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.

CNI News

3 Sept 2022

Due to the increasing prices of construction materials, they are suffering losses, building contractors told the CNI.

Ko Kyaw Soe Moe, a building contractor, said the prices of steel bars have risen from MMK 750,000 to MMK 1 million per ton.

Ko Kyaw Soe Moe told the CNI, “We can no longer accept new projects as the prices of all construction materials including cement, steel bars, brick, sand and pebble have increased exponentially. So, we are in trouble and face many difficulties. We are spending our own money for projects in which we are responsible to buy construction materials. We accepted a construction project for MMK 10 million based on the prices of construction materials at that time. Then, the prices of construction materials increased exponentially. We could build a two-storey for MMK 25 million in the past. Now, we cannot build such a building for MMK 35 million.”

 A shopkeeper in Yangon.

Cement prices rose from MMK 5,000 before the coup rose to MMK 9,000.

Therefore, building contractors have stopped bidding for Yangon City Development Committee projects and turned to construction of RC building under PAE system.

However, only a few people build new home due to financial difficulties caused by the general crisis. As a result, daily wage earners in the construction industry are struggling for their survival.
In the past, daily wage earners were so busy that they did not have days-off but there is no job for them, Ko Soe Aung, a daily earner, told the CNI.

  Workers return to Dala on the other bank of the Yangon River

Ko Soe Aung said, “The rising commodity prices are another blow to up. As a bottle of cooking oil hits MMK 5,000, we have nothing left after buying food even if I earn MMK 10,000 a day. We had to borrow money for things we need. In the past, we had jobs for the entire month. Now, we don’t have jobs the entire month and we have to borrow money. I have secured a job for only three days.”

As he suffered losses, he planned to suspend his construction works until October, Ko Kyaw Soe Moe told the CNI.

Some construction sites have suspended their works due to rising US dollar exchange rates and prices of construction materials.

CNI News

3 Sept 2022

An increasing number of Myanmar citizens are buying properties including condominium apartments in Thailand, real estate agents and residents told the CNI.

In the past, Myanmar citizens purchased only one condominium in Thailand but the number has increased to about 10 since June and the Thai property market is booming, according to them.

Ma Khaung Khaung, a company staff in a Thai company told the CNI, “A large number of people from Myanmar are buying properties in Thailand and the demand is growing as Thai property sellers and companies launch direct promotions. Since people from Myanmar do not want to hold the kyat in their hands, the sale is brisk. It is incredible. There are many Myanmar citizens who purchased properties through our company. We have been very busy recently. In the past, Myanmar citizens mostly bought properties in Dubai and Singapore. I don’t know why they are now eyeing properties in Thailand. Buying properties and registering ownership are very easy in Thailand. As the Thai government has offered property rights to foreigners, not only people from Myanmar but also other foreigners are purchasing properties in Thailand in large numbers.”

Most Myanmar nationals who purchased properties prefer condominium apartments in commercial hubs like Bangkok and Maesot. Some Myanmar buyers purchased condominium apartments in Bangkok to send their children to study in Bangkok.

  A property agent conducts buyers around a condominium building.

Property prices in Thailand vary depending on their locations. Condominium apartments in the suburb are sold at more the Baht 1 million (about MMK 100 million) per 100-square feet while those at commercial centres fetch as much as Baht 8 million (about MMK 800 million) per 100-square feet, Ko Thein Oo, a condominium sale agent, told the CNI.

He said, “As the kyat has collapsed in Myanmar, they are investing here. However, there are some Myanmar citizens who invested in the Thai property market after the coup. Many of them I know are people from the film industry. The condominium sale business is brisk. In places like Phalansong,
which ranks third or fourth in Bangkok, a Myanmar buyer has to pay more than Baht 8 million per 100-square feet on the eighth floor. That is an enormous sum of money in Myanmar. In commercial centres like places near the airport, condominium prices are much higher.”

Although foreigners are allowed to buy condominium apartments only, investment visa holders who have invested in Thai companies are permitted to buy other types of properties.

Myanmar nationals who hold Myanmar passports can transfer money via Yoma Bank in Myanmar but it is very difficult to transfer a large sum of money in Myanmar. Therefore, Thai condominium sale companies arrange other means for Myanmar nationals.

CNI News

3 Sept 2022

The mechanism of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee seems to stop working, Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi of the People’s Party told the CNI.

He said that the State Administration Council never uses the term and its mechanism has stopped working at present.

He said, “Even the SAC does not use the term UPDJC because it was made up of three groups including one representing the government, the military and the parliament, another group representing signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and a group representing political parties. Therefore, its mechanism seems to stop working. So, I am aware that the SAC does not use the term.”

The UPDJC group representing political parties and the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae held discussions in Nay Pyi Taw on 6th March and the group was reformed on 27th August, 2022.

The NSPNC led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae.

The UPDJC group representing political parties is still working on its tasks and holds talks with the NSPNC once a month, Secretary Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein of the group told the CNI.

Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein said, “We think that the upcoming election held by the SAC will be fair. U Sai Aik Paung and I were reelected as the chairman and the secretary respectively. Some news reports were not true. We hold meetings with the SAC regularly. It is seeking advice from us.”

The chairman of UPDLC group representing political parties is from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and Secretary Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein is from the Democratic Party (Myanmar). Group members are representatives from other parties.

The UPDJC is made up of 16 representatives from each group. However, the group representing the government, the military and the parliament and the group representing EAOs have not nominated their representatives while political parties are raising question on whether the group can represent all political parties.