CNI News

11 August 2022

The Karen National Liberation Army, on 10th August, vowed to realize four principles of its late leader Saw Ba U Gyi including decision-making for its own political destiny.

The pledge was made in a message sent to the 72nd Anniversary to Karen National Martyrs’ Day, which falls on 12th August.

Saw Ba U Gyi adopted four principles: “Surrender is out of the question,” “The recognition of the Karen Country must be completed,” “We shall retain our arms,” and “We shall decide our own political destiny,” according to the message.

He applied three approaches such as political dialogue for a negotiated settlement with Burmese Government, armed struggle and international intervention or arrangement for the Karen people.

The KNLA said in its message, “It has been 73 years since the Karen Revolution started. We have continued our struggle relentlessly for more than 70 years by performing duties which fall on our shoulders and into our hands as historical ones as the mission launched by sacrificing lives of our leader Saw Ba U Gyi, other leaders, comrades and our people has not been accomplished. There are thousands of our leaders, comrades and people who sacrificed their lives for the Karen Revolution without being recognized as martyrs. We would like to urge all to continue to perform unfulfilled historical duties.

Chairman Saw Ba U Gyi

As each leader, comrade and individual has their own duties to be performed, we would like to urge all to stand steadfastly on our principles and approaches laid down by Chairman Saw Ba U Gyi and successive leaders by following guidance and instructions of superior leaders,” the message says.

The Karen Revolution started in 1949 and the current chairman of the Karen National Union is Gen. Mutu Say Poe.

The KNLA and the Karen National Defence Organization are armed wings of the KNU.

Along with other EAOs, the KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government on 15th October 2015.

CNI News

11 August 2022

Illegal Myanmar workers in Thailand have been subject to exorbitant fees as much as more than Baht 10,000 per head to apply for Baht pink cards, which allow them to stay and work in the kingdom temporarily.

However, illegal workers from other countries like Laos and Cambodia were not forced to pay such exorbitant fees, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, told the CNI.

Ko Thar Gyi said, “The Thai government has announced that migrant workers can apply for Baht pink cards online between 1st to 15th August. So, people who were close to the Thai labour ministry compiled the lists of Myanmar workers to apply for the pink cards and worked as brokers. Some illegal workers had to pay them from Baht 12,000 to 15,000 depending on the areas they were staying but no one was sure whether authorities would issue the pink cards to them. When illegal workers apply for the pink cards online, the Labour Ministry will process their applications by allocating them to each employer and will issue the pink cards to them if the employer agrees to give jobs to them. Now, brokers from Myanmar and Thailand forced illegal workers to pay excessive fees to register them with companies close to them.”

Officially, each illegal worker is required to pay Baht 4,000 for work permit and health insurance. Some official labour agencies offered the application services at Baht 5,000 to 6,000 per head including their agent fees.

A seafood processing site in Thailand.

As the number of illegal workers from Cambodia and Laos is relatively small, their employers took the responsibilities for their pink cards. No one of them had to pay more than Baht 8,000.

Myanmar workers are being exploited in other countries because the country is poor and underdeveloped, a Myanmar worker in Thailand told the CNI.

“Our country is poor and underdeveloped. So, we cannot make any demands or complaints. Those who worked here illegally had to face oppression. The labour attaché has neglected us and his staff are working as brokers. And other brokers are lackeys of Thai authorities. They themselves oppress us. Most brokers are people who have access to the Thai and Myanmar embassies.

As they can continue to work after they have received the pink cards, Myanmar illegal workers were forced to pay exorbitant fees.

Labour activists in Thailand said that the Ministry of Labour and the National Unity Government should offer effective assistance to Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.

The Thai government hardly issues pink cards, which enable holders to enjoy labour rights enacted by Thailand, to illegal workers.

The Migrant Workers Rights Network, in cooperation with Thai labour unions, called for authorities to increase the basic salary of migrant workers in Thailand including Myanmar nationals from Baht 320 to Baht 492.

CNI News

11 August 2022

The National Unity Government has vowed to topple the military dictatorship and establish a federal democracy by joining hand with the Kachin revolutionary forces.

The NUG said it pledged to establish a federal democracy union aspired by all ethnic groups including the Kachin in a message sent to the Kachin Martyrs' Day, which falls on 10th August.

Spokesperson of the KIA Col Naw Bu told the CNI that he did not know the extent to which the NUG and the KIA would cooperate politically and nothing was being implemented to that end.

NUG Defence Minister U Yee Mon and PDF troops. (NUG-fb)

Col Naw Bu said, “The KIO central committee will decide the extent to which the two sides can cooperate but as far as I know, the central committee has not implemented any cooperation schemes with the NUG. However, both the KIO and the NUG have the same objectives of toppling the military dictatorship. I think the two sides can join hands for issues in which they have the same objectives. The KIO has not issued any statement about the matter. I just would like to point out that the two sides have the same objectives.”

However, the KPICT left the NUCC in early July.

The KPICT and the CRPH at a meeting. (CRPH)

It was likely that the NUG sent the message to the KIO as it realized that the Spring Revolution led by it could achieve victory only through the cooperation with EAOs, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “I think the NUG pointed out the need to cooperate between not just the NUG and the KIA but also between other EAOs like the Karenni, the CNF and the KNU and it by sending messages to their important events to call for cooperation to speed up the victory of the revolution.”

Currently, the KIA has formed alliances with local PDFs and fought with the junta in Katha, Pinlebu, Banmauk, Kawlin in Sagaing Region and Indawgyi and Hpakant in Kachin State.

CNI News

10 August 2022

As Malaysian authorities have detained illegal workers from various countries, they are not likely to release Myanmar nationals selectively, Chairman U San Win of the Myanmar Social Assistance Association in Kuala Lumpur told the CNI.

U San Win said, “It is impossible to call for the release of Myanmar illegal workers selectively because Malaysian authorities have detained people who entered Malaysia illegally from various countries. So, it is necessary to call for the release of all illegal workers detained in Malaysia. The government has detained them without discrimination in accordance with the law.”

Illegal workers in Malaysia were allowed to return home or stay and apply for work permits for two years but the process was scrapped in June.

NUG officials at a meeting.

Since then, Malay authorities have cracked down on illegal workers but the public has become aware of the arrests after a video clip about detaining illegal workers on 9th August went viral on social media.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government announced that it had filed an appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia about Myanmar illegal workers detained on 9th August in Malaysia.

U San Win told the CNI, “It all depends on the Malaysia government. They might be lenient with the illegal workers. If they are not, they will take action against them. If the appeal is successful, Myanmar illegal workers may get lenient treatments and can even get official work permits. I want my nationals to be freed after being fined.”

Malaysia has detained over 10,000 illegal workers form various countries and 115 illegal workers arrested on 9th August were Myanmar nationals.

Malay authorities detain illegal workers.

If those who legally work in Malaysia are arrested, their employers can take them out of custody but no one can apply for bail for illegal workers.

Illegal workers in Malaysia can face at least six months’ prison terms depending on their offences.

As Malay authorities apply strict laws against illegal workers, labour activists have urged Myanmar nationals to come and work in Malaysia legally.

Hnalonehla Blood Donors’ Charity has also advised Myanmar nationals not to come to Malaysia illegally until the end of August.

CNI News

9 August 2022

After the Central Bank of Myanmar hiked the official exchange rate of US$ against MMK from MMK 1,850 per US$ to MMK 2,100 per US$, the demand for onions grew and prices rose to as much as MMK 2,000 per viss.

The demand for onions, which was very low in July, grew starting from 8th August and most traders were buying onions for export to Thailand and Vietnam, U Hla Thaung, a member of Pakokku Township Merchants and Brokers Association, told the CNI.

U Hla Thaung said, “The demand for onions is growing. Merchants from Myawady and exporters to Vietnam purchased onion after the CBM raised the official exchange rate from MMK 1,850 to MMK 2,100 per US$. When the official exchange rate was set at MMK 1,850 per US$, the sales slowed down. The demand for onions was very low in July. With the MMK 2,100 per US$ exchange rate, exporters in Myawady can get profits. Two truckloads of onions I am going to sell fetch MMK 2,000, MMK 1,925 and MMK 1900 per viss. Onion prices are likely to increase depending on the demand from Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange in Yangon.”

Workers load onions onto a truck.

As onions harvested in Monywa are of higher quality than Pakokku onions, they fetch as much as MMK 2,200 per viss, according to brokerage houses and commodity exchanges.

Currently, most onion farmers from villages were selling their onions to brokerage houses in towns but some farmers were still waiting to get more than MMK 2,000 per viss, said U Kyaw Sein, an onion merchant.

U Kyaw Sein told the CNI, “Myanmar is in a shortage of one month’s consumption of onions before the new harvest. When onions are in short supply, prices are likely to rise a little. Most of the onions entering the market are from farmers in villages. Those who store onions in towns are still waiting to get higher prices. I think they will sell their onions when prices rise to nearly MMK2,000 per viss.”

During the last two years, onion farmers and merchants suffered losses due to political situation and COVID and they had to sell their onions at MMK 100 per viss.

  Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange in Yangon.

U Hla Thaung said that merchants who stored onions would sell their onions as it was profitable for them.

“Onion merchants will not suffer losses at current onion prices. It cost them about MMK 1,000 to store a viss of onions including labour and storage costs and damage losses. So, they can sell their onion at prices above MMK 1,700 per viss but some of them are still waiting to get as much as MMK 2,000 per viss. As they suffered losses for two consecutive years, a large volume of onions will enter the market at MMK 2,000 per viss,” U Hla Thaung told the CNI.
Merchants guessed that onion prices would further rise. However, commodity prices tend to change based on prices in Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange.

On 8th August in Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange, Monywa onions fetched as much as MMK 2,200 per viss while the prices of those from other regions stood between MMK 1,450 and MMK 2,000 per viss.

CNI News

10 August, 2022

For agricultural activities, it is required to provide inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides and agricultural materials for farmers, said SAC Chairman General Min Aung Hlaing in today (August 8th) meeting where SAC Committee members, the Union Minister, Chief Ministers of regional and state governments as well as the presidents of autonomous regions and autonomous provinces attended.

The SAC president said, “It is necessary to take serious action to make rice cultivation and production activities correct and regular and the government must also take mandatory measures to obtain pesticides and agricultural water for agricultural inputs.

Then, we need to put effective use in a water storage system for getting enough water in the summer and systematically using the underground water. If successful, the agricultural activities will open up to employment opportunities and income earnings.

Moreover, he also said that the consumption and demand will rise, thereby improving the socio-economic life, and that it is important for the state chief ministers to take serious actions to bring a development to agriculture and livestock based on rural areas.

U Kyaw Zan, the Chairman of the Rakhine State Farmers’ Union said, “In order to overcome this cumbersome problem, the role of the government is at the crux here. All the mere efforts that we are doing have run its course now.”

So, at the time, I really think that the government should be systematically analyzing the farmer’s conditions and making plans to give support to them. The main problem is that we have to do things in time and we don’t have water now, so we have to be given equipment to bring water.

while Rakhine farmers are doing farming

And we have no dam water now. However, we are making arrangements to connect the whole length of river water. The cost can be high, of course, since there is no dam,” he told CNI on July 23, 2022.

The SAC chairman said that the country is pushing for improvement in the agricultural sector since agricultural products are its main export, thereby he wants the regions and state prime ministers and chairmen of autonomous regions to take this issue seriously.

Farmers said that currently, high input costs in Myanmar, rising fuel prices and agricultural water insufficiency are leading to the decline of cultivation acres as well as the decline in the yield of rice.

Similarly, there are reportedly frequent armed conflicts in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Karen State, Chin State and Kayah State leading to the increasing difficulty in doing agricultural activities.

Also in Rakhine state, due to the lack of irrigation water, the cultivation of rainfed rice is decreasing. Due to this decrease in rice yield, there have been purchases of rice consumables from the Irrawaddy region.

Ko Maung Win from Rakhine State Min Pya Township said to CNI on July 23, 2022, “It still does not rain. The mud in the plowed fields have already hardened again. There are a lot of difficulties and I don’t even know if there will be rice next year. It is supposed to rain a lot now but the rain has been so little. The fields that were plowed relying on the rain are now dry again.”

The SAC Chairman Major General Min Aung Hlaing responded to support agriculture and businesses with 400 billion for economic recovery and to take action to revive Myanmar’s economy within 6 months.

CNI Sport News

10 August, 2022

The Myanmar team won the first place in the ongoing ASEAN U-16 tournament and has now gone up to the preliminary final round. In the final group match against Cambodia, which was played as a decisive match to advance to the semi-finals, the Myanmar team won 1-0.

The only winning goal for the Myanmar team which was a penalty in the 48th minute of the match, was scored by the captain of the team, Lin Htet Oo. After scoring this precious winning goal, they managed to maintain the winning result during the rest of the game and advance to the semi-final stage.

In the group match including the one where the Myanmar team won against Cambodia, they beat Australia by 3 goals - 2 goals, they won and tied with the Malaysian team with 1 goal each. Because of that, they were able to take the top spot with 7 points after playing 3 group matches. 

Lin Htet Oo who is getting ready for a penalty kick (MFF)

In the other groups, the host Indonesia and the Thailand team were also qualified for the preliminary finals with top scores. The Vietnamese team finished second best and advanced to the next round.

The Myanmar team will compete against the host Indonesia as the preliminary final, and the Thai team with the Vietnamese team. These events will be held on August 10The Myanmar team's match will be played at 7:30 p.m. Myanmar time. 

The ASEAN U-16 tournament has not been held for the past 2 consecutive years due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Fortunately, this year celebrates its revival. The Myanmar team has won the ASEAN U-16 Championship twice in 2002 and 2005 but it has been far from success ever since.

CNI News

9 August 2022

Strong exports and manufacturing are important to check the depreciation of MMK and appreciation of foreign currencies, economists told the CNI.

However, it is necessary to maintain stability to increase production in the country, an economist, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told the CNI.

He said, “ The economy of a country can be affected by various factors. Domestic production has been falling. Farmers can’t even work on their land. The main problem of the country is the instabilities. Only when a country is stable, will it be able to make economic progress. When production falls, so does the export. When a country falls in export, it will have to struggle. When a country is unstable, it is very difficult for it to do business. There is no prospect for growth. The country has to export more products for its foreign exchange incomes and to check the inflation. It is impossible to check inflation without production and output. Now, the government will show its deficits in its budgets. As the people refused to pay taxes, it cannot control the economy while earnings from export are very low. The only thing the government does is to print money from the CBM, pushing up the inflation rates. So, the MMK will depreciate further.”

The depreciation of MMK is the major consequence of the decline in production, lack of effective policies and adoption of wrong policies, Agriculture and Economic Consultant Ko Zaw Min Ning told the CNI.

He pointed out that correct policies must be adopted to remedy the issues of production, exports and imports.

Myanmar Kyat and US dollar notes.

“The fluctuation of dollar prices mainly affects the public and those who engage in production like farmers because Myanmar is a country that relies on imports. As the US$ exchange rate climbed to MMK 2,100, the prices of imported goods and foodstuffs will rise. Similarly, production costs of farmers will go up because they have to depend on imported fertilizers and seeds. So, the public and farmers will be hit first. So, there will be public unrest and the country will be unstable, according to theories,” he said.

As the public was affected by the appreciation of US$ in the international market and the depreciation of MMK at home, it was necessary to take effective action against speculators, he added.

Under the current political situation, it would take a long time for MMK and the economy to recover, another economist said.

“A currency can appreciate when the economy is in good shape and the public has trust in the currency. Currently, both the economy and the public trust are deteriorating. It is important to restore both of them. Priority must be given to the economy and the political situation must be stable. Only when the country is stable will the businesses be able to run their operations smoothly. Then, efforts must be exerted to build trust in MMK,” he said.

As the Central Bank of Myanmar raised the official exchange rate of US$ from MMK 1,850 per US$ to MMK 2,100 as of 5th August, market exchange rates are likely to rise further, according to economists and traders.

CNI News

9 August 2022

Peace talks between the SAC and some EAOs are not likely to take place in August, Col Khun Okkar, an EAO leader, told the CNI.

He said tensions have been running high after the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy and Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw but peace talks are likely to be held in September, when the ASEAN special envoy is scheduled to visit Myanmar.

Col Khun Okkar told the CNI, “I can’t say exactly. As tensions are rising after the executions of four activists, it is very difficult to hold peace talks at the moment. Peace talks are likely to take place in September before the ASEAN special envoy is scheduled to visit Myanmar. I don’t think negotiations will take place in August. They may invite EAOs during the envoy’s visit. We haven’t received any invitation so far. It was learnt that they are arranging the second rounds of talks but we don't know the details.”

Designating 2022 as the peace year, the SAC chairman vowed to end armed conflicts in the entire country and met with 10 EAOs delegations.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets a delegation of the SSPP.

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that the second round of peace talks would be held and he discussed implementation of the multi-party democracy system and building a union based on democracy and federalism with EAOs delegation frankly.

The SAC has not announced the date for the second round of talks so far.

Leaders of signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement including the Restoration Council of Shan State/ Shan State Army, the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Arakan Liberation Party, the Karen National Union/ Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council and the Pao National Liberation Organization joined the peace talks with the SAC.

Leaders of non-signatories to the NCA including the United Wa State Army, the National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla) and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army held peace talks with the SAC.