CNI News

26 August 2022

The New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council will join the second round of peace talks with the State Administration Council.

The SAC, which held discussions with the three ethnic armed organizations separately during the first round of talks, will now negotiate with the EAOs simultaneously, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

He said, “We cannot confirm the news reports at the moment but it was learnt that invitations have been sent to the NMSP, the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA-PC for the second round of talks. The SAC said it would inform the EAOs of the exact date one week before the talks.”

The SAC chairman receives delegations of the PNLO, the ALP and the LDU.

The SAC held negotiations with the Pao National Liberation Organization, the Arakan Liberation Party and Lahu Democratic Union from 22nd to 26th August.

The SAC will hold negotiations with the NMSP, the DKBA and the KNU/KNLA-PC after the talks with above-mentioned thee EAOs.

Inclusive peace dialogue is essential for resolving the political crisis, Spokesperson Comrade Aye Lwin of the All Burma Student Democratic Front told the CNI.

He said, “If the junta wants to restore peace in the entire country, it needs to stop all offensives in Karen, Chin, Karenni and Kachin states and Sagaing and Magway regions and massacres and arson attacks against villages there. These are the demands not only of the Myanmar people and organizations but also of the international community. If they listened to the voices of the people and the international community, the peace process would be on its correct path, I think.”

The SAC chairman receives delegations of the SSPP, the NDAA and the UWSA.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt said that the PPST would try to create an inclusive environment for political dialogue based on building a union based on democracy and federalism.

He said, “The PPST believes that political dialogue will take place one day for our union, which is facing the current political crisis. The efforts of the PPST aims to pave the way to create an inclusive environment from talks, whether they are bilateral or tetra-lateral, to build a union based on democracy and federalism to guarantee peace for it.

The first round of peace talks with the SAC was joined by signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement including leaders of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, the NMSP, the DKBA, the ALP, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the PNLO and the LDU.

Similarly, non-signatories to the NCA including leaders of the United Wa State Army, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA-Mongla) and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army took part in the first round of peace talks with the SAC.

CNI News

26 August 2022

If the domestic gold price exceeds 2,800,000 kyats per tical, it will rise to 3,000,000 kyats, said Gold market analyst Ko Ne Lin to the CNI news agency.

Although the price of gold is stable around 2,600,000 and 2,700,000 kyats per tical currently, the price has risen up to 2,850,000 kyats per tical according to the gold market.

Gold market analyst Ko Ne Lin said, “It will not fall below 26 again. Even if it falls, it’s around 2,570,000. It will not fall too much. If it goes up, it’s around 27 lakhs and 7 or 80,000. If it can rise even further than over 28 lakhs, which is the highest price so far, it can go up more. If so, it can still rise up to 30 lakhs.

Otherwise, I see it between 2,600,000 and 2,750,000. It’s going to be hovering around 28 lakhs. I don’t see it to go over 28 lakhs for the time being. Because supply and demand are in balance right now,” he said to CNI.

The current rise in gold prices is reportedly due to the closure of domestic gold mining during the rainy season as well as due to the lack of domestic gold raw materials and high demand. In addition, due to the high price of the domestic dollar, the price of goldis rising, said Gold business operators. 

While seeing Aung Samadhi gold shop (GETTY IMAGES)

Therefore, since the currently closed gold mining operations will be resumed when the open season arrives, gold raw materials will be recovered. At that time, the price of gold will fall again, said U Ohn Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Gold Industry Association to CNI.

He said, “I estimate that it will reach 25 lakhs again in the next 3 months. Now the local mines are also closed as there can be pit collapses. If all of these can be resumed in the open season, Thadingyut, Tazaungdine, then domestic gold production can also be achieved.

The other reason for the scarcity of gold at this time is the hoarders. They sell and buy sesame and beans. It is also time that they sell beans and sesame. They take out the stocks and buy gold. For this reason, the demand in the market is increased.

But it’s news beans. When new batch of sesame and rice are cropped, they sell these and restore the beans, sesame and rice and sell them at a time like that. So if the site they are buying from makes sales, I think the price will all stagnant again,” he said.

While seeing a gold shop (GETTY IMAGES)

Previously, famous gold shops such as Zwe Htet, Waint Sein, Aung Samadhi used to write everyday gold prices on social media for the benefit of the public but they have stopped writing after the price of gold was over 23 lakhs.

There is a discrepancy of about 700,000 kyats between the prices published daily by the Yangon region Gold Industry Association (YGEA) and the prices of transaction sales outside. It was found that the price stated by YGEA is not even 21 lakhs but it is almost 28 lakhs in the outside price, said gold market analysts.

Today (August 25^th), the price of gold is 2,805,000 kyats per tical of light gold and the gold market analysts are speculating that the price of gold will be 300,000 kyats next week.

CNI News

26 August 20222

Imposing travel restrictions in Maungdaw amounted to neglecting the public interests, Chairman U Tha Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

The restrictions have caused difficulties in the livelihood of local residents and governing bodies are responsible for offering assistance to solve their problems, he added.

He told the CNI, “Currently, local residents are in trouble. They have difficulties in finding food, clothing and shelter for themselves. Transportation of goods and travelling have been prohibited. Such restrictions hurt the well-being of local residents and shoul not be imposed. Administrative bodies are responsible for offering assistance when local residents face difficulties but they are imposing prohibition. So, such restrictions amount to neglecting the public interests.”

Clashes broke out between the Tatmadaw and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army on 13th August and the ULA/AA announced that travelling and transportation goods were prohibited along the Yaychanpyin-Angumaw-Maungdaw road and the Maungdaw-Kyeinchaung road.

 The border guard outpost in Angumaw. (CJ)

The restrictions posed difficulties and local residents were not allowed to travel in front of the border guard force, Ko Aung Oo, a local resident of Angumaw told the CNI.

He said, “We can’t do anything for our living. We cannot even go outside our houses at any time of the day or night. Orders have been issued to shoot anyone who goes outside their houses.

He said, “The problem is we can’t do anything for our living. We can’t even go out at anytime in the day or night.n They have ordered their soldiers to shoot at anyone. The order was issued on 13th August when fighting started. We cannot go past in front of their camp. When villagers went out, they shot at them or threatened to shoot at them to prevent them from going outside. Residents cannot fish or collect vegetables for their food.”

Currently, villagers are afraid to go near the border guard force, according to local residents.

 Local residents in Rakhine State.

Ko Aung Oo, a local resident from Angumaw said, “Wherever border guard forces are located are facing the same problem. If there is no border guard force, local residents can got out as usual. However, all border gaurd forces are located on highway roads and they are threatening anyone who walks or rides a motorcycle past them. Some local residents were arrested for doing so.”

Currently, a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am has been issued in Maungdaw and local people are facing hardship due to the curfew and travel restrictions, according to the AA.

Under the current political climate, political parties are not able to intervene in such crises and thus it is difficult for him to negotiate with relevant parties, said U Tha Tun Hla.

Although the AA and the Tatmadaw had agreed to an official ceasefire, fighting has resumed recently due to rivalry in administrative issues.

In the same way, the AA and the Tatmadaw are arresting each other’s members.

NSPNC, 3EAOs discuss schedule 1/2 of 2008 constitution

CNI News

25 August 2022

The National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee and leaders of three EAOs discussed union legislative list (schedule -1)and region or state legislative list (schedule-2) of the 2008 constitution in Nay Pyi Taw on 23rd August.

The three EAOs include the Pao National Liberation Organization, the Arakan Liberation Party and the Lahu Democratic Union.

The NSPNC and leaders of three EAOs discussed union legislative list (schedule -1), region or state legislative list (schedule-2)  and of the 2008 constitution and sector-wise processes and implementation of them in the post 2020 period and the negotiations have been scheduled until 26th August.

Chairman Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Secretary Lt-Gen Min Naung of the NSPNC, SAC member Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and NSPNC members Lt-Gen Win Bo Shein, Lt-Gen Min Naing and Lt-Gen Aye Win took part in the discussions.

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing receives delegates of the PNLO, the ALP and the LDU on 22nd August, 2022.

From the side of the EAOs, Chairman Khun Thurein and Vice Chairman Khun Tun Tin of the PNLO, Vice Chairperson Saw Mya Yarzar Lin and Central Executive Committee Member Khaing Soe Mya of the ALP and Chairman Kyar Solomon and General Secretary Kyar Yarkoke of the LDU joined the discussions.

The SAC chairman invited EAOs to peace talks on 22nd April 2022 and the first round of talks from May to 4th August with signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement including the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, the PNLO, the ALP and the LDU and non-signatories to the NCA the United Wa State Army, the National Democracy Alliance Army and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army.

The second round of talks with the PNLO, the LDU and the ALP started on 22nd August.

CNI News

25 August 2022

An allied force of the Kachin Independence Army and the People’s Defence Force intimidated about 30 young people from Pinkhar Village in Banmauk, Sagaing Region, into signing pledges not to contact the Shanni National Army, according to local residents.

After clashes with the SNA in Kyauktan and Asheigone villages on 23rd August, the allied force of the KIA and the PDF abducted about 30 youths from Pinkhar Village, accusing them of supporting the SNA, U Nay Lin, a Banmauk resident, told the CNI.

SNA troops.

He said, “The youths are residents of Pinkhar Village. The allied troop of the KIA and PDF told them not to join the SNA and to sign pledges not to support it. They were asked to sign the pledge at the house of Tin Maung Myint near the village junction at 9 am. If they refused to sign the pledge, the KIA will detain and kill them. So, they were afraid of the KIA and went to the house to sign the pledges. There were about 30 of them. When they arrived at the house, they were forced to get on their vehicle and taken to their headquarters. We are sorry about the incident. This is an inhumane act.”
Although the CNI tried to contact KIA officers, they did not answer the phone.

  An SNA soldier and the entrance to Banmauk.

Tensions are running high between the allied force and SNA troops in Banmauk Township.

The 200-strong allied force launched an attack on a SNA outpost at 6 am on 20th August.

An SNA outpost near Hsezin Village in Hpakant also came under attack from the allied force on 8th August.

Tensions are running so high between the allied force and SNA troops that they clashed again on 23rd August.

The SNA is an ethnic armed organization fighting for founding Shanni State by integrating Mawlike District, Kale District, Hkamti District, Katha District and Tamu District in Sagaing Region and Bhamo District, Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District and Moekaung District in Kachin State.

CNI News

25 August 2022

Employers from Malaysia have suspended the applications to recruit new workers including the ones from Myanmar starting from August 15th to 31st, said U San Win, Chairman of Myanmar Social Assistance Association to CNI News Agency.

Sending Burmese workers to Malaysia has been halted since March 2020 due to Covid and the priority is being given to workers from old job postings who were recruited until March 18th, 2020.

U San Win, Chairman of the Myanmar Social Assistance Association said, “Because the political situation in Malasia is a little volatile as well. Another thing is that it is also a time where the workers are arresting illegal workers. Once the period of illegal residence ends, the number of workers who didn’t make that cut, we will grant the permits for recruitments of workers. After the arrest, they will general count the workers, how many workers are there currently? How many didn’t make the cut? Now approximately how many workers are left, then which country, which sector to be focused on, etc. The grant permits for these kinds of things.”

It is not yet known when the Malaysian government will resume operations for employers to give out applications to recruit new workers. In order to apply for this, it must be submitted step by step to the relevant government departments and this process can even be extended till 2023, he said.

Currently, a lot of young people from Myanmar go to Thailand and Malaysia through both legal and illegal means and there have been many arrests in Malaysia at the moment. Not only those enter through illegal means but also the undocumented in Malaysia are being arrested.

 seeing a construction site in Malaysia

Since the application to recruit new workers has been stopped, the illegal entry into Malaysia is likely to increase, said Arakanese Community Malaysia (ARRC) Vice President Ko Aung Min Tun to CNI Press.

He said, “You can roughly say that. The situation in Myanmar is gradually worsening. Since it’s getting worse, there will be more people coming here through illegal means due to the difficulties. But they ask the UN for help if something happens. But the UN can’t do much for the ones who came down through the illegal means.”

In addition, the new policy of recruiting foreign workers in Malaysia next year is being prepared and drafted to apply the change, and is currently being negotiated with government departments but it has not yet been confirmed.

U San Win, Chairman of the Myanmar Social Assistance Association said, “Agriculture-wise, the number of workers in this culture is low. When it is low, there is a slow productivity in the processes such as oil palm and rubber. There are many things that cannot be sent abroad.

When production falls, there’s less exports. They will mainly recruit in parts like agriculture and construction. In those areas, the remaining people are also illegal foreigners. They are trying to legalize these illegal foreigners.”

It is to Thailand where the largest proportion of Burmese citizens go abroad to work. The second largest is Malaysia and most Myanmar workers mainly work in factories and the restaurant business and only a few work in the construction industry.

CNI News

25 August 2022

Thayettaw Monastery ThaBarWa center which is located on Bogyoke Road, Lanmadaw Township, Yangon, has been distributing lunch rice and curries for nearly 500 people every day.

A monk from the monastery said that it has been more than a year that they have been distributing like that and at the moment, the number has increased to around 700.

The monk said, “They made 500 cards, but as the people who came to queue became increasing, the cards are not enough. The number of people might be about 700 and the rest were asked to line up like them too. We make it convenient for the rest of those people. Although the distribution hour starts at 12pm, some come at 9 am and line up.”

Rice and curry are distributed daily starting from 12 pm and it is the head monk and donors who donated them. The people from all areas of Yangon who are facing livelihood struggles, come and pick the foods.

CNI News

24 August 2022

With the Flower Garden project conducted by the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower of SAC, 52o household demographics form 66/6; 20,884 citizens verifications cards have been issued in the Shan State (Eastern) special region 4 Myla town.

The National Card Handing Ceremony was held in Myla on August 20, 2022 and from SAC’s side, Shan State Chief Minister Dr. Kyaw Tun, state government members, commander of the Triangle Regional Military Headquarters General Myo Min Tun, and Chairman of Shan State (Eastern) State subgovernment U Ye Naing attended.

According to Mongla News, from special region 4 of Myla, Special Region 4 Peace and Unity Committee Vice Chairman U San Pae; Peace and Unity Committee Member, Vice Chairman of the Military Committee, U Lau Chan Pao; Peace and Unity Committee Deputy Secretary (2) U Ah Lu; Communication Department Head U Sai Mauk, and 200 local ethnic people attended.

The National ID handing ceremony was held in Special Region 4 on 20 August 2022 (Mongla News)

520 household demographics form 66/6 20,884 national identity cards are now issued for the second time. Therefore, total household demographics form 66/6 1877 groups and 29201 national identification cards have been reportedly issued.

Special Region 4 Myla is under the control of the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA-Myla) and the capital of the region is Myla.

The NDAA broke away from the Communist Party of Burma (BCP) in 1989. Since they had a truce with the Tatmadaw, they were designated as Special Region 4 and granted autonomy. However, according to the Article 56 of the 2008 Constitution, they have not yet been recognized as an autonomous region.

Currently, the NDAA is taking control of administration, judiciary, economy, social, health, and education and is on the process of request to officially recognize them as an autonomous region.

2022 On June 4, the delegation led by NDAA vice-chairman U San Pei accepted the peace talks invited by General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of SAC where they met and discussed the designation of self-governing regions.

CNI News

24 August 2022

Shanni National Conference was held in Homalin, Sagaing, on August 22.

At the conference held today (August 22), issues related to the rights of Shanni ethnic groups, being able to affirm the names being different and the acquisition of Shanni State, are discussed.

Shanni Voice

That conference is the second time held. The first Shanni National Conference was held as a preliminary in Homalin, Sagaing and MohNyin township, Kachin, and in 2016, it was held in Mandalay with everyone’s agreement.