CNI News

10 Jan 2023

As fighting in Myanmar has become more intense, the year 2023 may culminate in a decisive year, Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

At the same time, the Myanmar military is likely to escalate its offensives before the rainy season and the public will face more troubles, she added.

She said, "Armed conflicts have erupted across the country. The KNU and allies raided battalion headquarters in Kyarinseikkyi. Protests broke out in Hpakant yesterday. The KIA will launch offensives. The military is fighting with Ta'ang and Kokant and has been very busy fighting EAOs. And the fighting capabilities of the military are desperate. They do not have competent commanders as they made peace deals with EAOs for 20 years. The military is deteriorating and suffered casualties significantly. The military will intensify its offensives. If they cannot fight on the ground, they will use airstrikes. The public will suffer more troubles. However, the junta will suffer losses dramatically. This year may lead to a decisive year even if it is not a decisive year."

 An armed force of the Spring Revolution.

The National Unity Government said at the press conference on review and future tasks of people's resistance on 7th October that the year 2023 is the decisive year for the victory of the Spring Revolution."

The year 2023 is unlikely to be a decisive year militarily, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.

He said, "There are two factors. From the military point of view, it is completely impossible. They are trying to keep up their morale. From 2021 to the beginning of 2023, they have risen up against the military for about one and a half years unsuccessfully. They have chosen violent means. What is worse is that they are choosing terrorist acts. Armed struggle cannot be decisive. On the other hand, they can disrupt elections and claim victory politically. They cannot win militarily. They will disrupt elections and claim victory. They cannot defeat the junta militarily."

NUG Defence Minister U Yee Mon and PDFs.

The junta ousted the National League for Democracy government on 1st February, 2021 after accusing it of forming a new government without settling voters' list disputes and protests and armed conflicts have erupted in the country.

Currently, the junta troops and the allies of EAOs and PDFs are fighting in Karen State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

CNI News

8 Jan 2023

Efforts must be made to improve the situation of the country better than that of 2011 and 2016, SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said.

The chairman made the comment during the meeting with union ministers, the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, chief ministers of states and regions and chairman of self-administered zones in Nay Pyi Taw on 6th January morning.

The general said vote-rigging during the 2020 elections nipped in the bud of democracy of the country and it has been a black spot in the history of the country. So, it is necessary to take measures not to repeat that, he added.

He said the junta would have to make efforts to restore the situation of the country to normal to implement the two political objectives and measures must be taken to improve the situation as well as or better than that of 2011 and 2016 if possible. Only then, will the junta be able to guarantee the stability of the state. He urged union ministers, chief ministers of states and regions and chairmen of self-administered zones to speed up relentless efforts during the time available."

Then, he urged the officials to study his speech on the 75th anniversary of independence day seriously and to pursue a government form which combines democratic and federal systems. He said that the junta is implementing the two national objectives of prosperity of the country and sufficiency of food, water and basic needs.

The junta seized power on 1st February, 2021 by declaring a state of emergency and ousted the National League for Democracy by accusing it of forming a new government without settling the voters' list disputes during the 2020 general election.

Since then, NLD lawmakers, democracy activists, students and youths have been launching the armed struggle and fighting has erupted in Kayah State, Kayin State, Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region.

Tens of thousands of houses have been burnt down and more than 1 million people have been displaced since then.

CNI News

8 Jan 2023

A difference is expected to be made in the Myanmar crisis during the term of the new ASEAN chairmanship, General Secretary Sai Leik of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy told the CNI.

Indonesia, which has taken over the chairmanship of the ASEAN, will not support the military dictatorship, he added.

Sai Leik told the CNI, "Indonesia, which has taken over the chairmanship, is the largest democracy in Southeast Asia. So, it will not support military dictatorship and push for democracy. It is expected that it will make a difference."

 ASEAN Chairman Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

International cooperation is essential to resolve the crisis, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team, which is made up of seven EAO signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, told the CNI.

He said, "We will have to wait and see how the new chairmanship will have an impact on our cooperation. Currently, we need international cooperation and assistance to resolve the current crisis."

Pressure will be built on the SAC and it will strengthen the democracy movement, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

Youth protestors.

U Than Soe Naing said, "Indonesia's chairmanship is good for us because the country is very sympathetic about democratic forces and will be a force to put pressure on the SAC to get certain outcomes. I think it will set a timeframe for implementation of the five-point consensus."

Cambodia has transferred ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesia on 1st January, 2023.

CNI News

8 Jan 2023

As long queues of YBS buses, taxis and other vehicles that run on CNG are common in Yangon, CNG stations have extended operation hours at night to reduce waiting queue time, according to the Natural Gas Vehicle Department of Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

Previously, gas stations were open from 5 am to 9 pm but the closing time has been extended until 10 pm recently, an official from the MOGE told the CNI.

He said, "Normally, gas stations are open from 5 am to 9 pm but we have extended the opening hours until 10 pm because there are long queues of vehicles at the stations."

However, there are still long queues at some gas stations, according to YBS bus drivers.

 A line of cars waiting for gas.

An anonymous bus driver said that gas stations are required to take action against vehicles that jump the queue and vehicles that sell their place in the queue to others.

He told the CNI, "There are still long queues at gas stations and there are two lines of vehicles at the gas statons near the park and the rubbish heap. As they have extended another one hour, they can fill gas to five or six more vehicles. Another factor is that some people have allowed queue-jumping by their friends while other are making money by selling their places in the queue to others. As a result, we have to wait for a long time but our vehicles have never moved forward. Some vehicles jump queue by paying MMK 5,000 or 10,000. Disputes erupt frequently due to such problems. Gas stations are required to monitor such problems."

Moreover, it is important to supply quality gas with full pressure so that vehicles can use it as long as possible and to shorten the long queues at gas stations, drivers said.

 Vehicles refilling gas at a CNG station.

Currently, low gas pressures have forced drivers to queue for gas twice a day, leading to long lines of vehicles at gas stations.

In connection with the low quality and pressure of gas, an official from the MOGE said, "We normally supply inland gas, which is different from off-shore gas. When inland gas is mixed with offshore one, gas consumption rate of a vehicle has changed. Gas qualities are different even between off-shore gases from Lawpita and Yadana gas fields. However, we have been distributing inland gas recently, so drivers will be satisfied with the quality of gas."

Among 41 gas stations in Yangon, 40 stations have been opened and more than 18 million cubic feet of gas is distributed to the public daily.

CNI News

7 Jan 2023

Disunity among Rakhine Revolutionary groups hurts the interests of Rakhine people, Vice Chairperson Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

The ALP issued a statement on 5th January, strongly condemning the assassination of Chief of Staff of the ALP Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya, Commander Lt-Col Khaing Kyaw Soe of No (101) Battalion and Capt Khaing Thurainda.

The location is Rakhine State.

Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Ling said, "I just want to say that it doesn't bode well for all Rakhine people, who have been worried about the situation. I think it is time those who are responsible prevented what should not have happened. At the same time, authorities are required to monitor the situation so that the public can live and work safely."

They were not responsible for the assassination, spokesman of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army told local media.

They would mediate the issue if they knew the real situation on the ground, Chairman U Tin Htoo Aung of the Rakhine National Congress told the CNI.

An ALP delegation led by Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin in Mai Jaryan in July, 2016.

He told the CNI, "Instead of hurling accusations against each other, they let us know the situation clearly, we can mediate the situation if necessary. However, we don't have sufficient information about the incident."

The AA arrested Central Executive Committee Member of the ALP Lt-Col Kahing Paulin at his home on 2nd August ,2022, according to the ALP.

However, the AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha said at the press conference on 11th August that he was arrested not for his affiliation to the ALP but for the crimes he committed.

Both the ULA/AA and the ALP are Rakhine Armed Organizations but the ALP is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the military. The AA is still under negotiation with the military.

CNI News

7 Jan 2023

As Malaysia no longer provides well-paid jobs and has not hired Myanmar workers officially, Myanmar workers should not go to Malaysia, at least, for the moment, Myanmar communities in Malaysia told the CNI.

Although Malaysia has hired foreign workers officially at the moment, the government has not hired Myanmar workers, U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Malaysia, told the CNI.

He said, "I don't think it is time for Myanmar workers to come to Malaysia, which is not the same as before. Currently, the situation has not improved. It has stopped being a country where money was easily earned as before and there is a large number of foreign workers in the country. As they face labour shortages, they have not permitted Myanmar workers to work officially in the country. Only a few factories hired only about 50 or 100 Myanmar even when they liked them. So, Myanmar workers who come to Malaysia will face a lot of difficulties at the moment. I think Myanmar workers should go to other countries where the situation for Myanmar workers is better than Malaysia. Even if they do not earn as much as before, they can still survive with their basic salaries.

A factory in Malaysia.

It is said that Myanmar migrants in Malaysia are not as convenient as before.

Although there is no problem for Myanmar workers who work officially for Myanmar migrants in Malaysia, illegal migrants would be able to stay in the country if they had friends, Myanmar communities told the CNI.

Although they don't want to prevent Myanmar migrants not to work in Malaysia, it is necessary for them to study the situation on the ground properly, General Secretary U Chit Kaung of the Assistance Association for Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia, told the CNI.

Detained Myanmar illegal workers in Malaysia.

He said," They have their friends in Malaysia, they will be able to stay in the country conveniently. If they do not have their friends there, they will face difficulty. It is important to be able speak Malaysian language and knowledge about the place they are staying. So, it is convenient for them to stay and work there. Otherwise, they will have difficulty."

The arrests of illegal migrants are still continuing and illegal Myanmar migrants are being detained daily in Malaysia, Myanmar communities in Malaysia told the CNI.

A garment factory in Malaysia.

Myanmar migrants going to Malaysia currently are those who had already received work permits before the pandemic and others are going to work in Malaysia illegally as refugees.

Therefore, Myanmar communities in Malaysia have urged Myanmar migrants to come to work in the country officially.

CNI News

7 Jan 2023

Myawady-Kawkareik road, which plays an important role in exporting goods to Thailand and was frequently closed due to armed conflicts, has been reopened but it is still difficult to transport vegetables, according to highway freight transportation services.

After maintenance of the bridge near Tawnaw Waterfall in Kawkareik Township, which was blasted during conflicts recently, was carried out, freight trucks have restarted transportation of goods, but the road has been frequently opened and closed, a freight transportation service owner told the CNI.

The closed Myawaddy-Kawkareik road.

He said, "The road is frequently opened and closed. When the road is unexpectedly closed while we are transporting goods, we can't do anything. It is very difficult for truck owners as well as drivers to make a living. We transport vegetables like cauliflowers and cabbages and it is difficult to transport vegetables because the road is opened and closed unexpectedly."

After the bridge was blasted, vehicles had to wait at the bridge as they had to cross the bridge one after another, leading to traffic jams.

Normally, this time of the year is the busy season for transportation of goods, it is the case only in Shan State (South), Yangon Region and Mandalay Region, Chairman U Kyin Thein of the Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He said, "Transportation of goods has returned to normal in other parts of the country because it is the time of the year to transport goods in the entire country. However, we cannot transport goods as much as before. Commodity flow is smooth in Shan State (South), Yangon and Mandalay and other states and regions. However, it is still difficult for the border trade."

Trucks along the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road.

As fighting between the Myanmar military and joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army and the People's Defence Forces has erupted along the Myawady and Kawkareik road and transportation of goods has been hindered frequently.

Due to instabilities along commodity transportation roads, transportation services have to charge more transportation fees and commodity prices have risen, according to transportation entrepreneurs.

The Myawaddy-Kawkareik road is mainly used for imports of foodstuffs, medicine, cosmetics, consumer products and construction materials.

CNI News

6 Jan 2023

The Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan Liberation Army issued a statement on 5th January, strongly condemning the assissination of its Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya, Commander of No (101) Battalion Lt-Col Khaing Kyaw Soe and Capt Khaing Thurainda by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army.

The three were shot to death with several bullet wounds while travelling in a car in Sittwe at about 8 am on 4th January, 2023 when they were assassinated by the ULA/AA, according to the statement of the ALP.

The ALP said in its statement, "As the inhuman assassination of Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya and two other commanders by the ULA/AA amounted to terrorist act committed against ethnic Rakhine people by ethnic Rakhine people that not only undermines the unity of the entire Rakhine people but also shocks the public, we have strongly condemned the assassination."

The ALP statement said, "The ULA/AA has been detaining, torturing and assassinating not only our party/army leaders, party members and personnel but also leaders and members of other Rakhine ethnic parties, innocent monks and the public unlawfully, the ALP will bring those who are responsible to justice."

The AA has not responded to the accusation and its information centre did not answer the phone.

CNI News

6 Jan 2023

A large number of travellers visited Bagan and all rooms were occupied during the New Year holiday, hotels in Bagan suffered losses due to blackouts, according to hoteliers there.

Chairman U Zaw Weik of Bagan Hoteliers Association told the CNI that hoteliers suffered losses during the new year holiday although all hotel rooms were occupied during the holiday because of prolonged blackouts.

He said, "As all hotel rooms were full, a large number of travellers visited Bagan. Guests usually turn up at hotels for two or three days during new year holidays and do not come back until the next holiday season. All our hotel rooms were full but electricity supply to hotels was turned off for a long time. Everyone suffered losses as diesel prices skyrocketed. We still don't know what will happen to the industry this year. The industry has been suffering losses for about three years. So, a lot of hotel owners are selling out their hotels.

Electricity supply to Bagan is not regular and turned off randomly. Electricity is unavailable from 5 to 8 hours every day, according to hoteliers there.

Pilgrims in the precinct of the Shwe Zegon pagoda.

Currently, the hotel industry in Bagan is struggling for its survival, most hoteliers are trying to sell out their hotels, according to U Zaw Weik.

Despite rising general commodity prices, it is inconvenient for hotels to raise their services fees as guests stay at hotels only during holidays and very few guests  visite during off-seasons. The hotel industry has become an unviable business, according to U Zaw Weik.

He told the CNI, "The hotel industry is different from other businesses. All other businesses have raised their prices. Automobile and food prices have almost doubled but we have to lower room charges significantly. We can charge only MMK 30,000 for a room we previously received MMK 50,000. Everything we need to buy for our hotels including tissue paper has skyrocketed. And we have to operate generators. Frankly speaking, the hotel business is not viable at the moment." 

Pilgrims in Bagan.

About 70 percent of hotels in Bagan were full of guests during the new year holiday and about 150,000 guests visited Bagan during the holiday, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (Bagan Branch) told the CNI.

He said,"About 150,000 guests visited pagodas in Bagan. On 31 December, about 15,000 pilgrims visited teh Shwe Zegon Pagoda. We collected statistics for pilgrims to pagodas. Data about pilgrims are not the same as occupancy rates. Hotel occupancy rates are much lower than the number of pilgrims."

Out of more than 100 hotels in Bagan, only about 70 hotels are in operation due to low occupancy rates and prolonged blackouts and hotels which are in operation are struggling for their survival, according to hoteliers.