CNI News

4 December 2024

A Thai fishing boat was detained in Myanmar waters and there were fatalities or injuries, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council (SAC) on December 2, 2024. 

The fishing boat was arrested in the Myanmar waters near Kawthaung, Myanmar on November 30, 2024 by a Myanmar navy ship and 31 crew members - 27 Myanmar nationals and four Thai nationals, he said.

" Myanmar navy didn't enter the Thai waters to arrest the Thai fishing boat, but in the Myanmar waters. There were no fatalities or injuries.  Thai fishing boats were arrested in accordance with the procedures of the law. There were no fatalities or injuries." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun. 

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn

Crew members in the Thai fishing boat detained are being inspected and the Thai government has been informed of it, reported the SAC.

The fishing boat was owned by a Thai national who lives in Ranong, Thailand and it left at 3:00 pm and entered Myanmar waters at 9:00 pm on November 29 and caught fish, said Mag-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Among those who were working in the fishing boat, a Thai national earned 15,000 baht a month and a Myanmar national, 12,000 baht reportedly.

A Thai fishing boat was arrested in the Thai waters and a crew member was killed, said the Thai media adding that Thai PM Paetongtarn has protested against the incident.

CNI News

4 December 2024

Although battles between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have suspended in Paletwa, Chin State, Paletwa locals are deserting their town because commodity prices are higher and there are no job opportunities reportedly. 

Although residents of Paletwa have avoided battles since January this year, at present,  residents are deserting the town more.

Lots of the displaced persons left for the India border areas and some of them went to the villages where hill-side cultivation could be conducted. 

Moreover, the locals have arrived in Yangon where there are lots of job opportunities by the thousand, U Kyaw Khin, a Paletwa local told CNI News.

While seeing Palet local IDPs

" Some of locals evade to the India border areas or went into India. Some went and are staying in the villages where they suppose are safe. Paletwa locals have already arrived in Yangon by the thousand. Samee is the same as Paletwa. The locals have no income there. They can go on living in a place where they can make a living. Even though there are no more battles there, if they have no income there, it will be very difficult for them to go on living." he said.

Paletwa Township depend on goods coming from Rakhine State and due to the current battles, it is difficult to make goods from Rakhine State enter Paletwa. 

Moreover, the transportation is not convenient for goods coming from Pakokku Township due to battles.

While seeing an IDP

Many Paletwa locals are government employees and at present, because the government mechanism has suspended, they are finding it more difficult; it is not convenient for them to do other jobs reportedly.

"In Paletwa, most town dwellers are government employees and some are NGO staffs. And some are religious leaders. They are most town dwellers. Because the government mechanism has ruined, it's been very difficult for the livelihood of government staffs and their families in the town. In the villages there, people are doing hill-side cultivation. There are no factories and workshops. When the government mechanism operated there, people were working in the government's projects building road and bridge." said a Paletwa local.

Among over 100,000 people who were living in Paletwa ownship, about 50,000 have displaced because of battles, according to those who are helping IDPs.

CNI News

4 December 2024

Revolutionary EAOs should sign a bilateral agreement with NCA signatories to make ethnic representatives show up on the political platform, chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin told CNI News. 

The ALP is an EAO that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 15th October 2015.

The government needed to think about how it would open the way in order to make ethnic representatives show up on the platform by finishing the talks that were not finished, said Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin.

" Revolutionary EAOs should sign a bilateral agreement firstly with NCA signatories in order to make ethnic representatives show up on the political platform. And the government needs to think about how it can open the way for the ethnic representatives to make them reach on the political platform after finishing the talks that are not finished. Myanmar is a country where a civil war is breaking out. So, firstly it's necessary to cease the war. On the other hand, it's very important to talk with each NCA signatory trying to solve the political problem by political means." she said.

While seeing leaders and representatives from various ethnic organizations

Ethnic representatives needed participating in the political platform more so that they could demand for the sake of their regions and their races in accordance with the law, said chairman of the SAC on 19th November. 

The SAC was carrying out to implement the proportional representation system  in order that more representatives representing social classes could include in the Hluttaws of Regions and States, he added.

EAOs and political parties had had intension since before to cooperate in the political dialogues; however, those situabilateraltions had disappeared for many reasons and armed conflicts appeared, spokesperson of the 7 EAO Alliance, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt told CNI News.

" We, national races, as EAOs or political parties, we had intended to cooperate in holding political dialogues since before. But these situations disappeared for many reasons and armed conflicts appeared. Political dialogues have almost suspended. As the SAC that has taken the State responsibilities, if it should be generous and tolerate to make the situations leading the future peace, all inclusive dialogue will emerge although there are difficulties, I believe." he said.

While leaders of EAOs and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

Without solving political problems with political means, if they were solved with weapons, it would produce the condition that was not peaceful; the current conflicts could be solved with dialogue after reducing the conflicts, said chairman of the SAC in his written speech on the National Day.

The NCA has signed by the RCSS, the LDU, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the DKBA, the PNLO, the KNU, the CNF and the ABSDF. 

However, the KIA, the AA, the TNLA, the MNDAA, the KNPP, that have not signed the NCA as well as the KNU, the CNF and the ABSDF are waging battles against the Myanmar Tatmadaw while the NDAA, the UWSA and the SSPP are staying neutral.

CNI News

3 December  2024

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant for Myanmar military commander-in-chief, Sr. Gen. Min Aung on 27th November, alleging his responsibility for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of the Rohingya committed in Myanmar and in part in Bangladesh between August and December 2017, which could not impact on Myanmar, Myanmar issue analysts told CNI News.

As Myanmar is not a member of the ICC and has not signed, the actions of the ICC would not impact on Myanmar, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

" No.1, Myanmar is not a member of the ICC and hasn't signed the agreement regarding the ICC. Among the ASEAN countries, Cambodia and Timor-Leste only are the members of the ICC. They also signed the agreement because according to their political history they needed to do so. But the processes of the ICC might not convenient for some countries. The history of Myanmar is a bit complicated. There are a lot of complications on the ground in some countries for which it will be just an embarrassment. As Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, no matter what kinds of actions they are taking outside Myanmar, it won't impact on Myanmar." he said.

While seeing chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan

Myanmar is a member of the ICC and it never recognize the statements released by the ICC; Myanmar is practicing a free, active and non-aligned foreign policy in relation with other countries as well as a peaceful co-existence policy, responded the SAC.

That application for the arrest warrant just could affect the political dignity of the SAC and it couldn't be effect, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

" It can't impact on Myanmar. The ICC has released lots of announcements. It can affect the political dignity of Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. But the public is heartened because the ICC prosecutor has requested the arrest warrant for a military dictator who is torturing them as he like. And it's invigorated for the propaganda as well. But it doesn't make any difference. The ICC has released lots of statements. It wasn't able to solve anything effective." she said.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

The request of the ICC prosecutor to arrest warrant for Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC was welcomed, said in the statements released by the National Unity Government (NUG), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Chin National Front (CNF) on 30th November 2024. 

Myanmar is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court. 

The Court has no jurisdiction over acts committed by nationals of non-State Parties on the territory of a non-State Party, unless referred to it by the UN Security Council, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning at the regular press conference on 28th November.

CNI News

2 December 29, 2024

The military camps of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in the Mae Hong Son region where the borderline between Myanmar and Thailand had not be designated might retreat to the northeastern part of Shan State, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), Dr. Aye Maung told CNI News.

The Thai Army has warned the UWSA to retreat its nine military camps from Mae Hong Son on 18th December at the latest.

If the Wa region was in the territory, the UWSA must accept the management by the Myanmar government; so as not make tensions take place, Wa military camps might retreat to the northeastern part of Shan State, he said.

" I heard that the borderline between Myanmar and Thailand hasn't been designated in Mae Hong Son. Did Myanmar government give the camps to the UWSA? The question could enter the history. If the Wa region is included in the territory of Myanmar, Wa must accept the management by the Myanmar government. Otherwise, the Myanmar government will find it difficult to solve the border dispute with Thailand. If so, the Wa military camps must retreat to the northeastern part of Shan State. In these places, the border guard force of Myanmar government must be deployed. Otherwise, it will be difficult for Myanmar government to accept." he said.

The map of 171 region described by the voice of Wa youth network

That the Thai government asked the UWSA to retreat its nine military camps in Mae Hong Son was right; it was just an issue between the two countries to solve and the case had been informed to the leadership of the country, said U Nyi Rang, the liaison officer for the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Lashio, Shan State through a news agency based in Wa State on 26th November. 

However, the State Administration Council and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have not made any comments on that.

 Mr Dusit Manapan, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and FM of the SAC, U Than Swe met and discussed the security and stability of the border areas on 27th November 2024. 

Thai Army was ready to protect its territory and if the UWSA advances beyond the borderline informally designated, Thai Army would drive them away from the borderline, which Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy PM said, reported the Thai Enquirer, a Thailand based news agency.

While Myanmar FM U Than Swe was meeting with Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand

The announcements that would come out from the diplomatic discussions must be watched, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News. 

" They will discuss diplomatically about it, I think. Surely, the discussion will be conducted among military officials from both sides in the border areas, I think. I wonder if they will discuss the borderline. But the military is instigating. I don't know what will happen next. We have to watch what announcements will come out" she said.

In time of military tension with Thai Army, the UWSA held the opening ceremony of military training school where 2,000 recruits were included in the No. 171 area of southern region of the UWSA on 26th November, broadcast on the Wa State TV.

CNI News

2 December 29, 2024

The Arakan Army was implementing the Arakan Education System based on the Arakan language in Paletwa Township, Chin State, said locals. 

The AA has been trying to implement the Arakna Education System for about one year and the system will start in the coming academic year, according to the pieces of news that have come out. 

However, Chin ethnic people had no wish to learn the education based the Arakan language and there were few teachers who wanted to serve there, U Kyaw Kyaw, a resident of Paletwa told CNI News.

" The AA has been trying to implement the Arakan Education for about one year in Paletwa Township, but both Chin people and Rakhine people live in the township. Chin people don't want to learn the Arakan Education. Moreover, there are few teachers who want to serve under the Arakan Education as well. So, they have gone away. I can't say what will happen next." he said.

Although the Arakan Education has been started implementing in some townships controlled by the AA, some people are unhappy with enactment of the Arakan Education in Paletwa Township where many Chin people live. 

A Basic Education High School in Paletwa Township, Chin State

Although most of the people living in Paletwa Township are Chin people, as there are Rakhine people there as well, they would accept if the Arakan Education was implemented in the places where most of Rakhine people lived, said locals.

Imposing that every student in Paletwa Township must learn the Arakan Education was not proper, a resident of Paletwa told CNI News. 

" It will be less likely to put the subject of Chin in the Arakan Education. Even under the previous government, ethnic language was taught only outside of the school time. We have no reason to object if they implement the Arakan Education at the place where most of Rakhine people live. But we are unhappy with asking other ethnic people to learn the Arakan Education by force. At a time of transparency like this, everybody wants their private freedom. Imposing the education that most of the people don't want is not suitable, I think." he said.

There are nearly 100,000 people in Paletwa Township and of them, nearly 20,000 are Rakhine people. most of the people living in the township are Khumi Chin people.

CNI News

2 December 29, 2024

There is a territorial dispute between the United Wa State Army in Myanmar and Thailand and Thai army has asked the UWSA to remove its military camps in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. 

However, Wa would not remove its military camps and Thailand would not dare to attack, said political commentators to CNI News.

Thai Army had ordered Wa forces to retreat from their military camps in Mae Hong Son, Thailand on 18th December at the latest, reported Thai media. 

Myanmar Tatmadaw had given those military camps in Mae Hong Son to Wa and Wa army would find ways to avoid the condition that battles could break out with Thailand, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar-China affairs commentator told CNI News.

While seeing the Thai army

" It seems that Wa won't remove its military camps. I don't think Thailand won't dare to fight. Thai Army is even poorer than the Myanmar military council. I'm not sure that they have better weapons. The government of the State Peace and Development Council allowed the Wa army to deploy in these regions. Wa will try to avoid the fighting. It doesn't seem to think about waging battles. There might have misunderstanding between them. Problem often arise in the region. I don't think any big problems will arise. I can't say whether battles can emerge or not if the military council instigates. Wa will indulge something and negotiate with Thailand, I think. Meanwhile, the Thai Army has rejected pieces of news that states there are military tensions between the Wa army and the Thai army. Colonel, spokesperson of the Thai Army rejected comments spreading on the social media that has mentioned there were military tensions between the Wa army and the Thai army on 27th November and the relation between the two sides is normal,'' he said.

Because the borderline had not built in that region yet, it was a buffer zone and narcotic drug gangs were being active there, U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator told CNI News.

While seeing the UWSA

" We can't say who is wrong or who is right because the borderline hasn't designated yet. Moreover, it's still a buffer zone. Narcotic drug gangs from Myanmar are being active there. They have been there since U Khun Sar was there. The Thai Army has been supporting them. But as the Thai Army says these places are theirs now, the Wa army won't accept that. But the Thai Army doesn't seem to like that the Wa army has deployed its camps there. So, the Thai army has organized the RCSS to cover, I think." he said.

Although the Thai army has demanded the UWSA to retreat its military camps from that region on 18th December at the latest, the UWSA didn't agree to that, reported Bangkok Post. 

The Thai army demanded that while discussing with six top officials of the UWSA on 18th and 19th November in Chiangmai, Thailand, reported Bangkok Post.

CNI News

30 November 2024

Corn cultivation acres have decreased by half this year because the price of corn fell last year and there were no stabilities in some regions growing corn, according to the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association. 

Because the price of corn fell to 1,000 kyats per viss last year, some farmers made losses. Moreover, corn cultivation decreased by about 60 percent in northern Shan due to the armed conflicts while 50 percent decreased in Ayeyarwady Region reportedly. 

Because pulses were grown in place of corn, corn cultivation decreased by half in the whole country, a corn trader from Ayeyarwady Region told CNI News. 

" Corn cultivation acres have decreased.  Pulses have been grown instead because corn farmers were worried last year the price of corn fell when they sold. In comparison with the cost including inputs this year, if the price of corn will decrease, they won't make a profit. farmers in Ayeyarwady reduced corn cultivation by half. The corn cultivation has decreased by half in the whole country." he said.

There are about 400,000 acres of winter corn cultivation in Myanmar and it is grown in Shan State, western Bago Region, Naypyidaw, Mandalay Region, Magway Region and Kachin State. 

At present, the price of corn has been more than expected at 1,500 kyats per viss. 

While seeing a corn plantation

So, farmers can make a profit at this price. However, whether the price of corn was profitable or not depended on the transportation, Ko Min Khine, a corn trader, told CNI News.

" The yield of corn increased a lot last year. When the demand and the supply are not balanced, farmers can face losses. This year, the yield will decrease and the demand will be high. Farmers can make a profit. But it can't be surely estimated. It's related to transportation as well. But as the current price is 1,500 kyats per viss, farmers can make a profit by half." he said.

As the period when the corn can be exported to Thailand with tax exemption will start from 1st February 2025, Myanmar corn traders are making preparations.

Myanmar corn is mainly being exported to Thailand and plans are being made to export corn to Thailand through the Tachileik border trade and the Myawaddy border trade if it is opened. 

Moreover, plans have been made to export from the Yangon Port through Kawthaung-Ranong to Thailand by sea.

Corn cultivation is second biggest after paddy and in comparison with export earnings from rice and pulses, it is the third biggest. 

At present, each year local production of corn is about 3.2 million metric tons and about 2.2 million are exported.

CNI News

30 November 2024

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA/KIO) announced on 28th November 2024 that it had abolished the Kachin Special Region-1 after capturing the region. 

The KIA attacked and captured the military camps of the New Democratic Army – Kachin (NDA-K) in Panwa, Kan Pite Tee, Chipwi and Sawlaw Townships that are included in the Kachin Special Region-1 led by U Zakhun Ting Ying in October and November.

" Because dictator governments designated the Kachin Special Region-1 and divided and ruled, the unity of the Kachin People was hurt. So, the KIA had to capture the territories designated as the Kachin Special Region-1 so that not only among Kachin people but also other ethnic people in the Kachin region can live together without becoming disunited." said in the statement. 

While seeing the statement released by the KIO

From now, the Kachin Special Region-1 would be no more, said in the statement. 

So, indigenous people that were under the rule of the Kachin Special Region-1 and investors were invited to carry out the all-round development in cooperation with the KIO without having to worry, said in the statement.

The group led by U Zakhun Ting Ying seceded from the Burma Communist Party in 1989 and made peace with the Tatmadaw in 1990 and then the Tatmadaw designated Panwa, Kan Pite Tee, Chipwi and Sawlaw as the Kachin Special Region-1.