CNI News

31 August 2022

Clashes could spill over the entire Rakhine State if the Tatmadaw and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army fail to hold talks, Rakhine politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

He added that as the Tatmadaw and the AA reached an understanding to stop fighting for mutual benefits but have never entered a formal agreement, clashes could break out anytime.

He told the CNI, “They gave warnings to each other. Maj-Gen. Zaw Min Tun once threatened the public by warning the AA not to blame them if clashes break out. The AA also told the public that fighting could happen anytime because their administrative and judicial mechanisms are being disturbed. Under such circumstances, fighting could resume. Clashes cannot be limited to only one location because townships are interconnected. If fighting breaks out in Mrak-U, clashes can spill over central and southern part of Rakhine State. If both sides cannot hold negotiations, war will escalate immediately and spill over the entire state and a large number of people will be in trouble.”

Paletwa residents displaced by fighting between the AA and the military.

The Tatmadaw and the AA resumed fighting in Paletwa (Chin State) and Maungdaw (Rakhine State) recently and clashes spilled over Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Mrak-U.

On 28th August, a heavy weapon round fell in Kinseik Village in Mrauk-U Township, killing three residents and injuring at least five others.

If it is impossible to hold negotiations between the Tatmadaw and the AA, fighting will escalate. So, residents of Rakhine State are required to careful when travelling and to dig bomb shelters, Secretary Ko Zaw Zaw Tun of the Rakhine Ethnic Congress told the CNI.

  Tatmadaw personnel manning an outpost.

He said, “Clashes are likely if they cannot hold negotiations. So, the public, especially those who live in the countryside should be careful when travelling at night. They should keep their important documents close at hand and dig bomb shelters for possible airstrikes. Then, respective villages are required to be prepared for public safety such as shelters and emergency protection for pregnant women and children if clashes break out near the villages.”

Internally displaced persons in Rakhine State. (GETTY IMAGE)

There were more than 42,000 internally displaced persons due to previous clashes between the AA and the military and the number has increased to 50,000 due to recent tensions, he added.

Before the 2020 general elections, armed clashes between the AA and the military completely halted in Rakhine State and Chin State.

Although the two sides reached an understanding for a ceasefire, fighting resumed recently due to military tensions.

CNI News

30 August 2022

Increasing number of Myanmar nationals want to work in Malaysia in spite of rarely receiving job offers from the host country, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation told the CNI.

All overseas employment agencies are facing the similar situation and the number of Myanmar nationals has been higher than the levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, Director Ko Nway Ko Ko Lin of Pwint Phyu Aung Agency told the CNI.

He said, “Before the pandemic, the demand for Myanmar workers was high and it was difficult to find enough of them. I think one reason is that Malaysia has raised the minimum wage to 2,500 Ringgit. The number of Myanmar nationals who want to work in Malaysia has increased. Many people are seeking information about working in Malaysia. In the past, there were a large number of job offers but we did not have enough workers. Now, we have many applicants who want to work in Malaysia but we have no job to offer them. We had to refuse them as there was no job offer. Unlike Thai companies, Malaysian counterparts hired only 10 to 50 workers.”

 A construction site in Malaysia.

Most Malay businesses that hired Myanmar workers are small ones like factories, workshops and restaurants but electronic companies employ hundreds of migrant workers.

Most of the people who seek information to work in Malaysia hail from small towns.

In the past, agent fees for a worker who wanted to work in Malaysia stood at US$ 850 but the fees have now risen to about US$ 1,000 due to appreciation of the US dollar. Service fees vary from agency to agency.

As the number of people who want to work in Malaysia has increased, some fake employment agencies are cheating them, Ma Hay Man, who sends workers to Malaysia, told the CNI.

She said, “I am especially worried about young people from small towns. As they are so enthusiastic about working in Malaysia, they are the targets of fake agencies. They should try to go to companies rather than agencies. If they don’t want to go to the companies, they should study the background history of their agents thoroughly because there are a large number of cheatings especially online. They shouldn’t trust agents whom they meet online.”

A glove factory in Malaysia.

Currently, agencies are mostly sending workers for old job offers which were made before the pandemic as well as a few of them for new job offers, which have been approved by Malay authorities.

Recently, Malaysia has adopted a new policy for migrant workers, U Zaw Min Min, the chairman of the Malaysia Workers’ Affairs Committee of the MOEAF told the CNI.

“When Malaysia resumed hiring foreign workers, there was a large number of Myanmar workers who wanted to go to the country. If Malay businesses hire a large number of workers, all of them will be able to go to Malaysia. However, Malay authorities are scrutinizing workers very strictly. They take the size of businesses and the number of workers they need into consideration. Previously, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided the matter, which has now been transferred to the Ministry of Human Resources. As everything has changed, there are some delays. It will take time to make a big change,” he said.

Those who want to work in Malaysia do not have to speak the Malay language but they are required to have valid passports and three-time vaccination certificates.

CNI News

30 August 2022

According to hotel operators in Bagan, in addition to the low number of tourist arrivals in the Bagan region at present, there is difficulty in opening hotels in Bagan Hotel Zone due to lack of regular electricity and rising fuel prices.

Tourist arrivals to Bagan are now only about a tenth of what they normally are. Hotels are now facing losses because of having to run generators due to irregular electricity, said U Zaw Wait, Bagan Zone Chairman of the Myanmar Hotel Industry Association to CNI News Agency.

“Even if you open it, you will lose for sure. If it is open. If it is open, there are no guests and so there’s no income. Even if two or three rooms become occupied, running the generator makes it a loss. It only takes 3 or 5 hours per power-cut when it happens sometimes. Now the electricity is being cut off twice a day and 4 or five hours every time. So, the power outage takes up about 10 to 12 hours of 24 hours a day. The big generators can produce 3 to 5 gallons per hour once fired up. It depends on the size. So one gallon of oil is up to 14,000. So, if the machine consumes 5 gallons per hour, the room fee is only around 3/4/50,000. If oil prices go down and the electricity is back to normal, we might reopen it,” he said.

While seeing a bird’s eye view of Bagan Hotel Zone and landscape

It is reported that hotels in Bagan have been closed since March 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19. It has been closed and currently only 64 of the 154 hotels can be opened. 

Moreover, because the hotels have repairs to be made since they have been closed for more than 2 years, they cannot be opened in the meantime, said the hotel owners.

U Zaw Wait continued to say that in order for the closed hotels and currently opened hotels to run, it is necessary on the part of the national government to work to have regular electricity, to make the price of engine oil decrease and to improve security.

“The main support that the state needs to provide is No.1 to ensure regular electricity. Next, to make oil prices fall. Next to ensure good security. Then it is completed. If that’s the case, both foreigners and Burmese will enter definitely. As for the private sector, we are ready when a guest comes. All the 100 hotels will immediately get to work,” he said.

As for Bagan Division of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, it is expected that domestic and foreign tourist arrivals may increase in October which is open season and many hotels are expected to open, said U Win Aung, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Tourism (Bagan Branch) to CNI News Agency.

“Our region has been visited by visitors ever since we opened including right now. There are more guests, especially on weekends and big days. Some of them come in big buses and some of them in private cars. Also, there are people who come in hi-jets in groups. That's why we expect that tourists will come during the open season. More hotels will be able to open. Locals can also get jobs and we hope that their socio-economic life will improve accordingly,” he said.

Then, in this period, due to the shortage of work and the decreasing influx of tourists, Bagan residents are reportedly facing declines in family economic income.

In the current period, due to various reasons, the tourist arrivals in Bagan - Nyaung Oo region will continue to be low. If it continues to be low until the next open season arrives, it will be difficult for hotels to continue opening, hotel operators said.

CNI News

30 August 2022

Chairman Gen. Yawd Serk of the Shan State Restoration Council and Chairman Snr Gen. Min Aung Hlaing of the State Administration Council held discussions over an end to armed conflicts and violence.

The talks were held at the parlour of the Bayint Naung Yeitha in Nay Pyi Taw in the morning of 29th August.

The SAC chairman said that he would continue to implement the peace process based on the 2008 Constitution and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

RCSS Chairman Yawk Serk exchanged his views on building a union based on democracy and federalism, regional development, implementation of the federal system, resolving political issues through political means, promotion of socioeconomic lives of the people, ending armed conflicts and violence and future tasks.

Gen. Yawd Serk

The SAC chairman pointed out that many countries exercise democracy and federalism across the world but it is necessary to adopt democracy and federalism that are in line with the gepgraphical conditions, national characteristics and culture of the country. He also explained that as human resources instilled with knowledge and technologies are essential for implementing genuine and disciplined democracy and national development can be achieved speedily, measures are being taken to promote the education of the country.

The RCSS delegation will hold further negotiations with the peace negotiation team and the national solidarity and peace negotiation committee comprising member of the SAC.

The RCSS chairman arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on 29th August to join the second round of peace talks invited by the SAC and the first round of the talks were held on 20th May.

The RCSS/SSA is an ethnic Shan armed organization, which is active in northern and southern Shan state, and a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. Tensions over terroritial control between the RCSS on the one hand and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army and the Ta’aung National Liberation Army on the other hand have escalated.

Armed conflicts have broken out between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organizations and the People’s Defence Forces, which came into existence after the Spring Revolution, in Karen State, Kayah State, Chin State, Rakhine State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

Due to such to the armed conflicts, houses were torched and civilians were arrested and killed on suspicion of supporting the armed organizations.

CNI News

30 August 2022

It would be helpful for farmers if fertiliizers were sold at the subsidized prices at the rate of one bag of fertilizer per acre at present, when cultivation costs are extremely high, the Development of Farmers Association told the CNI.

The association said that fertilizer prices have risen from K 60,000 previously to K 120,000 per bag at present and farmers have expected that the government will sell fertilizers to them at subsidized prices of about K 80,000 per bag.

Chairman U Thein Aung of the DFA told the CNI, “One bag per acre is in no way sufficient because farmers need at least two to three bags of fertilizer per acre for flooded farms. Another factor is farmers in the lower Ayeyarwady Delta including Pyapon District, Labutta and Myaungmya Districts employ double crops, paddy-after-paddy. As they cultivate one crop of paddy after another. So, they need at least four bags of fertilizers per acre. If a bag of fertilizer per acre is available at subsidized prices, they will be able to mix them with natural and compound fertilizers for cultivation of crops. This will be helpful for farmers.”

Farmers mix chemical and natural fertilizers.

Farmers said that it was also necessary to take measures to provide the subsidized fertilizers to the hands of farmers in cooperation with relevant departments systematically, farmers said.

Moreover, it is also important to establish 24-hour complaint centres if the fertilizers fail to reach farmers, a farmer told the CNI.

He said, “Subsidized fertilizers should be distributed not to selected farmers but to all farmers by collecting statistics of acreage of summer paddy in respective townships in cooperation with the Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics Department. If a farmer fail to receive the subsidized fertilizers even if he is eligible, he should be able to make complaints with relevant departments like the Department of Agriculture and the DALMS. Only then, will farmers be able to receive fertilizers. Otherwise, it will be said that the government offered help to farmers but no one received it.”

As cultivation costs are extremely high, the Myanmar Rice Federation is reported to import 177,000 tons of urea fertilizer and to distribute it to farmers who will cultivate summar and winter crops in a timely manner. The CNI contacted the federation to verify the reports but officials of the federation did not answer the phone.

CNI News

30 August 2022

Because eight women who were trafficked in Dubai, UAE and facing a distress uploaded a video file asking for help, The Burmese Embassy in Riad city has released a news report that they are providing assistance for these women to be able to return home.

The news report states that a video file under the account name of Khaing Lay asking for help for the women in distress in Dubai was released on August 25. The Burmese Embassy contacted Dubai where these women are located and conducted negotiations on August 26 between these women and the broker who brought these women in.

The women who were in trouble and ask for help said that they were sent to Dubai by an agent Ma Mie Mie, that they were locked in a house and that there was a forcible attempt to send to Iraq.

They said, “I came from Yangon to Dubai to work as a maid with agent Ma Mie Mie’s dispatch. 7 of us came together and we had to hand over our passports to Ma May Phone a.k.a Ma Htet Htet a.k.a Ma Kay a.k.a Ma Kay Thi Myint.

The women who are asking for help

In addition to not making contact with us, they told us that they will send us to Iraq whether it will be overstaying or not. We refused to go but it didn’t work. They said that we had to pay 100,000,000 if we don’t go. We came to work as a domestic worker which is the lowest level to work in a foreign country because we don’t have any money. But they forced to send us to Iraq if we couldn’t pay 100,000,000. Finally, not being able to take it anymore, we broke the doors open and escaped. We went to the police but they were of no help. Now we can’t even go back to Myanmar. They made it impossible for us to return to Myanmar. We ask for help but no one responded.”

Although they said that there were seven of the women involved, but the Myanmar Embassy in Riad City stated that it is eight women.

The Myanmar Embassy in Riad city stated that with their negotiation, the passports were returned to these eight women and that there is an agreement on planning and implementation for the women to return to Myanmar as soon as possible.

The announcement of the Myanmar Embassy in Riad

The Myanmar Embassy announced that during the planning process, in order to ensure safety between this broker and the women, to prevent unwanted problems from occurring again and to make necessary inquiries, they were temporarily sent from their residences in UAE CID to CID headquarters in Dubai.

The Myanmar Embassy in Riad said, “They will be processed and investigated according to the laws, immigration, and police procedures of the United Arab Emirates and those who are not in violation of these laws will be released.”

Then, the Myanmar Embassy announced on August 28 that they are contacting the UAE officials in a timely manner and are coordinating with Burmese social organizations in Dubai to help the escapees depart to Myanmar as soon as possible.

CNI News

29 August 2022

A delegation led by Chairman Gen. Yawd Serk of the Shan State Restoration Council met State Administration Chairman Chairman Snr Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw in the morning of 29th August.

It is the second round of talks between the RCSS and the SAC, which first met on 20th May.

The two sides will hold discussions in the coming days.

Gen. Yawd Serk meets members of the SAC on 29th August, 2022.

The RCSS is a Shan armed organization which signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the SAC.

Three signatories to the NCA including the Arakan Liberation Party, Pao National Liberation Organization and Lahu Democratic Union held talks with the SAC from 22nd to 26 August.

CNI News

29 August 2022

Gen. Yawd Serk, the Cahirman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, has refused the offer to accept the leading patron post of the Peace Process Steering Team, which is made up of seven signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

However, he promised to help the meetings of the PPST if possible, Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt, a spokesperson of the team, told the CNI.

He said, “We offered the post to two leaders beause they had led the PPST previous. Currently, Mutu Say Poe accepted the post as an individual without representing his organization. Gen. Yawd Serk has to take his organization, histroical background and geographical conditions into consideration. So, it is impossible for him to take the post but he promised to offer help with meetings of the PPST.”

Gen. Mutu Say Poe

The PPST sent a request to Chairman Gen. Mutu Say Poe of the Karen National Union to take the leading patron post and to give political guiidance and leadership to the team.

Gen. Mutu Say Poe replied that he accepted the request and agreed to take the post on 4th August.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt said, “Gen. Mutu Say Poe is a respected ethnic leader who has enough experience to guide the PPST. As we think he is capable of contributing a lot to the PPST in the future, we offered the leading patron post to him during the last summit and sent a request, which was welcomed  and accepted by Gen. Mutu Say Poe as you saw in his response to the team.”

Gen. Yawd Serk meets Snr Gen. Min Aung Hlaing on 29 August, 2022.

Gen. Mutu Say Poe acted as the chairman from 2017 to 2019 and resigned from the post. Similarly, Gen. Yawd Serk took helm of the team from 2019 until July, 2021 before resigning.

The PPST is made up of the Pao National Liberation Organization, the Arakan Liberation Army, the Lahu Democratic Union, the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council and the New Mon State Party.

The RCSS/SSA, the KNU and the Chin National Front suspended participation in the PPST.

CNI News

28 August 2022

Although Myanmar imported onions from India every year to keep the prices lower, there is no plan to buy the crop from the South Asian country this year, according to Bayint Naung Commodity Exchange.

Myanmar imported onions from India and China when local prices rose to K 3,000 per viss to keep the prices lower but there is no plan to import onions this year as onions sprout this time of the year and imports can negatively affect local cultivation, Chairman U Khin Han of the Myanmar Onion, Garlic & Vegetable Producers’ and Exporters’ Association told the CNI.

He said, “It is too late to import onions because new harvests start in September and October. As it is time for onions to sprout. Moreover, it takes time to import them and the US$ exchange rate is rising. If we import onion now, farmers will face difficulties. They will reduce onion acreage. So, we decided not to import onions from India.”

In 2015 and 2019, merchants who stored onions and speculated on the market and onion prices set new record prices. So, the association decided to import onions from India and China to satisfy the local demand.

 An onion shop. (CNI)

Only a few companies were permitted to import onions this year and they imported 800 tons of onions.

Although the association decided not import onions from India, Indian farmers want to export onions to Myanmar, according to Myanmar merchants.

If onions were exported from India, local prices are likely to fall to MMK 2,000 per viss, according to merchants.

Currently, Myanmar is exporting onions to Thailand and exporters are enjoying profits thanks to appreciation of Baht against MMK.