CNI News

24 July 2025

A agreement was reached in the meeting on peace, stability and unity of Karen State to change the Border Guard Force (BGF) into the Karen National Army (KNA) and the meeting pledged not to secede from Myanmar. 

The meeting was held in the Aye Lin Mya Shin Dhamayon in the Myine Gyi Ngu Special Region on July 20, 2025.

The points that were discussed in the meeting included (1) that as the BGF emerged based on religion from the Karen National Union (KNU), the force will sacrifice their lives for the religion to protect the religion and (2) the force will protect Karen people and ethnic groups in Karen State, and (3) the force has determined not secede from Myanmar and (4) the force will give priority to and carry out regional peace, stability and development and the force will make an attempt to ensure that Karen State achieves self-administration and self-determination as well as a federal democratic union is established, and (6) Sayadaws and Sanghas are informed that the BGF will be changed into the KNA, and (7) Sayadaws and Sanghas were requested to tell their advice, opinion and comments about changing the BGF into the KNA, according to a participant in the discussion.

The seven points were discussed by the BGF leaders, Sanghas, political parties and elders of the community and three points were agreed reportedly. 

The three points are that (1) changing the BGF into the KNA was agreed, and (2) they agreed that the KNA will never secede from Myanmar, and (3) a prayer ceremony for peace will be held.

The meeting was attended by 47 monks, members from Karen political parties, nine elders of the community, 18 leaders and commanders of the BGF, 79 village and ward administrators and 292 elders from various villages, a total of 445 people.

CNI News

24 July 2025

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Abhay Thakur met with Myanmar Union Minister for Electric Power, U Nyan Tun and discussed cross-border power grid project and matters relating to the collaboration in the electric sector on July 21, 2025.

A meeting of the negotiation committee on cooperation in electric sector was held in New Delhi early this month. After that, this discussion took place.

Currently in Myanmar, there are power cut-offs due to armed conflicts across the country and electricity is being distributed on the basis of rotation.

CNI News

24 July 2025

The State Administration Council should report the public what kinds of jobs for the military personnel from the people's military service have been created, the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP) Chairman Sai Htay Aung told CNI News. 

The management committee on providing employment to those who dutifully served in the army was formed on July 8, 2025, reported the SAC.

The committee contains Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister as Chairman, Union Labor Minister as Vice Chairman-1, Chairman of the Public Service Selection Board as Vice Chairman-2, the Adjutant General as Vice Chairman-3, Union Minister of the Ministry of the SAC Chairman Office-4 as Secretary and Director of the Directorate of Resettlement from the Office of Commander in Chief (Army) as Joint Secretary.

While seeing the statement that the management committee on providing employment to ex-military personnel has been formed 

Even though the committee has been formed, the public should be informed of what kinds of jobs have been created, said the TNDP Chairman Sai Htay Aung.

" Currently issued law is intended for the military personnel who were called up into the army under the people's military service law, I think. Job opportunities are created for those who dutifully served in the army. But it is necessary to inform the public of what kinds of jobs have been created." he said.

The committee is responsible to resettle the dutiful military personnel from the people's military service who have become disable (EA1, EA2 and NEA) because of enemies like permanent military personnel with the plan of the Directorate of Resettlement under the command of the Adjutant General Office.

The formation of the committee was good, but only if efforts are made in order to enable ex-military personnel to benefit on the ground, could the plan achieve the public support, pointed out those close to the Tatmadaw community.

If military personnel left the army, they could enjoy pensions and jobs were created for those who were wounded to get supportive salaries, Dr. Aung Myo, a political analyst, told CNI News.

" Those who served in the army according to the People's Military Service Law are allowed to leave the army after they had served for two years so that other people will join the army. Those who will leave the army will be helped to enable them to get jobs in accordance with the law. The State plans for them in detail kind of. The plans have been made to give supportive salaries to those who were wounded. Those who leave the army can enjoy the pensions, but deserters can't. The authorities have laid down the guidelines to make those who leave the army convenient as soon as possible." he said.

With the political crisis that emerged since on February 1, 2021, the People's Military Service law took into effect on February 10 and according to the law, military recruitment has reached until 15th batch. Because the SAC recruited 5,000 people per batch, it has already recruited a total of 7,500.

CNI News

24 July 2025

The 14-day long India-Myanmar UN Peacekeeping Training Course, organized by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in New Delhi, began in Naypyidaw on 21 July 2025, reported the Indian Embassy in Myanmar.

Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council, Vice Senior General Soe Win, attended the opening ceremony and delivered their respective addresses.

A training officer of the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in India also explained India’s participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, the SAC said.

The course will run from 21 July to 1 August 2025.

This is the eighth opening of such a course, and 130 officers and  84 other ranks had attended the course from 2016 to 2019. The current course will be attended by 30 officers.

The course will focus on de-escalation, conflict management and protection of civilians, said the Indian embassy.

The SAC said that the course would cover the history of UN peacekeeping operations, its constitution, rules and procedures, the code of conduct for UN peacekeeping missions, protection of civilians, protection of children, civil-military cooperation, patrolling, convoy security, erection of squadron bases, and Exercise Blue Helmet.

India is a neighboring country of Myanmar and has been assisting Myanmar in its democratic transition and federalization.

CNI News

23 July 2025

The Tatmadaw had to retreat until the border between Pyin Oo Lwin and Naungcho Townships because armed groups received the behind-the-scene advanced technological assistances during the terrorist incidents, said Vice Chairman of the SAC Vice Senior General Soe Win. 

He made the remarks during a visit to Naungcho on July 21, 2025, where he met with local residents and soldiers who had retaken Naungcho.

“During the terrorist incidents, the armed groups received support, encouragement and advanced technological assistance from behind the scenes, so the Tatmadaw had to gradually withdraw from the Naungcho area to the Taung Kham area and the Pyin Oo Lwin-Naung Cho township border,” he said. 

However, he did not say exactly which organization or country was supporting the armed groups.

Domestic and international military and political observers have accused China of providing advanced technology, drones, ammunition, and food to the TNLA-MNDAA-AA during Operation 1027.

Then, after the Tatmadaw regained control of Naungcho, the first order given by the Prime Minister was to reopen schools that had been closed for almost a year as soon as possible and allow students to continue their education, he said.

Therefore, starting from July 22, school enrollment is planned to begin, and parents are required to send their children to school. Moreover, The Prime Minister has ordered to repair the 25-bed Naungcho Township Public Hospital and provide health care services as usual as well as carry out security and rule of law for stability, peace and long-term development of Naungcho Township, said Vice Senior General Soe Win.

Naung Cho town was controlled by the TNLA during the second wave of Operation 1027, which began in June 2024, and was recaptured by the Myanmar Tatmadaw on July 16, 2025. 

Then, the Myanmar Tatmadaw is engaged in clashes with TNLA forces in townships such as Kyaukme, Thibaw, and Mogok.

CNI News

23 July 2025

The 14 day-long India-Myanmar United Nations Peacekeeping Training Course led by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in New Delhi, India was inaugurated on July 21, 2025 in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, reported the Indian Embassy to Myanmar.

The Indian embassy said the training course would focus on de-escalation, conflict management and protection of civilians. Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and the SAC Vice Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

India is a neighboring country of Myanmar and is assisting Myanmar in its democratic transition and federal union building.

CNI News
22 July 2025

A group of people carrying narcotic drugs that will be sent to India was arrested on July 18, 2025, while leaving Kalay for Tamu, announced the Chin National Organization (Upper Chindwin Region).

The group of five people were arrested between Kalay Town and Yarzagyo Town while they were traveling from Kalay to Tamu, carrying 4 bags of WY pills (800,000 pills) on four motorcycles, announced the CNO on July 20, 2025.

The drugs were reportedly being sent to a person named EM in India.

“ CNO will continue to arrest drug carriers, distributors, users, and sellers if they are found out in the Kalay-Kabaw region and will take strict action against. Therefore, we urge local people to cooperate in the fight against drugs to prevent young people in the region from becoming victims of drugs so that the community will be prosperous and beautiful." announced the CNO.

Clashes are taking place between armed groups and the Myanmar Tatmadaw along the India-Myanmar border, leading to regional instability. Then, as the rule of law weakened, arms and drug smuggling is increasing.

CNI News

22 July 2025

 It is urgently important to amend the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to reflect the current situation and to designate buffer zones for ethnic armed groups (EAOs), Myanmar political analyst Dr. Aung Myo told CNI News.

Currently, fighting is ongoing in Myanmar between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), Spring Revolution forces, the People's Defense Forces (PDF), and the Myanmar Tatmadaw, and all of them are trying to gain control of territory. 

The SAC needed to designate buffer zones for the EAOs so that clashes could be prevented between the two armies and according to the 2008 Constitution, suitable powers should be provided to the EAOs, said Dr. Aung Myo.

“One of the key points in the NCA is that a buffer zone should be created between the two sides. For example, the Wa people live freely on the other side of the Salween River in their own territory. They also collect money. They do it based on their position. The KNU can't do that. In its border areas, both the Tatmadaw and the KNU have controlled. No one has full control. Then the KNU also collect money to support his group. When that happens, there will be clashes between the two sides. That's why it's very important for us to define the territory for the EAOs. Another thing is that we should talk peace to the EAOs. But I think it's more important to reform what needs to be reformed than the peace talk. I see a weakness in that area. For example, we should provide the states with the opportunities that are in the 2008 Constitution," he said.

While the KIA-PDF joint force

The government led by U Thein Sein offered a ceasefire on August 18, 2011, and held talks with 21 ethnic armed organizations. 

Then, in 2011-2012, state-level and Union-level ceasefire agreements (Bilateral) were signed with 14 ethnic armed groups. In 2013, negotiations for the NCA agreement began, and a draft of the NCA agreement was received in August 2015. 

After receiving the draft NCA, it was signed by the KNU, RCSS, ALP, DKBA, KNU/KNLA-PC, PNLO, CNF, ABSDF on October 15, 2015, and by the NMSP and LDU on February 13, 2018.

The NCA was signed on October 15, 2015, during the Thein Sein government, and will be 10 years old on October 15, 2025. 

The armed groups that signed the NCA pointed out that some of the processes under the NCA agreement were only able to be implemented until 2020 and have been halted since then until today.

While seeing the SNA

Furthermore, since the NCA is internationally recognized, if it is to be revised, it would be more natural to include all those who participated in the initial ratification of the NCA, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

“I think we should renegotiate and amend the NCA with those who were involved in both the signing and drafting. I don’t want to comment on how it should be amended or how it shouldn’t be amended. Because the NCA actually worked as intended? I mean, did this agreement really work for us? If it worked, we should continue with it. If it doesn't work, then I think we'll have to decide whether to fix it or not, depending on the ground conditions," he said.

If the NCA agreement is revised, it might be revised when the Hluttaw is formed after the general election  Currently, the NCA is not a problem, but the main issue is the implementation of the points in the NCA, said U Thein Tun Oo. 

Currently, the ABSDF, CNF, and KNU have declared that the NCA agreement has been void, and they are engaged in clashes with the Myanmar Tatmadaw. 

The PNLO, ALP, LDU, and NMSP have also split into two groups, one claiming to have withdrawn from the NCA and the other remaining on the NCA path.

Similarly, conflicts often occur among armed groups such as MNDAA, KIA, TNLA, SSPP, RCSS, PDFs, SNA, KNU, NMSP, etc. due to territorial disputes.

CNI News

22 July 2025

The management committee on providing employment for dutiful ex-military personnel was formed to enable those who served dutifully in armed forces to get jobs on July 18 2025, reported the SAC.

The committee consists of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense as Chairman, the Union Minister of Labor as Vice Chairman-1, the Chairman of the Union Civil Service Commission as Vice Chairman-2, the Adjutant General as Vice Chairman-3, the Union Minister of the Ministry of the SAC Office 4 as Secretary, and the Director of the Resettlement Directorate from the Office of the Chief of Staff (Army) asJoint Secretary.

Then, the members include the Ministry of Planning and Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture-Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Social Welfare-Relief and Resettlement, and the Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The committee is responsible to resettle the dutiful people's military personnel who became disabled because of enemies (EA1, EA2 and NEA) like permanent military personnel with the plan of the Directorate of Resettlement under the command of the Adjutant General Office.

The formation of the committee on providing employment to ex-military personnel is good, but it will only gain public support if it is implemented to ensure real benefits on the ground; if the situation of the military personnel on the bottom was inquired, what kinds of conditions were occurring could be learnt, pointed out those close to the military community.

With the political crisis that began in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, the Peaple's Military Service Law was enacted on February 10, 2024, and military recruitment of civilians has reached the 15th batch.

SAC has been recruiting military personnel at a rate of 5,000 people per batch and as it has now reached the 15th batch, a total of 75,000 military personnel have been recruited.