDPs told the CNI.

Philanthropic organization were not able to access the area due to clashes and an ambulance was attacked five months ago, Chairman U Khin Maung Tint of Parahits Min Khaung Rescue and Charity Organization in Mandalay told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “It is very difficult to go to the area at present. We have to pass through many checkpoints when we transport patients.”

There are six IDP camps in the township and some camps are accommodating as much as 700 IDPs, Ko Khant Zaw (changed name), who has been providing assistance to IDPs, told the CNI.

He said, “We have to cook 12 basket of rice a day for them. They need food, shelter and clothing. We accommodate them in monasteries and schools. Food is very important for their survival. It is very difficult for us to feed them in the long run. We need support for them.”

Members of the BIA donate rice for IDPs, whose houses were burnt down during clashes in Depayin. (BIA-fb)

Although public administration bodies provide food for them, pregnant women, elderly people and children lack healthcare services.

IDPs in Depayin Township are suffering from physical and mental impacts of the conflicts.

According to a statement of the UNHCR on 1st February 2021, there were 346,600 IDPs and the number of IDPs has increased by 866,400 recently.

The CNPFD announced on 26th May 2021 that it would take measures to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by armed conflicts and to protect IDPs.

CNI News

12 Sept 2022

As the common enemy of the United League of Arakan/ Arakan Arny and the Chin Land Defence Force is the Tatmadaw, there will be no problems between them, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Tensions were reportedly running high between the AA and the CDF in Than Htaung Village in Paletwa Township in Chin State at the end of August.

  Paletwa town.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “The AA had to take the foothold in Paletwa first because the area was very important for them as it was linked to areas they wanted to control in Rakhine State. Otherwise, the military might launch offensives against them from there. Paletwa is located at the Kaladan river, which flows through and depends everything including the economic and social affairs and food on Rakhine State. I think the AA wants to use the area temporarily. As they are fighting against the common enemy, they should understand each other’s position. The People’s Defence Forces are elsewhere in the entire country including Kachin and Karen states fighting the common enemy along with ethnic armed organizations. I think there should be no problem between them.”

The CNI contacted the Chin Joint Defence Committee for comments but the committee said the dispute broke out between the AA and the Chinland Defense Force. The CNI was not able to contact the CDF.

  People travelling on the Kaladan River.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Organizations may have different positions on some issues but they should accept each other’s positions while fighting against the common enemy. If they have issues to be settled, they should resolve the issues after they have overthrown the junta and a federal union is established. They should understand each other’s positions while fighting against the common enemy.”

Before the 2020 general election, fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw in Paletwa displaced local residents.

Paletwa has a population of more than 100,000 and most of them are members of Chin ethnic group but Bamar and Rakhine people reside there too.

The AA is active in Paletwa and has camps. The Arakan Liberation Party was active near the town but later the area was taken by the AA.

CNI News 

10 Sept 2022 

The total strength of 16 armed groups active in Kayah State has increased to more than 15,000, according to a statement of the Progressive Kareni People’s Force released on 10th September. 

The majority of the 16 armed groups were formed after the military staged a coup against the civilian government. 

Those groups claimed to have 7,000 members while the Karenni Progressive Party/ Karenni Army, claimed to have a strength of 2,000 troops.

The Tatmadaw has deployed only 7,500 troops in the state, according to the PKPF.

CNI News

10 Sept 2022

The military activities of the Restoration Council of Shan State/ Shan State Army have been dormant in Northern Shan State, according to local residents.

The RCSS withdrew its troops from Northern Shan State but it is still active in Southern Shan State and there were some armed conflicts involving it recently, U Min Naung, a resident of Kyaukme told the CNI.

RCSS troops. (Tai Freedom)

He said, “The RCSS withdrew its troops from Northern Shan State and returned to areas under its control in Eastern Shan State. It did not withdraw form Northern and Southern Shan permanently. They involved in some clashes in Southern Shan State. So, there were some complaints about them like conscription, territorial control and taxation at the border between Southern and Eastern Shan State. They are penetrating into Southern Shan State. However, we heard nothing about them in Northern Shan State.

Clashes broke out between the RCSS and the Shan State Progressive Party/SSA near Loihorn mountain in Kyethi Township as of 1st June 2021 but the RCSS withdrew its troops from the area during the second week of July.

Similarly, military activities of the RCSS were not seen in some townships in Southern Shan State including Mongyai and Lechar, a resident of Mongyai told the CNI.

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets Gen Yawd Serk.

He said, “I think there are no RCSS troops in our area including Mongyai, Lechar and Kyethi but I am not sure. I don’t know whether they are still active in other townships. I think they have returned to Eastern Shan State.”
The RCSS has temporarily stopped recruitment since 3rd September, 2022.

The temporary halt of recruitment is commendable but it should also stop levying taxes and hold peace talks with other Shan armed organizations instead of the Tatmadaw, a Shan politician said.

The RCSS is an ethnic armed organization and signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

CNI News

10 Sept 2022

A Thai employer has sought compensations of Baht 4,000 (about MMK 400,000) from each of 15 Myanmar workers who went to work in Thailand under the MOU between the two governments but decided to quit their jobs if they were forced to do the tasks that were not stated in their job descriptions, the migrant workers told the CNI.

Under their employment contracts, they were responsible for manufacturing finished rubber products but the employer forced then to do everything he wanted including clearing bushes and bricklaying, Ko Chit Soe Oo, one of the workers, told the CNI.

He said, “We came here to work through the Yaung War Oo Agency. We informed the agency before we arrived here for one month that we were forced to do tasks that were not stated in our job descriptions. The agency said that we had to do everything the employer asked within the compound of the factory. The employer asked us to do everything from clearing bushes to bricklaying. When we didn’t have much work to do, the employer told us to clean the storage facilities, which were very dirty and foul smelling. When we arrived at the factory, the employer gave us only a pair of boots and didn’t provide any other protection. So, we told the employer that we could no longer work for him. Then, the employer consulted with the agency and told us that we would be allowed to quit our job immediately and give us resignation letters if we each compensate Baht 4,000.”

 Myanmar workers who paid Baht 4,000 each to the employer to quit their jobs.

As they had to handle chemicals and had to do tasks that were not stated in their job descriptions, each of them paid Baht 4,000 compensations and quit their jobs after working for only one and a half months.

So, the 15 workers had to pay Baht 60,000 in total and quit their jobs but they were expelled from the factory and were not brought back to the highway terminal.

The failure of the Myanmar overseas employment agency to offer help to the workers and the treatment of Thai employer on them amounted to exploitation of the workers, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.

 Myanmar workers leaving the factory with their belongings.

He said, “The workers didn’t have to pay compensations for their resignation letters under the provision of the MOU. Under the provisions of the MOU, neither the employer nor the agency cannot impose compensations on the workers. It was a violation of the MOU. And the existing labour law also stipulate that workers must be employed at the jobs stated in the employment contract. So, the workers asked for help from us because it was not of their fault but of the agency and the employer. As the agency arranged for workers to sign employment contracts with the employer, it was the responsibility of the agency to check whether the workers were employed at tasks stated in their job descriptions. The agency cannot say it didn’t know the real situation. It is a violation of the labour law.”

The CNI contacted the Yaung War Oo Agency but it was not able to make a comment as its responsible officials had gone abroad.

Myanmar workers clear bushes, which is not stated in their job descriptions.

He told the CNI, “Our country has been sending tens of thousands of workers to Thailand and we don’t know who were sending them. It is necessary for a managing director of the agency to officially tell us its position. They said their boss was travelling abroad.”

Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI that action would be taken in accordance with the law over the issue of seeking Baht 4,000 for resignation letters.

“We will sue the factory in cooperation with a labour organization called Sawadican. If we sue the factory, the agents from Thailand and Myanmar will be accomplices spontaneously.”

There were many cases in which Myanmar workers who worked in Thailand under the MOU were not employed in jobs stated in the employment contract.