CNI News

15 August 2022

If federal democracy is to be established in Myanmar, restrictions about meetings with foreign organizations on political parties should not be imposed, Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

He added that political parties are entities that will take over government functions and enacting financial laws can regulate political parties.

Dr. Aye Maung said, “It is necessary for political parties to get used to diplomatic relations because they are entities that will take over the functions of the government one day. So, they are trying to get used to diplomatic relations by meeting with foreign diplomats and exchanging views with them because they need to sound them out about their aims and views. They need to study “dos and don’ts”. So, restrictions of meetings, discussions and exchange of views with foreign entities should not be imposed on political parties. As I just said, enacting financial laws to regulate political parties can prevent pulling the strings behind the scene.”

The UEC holds a meeting with political parties

The Union Election Commission sent a letter to political parties on 11th August that they are required to seek prior approvals from it before meeting with foreign entities and individuals as they may violate provisions of the paragraph 5 of the law concerned.

It is a matter that should take the positions of both sides into consideration, Chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe of Karen National Democratic Party told the CNI.

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe said, “It is a matter that needs to take the positions of both sides into account. We see ourselves as civilian independent organizations of the people. We will have to look into the consideration of the government and what are the problems. We will have to take the middle path.”

The UEC meets political parties.

It is necessary for the SAC to give freedom to political parties when it faces political, military and diplomatic crises, said Dr. Aye Maung.

The UEC has permitted 92 political parties including 43 parties of political ideologies, 19 parties of ethnic groups and 30 regional parties, according to the UEC.

CNI News

15 August 2022

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw vowed to create a federal union where all ethnic groups can live together with equality and justice in a message sent to the 72nd Anniversary of the Karen Martyrs’ Day on 12th August.

The CRPH said in the message, “As the people in the entire country have unitedly resisted the military dictatorship which has oppressed them for many years, Karen people have continued its fight against the military dictatorship together with other ethnic groups by sacrificing their lives.”

“On behalf of the entire people, the CRPH would like to thank Karen people at home and abroad by expressing that their warm welcome and protection offered to friendly political and revolutionary forces from all social strata of the anti-coup movement amount to a push for the victory of the revolution.”

A statue of Saw Ba U Gyi.

 “Karen people have been fighting for freedom, equality and self-determination for Karen State for more than 70 years and today is the Karen Martyrs’ Day annually celebrated in honour of fallen Saw Ba U Gyi and all other Karen martyrs who had fought consistently for Karen people’s freedom from oppression.”

It has been 72 years since the Karen Martyrs’ Days was first celebrated on 12th August in 1950, when Saw Ba U Gyi, a leader of the Karen Revolution, died.

CNI News

14 August 2022

No other armed organizations except the Arakan Army are needed in Rakhine State, Arakan Army Spokesperson Khaing Thukha said during a press conference on 11th August.

He said the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army aimed to achieve confederation status and hinted that it would allow no revolutionary forces except the ULA/AA in Rakhine State.

This raised questions on how the SAC and the NUG view the confederation demands by ethnic armed organizations.

The NUG was not able to handle the confederation demands of EAOs currently, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

U Than Soe Ning said, “I don’t think this serves the interests of Rakhine people. If fundamental democratic rights and equality are guaranteed for Rakhine people, the ULA/AA should not take such attitudes. I have to say it is inappropriate for the ULA/AA to have such attitudes because it is an undemocratic approach.”

Leaders of the AA and the ALP.

Similarly, a new constitution cannot be drafted as points of view of important political forces such as the National League for Democracy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint cannot be known.

The AA hinted that it demanded the confederation status and vowed to continue its struggle if they are denied their lawful rights, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

U Pe Than said, “They demanded confederation status and said anyone who rejects the confederation concept is their enemy. The chief of staff of the AA had said the confederation status was the only solution they could accept and would continue to fight if they were denied their rights. So, I understand that they can accept only the confederation status.”

He added that the junta and the NUG were not likely to accept the demand and would have to negotiate too hard.

A road junction in Rakhine State.

The demand for confederation aggravates the current problems, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Centre for Strategic Studies told the CNI.

U Thein Tun Oo said, “Frankly speaking, the term confederation is likely to cause problems for peace in Rakhine State because a lot of bargains had to be made even to reach an agreement on federalism. Confederation goes far beyond federalism. It is a bit much to call for rights to confederation. I think it will be difficult and will worsen the problems.”

ULA/AA Chief of Staff once said that they would prefer self-administration status similar to Wa Self-administered zone in Shan State.

Currently, junta troops and border guards forces, the ULA/AA forces, the ALP force and ARSa are active in Rakhine State.

CNI News

13 August 2022 

In Lashio, Northern Shan State, Myanmar, as the fuel station said today (August 13) morning that a person can fill up an amount worth of 30,000 MMK, there had been a long queue of cars waiting to fuel.

Lashio residents who had to wait to fill up said that the price of octane 92 per liter today (August 13) is 2470 MMK. 

Currently, with the increasing demand for fuel in Myanmar, the price of the fuel also hiked up to above 2000 MMK.

CNI News

13 August 2022

Amidst wars between Myanmar Army and Local People’s Defence Force (LPDF) in Shwe Bo District, Sagaing Region, Myanmar going on these days, the residents and strike committees cooperated, and anti-dictatorship strike movement was made in DePaYinGaMyay (Depayin) township today (August 13).

 Monywa general strike committee released a statement that Monywa main strike joined that peoples’ protest. 

Currently, there has been fights between Myanmar military and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) in townships such as Shwe Bo,Depayin, Yinmabin and Kalay, Sagaing Region.

CNI News

13 August 2022

UEC mailed on August 11, 2022 to the political parties that the registered political parties in Myanmar must notify to the Union Election Commission (UEC) to meet with foreign organizations.

UEC said, “The political parties must put in their submission in advance to get the permission to meet with any foreign organization or individuals” as written in the letter sent to the political parties.

The political party leaders said that the letter sent by the UEC to the political parties is inconsistent with the democratic standards: they have to get permission first from UEC in order to accept a phone call from an embassy diplomat and that the political party is an independent association.

the letter sent by UEC to the political parties

In accordance with the provisions of Article 407 ( c ), 408 and Section 6 ( f ) of the Political Parties Registration Act, the political parties have an obligation to not avail themselves of money, material, other support, or their influence from the government or religious organization of any foreign country or any other association, and if they fail to abide by the stipulation, their registration as a political party will be revoked, said the Union Election Commission (UEC).

CNI News

13 August 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under SAC issued a statement on August 12 that strongly objected to the Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifudin Abdullah saying that the National Unity Government (NUG) and ASEAN should meet.

The Malaysian Foreign Minister delivered this speech in the ASEAN Day Celebration Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on August 8 and at a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand on August 10.

There followed the announcement of SAC that states that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put in a vehement dissent to that speech.

The NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung, the Deputy Minister U Moe Zaw Oo and the Malaysian Foreign Minister

The SAC Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they strongly oppose the irresponsible statements of the Malaysian Foreign Minister encouraging the ASEAN members to engage with the illegal associations that are perpetrating the terrorists acts in Myanmar. The announcement continues to say that these reckless statements attempt to encourage the political instability and terrorist acts which is a flagrant violation of the internal affairs of an ASEAN member country as a whole.

Then, SAC also said that these statements are in breach of the Article (2) subsection (e) and (f) of the ASEAN Charter as well as the Article (2) subsection (7) of the United States Charter.
They said, “The statements for non-ASEAN countries to be involved in the process of implementing the 5 consensus points can undermine the authority of ASEAN as well as derail the actions of the ASEAN Chairman’s Special Representative.”

The SAC Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that any ASEAN country that really wants to see peace and stability in Myanmar should steer clear of the statements that will bring a hazardous effect to the national reconciliation in Myanmar.

The SAC Chairman attended the ASEAN Summit held on 24 April 2021

Currently in Myanmar, the Myanmar military overthrew the National League for Democracy (NLD) on February 1, 2021, claiming that they attempted to form a government without settling the ballot dispute of the 2020 General Election and declared a national state of Emergency.

In the aftermath, the State Administration Council (SAC) was formed in an attempt to become an official government whereas the members of the parliament from the ousted NLD party are also trying to oust SAC and to become a legitimate government by forming the National Unity Government (NUG).

CNI News

13 August 2022

News reports went viral on social media that holders of national registration card numbers beginning with 7/, 9/ and 11/ were not allowed to go to work in Japan.

However, Japanese employers were not likely to impose such restrictions, those who used to work in Japanese agencies and Japan told the CNI.

Ko Nay Oo, a director in Naytic Asia Agency, told the CNI, “ The restrictions have nothing to do with Japanese employers. They don’t know and are not interested in such issues. They will employ anyone who is willing to work for them. No foreign country has imposed such restrictions. Some people were likely to be prohibited from leaving the country at the airport  but local agencies, which did not want to put blame on someone else responsible for the prohibition, gave excuses in the name of the Japanese side.  When people go to other countries, they need to submit not NRC cards but passports. It was likely that some supporters of the Civil Disobedient Movement were prohibited from leaving the country at the airport as security officers there already had their lists and were taken by authorities for interrogation. So, some people posted such misleading reports on social media as no one wanted to give details.”

A construction stie in Japan.

However, Ko Myat Thu Aung, who used to work in Japan, told the CNI that many Myanmar workers who went to work in Japan under on-the-job-training programs fled from their employers recently and it was likely that some overseas employment agencies did not choose holders of NRC numbers starting with 7/, 9/ and 11/.

The number of Myanmar workers who fled from their primary employers has increased as they went to Japan out of their enthusiasm without considering the type of jobs they would be offered and could not bear the fatigue at jobs in Japan, he added.

Ko Myat Thu Aung said, “Japanese employers had to spend a lot of money and time to take in foreign workers but when the workers fled from them, they suffered losses. After encountering such issues frequently, they might ask Myanmar overseas employment agencies what kinds of workers they were sending. It was said that Japanese employers no longer wanted to employ Myanmar workers because many on-the-job training workers set a bad example. They think that employing Myanmar workers has a lot of problems and they can employ workers from any other countries like Vietnam and China, who can be hired easily without any problem. So, they hire workers from countries they like. They employed Myanmar workers as they had thought Myanmar workers would be more hardworking and useful at their workplaces but they had to face many problems when Myanmar workers fled from them.”

An agriculture farm in Japan.

Recently, the number of Myanmar nationals who want to work in Japan has increased dramatically and Japanese language schools are mushrooming in Myanmar since the Japanese language proficiency test conducted by the government of Japan is scheduled in December.

Yamazaki Thant, who has been sharing knowledge about Japan, told the CNI that Japanese employers hire anyone who meets the required qualifications and aspirants to go to Japan should study Japanese thoroughly without thinking of the NRC number restrictions.

He said, “Aspirants to go to Japan are mainly required to study Japanese and skills necessary for their jobs thoroughly. I don’t want them to derail from their focus by believing what other people say too much. I think they should mainly focus on their purpose of going to Japan and what is necessary for it by going straight without looking to the left or right.”

At present, the number of people aspiring to go to work in Japan is higher than that of the pre-pandemic period and they were seen jostling for application forms of the JLPT scheduled in December this year.

CNI News

13 August 2022 

Due to high demand and low supply in the gold market in Myanmar, gold traders and businessmen said that the price of gold has risen. 

Currently, the price of gold in Myanmar is rising to the point of reaching more than 2500,000 kyat per tical of Academy Gold Bar. 

The increase in the price of gold is due to conditions such as the surge in the demand of gold, the decline in the availability of raw gold and the increase in the domestic dollar price, said U Ohn Myint, the secretary of the Myanmar Gold Industry Association to CNI News. 

U Ohn Myint said, “In this season, there is little production of raw gold in our country. It is very little to the point that we can’t even mine for gold. If we can mine, it’s going to lead to water permeation and the collapse of the pit. That’s why there is less supply in gold. Another thing is that stored goods such as beans, sesame, and rice are sold in our country during this season. The amount of money that get from selling goes into buying gold again every year. Buying gold and holding in possession of it entails less supply and high demand. Another thing is that the exchange rate of Myanmar currency and dollar is also currently rising. That’s why the price of gold went up.”

 while seeing Myanmar gold bars (GETTY IMAGES)

According to the gold industry, gold buyers are increasingly looking for gold bars to collect. The demand in jewelry is on the decrease and the sales are on the high. 

The rising gold prices also had repercussions on small and medium gold shops. There are only purchases in gold bars and the lack of demand in jewelry (e.g. gold rings, necklaces, bracelets) had led some gold shops to come to a standstill since they could not afford to produce more goldware.

Therefore, more and more goldsmiths are becoming unemployed since gold jewelry is not in production anymore, said U Ohn Myint, the secretary of the Myanmar Gold Industry Association. 

He said, “Gold prices are rising. However, the grassroots people prioritize reselling to buying. Craftsmen do their job mainly for the basic class to wear. The well-off people would only go for gold bars. That’s why the goldsmiths are facing unemployment,’’ he said to CNI News Agency. 

The current gold price is in a situation where it may continue to rise. Controlling this situation depends on the trade market of gold merchants in Yangon and Mandalay, said a gold market analyst Ko Ne Lin Khant to CNI News Agency.

During trading in a gold shop (GETTY IMAGES)

Ko Ne Lin Khant said, “Mainly, we have to look at our traders. If the big traders from Yangon and Mandalay do a lot of trading, we even fell back to near 23 lakhs the other day. So, the merchants in Mandalay sold a lot that time. There, over 24 lakhs came close to 23. It’s mainly traders. The surge in Mandalay gold sales would lead to the decline in the Yangon gold market. There is connection between these two. The traders are also a force to be reckoned with. Because if there are some traders who play the market too much, it would lead to market fluctuations depending on the traders. For them, trading is not 1 part 2 parts. The traders would go in starting from 10 visses, subsequently leading the market to become very volatile. In that kind of situation, the gold price would be more volatile than normal.” 

Since Myanmar gold prices change depending on the global gold price and local dollar price, the domestic dollar price may rise even more as a result which would lead the local gold prices to continue to rise as well, the analysts said.

Today in the local gold market, the price of one tical of Academy Gold Bar is 25,500,000 kyats and one US dollar is calculated at 2,700 Myanmar kyats reportedly.