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CNI News
13 June 2024
Myanmar corn could be exported more than the three month target after two months, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
380,000 tons of corn was targeted to be exported during the first three months - April, May and June. However, 478,000 tons of corn could be exported during the two month until the end of May.
As Myanmar corn could be exported to Thailand through the Myawaddy border trade route only by truck in the past, a few tons of corn could be exported. However at present, as corn is exported by sea, a lot of tons of corn can be exported.
To be able to export corn to meet the target amount in coming months depended on the weather and the ship's berth, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.
" In fact, corn is exported by ship in the open season. So, more tons of corn can be exported. Because the corm was exported through the Myawaddy border trade by heavy trucks in the past, many tons could not be exported. Whether the target can be met or not in the coming months depends on the weather and the ship's berth." he said.
While seeing Myanmar corn
Domestic corn is at a good price because at present the price of global corn and of the Thai baht are getting higher. Farmers can sell their corn at 1,400 kyats per viss more that 1,400 kyats per viss they expected reportedly.
As it was not convenient to use the Myawaddy border trade route, there had been an increase in the use of the Tachileik border trade in eastern Shan State, Ko Sai Kham, a corn trader from Tachileik, told CNI News.
" Corn exports are more than previous years because the Myawaddy birder trade route cannot be used. Corn farmers grew corn more. The price of corn in Tachileik is 47,000 kyats per bag now. The price was just over 30,000 kyats in previous years. But because the road is a little damaged in the rainy season, we have to wait a bit long." he said
Because Thailand has allowed Myanmar corn to be exempt from customs duties from February to August, the Myanmar side is carrying out so as to meet the target in exporting the corn, according to traders.
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CNI News
12 June 2024
The territory of the Brigade-9 of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Pharkant Township, was attacked by air by the Myanmar Tatmadaw on the night of 9th June, 2024, Col-Nawbu, information officer of the KIA told CNI News.
The territories of the Battalion and the Brigade-9 of the KIA was attacked and the two sides were in a tense military situation, he added.
" The military council launched air attack on the territories of the Battalion-6 and the Brigade-9 of the KIA in Pharkant Township. The two sides are a tense military situation in Kachin State. During this week, there is no ground battle." said Col-Nawbu.
Although there were no ground battles in Waingmaw Township, the Myanmar Tatmadaw was firing with heavy weapons, he said.
While seeing Pharkant region
Because the news that Pharkant Town would be attacked the KIA/PDF joint forces during this month came out, the military council possibly attacked by air in advance and although battles broke out in Pharkant, jade mining industry was not affected, a resident of Pharkant told CNI News.
"People are working on jade mining industry day and night while battles are breaking out on the other hand. The safest place to avoid battles is the jade mining site. Battles took place again after 2012. But all the teaks in Mansi Township were no more. Battles broke out. Warplanes came. The people didn't dare to go out when timber trucks had entered China by the thousand. Battles are no more honest after 1999. Although battles are breaking out, there are 300 to 400 jade mining sites in Pharkant Township alone." he said.
The jade mining business is operating normally without being affected although battles are severely taking place around Pharkant and in Kachin State, which is questionable, according to locals.
While seeing a jade mining site in Pharkant
There are common interests businesses of the top leaders of the KIA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Pharkant Township and they would not hurt their businesses, pointed out locals.
"There are their interests here in Pharkant. They are getting their main income from jade mining sites. They can collect tax only when these businesses operate. There are a lot of shared interests businesses of the top leaders from two sides here. They won't hurt these places. So, the industry is operating." said a resident of Pharkant.
Battles were severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces in Waingmaw, Momauk and Bhamo Townships during May and at present, battles have stopped. However, there are occasionally heavy weapon fires there.
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CNI News
12 June 2024
After men were allowed to work abroad with an age limit, banning on applying for passport for visit (PV) from passport for job (PJ) was not an answer, pointed out the people are carrying out for the sake of workers.
Since the restriction on men to work abroad, other people who would go abroad in other ways might be tightened, that he reviewed in advance and more restriction on permission to go abroad was not an answer, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.
"The government is worried that those who go against the government go abroad in some way and will collaborate with the organizations and international community, but it's not an answer. To tell you frankly, because nothing is systematical in our country, everything has deteriorated already, that we can say. If something happens, they order to ban or suspend it. Something like that can't resolve the problem. The government should consult with relevant experts how to resolve the problem." he said.
Because of restriction on permission to work abroad, PJ holders were making preparations to apply for PVs in order to go abroad. However, the government has banned on applying for PV from PJ since 6th June, 2024.
While seeing those who are trying to go abroad
Although the government is getting foreign income from its citizens working abroad, restriction on working abroad might be related to politics, reviewed the people who are carrying out for the affairs of workers.
If the restriction on going abroad was a wrong way, it would make the public get into trouble, Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.
" The main reason is that restriction is conducted in various ways because of the conscription law. If the restriction was a wrong way, there would be an increase in the number of undocumented people and human trafficking. There will be more violence against women. These are worrisome. According to the current situation, many young people will go abroad whether they get PJs or PVs. When they leave the country with PVs, they become illegal workers. At any rate, migrant workers can't be threatened." he said.
While seeing those who will go abroad to work
Among the migrant workers who came back on leave, those who could not show any evidence that they transferred money monthly to their families would not be issued OWIC cards, which the Labor Directorate has announced.
They have to legally transfer money through international money transferring businesses such as Western Union, IME, RIA and Money Gram. For example, a worker who returned from Thailand - if his salary was 800,000 kyats, he must have transferred 25 percent of his salary to his family each month.
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CNI News
12 June 2024
Those who planned to launch shock missiles attack on the opening ceremony of the No-3 Thanlyin Bridge connecting Thaketa and Thanlyin in Yangon Region attended by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, C in C of the Defense Services and Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) were arrested, stated the SAC on 10th June, 2024.
The opening ceremony of the No-3 Thanlyin Bridge held on 8th June was attended by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, associate secretary of the SAC, Chief of the Air Force and chief minister of Yangon Region.
Those who planned to attack were arrested while they were making preparation to launch shock missile attack on the ceremony.
Members of Yangon UG - Sein Gyi (B) Aung Htwe, Cho Gyi (B) Hein Htet Aung, Min Thu, Maung Hein, Aung Thura Tun, Pyae Phyo Zaw and Htet Arkar Lin were arrested in an old wooden hostel room in the dockyard staff housing area in 61 Ward, Dagon Myothit Seikkan Township with two shock missiles, two fuses, two grenades, two batteries, four wire coils and other accessories on 8th June, 2024, stated the SAC.
And then, collaborators to launch a shock missile attack - Chit Kay Khine, Zarni Aung (B) Ko Zar were arrested with a 107 mm shock missile and a fuse on 9th June, 2024 said in the statement.
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CNI News
11 June 2024
The State Administration Council (SAC) would speed up what should be done in terms of security, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.
He said the above at the Meeting (3/2024) of the SAC.
Although the SAC was walking on the way to a true and disciplined multi-party democratic system, terrorists were solving the political problem through violent means, said chairman of the SAC.
They were carrying out to gain regional power rather than walking on the way to a multi-party democracy; the SAC was carrying out in accordance with the 2008 Constitution and trying to make all ethnic people enjoy equal rights, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
"The security forces of the SAC were performing to ensure uninterrupted road and waterways transports and for the regional stability and peace. Moreover they were carrying out to prevent from illegal drug trafficking and some security camps in some places are being attacked; the SAC would continue to carry out in momentumwhat should be done in relation to security measures." he said.
The SAC was carrying out in accordance with the agreements in terms of the NCA and some EAOs that had agreed to cease fire with the Myanmar Tatmadaw were violating the agreement, said chairman of the SAC.
Because the country was a union in which a variety of ethnicities were living together, the Myanmar Tatmadaw was carrying out restrainedly and didn't attack the EAO's military camps for the sake of the union, he added.
The SAC was carrying out in rder to meet and discuss with political parties and the EAOs that has signed to cease fire in the near future in relation to the peace of the union, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The election of representatives for the political parties group of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee was held on 25th and 26th May, 2024. Among the 10 NCA signatories, seven EAOs have formed themselves as an ally.
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CNI News
11 June 2024
The Barter system (any exchange of goods and services for other goods and services without exchanging any form of money) of the State Administration Council (SAC) could reduce trade, said traders.
The SAC has instructed to start practicing the barter system between the trading partner countries in order to reduce the need for foreign currency, according to traders.
Barter system is the one that was used in ancient times and no country uses it anymore. However, because of the demand for foreign currency in Myanmar at present, the SAC reanimate the system, reviewed some people.
If that system was practiced again, trade would be reduced; because there was a gap between the goods that the trading partner countries wanted to import and those they wanted to export, it could be difficult for traders; and in the end it would affect the public, said an economic analyst to CNI News.
" The trade would be reduced because we want to import medical products after exporting rice, for example, but we have to import medical products from India, but India is exporting rice. So, how can we buy medical products from India? In fact, we'll have sell our rice to China and we'll have to buy medical products from India with the money we get from China. We sell rice to Bangladesh, but we don't have to import a lot of goods from Bangladesh. But we have to import a lot of products from China. It won't affect the public directly, but traders. At any rate, in the end it will affect the public." he said.
While seeing container boxes
Not only can high qualified products not be manufactured in Myanmar, the country's inflation rate is also higher at present. So, the barter system wouldn't be convenient, said traders. 65 percent of the export earnings (dollars) can be sold at the market price and 35 percent must be sold at 2,100 kyats per dollar designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar.
Due to the need for foreign currency and difficulty getting import license, import and export companies and private entrepreneurs possibly proposed to use the barter system, estimated economic analysts.
" If you are asked to do it like this in this country, you must do it like this. After doing it, report the difficulty. And then, maybe another change will happen. When we import, can we import the products that we want to? We need to know that. The products you import may be fuel or edible oil or construction materials or medical products. And then, you have to sell them within the country." said U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.
The barter system that will be currently used was similar to the one in which fuel and edible oil were allowed to be imported only if agricultural products were exported.
However, it was unclear what products would be allowed to be imported from the country that Myanmar export its goods and what goods would be exported to that country, according to exporters.
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CNI News
10 June 2024
Undocumented foreigners, workers whose jobs are different from those described on their permits and passport holders with no permits in Malaysia were being arrested, Myanmar people who are staying in Malaysia told CNI News.
The Malaysian government probably would not issue new permits to foreign migrants because it wanted to reduce the number of foreign migrant workers, U Barbu Gyi who is helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia, told CNI News.
" In my opinion, The Malaysian government probably won't issue the residence permits anymore. The Malaysian authorities are mainly arresting undocumented foreigners who entered illegally, documented people whose residence permits have expired and the workers whose jobs are different from those described on their permits." he said.
The Myanmar people have warned that workers should not believe brokers who are saying that they will perform to get permits for workers.
If the people who had documents and no permits were arrested, they would be sent back to their native countries and some of them would be punished like undocumented people reportedly.
While the Malaysian authorities concerned are checking suspects
If the workers whose jobs are different from those described on their permits were checked on the way, they would not be arrested. However, if they were checked at their factories, they would be arrested, Ko Par who lives in Malaysia told CNI News.
" The current arrests are different from the arrests in the past. There are a lot of workers without work permits here. Undocumented workers were mainly arrested in the past. If you had any documents, you would be released in the past, but now although you have passport, if you don't have permit, you will be arrested. And you will be arrested if your job is different from that described on your work permit." he said.
The Malaysian authorities have announced that they will issue Ricarli Braci permits in the end of June at the latest. Moreover, because the number of not only legal but also illegal alien workers is more than necessity, there are criticisms about it in Malaysia.
In addition to the planned arrests, the Malaysian authorities are also arresting because of Malaysian citizens' complaints. So, migrant workers who have arrived in Malaysia are facing more difficulties.
The Malaysian authorities both in uniform and in mufti are going to the places where migrant foreigners tend to stay and arresting illegal people reportedly.
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CNI News
10 June 2024
The Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) has made preparations to get ready for military and political affairs in Rakhine State where battles are taking place, Major Khine Thurein, general secretary of the ALP told CNI News.
The ALP was on the way to political dialogue and it had made preparations to get ready for the security at the current time when battles were breaking out, he said.
" Politically, we are on the way to dialogue. And we have made preparations to get ready for our security." said Major Khine Thurein to CNI News.
170 joint troops that contained the Myanmar Tatmadaw, some of the ALP troops and Muslim troops trained by the Myanmar Tatmadaw blocked around Byaing Byu Village and tortured and killed the villagers, stated the Arakan Army (AA) on 2nd June, 2024.
While seeing a crossroads in Rakhine State
However, the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the ALP denied the statement and said that it was spreading a piece of fake news and just a one-sided accusation.
Because the ALP was collaboratively active with the Myanmar Tatmadaw, it might protect the Rakhine public, but it could not protect the public at present, a resident of Sittwe, told CNI News.
" The ALP is working in collaboration with the military council, which is a disturbance to the Rakhine people because it doesn't stand firmly with the Rakhine people. Men were tortured and killed and some women were raped at Byaing Byu Village, according to the villagers. The ALP might be able to protect from doing like this because it was working with the military council. Because it could not prevent from doing like this, that happened." he said.
While seeing the ALP Force
If the problem arose from seeking the AA troops in the village because they could be there, he wanted to ask a question why four women were raped, he added. The ALP was working on security with the Myanmar Tatmadaw, said locals.
Although it was right that a tragedy took place in Byaing Byu Village, the ALP didn't involve in the commitment and all the organizations in Rakhine State were responsible for the casualties of the Rakhine people, Major Khine Thurein told CNI News.
" All the organizations in Rakhine State are responsible for the casualties of the Rakhine people. If the battles were reduced, the casualties of the innocent people would be reduced. At last, there will be no casualties. So, negotiation and discussion should be conducted so that battles could be reduced." he said.
The ALP is a Rakhine EAO that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
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CNI News
10 June 2024
Rice export to foreign countries is declining during the current rainy season and it is lower than last year reportedly from the Myanmar Rice Federation.
Rice export to foreign countries is declining because it is difficult for trucks and ships to go during this rainy season and to hire labourers. Although about 150,000 tons of Myanmar rice could be exported normally in the past, currently rice less than 100,000 tons only can be exported, an official from the MRF told CNI News.
" As now is the rainy season, going by container car is no problem. But the amount of rice loaded on a big ship is reduced a bit due to weather conditions. And it's difficult to rent trucks. It's difficult to hire workers when exporting goods. We are exporting rice but the amount is not much. This year, it rained a little more. We normally exported about 150,000 tons of rice at a time like this in the previous years, but this year the export doesn't even reach until 100,000 tons." he said.
Eight ships have berthed at eight domestic ports to export 130,000 tons at present, according to the MRF.
Although 2.5 million tons of rice and broken rice were planned to be exported in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, due to the current difficulties, they were finding alternatives to export a lot of tons of rice in the rest months of the fiscal year, said rice traders.
They are trying to export rice by way of accumulation in the vessel's belly like broken rice reportedly.
Moreover, they have demanded to allow them to import trucks to use in carrying rice and it was necessary to export a lot of rice in the rainy season because old rice is abundant at present, U Aung Lin, a rice traders, told CNI News.
" We need to import anymore of trucks. We are finding a way that rice can be put on the ship even when it rains. It's not too bad if we can export a lot of rice in the rainy season because at present, old rice is still abundant. But in August and September, old rice is scarce when its price goes up a bit. At that time, export of rice tends to be lower." he said.
Myanmar earns about 800 million dollars from exporting rice each month as export earning and has expected to earn between 700 and 1,000 million dollars from exporting rice in the current fiscal year.