CNI News

14 December 2024

The National Unity Government should change the attitudes and policies tantamount to an organization of the National League for Democracy (NLD), U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, told CNI News. 

The members of the NUG needed to prove through work, said Acting President of the NUG, Duwa Lashi La at the meeting of the NUG held on 10th December 2024. 

The NUG should change its standing as an organization of the NLD and ministers who didn't come back to Myanmar should be asked to resign, said U Than Soe Naing.

" The NUG should reduce and eliminate all insignia of office in the form of a ruling government. Up to 16 ministries are not needed. Just four or five ministries are sufficient. More important is to win the war. Things that can win the war must be mainly carried out. I don't mean to abolish the NUG. I want them to form the national unity alliance and then to focus on winning the war. In doing so, the NUG should change the attitudes and policies tantamount to an organization of the NLD. After the national unity alliance government form a large military force in order to increase military activities all over the country. The NUG ministers who will serve online only should be asked to resign." he said.

While seeing Acting President of the NUG and PDFs

The National Unity Government should no longer remain a distant government according to the current political situation including the China's pressure to rebuild strength domestically, Acting President of the NUG told his ministers on 26th November 2024. 

A revolutionary government cannot be revolutionary from afar; if revolutionary leaders ordered from afar without being within the country, it would not beneficial to the revolution, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), U Myo Kyaw told CNI News.

" A revolutionary government cannot revolutionize from afar or online. Revolutionary governments are best when they are one with the people. If revolutionary leaders are not on the ground or within the country, it's impossible to do much good to the revolution." he said.

While the NUG PM Mahn Win Khine Than, member of the NLD

The NUG should be formed as a government of all EAOs within Myanmar. 

The NUG should make reformations to mainly carry out military activities, pointed out political commentators.

At present, the NUG was not able to organize all EAOs and reach agreements with them for the establishment of a future federal union; Protesting against the People's Defense Force, the People's Administration Organization and the People's Security Force under the NUG has increased; the NUG has been weak in controlling on them and members of the NLD and supporters of the NLD have dominated the NUG, pointed out political commentators.

There are 17 ministries in the NUG and 34 ministers and deputy ministers.

CNI Interview

14Dec ember 2024

Among the six self-administered regions in Myanmar, the Naga region is the least developed one. 

As the Naga region is a mountainous area, not only there are needs, the people in the region are facing shortage of school teachers, having to pay the tax to armed groups and delay the flow of goods. 

Regarding the above-mentioned situations, CNI News interviewed the chairman of the Naga National Party, U Shu Maung.

CNI News: What's the current situation of the Naga region?

U Shu Maung: For the time being, there are no battles. But the people in the region are worried that battles will resume. The rest are operating normally.

While seeing the chairman of the Naga National Party, U Shu Maung

CNI News: What's the current political situation of the Naga region?

U Shu Maung:  The politics has been dead kind of because battles are breaking out across the country. But as the election will be held in the near future, the people in the region are interested in the election with the hope that we can get to a good path, rather than living in constant anxiety and misery. But it doesn't mean supporting or protesting. They expect that the election might be a better situation.

CNI News: How are they carrying out the matters regarding education?

U Shu Maung: Schools under the Ministry of Education are operating normally. We are facing an insufficient number of teachers as a rule. But it's getting worse in the current political situation.

CNI News: We have heard that Naga armed groups are collecting money. How will it be solved?

U Shu Maung: Any armed group whose name contains ethnic or not is fighting for their belief will collect the money. The people do not dare not to do so. But government departments have the authority to say so as not to do so. But I don't think any department will say so. 

If the amount of money collected becomes a burden on the people,  political parties or traditional organizations or social associations save the situation by coordination and negotiation. 
Territorial instabilities are caused not only by battles but also by social conflicts. The people obviously don't want to pay the tax to any organization. But in a situation where they have to pay as a tax, they understand it.

While seeing the Naga region

CNI News: We have heard that youths are recruited by force in the Naga region. What's the situation about it?

U Shu Maung: We also heard that. But I don't know exactly why they are recruiting for the military service or for another reason or because of crimes.

CNI News: We heard that the border gates in the Naga region have been reopened. What could make the difference?

U Shu Maung: Re-opening the border gates is good news. It's good too that the border gates with China have been reopened. The flow of goods from the mainland is very delayed. Transportation is very difficult on the road or waterways between Homalin and Khamti in the Naga region as well as between Homalin and Monywa. If you order a product, you'll have to wait at least six months to get it. 

So, we have to depend on the goods coming from India. After we met and talked with the Indian authorities about it, India re-opened the border gates. We have to thank India. 
If there are no security threats or transportation is not very delayed, the flow of goods can be smooth. The transportation is delayed due to the political situation of the mainland. The goods from India can reach our region within a few hours. It will be beneficial in the long run.

While seeing the Naga region

CNI News: In comparison with other regions, the Naga region is facing a lot of difficulties. So, how have the organizations in the Naga region intended to solve the difficulties?

U Shu Maung: The main difficulties here are higher prices of rice, fuel oil and salt. Fuel oil is essential to transportation, travelling and other businesses. Tihe government should intervene because the prices are so high. 

Moreover, there are social difficulties such as health problems. For example, if villages come and tell us that they are in trouble due to a disease, we help them after informing officials concerned to receive aid. 
Moreover, if a school hasn't been open, why hasn't it been open? We stand by carrying out checks and balances.

CNI News

14 December 2024

Nagaland Self-Administered Region, upper Sagaing Region lagging behind in development should be developed through tourism industry, pointed out businessmen.

As Naga people in the Naga region have unique culture and traditions as well as ways of life, they could attract tourists and income could be earned from the tourism industry for the regional development and for the country.

However, it was difficult to do business in the Naga region because of difficult transportation and the needs for electricity. 

However, those who will invest in the Naga region were given special privileges and the government should develop the region, U Aung Pyae Sone, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" Naga region is unique in Myanmar. If we will make the investment in this region, what we can mainly make is the tourism sector. The lifestyle and culture of Naga people in the region are unique. So, this region can attract not only people within the country but also foreigners. So, using this region as a greenland, if we can plan travel and tours, we can make the region develop while we can also earn national income. The Naga region lags behind in development, but the region is stable and peaceful at present. How to arrange to make tourists come to the region depends on the arrangement of the union government. The union government needs to persuade businessmen to benefit them by making the investment in this region. If they make the investment, the Naga region could develop." he said.

While seeing a village in the Naga region

A reason why the Naga region lagged behind in development was because the region didn't get enough budget under the management by Sagaing Region. 

The Naga self-administered government has several limits in managing rural development. 

Only if good policies could be laid down in the division of budget, could the Naga region be developed, chairman of the Naga National Party (NNP) U Shu Maung told CNI News.

" In the division of budget, the Naga self-administered region is under the management of Sagaing Region.  The government of the Naga self-administered region has many limits in carrying out rural development. As a regional government, it has to pass Sagaing Region. There are things to be done, taking lessons from the division of budget and the division of power. if good development policies for the development of the Naga region can be laid down, a sufficient budget could be issued, I think," he said.

The roads that can go to Leshi, Lahe and Nanyun Towns in every season need to be built so as to make the transportation smooth in the Naga self-administered region.

Naga self-administered region is the least developed one among the six self-administered regions in Myanmar and in the banking system, the region has to depend on the Myanma Economic Bank.

CNI News
13 December 2024

Political problems will be solved through political means based on federalism that has right to establish new states, said in the joint announcement by the Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC) and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO).

The statement was released on the 75th anniversary day of the Pa-O national revolution on 11th December 2024.

They would actively cooperate to win a political consensus for the end of military dictatorship and the establishment of a democracy and federal union, said in the joint statement.

Moreover, they would solve the political problems through the political means based on the establishment pf a federal union that allow the establishment of new states, as members of the federal union, said in the statement.

Except for the protection of the Pa-O people and national races, the PNFC and the PNLO avoided the armed conflicts between the Pa-O people or and other nationalities as able as they could and finding a peaceful solution through negotiation was used as much as they could, said in the statement.

While seeing Col. Khun Thurein and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

The PNLO/ PNLA, the PNFC and the PNO/PNA which are Pa-O armed groups are demanding to designate the Pa-O State, gathering the Pa-O self-administered regions and other regions. Although the matters regarding the emergence of new states were discussed in the peace talks among the government, the Tatmadaw and EAOs, any agreements have not been reached.

At present, the PNLO and the PNFC are fighting against the PNO/PNA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Shan State. On the other hand, the PNLO is divided into two groups and one is led by Col. Khun Okkar and the other led by Col. Khun Thurein. The group led by Col.

Khun Okkar is the PNLO-NCA/S and it is an NCA signatory. However, the group led by Col. Khun Thurein supports the Spring Revolution and is fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

13 December 2024 

The Pangsau Pass, India-Myanmar border gate in the Naga self-administered region, Sagaing Region which had been closed for seven years due to armed conflicts will be officially opened by India, according to Naga locals. 

The Pangsau-India border gate reportedly is closed every so often. At present, with the approval of the India-Myanmar Joint Border Market Committee, the border gate will be opened on 15th December. 

Because battles broke out between a Naga armed group and the Indian army near the Pangsau border gate, the border gate has been closed since 2017, the chairman of the Naga National Party (NNP), U Shu Maung told CNI News.

" I've heard that gate will be opened on 15th December. The gate is closed every so often. At the last time closing gate, a battle broke out between a Naga armed group and Indian forces deployed near the gate and the Indian army suffered a lot of casualties. So, the gate has been closed since then." he said. 

While seeing the border market in Pangsau

Because the gate will be opened, the people from the border area of the two countries are making preparations for their shops. 

The people in Pangsau and Nanyun Townships, Naga administered region have to depend on the Indian commodities and during the closure of the gate, the people faced shortage of food ane extremely high prices.

Although Pangsau locals had to use the commodities coming from Myitkyina and Tanai Townships, Kachin State during the closure of the gate, Pangsau locals have faced difficulties again because battles are breaking out in the two townships.

If the border gate was opened by India on 15th December, it would be convenient for the locals, said U Shu Maung.

While seeing the Naga region

" When the border gate has been closed, Pangsau locals have to depend on the goods coming from Myitkyina, Tanai and Shin Bwe Yan. But now as battles are breaking out in these regions as well, there is no transportation. The goods carried through difficulties are extremely expensive while locals don't earn enough income. At that time, because India has closed its border gate, it's worse. But if the border gate is opened on 15th December, because there will be a lot of trade in the border areas, it will be very beneficial to locals." he said to CNI News.

Locals from Nanyun and Pangsau in the Naga self-administered region sell ginger and foodstuffs at the border market and buy rice, edible oil and fuel oil sold by the people from Nampong, India. 

So, if the border gate was re-opened, it would help support the livelihoods of local people. 

The border gates between the Naga self-administered region and India are Lahe-India border gate which is directly connected with Nagaland, the Leshee-Sumpra-Manipur Border Gate and the Pangsau( Naga)-Nampong (India) border gate.

CNI News

12 December 2024

Powerful groups had raised news media professionals as their stooges to manipulate developing countries and were trying to disintegrate the country by creating riots and uprisings, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above at the oath-taking ceremony of members of the Myanmar Press Council on 10th December 2024.

However, Sr.Gen did not specify which powerful countries or groups he was referring to. 

" Nowadays, powerful groups in politics and economy have raised new media professionals as their stooges to manipulate developing countries in transition to democracy which it's no secret. The poweful groups are asking their media professionals to broadcast or present in the forms they want, rejecting the public attitude, feelings and grievances. The worst is that the powerful groups are carrying to destabilize small developing countries, to escalate conflicts in these countries, to incite unrest, and to disintegrate the country in various forms." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While reporters are procuring pieces of news (Photo - Crd)

News media professionals, according to the human nature, have different preferences and personal biases, which he understood and accepted; however, in matters of state and public affairs, he wanted to urge news media professionals to describe or broadcast without putting their own interests and opinions first and without personal opinion, said chairman of the SAC.

" Our country are carrying out to establish a union based on democracy and federalism, practicing democratic political system correctly and systematically; in a democratic society, there must be freedom of press according to the law and it's essential to have good governance and development; it is necessary to meet these requirements in a balanced and fair manner." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The ruling class rarely views the news media as a partner and often views as opposition, which should be changed; the SAC needs to correct misunderstandings by responding to information in a timely manner; if the SAC is able to inform the public of the information and facts that the people should know through answering the questions by the news media, mutual trust between the SAC and the media community could be built, pointed out the media community.

CNI News

12 December 2024

Chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacekeeping Negotiation Committee, Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and leader of the Kachin Special Region-1 U Zakhun Ting Ying reportedly met. 

They met at the house of U Zakhun Ting Ying and it is not yet known what topics were discussed.

U Zakhun Ting Ying was the leader of the Kachin Special Region-1 that contains Panwa, Kan Pite Tee, Chipwi, and Sawlaw in Kachin State. 

However, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked and captured the Kachin Special Region-1 between September and November and is operating its administrative mechanism.

After that, the KIA announced that it had abolished the Kachin Special Region-1.

CNI News

12 December 2024

The discussion between the Chinese government and the delegation of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) led by chairman of the KIA, General N'ban La was held because China wanted the KIA's help, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator, told CNI News.

The Chinese authorities and the delegation led by Gen. N'Ban La diseussed in China while the battles were severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA in Bahmo and Mansi Townships, Kachin State. 

The delegation led by Gen. N'Ban La contained Lt-Gen Gun Maw, general secretary U La Nan, In Charge of Administrative Department of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Maj-Gen Zaw Raw. The discussion was held not because the KIA wanted China's help but China wanted the KIA's help, said U Kyi Myint.

While seeing Lt-Gen Gun Maw and former Chinese Special Envoy, Sun - Sun Guoxiang 

"The full news has not yet been released. The two sides have been on the same level because the KIA delegation went to China, which the KIA won't ask China to help it, but China want the KIA's help. So, the discussion will be beneficial to the Kachin people, I believe. They will give and take to become nearly what the KIA wants. If Trump come to power, he will treat China in a manner that he will impose a sanction on China regarding rare earth. China is worried about that. But China might demand the KIA not to accept aid from western countries especially the United States or to stay away from these countries. But the KIA won't accede to this request." he said.

There is rare earth in the territory captured by the KIA and the KIA has captured Chipwi, Sawlaw, Panwa and Kan Pite Tee in the Kachin Special Region-1 where there are border trade gates. 

Moreover, the KIA has been launching offensive to Bahmo that is included in the China's project implementation plan since 4th December.

Because China has closed down its border gates with the KIA and vice versa, the border trade has stopped. 

China invited the KIA to discuss, which was likely  for the peace issue and the border gates, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

While seeing Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning

" EAOs that are active within the border areas of the two countries are important to the security of the two countries. When China considers peace or security issue is dangerous to it, it might call and discuss with EAOs concerned. When Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing went to China, the matter regarding the trade has been told. The two countries' border gates must be under the control of the two countries. This is also an issue that both countries have agreed upon. These things will be included in their discussion. In any case, China will help Myanmar in some way as able as it can in the peace issue or security or trade." he said.

At present, the KIA and joint forces have captured Mabein, Myohla, Lweje, Dodphunyan, Myothit, Sinbo, Ingyanyan, Sumprabon, Sadon, Chipwi, Sawlaw, Panwa and Kan Pite Tee in Kachin State and northern Shan State.

The matters regarding controlling bilateral border trade, respecting the sovereignty of both countries and increasing the Chinese projects within Myanmar  Chinese  discussed by Chinese PM Li Chang and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC on 6th November 2024.

China wanted Myanmar to be stable and peaceful and would continue to help the Myanmar peace process; it was necessary to provide security to the Chinese projects and companies within Myanmar, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning at the regular press conference 10th December 2024.

CNI News

11 December 2024

If Myanmar gold could be sold in the global market with meeting standards, the value of Myanmar kyat would rise, businessmen told CNI News. 

Although efforts were made to be able to sell Myanmar gold in the global market through the ages, it has not succeeded up to now for many reasons. 

At present, the Yangon Gold Entrepreneurs Association opened a gold laboratory and is carrying out to win an ISO certificate in order that Myanmar gold can be sold again in the global market, according to gold entrepreneurs.

If the gold produced within the country could be sold to the international market, the value of Myanmar kyat would rise, U Aung Pyae Sone, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing a Myanmar gold bar

" Efforts have been made to sell Myanmar gold in other countries for long. But again, efforts is being made to sell it which I recognize. If the gold produced within Myanmar can be traded in foreign countries, local price will rise if the world price rises. But we have experienced inconveniences since under the previous government. If we can reform things that could cause unsuccessfulness and sell Myanmar gold, the value of Myanmar kyat will rise as well." he said.

Myanmar gold is being sold just a little to Japan as jewelries and the YGEA was trying to sell high quality Myanmar gold bars at the stock exchanges in the US, England and Australia, chairman of the YGEA, U Myo Myint told CNI News.

While seeing gold and dollars( Photo-Mawgun)

"The YGEA is trying to make Myanmar gold become world class gold. Standard scales are being made. A standard laboratory is being built as well. Jade and sapphires are framed in gold and they are being exported abroad. Mainly, kilogram plates of pure gold must be exported. If we can export them, national income will increase. The value of Myanmar gold will rise. If we can sell Myanmar gold at the international market, it can be exported to the markets of England, the US, Japan and Australia or trade at the world stock exchanges." he said.

At present, 14 stock exchanges and transportation companies have been linked in order that Myanmar gold can be exported to the international market and Thailand, Singapore, China, the US, India and European countries are interested in it.