CNI News

1 Oct 2022

Charter bus bookings have increased as people are planning to travel during the Thadingyut Holiday, charter bus services and tour operators told the CNI.

Chairman U Naung Naung Han of Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI, “Booking has been full for some days. Families have hired four or five seaters’ vehicles while some have rented 10 and 15 seaters. Some companies are hiring 33 or 55 seaters to travel in groups. So, domestic tourism, which faced slowdown in August and September, has revived relatively. And Myanmar people rarely travel during the rainy season because the rain disrupted tourism. However, the number of travelers is still low compared to the normal levels. Only 10 percent of people travel in the rainy season.”

Similarly, the number of people who are seeking information about charter flights is also increasing.

Most people who have booked for charter buses are heading to pilgrim and beach destinations, tour operators told the CNI.

 Express buses from the GI group. (GI Group)

An official from the Shwe Ye Su Wai tour services said, “Most booked for 45-seater buses to PyinOoLwin, Bagan, Taunggyi, Inlay and Kalaw. They are not travelling to remote areas because of the deteriorating political situation. However, it is relatively better than the situation in the past but it has not returned to normal.

Currently, four- or five-seater vehicles and charter buses are mostly hired by passengers, tour operators told the CNI.

Rental fees range depending on models of vehicles and destinations.

Ko Wai Yan Htet of Waiyanhtet Travel in Mandalay told the CNI, “The number of travellers has increased. We charge them MMK 150,000 per charter bus from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw. We charge MMK 220,000 for travel from Yangon to Mandalay. Travellers are required to bring their citizenship identity cards with them. Even if they don’t have citizenship cards, we provide services if they can provide household registrations and recommendations from wards and police stations. We have our own drivers. We do not accept bookings for our cars without our drivers,”

The tour industry has come to a grinding halt due to the pandemic and the coup but it has revived since April.

As the dry season starts in October and tour operators expect that the number of travellers will increase during the holidays including Thidingyut,Tazaungdaing, Christmas and new year holidays.

CNI News

30 Sept 2022

Uncertainties have loomed over the junta’s guarantee that it agreed in principle to create Wa State, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

He said that allowing the Wa to create their own state would ignite disunity among ethnic groups in the area, prompting them to follow suit.

He told the CNI, “Under the 2008 constitution, it is just a promise of the junta. Even then, the junta said it agreed to create Wa State only in principle. It just means that 25 percent of the legislature have agreed to create Wa State in principle. When the matter is submitted to the legislature, voting will be conducted through the secret voting system and the junta will say it has nothing to do with the vote of the parliament. If the motion is rejected, it will say it has agreed to create Wa State but other parties reject it. So, the junta can even sow the seed of discord behind the scene and its guarantee is uncertain. It disclosed its position in principle and just the guarantee will not lead to creation of Wa State.”

He added that offering statehood to the Wa may have side effects.

U Pe Than said, “If the territories of other states are given to the Wa, there will be side effects and sow the seed of discord among local ethnic groups, who will also demand their own states and self-administered zones. So, it is a politically very sensitive issue. So, I think the Tatmadaw gave the promise as a short-term solution at the moment and there is no guarantee for it.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP on 26th September, 2022.

The Tatmadaw agreed in principle to establish Wa State, which has the same status as other existing states, as demanded by the United Wa State Army during the talks between them.

It is unlikely that the junta will allow the Wa to create their own state, Myanmar Affair Observer Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

She said, “The junta leader has already told that EAOs can continue to retain their weapons only as border guards after the talks under his command. Think about how EAOs like the UWSA and the Mongla group accept this.”

It is stipulated in the 2008 constitution that territories of states and regions in the country can be redistributed if and as necessary with the approval of more than 75 percent of the legislature.

The NSPNC holds peace talks with leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP from 27th to 29th  September, 2022.

U Pe Than said, “Parliamentarians who represent the Wa or their allies are required to submit their proposals. The status the Wa has already secured is much higher because the existing states do not have any rights the relevant ethnic groups desire. We, who have our own ethnic states, were greatly surprised when we heard that the Wa demanded statehood. I can’t understand why the Wa, who have complete control over all their own affairs including security and defence, demanded statehood which is in essence nothing but a colony. There will be challenges in the future because they won’t have the status they desire.”

Currently, the USWA has its headquarters in its capital Pangkham known before 1999 as Pangsang by establishing departments including justice, education, administrative, revenue, security departments.

Under the 2008 constitution, the Wa Self-administered Region is made up of two districts, which comprise Hopan, Mongmao, Panwaing, Namphan, Matman and Pangkham (Pangsang) townships.

CNI News

30 Sept 2022

The auctioning of three visses of gold bullions and solid gold in Yangon and Mandalay respectively will not have any impact on the market, according to gold marker observers and entrepreneurs.

Authorities announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation would sell three visses of gold bullion and solid gold through the competitive bidding tender system in Yangon and Mandalay respectively at 1 pm on 29th September.

Gold prices will fall if the government can supply enough gold to meet the demand and the current gold sales were too little to have an impact on the market, Secretary U Ohn Myint of Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

The announcement of SAC to sell gold.

He said, “Authorities announced that three visses of gold would be sold at the Gems Museum on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road in Yangon and at the corner of 26th street and 66th road in Mandalay respectively. It doesn’t mean that they will sell three visses of gold to anyone. They will sell three vissess of gold for each city. If the government can sell enough gold to meet the demand, gold prices will drop. The current gold sales of the government are too little to have an impact on the market.

The SAC has targeted to drag down gold prices to about MMK 2.5 million per tical and sold gold coins recently. Then, it sold gold bullions and solid gold on 29th September.

As local gold prices are calculated based on world gold prices and exchange rates, will gold prices decrease only when US dollar prices fall, according to gold entrepreneurs.

Last year, gold prices hit MMK 2.3 million per tical and fell back to MMK 2 million per tical. This year, gold price skyrocketed to MMK 3.8 million per tical and dropped back to MMK 2.6 million per tical recently. Gold prices would be stable at the current levels, said a gold market observer.

  A goldsmith shop in Yangon.

He told the CNI, “Last year, gold prices set a new record of MMK 3.33 million per tical. Then, the prices became stable at about MMK 2 million per tical. This year, gold prices set another new record of nearly MMK 3.8 million per tical, breaching their price ceilings. So, the prices fell back drastically by MMK 1 million to about MMK 2.5 or 2.6 million per tical. As the record gold prices last year were around MMK 2.335 million per tical, this year’s gold prices will be stable at MMK 2.5 or 2.6 million per tical if there are no significant factors affecting the market. Measures being taken by the government will not have impacts on the market. However, if the prices of US dollars nosedive, the trend may be different.”

As the gold bullions and solid gold sold in Yangon and Mandalay would be sold through the competitive bidding tender system, the highest bidder will have the chance to purchase them.

The SAC announced that it would sell gold coins as usual.

CNI News

29 Sept 2022

There is no other way to amend the 2008 constitution except the parliamentary process, SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung said.

The SAC chairman made the remarks at the meeting of SAC members on 27th September.

The chairman said no one must turn a blind eye to the Constitution (2008) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA, ethnic armed organizations have differing views due to instigations of local and foreign instigations and among the demands of EAOs is constitutional amendments.

He added that constitutional amendments can be made in accordance with the law through agreements reached by compromising on what both sides want to do and should do.

  Pro-democracy protests. (Frontier Myanmar)

He said, “Amending the constitution by vote at the Hluttaw amounts to integrity that reflects the respects for it as a democracy. Constitutional amendments can only be made through the Hluttaw process and there is no other way to do so. This must be carried out based on the Panglong spirit that reflects the unity of all national races.”

The Tatmadaw ousted the National League for Democracy Government by declaring a state of emergency after accusing the latter of attempts to form a new government without addressing voting list disputes in the 2020 general election.

Democratic forces declared the 2008 constitution null and void as no Hluttaw meetings can be convened while the Tatmadaw said it is still upholding the constitution, causing opposing claims.

The SAC is trying to restore stability and hold elections in August 2023.

However, fighting has broken out between the armed forces of the Spring Revolution and the Tatmadaw.

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP.

The SAC chairman said he is taking measures to hold a free and fair election and possible steps by trying to reach prior-agreements with EAOs.

He explained that a union will be built based on the 2008 constitution and the NCA and the election law and the law for registration of political parties will be amended.

Currently, the SAC is holding peace talks with 10 EAOs while trying to amend the constitution and to build a federal union.

On 26th September, 2022, Snr Gen Ming Aung Hlaing discussed the peace process with leaders of the UWSA, the NDAA and the SSPP, which submitted four proposals to establish Bamar State and to implement Panglong agreement, Panglong principles and pledges in order to restore equality among ethnic groups.

CNI News

29 Sept 2022

Farmers, Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association and the Ministry of Agriculture have planned to discuss sugarcane prices for the upcoming milling season, according to the MSCRPA.

The meeting is scheduled for October or November and will focus on the floor price of sugarcane per ton, fuel oil needs and transportation, Chairman U Win Htay of the MSCRPA told the CNI.

“We just aim to negotiate sugarcane prices set by sugar mills in respective regions and transportation between mills and farmers in cooperation with the ministry. And we will apply for diesel if they need it. For instance, the floor price of sugarcane was set at MMK 90,000 per ton in northern Shan State So, we need to look at prices in other parts of the country like Sagaing, which may set the prices at MMK 85,000 or 90,000 per ton depending on profitability of millers. Some mills are very small and they may set the floor price at less than MMK 90,000 per ton. There will be only a little price gap.”

Negotiations among farmers, the association and the ministry will lead to transparency about sugarcane prices and help farmers to decide the cultivation acreage of sugarcane for the upcoming season, U Win Htay added.

Ground sugarcane is being collected at a sugar mill. (GETTY IMAGES)

He told the CNI, “Advantages are that millers can estimate prices and farmers can transparently how much their local mills set the floor price at, how much it costs them to purchase and transport sugarcane and how much profits they can enjoy. So, they can decide whether to expand or decrease sugarcane acreage in the upcoming season.”
Farmers and millers in the entire country have been invited to the meeting, which is scheduled in Nay Pyi Taw, and sugar merchants will also be welcomed there as sugarcane prices depend on that of sugar.

It would be beneficial for farmers only if the floor price is set at MMK 90,000 per ton at the meeting, U Maung Swe, a sugarcane farmer from Sagaing Region, told the CNI.
“At the current sugar prices, the floor price of sugarcane can be set at MMK 90,000 per ton and this will be beneficial for both farmers and millers. Only then, will farmers be willing to cultivate sugarcane in the upcoming season. We will have to ask for higher floor prices.”

Current purchasing floor prices are set at MMK 90,000 per ton in Ngweyeepale Sugar Mill in Shan State (North) but other mills in other regions have not said officially they will pay the same price.

Sugarcane farmers in Sagaing Region are also calling on Great Wall Wilmar Sugar Mill to give the same price.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

Only around 20 out of more than 5,000 Rakhine applicants in Malaysia have received refugee cards from the UNHCR in the country, Chief Patron Sayadaw U Ottara of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.

The CAR has helped the refugees apply for refugee cards to the UNHCR for two months, Sayadaw added.

Sayadaw U Ottara told the CNI, “So many people who are getting into trouble have applied for refugee cards from the UNHCR. Even refugees contacted to the Centre for Arakan Refugees have faced a lot of hardship. They didn’t have food and shelter. According to statistics we collected, there are about 5,000 to 6,000 have sought help from us. We helped them apply for UNHCR refugee cards online. We have also issued Rakhine refugee cards from our centre. They have applied for UNHCR refugee cards for two months and only about 20 of them have received the refugee cards. The number is too low. The UNHCR refugee card is very helpful. Muslims and other ethnic groups like members of Chin ethnic group can easily receive the cards. Some members of the Bamar ethnic group also sometimes get the cards.”

UNHCR refugee cards.

The CAR is offering assistance to Rakhine nationals who are waiting for UNHCR refugee cards by helping look for jobs and providing healthcare services.

Other nationals and ethnic groups are also helping members of their groups who are waiting for UNHCR refugee cards.

There are members of many ethnic groups from Myanmar in Malaysia and as all of them are having a hard time, UNHCR should help them equally, Sayadaw U Ottara said.

He told the CNI, “The UNHCR should treat them equally because not only Muslims and the Chin but also other ethnic groups are in trouble. The UNHCR in Malaysia should help them equally and issue refugee cards to all of them without discrimination.”

The Malaysian government and the UNHCR are currently holding negotiations. As the number of refugees in Malaysia is always increasing, the government has to take the issue seriously while it is impossible for the UNHCR to neglect the refugees.

Volunteers offering help to migrants to apply for refugee cards.

Undocumented migrants in Malaysia have lost their rights to work, health and education, Vice Chairman Ko Aung Min Thu of the ARRC told the CNI.

He said, “I want the UN and the Malaysian government to reach agreements as soon as possible because the situation in Myanmar has been deteriorating day by day. We can rely only on the UN in Malaysia. The UN take human rights and humanitarian issue into consideration but the country is a sovereign state. The country is owned by the people and the government. So, it cannot do as it wishes and has to seek approval from the government. It has to negotiate with the government. We will be able to enjoy benefits based on outcomes of their negotiations and will be safe. So, we want them to reach agreements as soon as possible.”

The UNHCR office in Malaysia is processing the application of refugee cards via its website but there are many refugees who do not understand the process. Refugees are not allowed to apply for the cards in person and fill all required personal data in the form at the UNHCR Malaysia website.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

The National Unity Government should have the centralized command over all People’s Defence Forces, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

He added that the NUG has not been able to control all PDFs effectively and it is the responsibility of the NUG to lay down political objectives for the forces.

U Pe Than told the CNI, “Recently, Brigade (1) of the Karen National Union issued rules for PDFs. I don’t know if the brigade issued the rules for the KNU or for areas under its control. Some brigades may have friendly relations with PDFs while others may not. So, such rules may have been issued. Needless to say, the NUG is responsible for all this, I think. As the NUG is not able to exert effective control over PDFs, which are spread over a wide area with their own leadership. The NUG must also be able to control them politically. PDFs are just armed forces and the NUG must be able to lay down political objectives for them. Therefore, the NUG must try to do everything for them including disputes, future military cooperation and communications among them.”

Recently, Brigade (1) of the KNU issued 25 rules that must be observed by resistance forces in areas under its control.

NUG Prime Minister Mann Win Khaing Than and members of the PDF.

Under the rules, resistance forces in the areas are required to follow instructions and rules issued from time to time by leaders of the brigade and district level officers, to perform duties in an accountable manner and to take measures to systematically enforce rules issued by relevant battalions and units as well as localized rules.

The rules issued by Brigade (1) of the KNU seemed to be a warning for uniformity of rules and regulations in areas under its control, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

  The statement of Brigade (1) of the KNU.

He said, “PDGs are cooperating with the KNU in various fields and in many areas. There are local PDFs in all seven brigades of the KNU. Some PDFs may be under the direct command of the NUG but some of them are cooperating directly with the KNU as independent PDFs. So, the brigade issued rules for uniformity of military goals and rules among all resistance forces.”

Since the Tatmadaw ousted the civilian government on 1^st February, 2022, protests have broken out in the entire country and some protestors have taken shelter in areas under the control of ethnic armed organizations and taken part in the armed struggle and through other means.

CNI News

28 Sept 2022

Members of the Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Services Association has called for the distribution of Russian fuel oil at stable prices for a certain period of time.
Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun, the leader of the information team of the SAC, said that fuel oil imported from Russia would mainly be distributed to freight and passenger transportation services and railway enterprises.

Chairman U Kyin Thein of the MHFTSA told the CNI that fuel prices fluctuated wildly on a daily basis and his association called for distribution of fuel oil at stable prices for a certain period of time, adding that such a move could lower commodity prices.

Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun. (AFP)

He said, “If fuel prices drop, it will be beneficial for transportation services. At present, all service fees we receive have to spend on fuel and we are not able to enjoy the benefits from our services. As fuel prices have risen on a daily basis, we cannot enjoy the benefits of our services and are having a hard time. Moreover, transportation services are undergoing a difficult situation at the moment with various challenges. If the government can subsidize fuel for transportation services, commodity prices will fall, I think.”

At present, transportation services are facing difficulties in setting service fees due to fluctuating fuel prices while suffering losses when fuel prices rose dramatically.

Moreover, regions and states that are remote from the Thilawa Terminal, from which fuel is mainly distributed to the entire country, received lower fuel rations, according to filling stations.
Therefore, fuel imported from Russia should also be rationed to all licensed filling stations as much as they can store, a filling station owner in Taungup Township in Rakhine State told the CNI.

A tank truck carrying fuel oil. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, “We have to buy fuel from the company by applying for permission and waiting for a certain time. It takes two days to submit the application and another one day to receive the approval. It takes altogether seven days to get fuel but we are allowed to buy only a little fuel or about 3,640 or 2,189 litres. There is a large gap between the demand and the supply of our filling station. Ours is a licensed filling station. Licensed stations are classified as A, B and C depending on their storage capacities. So, imported fuel from Russia should also be distributed to licensed filling stations based on their storage capacities. At present, we are forced to buy fuel indirectly through the company.”

Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the 20th press conference on 20 September, 2022 that Myanmar was importing fuel from Russia and the imported fuel would arrive in Myanmar soon but he did not elaborate on the exact date the fuel will arrive.

CNI News

27 Sept 2022

Bamar state issue- should be discussed after the overthrow of the junta, Political Analyst and Chinese affairs expert Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

Emphasis should currently be placed on the common goal of overthrowing the junta and the issues of establishing new states should be addressed later, she said.

She told the CNI, “I don’t understand the issue much. We have the only common goal to topple the junta. I will be more beneficial for all if the issues of new states are discussed after the overthrow of the junta. The task in hand is to unite all the forces that are against the junta and to fight against it until we win victory. I think other issues can be solved gradually later. To oust the junta and to restore peace and stability is more important than other issues. As long as the junta is in existence, no one would achieve anything even if new states are established. So, I think we would be able to take further steps after winning a decisive victory over the junta by eliminating it.”

Ethnic youths in Maijaryan in July 2016.

On 1^st February, 2022, the Tatmadaw ousted the government of the National League for Democracy by declaring a state of emergency after accusing the latter of forming a new government without addressing voters’ list issues in the 2020 general election.

Then, revolutionary forces are fighting against the Tatmadaw in cooperation with some ethnic armed organizations.

Some agreements over the formation of new states have been reached in the Union Accord, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

He said, “It is agreed in the part one of the union accord that a union based on democracy and federalism must be made up of regions/state. So, we understand that we will have to discuss whether an area should be a state or a region. It was also agreed that states/regions have equal status and their names will be discussed later. So, we understand that we need time and effort to discuss the matter.”

The union peace conference is in progress.

The 8-state solution is based on equal status of all states and calls for the establishment of a Bamar state as other ethnic groups have their own states.

Under the 2008 constitution, there are seven regions, seven states, one self-administered region, five self-administered zones and one Nay Pyi Taw Council Area in Myanmar.

Moreover, the Shanni, the Ta’aung (Palaung), the Wa and the Pa-O have called for establishment of their states while Mongla (Special Region-4) has aimed to establish a self-administered region/