CNI News

19 August 2022

There are people from the domestic National League for Democracy (NLD) who want to meet and discuss regarding the current crisis in Myanmar, said the spokesperson of SAC General Zaw Min Tun.

He said the above statement at SAC’s 19th press conference held on August 17.

General Zaw Min Tun said, “There are people within NLD party who can go to the path of negotiation. They themselves are the 88th generation descendants. We have known from their statements that most of NLD party members have long been in the country who have always believed in the path of negotiation and have still been holding on to it.”

seeing Major General Min Aung Hlaing and NLD leaders

Although he said there are people who want to meet and discuss, he did not disclose who they are.

Then, he said that about 3 out of 4 members of the NLD party have signed stating their willingness to peacefully stay in the country and that those who are now in the forest are those who joined the NLP party only after 2012.

Currently, the NLD Party Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the Vice-chairmen U Win Myint and Dr. Zaw Myint Maung were arrested and charged after the military overthrew the NLD government. Then other central executive committee members were arrested and charged as well.

seeing anti-miliary protests (Frontier Myanmar)

A political analyst has shared his take on the issue that after 2012 or not no matter the joining time, a person registered in the NLD party will always be a NLP Party member; and it will be difficult to implement the process of negotiation since most of the NLD members are still in opposition to negotiation and that there is no prospect of implementation from SAC’s side as well.

He said, “If we look at the before part of February 1, we don’t see much willingness from NLD side when the military proposed negotiation. After that, a coup d'état happened. Now that the miliary is building the situation he wants after throwing a coup, there is a question about whether they still want to do the negotiation. I guess the answer is no. If we look at the public, they are standing firm on the side of no negotiation when it comes to blood debt, we still have to watch whether NLD will go that way and how far the third party will come to play at this scene.”

Currently, there is an ongoing competition between SAC and NUG for international recognition as the legitimate government and there are armed conflicts taking place that aim towards annihilating the competition.

CNI News

18 August 2022

Every armed organization is accountable for landmines they planted as the people in Rakhine State often lose their lives and limbs in landmine explosions, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

U Pe Than said, “They must be held responsible for landmines they planted. Landmines are laid not against the people but against their enemies. However, members of the public always fall victim to these landmines. So, it is necessary for all armed organizations to take responsibility for landmines they planted and to be humane. How can the public know the places where landmines were laid. They have never seen landmines. If the Tatmadaw continues to use landmines under such circumstances, the public will be in danger. So, every armed organization is responsible to remove the landmines they laid when they move to another place or after a certain period.”

The Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for landmines as most of them were found in the surrounding areas of the camps and temporary camps of the Tatmadaw, he added.

AA leader Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing and Col Kyaw Han.

Since landmines were not effectively cleared during ceasefire between the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw, local residents have fallen victim to them and the increasing use landmines due to current military tensions between them is worrisome, Writer Wai Hin Aung told the CNI.

He said, “Now that military tensions are escalating between the AA and the Tatmadaw and armed clashes have broken out, it is very difficult to put blame on one side or the other. International non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations have to clear landmines on a self-help basis and launch awareness campaigns for the villagers. However, it is impossible for these organizations to clear and destroy all these landmines. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the problem and will have to beat the responsibility. However, tensions are escalating between them and civil society organizations are put into a very difficult situation.”

The Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Although local residents know that landmines were laid in several places, they have to go into mountains and forests for their living and just launching awareness raising campaigns is not enough to locate landmines on the ground, U Pe Than said.

He said, “What they are doing now is insufficient. No one knows where landmines were laid exactly. Having been hit by landmines, victims will not recover by receiving first aid or taking care of their health because they have lost their limbs, which have to be amputated. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the victims. The government is responsible for everything for victims including medical treatment, removal of landmines, livelihood and artificial limbs. They should be humane.”

In July, there were about seven landmine explosions in Rakhine State and there were two landmine explosions until 18th in August. Most victims lost their limbs, especially legs.

CNI News 

18 August 2022

 The depreciation of Myanmar kyat and reduced kyat holding have raised questions on where the currency has been flowing into. 

With the economic downturn due to political instabilities in Myanmar and the appreciation of foreign currencies, Myanmar kyat is depreciating and inflation has risen. 

The Myanmar public has lost confidence in the kyat and buy gold and US dollars in the black market or purchase property.

The flow of the kyat into the property market is not beneficial for the economy in the long run, Economic Observer U Htay Aung Kyi told the CNI. 

He said, “Where has Myanmar kyat gone to? Extremely rich people hoard US dollars. Even if they cannot get it in the official market, they buy US dollars in the black market. Those who are worried about government action hoarding US dollars buy gold. So, Myanmar kyat has gone to foreign exchange and gold industries. Those who do not buy US dollars or gold purchase property. Excessively investing in the property market is dangerous for the economy in the long run. It can lead to property bubble bursts similar to what happened in South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in 1997. Generally speaking, excessive investment in the real estate market is not beneficial for the economy in the long run.” 

  Academy gold bars.

Due to political instabilities in Myanmar, many people are withdrawing their deposits from banks and buy US dollar, gold or property to avoid concerns caused by holding Myanmar kyat. 

In early August, the local gold demand increased dramatically, pushing up prices to MMK 2.8 million per tical and setting new records. 

As Myanmar kyat has depreciated and people hoard gold, the kyat  has flowed into the gold industry, according to gold market researchers. 

There are speculations that a large sum of Myanmar kyat has gone into the gold market as buyers purchased the precious metal by visses. 

    Deposits at a bank.

Ko Nay Lin Khant, a gold market researcher, told the CNI, “Myanmar kyat circulates not through bank transfers but through cash payments. So, a large sum of Myanmar kyat will flow into the hands of gold traders and goldsmith shops. When the supply is low in the market because gold mining halts during the rainy season and the demand rises, gold hoarders will resell their precious metal and prices will fall. They will resell their gold if they can get a little profit.”

U Htay Aung Kyi told the CNI that facilitation of the trade and investment sectors is important to reduce inflation and streamline the circulation of Myanmar kyat. 

    US$ notes.

He said, “It is important to improve the business environment. The economy must be running normally and trade must be conducted as usual. Confidence in trade and investment must be restored for the economy to recover. So, favourable business, political and legal environments are essential for economic recovery. Another important factor is the economic environment like exchange rates, inflation rates, interest rates. The interaction of the three rates must be in a favourable position for the country. 

Public confidence in banks is also important to reduce the impacts of the depreciation of Myanmar kyat  on the economy and it is necessary for banks to make cash withdrawals easier, according to businesspeople.

CNI News

18 August 2022

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on 16th August that the SAC had set two political objectives of implementing the multiparty democracy system and building a federal union.

“We are trying to achieve peace. Those who understand this come to peace talks while those who do not are still complaining outside. We have already held talks with 10 organizations. I held talks with the SSPP a few days ago. Everything was successful. I asked them if they could agree on the multiparty democracy system and building a union mandated to exercise federal power and they all agreed on them. We will meet for the second round of talks. We are trying to meet again this month. We will hold talks with all ten organizations as a whole and we will meet again in September. Then, we will try to sign agreements with them. I could not say how long it would take. As we have reached fundamental agreements, I think there is no reason not to achieve peace. I can’t understand why some EAOs cannot realize this.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets RCSS Chairman Gen Ywek Seik.

He added that if efforts were made based on the two points with the aim of promoting the affairs of the national races and the union, there was no reason not to achieve success.

Maj Mai Aik Kyaw, a spokesperson of the Palaung State Liberation Front/ Taaung National Liberation Army told the CNI that it was impossible to achieve peace in the entire country as the SAC did not invite some groups currently fighting with it.

He said, “The SAC invited EAOs, which are not engaging in armed clashes with them at present. However, they did not invite People Defence Forces, which are launching major battles against them. If they really wanted genuine peace, they would have to deescalate fighting and talks would be inclusive. So, they have left some groups and talks are not inclusive. Peace will never be achieved in the entire country, I think.”

  The UWSA vice chairman and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

So far, seven EAO signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and three non-signatories have joined the peace talks invited by the SAC chairman.

Nang Yin Yin Soe, a spokesperson for the Peace Process Steering Team, which is made up of the seven signatories to the NCA, told the CNI that the PPST would uphold the principles in the NCA.

She said, “We accept the concepts of non-antagonistic and antagonistic contradictions. Now, we are now following the non-antagonistic trend, which prefers dialogue. If we followed the antagonistic trend, which clearly divides the line between the two sides and expands armed conflicts, those who would suffer would be the people. As we have chosen the path to resolve political issues through political means, we can actually reduce the daily losses of lives and property of the people by contracting war and expanding dialogue.”

 NMSP Chairman Naing Aung Min meets Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

She also added that all EAOs should take the sufferings of the people into consideration.

Since the military coup on 1st February 2022, armed clashes have broken out between the military and the alliance of EAOs and PDFs in Karen, Karenni and Chin states and Sagaing and Magway regions.

CNI News

17 August 2022

The current political and economic crisis facing Myanmar can only be resolved by drafting a federal constitution, the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Party said in a statement issued on the 51st Anniversary of its founding day, which falls on 16th August.

“It is urgently necessary to find ways and means to resolve political crises, economic crises and social problems currently facing the union. It should be aware that economic crises and social problems will persist as long as political crises, which are realities, cannot be resolved collectively,” the SSPP said.

“Resolving and overcoming such crises collectively especially requires putting an end to dictatorship, drafting a federal democracy constitution, releasing political prisoners, ending persecutions and creating an environment for inclusive and genuine political solution,” the statement added.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and members of the SAC.

On 16th August, SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that as the multiparty democracy was chosen by the people, he had no reason to refuse it and promised to move forward to democracy administration and a union mandated to exercise federal power.

He said, “We held negotiations with the SSPP. Everything was successful. I asked them if they could accept the multiparty democracy system, democracy administration and a union mandated to exercise federal power. They said they agreed. We will meet for the second round of talks. We are trying to meet again this month.”

The SAC said it held peace talks with 10 ethnic armed organizations during the period from 20th May to 4 August with the aim of building a federal democratic union and holding elections and the second round of talks were scheduled for September.

SSPP Vice Chairman (1) meets Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on 4th August, 2022.

The public in Myanmar has protested the declaration of a state of emergency of the military after overthrowing the civilian government led by the NLD on 1st January 2021.

Democratic forces and youths led by ousted lawmakers founded the National Unity Government and People’s Defence Forces and are trying to topple the military.

Under such circumstances, Myanmar has faced political, economic, social, health and educational crises and the public has run into difficulties.

CNI News

17 August 2022

More than 350,000 civilians have been displaced by armed clashes between the junta troops and the Karen National Union, according to a statement released by the KNU on 16th August.

Recently, fighting has been taking place in the KNU-controlled territory including areas of Thaton District Brigade-1, Taungoo District Brigade-2, Nyaunglebin District Brigade-4, Mutraw District Brigade-5 and Dooplaya District Brigade-6 on a daily basis and local residents have been displaced, according to the statement of the KNU.

The statement added that a total of 356,674 civilians including 94,768 in Thaton District, 7,537 in Taungoo District, 61,898 in Nyaunglebin District, 6,000 in Myeik-Dawei District, 96,180 in Mutraw District and 90,291 in Dooplaya District have been displaced by fighting.

The lists of the displaced due to armed conflicts between the junta troops and the KNU. (KNU-fb)

The KNU also said, “The accommodation, the needs for food, clothing and shelter, health and security of the displaced have been provided by the KNU, the KNLA and the KNDO for respective sectors.”

A political and peace analyst said that the KNU has been providing protection for youths who have taken up arms from the Spring Revolution and engaged in fighting, causing the number of the displaced to increase and that the higher the number of the displaced, the heavier the burden on the KNU.

The KNU also said in the statement, “The KNU and its armed wings like the KNLA and the KNDO have to fight junta troops on a daily basis while managing military spending and providing the needs of the displaced.”

However, the statement said that the KNU is leading the Karen National Revolution and has been engaging in political dialogue and armed conflict for freedom and self-determination since the beginning of the revolution.

KNU troops. (KNU-fb)

It also said that the armed wings of the KNU, the KNLA and the KNDO are fighting for the freedom of the entire Karen people by sacrificing their lives.

The KNU has been training People’s Defence Forces and fighting against junta troops in cooperation with them in the Spring Revolution to establish a federal democracy union since the coup on 1st February,2021.

CNI News

17 August 2022

Myanmar has been heading toward total collapse, U Myo Kyaw, a spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance told the CNI.

The coup of the junta is against the constitution they drafted while it lacks the abilities to govern the country, leading it to deterioration in all aspects.

He told the CNI, “Those who assumed to form the government have become oppositions, which have failed to establish legitimacy and show that they have the abilities to restore the power mandated to them by the people, which is the problem. As the coup leader has staged a coup in his own interests, he will never cave in to pressures on it. So, he would not correct his wrongs, the situation of the country will deteriorate gradually and the political system is heading towards collapse. As a result, the people will suffer. If the government wants to reverse the course, it is necessary for it to take the opposite direction.”

The police at a demonstration site in 2021. (The Frontier Myanmar)

He also added that the political landscape was likely to change if the federal union was established with the cooperation of the international community.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt, a spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team which was formed with seven signatories of the NCA, told the CNI that the current political and economic situation of the country was worrying.

He said, “All sectors including economic and political sectors not only in rural areas but also in urban areas are worrying. These economic crises and hardships directly affect the people. So, the PPST is worried about them. To overcome such crises, we are thinking of ways and means to resolve issues through dialogue but we are not able to implement them comprehensively.”

Anti-coup protests in 2021. (The Frontier Myanmar)

He also said that the conflicting sides should engage in negotiations to overcome the political and economic crises encountered by the people.

Myanmar had been encountering protests as well as the growing political and economic crises since the junta staged a coup on 1st February, 2022.

CNI News

17 August 2022

Myanmar migrant workers are underpaid and exploited in Thailand and some of them have lodged complaints about such practices, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist working for Myanmar workers in Thailand told the CNI.

They lodge complaints that they have a lot of trouble as they are paid about Baht 220 per day and are chiseled off from their overtime pay while being forced to rent their own accommodations because their employers fail to do so, he said.

“The have to spend all their wages. They earn Baht 220 a day and about Baht 6,000 a month. As their salaries are paid every fifteen days, they earn about Baht 3,000. There are some workers who earn about Baht 2,800. Baht 500 is cut off from each worker’s 15-day salary for their passports. So, they have to pay Baht 1,000 each month for their passports. So, they actually earn only about Baht 5,000 a month. Some of them may earn over Baht 4,000. Then, they have to rents, electricity bills and utility bills. Prices of goods have increased exponentially in Thailand. As a result, nothing is left to send back to their families,” he said.

He was underpaid and exploited, a worker, who has been working in a plywood factory for 10 years, told the CNI.

Although minimum wages for a worker are set between Baht 315 and Baht 330 per day from province to province, they are paid Baht 220 per day, Ma Marlar, a worker who is working in the plywood factory, told the CNI.

 Baht pink cards permitting migrant workers to work officially in Thailand.

“They said their factory was too small to pay such salaries and we requested them to pay us Baht 250 per day as goods were getting expensive. They refused to pay such wages and they raised the 15-day salaries of workers who regularly worked overtime by Baht 10 and those who did not by Baht 5,” she said.

Moreover, it is learnt that Myanmar workers are paid from Baht 25 to Baht 30 per hour for their overtime pay despite the overtime wage being set at Baht 55 per hour by the Thai government.

As they are entitled to basic salaries set by the Thai government as workers legally come to work in Thailand, they will fight for their rights in accordance with the law, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, “When they asked for my help, I contacted the factory, which said they could pay only Baht 220 per day and those who no longer wanted to work for them could leave their jobs. I am still trying to negotiate with them. If they continue to refuse to pay the basic salaries set by the Thai government, I will take legal action against them. If I sue the factory, it will have to repay compensations, which amount to two years’ wages. It will have to pay Baht 315 per day for each worker. I have taken such steps.”

Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers’ Rights Network and other organizations in Thailand have requested the Thai government to raise the basic salary of migrant workers including Myanmar nationals to Baht 492 per day.

However, the Ministry of Labour of Thailand said that it was impossible to pay all migrant workers Baht 492 per day as economic conditions of each province was different from others and would raise the basic salaries of migrant workers as of 1st January, 2023.

CNI News

17 August 2022

The ceremony to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the establishment of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) is held today (August 16) at SSPP/SSA Headquarters Martyrs’ Mausoleum, Wan Hai village.

SSA was established in 1964, but the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) established in 1971. The first chairman of SSPP is Sao Say Lain, a Palaung.

At the present, SSPP/SSA is a Shan armed group that has signed a ceasefire agreement (Bilateral) with the government as the State Level – Union Level Initiative.

Similarly, SSPP also is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA).