CNI News

18 July 2024

At the invitation of China, the four political parties that will go to China will discuss how to overcome the current political crisis of Myanmar with China, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News. 

The political parties that have got party registration - the Arakan Front Party (AFP), the People's Party (PP) led by U Ko Ko Gyi, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP)- will go to China.

" We still don't know what the Deputy FM of the Chinese Communist Party will discuss. At any rate, the four political parties will discuss the current political crisis of Myanmar, I think. The current status of China's participation in the peace process and how to overcome the current political and military crises of Myanmar will be discussed. Only if we can overcome the crisis, all ethnic groups can enjoy their rights and love one another and be united. It's likely that China will discuss it based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence." said Dr. Aye Maung.

While seeing U Ko Ko Gyi and Sai Ai Pao

The Chinese Communist Party invited the parties to pay a seven day visit from 20th to 27th July to China. During the visit, the parties would study the situations regarding rural development in Yunnan Province and the Communist Party in the rural areas reportedly. 

The Chinese government had an attitude that peace must be achieved in Myanmar, said Dr. Aye Maung.

"We have some information that we would have considered if the Chinese side asked. We want to overcome the political crisis of Myanmar. The Chinese government has a strong assumption that peace must be made as soon as possible. If the trip can break through to overcome the crisis, we will be able to implement it to meet the need successfully." he said.

While the Chinese Communist Party Conference was being held

China invited the five parties to come to China on a study tour last year.

Leaders of the four political parties - the PP, the AFP, the SNLD and the USDP will go to China to visit there for one week from 21st to 27th July.

CNI News

17 July 2024

Although the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) have announced a unilateral ceasefire for four days, the battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the MNDAA/ the TNLA. 

Locals and military analysts are asking questions why it is happening like this.

After the MNDAA had announced that it would cease fire from 14th to 18th July, the TNLA would also cease fire for four days, secretary of the TNLA Tar Bone Kyaw told AFP.

While seeing Laukkai City has been bombed

The TNLA and the MNDAA have announced a unilateral ceasefire to welcome and honor the third meeting of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party that is held from 15th to 18th July.

However, they said that the ceasefire would not apply to the Mandalay Region. Although revolutionary forces had announced the ceasefire unilaterally, if the Myanmar Tatmadaw attacked them, they would fight for their regions, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" They seem to be able to cease fire at once. Although the ceasefire started on 14th July, the battles have been taking place until 16th July. I'm not sure whether the battles will break out or not tomorrow. Because China put pressure on them, the MNDAA and the TNLA might have announced the ceasefire to curry favor with China. But the ceasefire is unilateral. The military council doesn't announce the ceasefire. If the military council attacked by surprise, they would fight back for their region." she said.

While seeing the TNLA force

The Myanmar Tatmadaw attacked the military camp near Thae Khaw Village, Nawnghkio Township by drone on the night of 15th July and three times by heavy weapon as well, reported the TNLA.

" The MNDAA has ceased fire unilaterally. But the Myanmar Tatmadaw might not cease fire. It's not a mutual agreement. Shooting might continue." said a military analyst to CNI News.

Because the places where battles were currently breaking were important to the Myanmar Tatmadaw, battles might continue to take place, he added.

The TNLA, the MNDAA and MDY-PDF joint forces have been attacking the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Momeik and Lashio, northern Shan State as well as in Mogok, Madaya and Sintku Townships since the last week of June. And then, battles have been severely breaking out between the two sides.

CNI News

17 July 2024

There are just too many rents in the real estate and apartment without purchase, real estate agents told CNI News. 

Sale prices of real estate and apartments have increased more than those two months ago and because those who invested in real estate and apartments have changed their investments to other businesses, there were just sales but no purchase, a real estate agent in Dala Town told CNI News.

"There are more rentals than sales. It's the same as downtown,too, because more and more households from various regions have entered Yangon. So, the rental market is better than the sale and purchase market. The real estate market in Dala mainly depends on the Dala Bridge over the river. But it will take several days to finish the construction of the bridge. Moreover, the price of Myanmar Kyat has decreased. Investors are more interested in the businesses where assets can be easily changed into cash such as transactions of dollars, gold and cars." he said.

Currently, there are just a few people who have bought real estate and apartments worth around 1,000 lakh kyats reportedly. Entrepreneurs who build and resell real estate have stopped their business due to higher prices of construction materials reportedly.

Although those who bought real estate before want to sell them at present, investors have turned to other businesses because there is no easy liquidity from the real estate industry, a real estate agent told CNI News.

" Those who want to buy real estate go buy in Thailand without buying in Myanmar. As there are many migrant workers in Tachileik, there are rents there. To the best of my knowledge, Myanmar investors largely buy real estate in Mae Sai, Thailand. There are just a few transactions with full documents in Myanmar. Because of territorial instabilities, investors don't buy so much. Supply is more than demand. The prices don't decrease because the price of Myanmar Kyat has declined. Investors who have bought real estate don't reduce the prices in the hope of a better market." he said.

There are only advance transactions of condo apartments and high rise flats while apartments and houses that have been built are scarcely sold reportedly.

Because of the above-mentioned situations, real estate transaction agents have changed to the rental market reportedly.

CNI News
13 July 2024

Because the permission to go abroad has been tightened, there might be more and more people who go abroad illegally to work.

So, wages could be reduced, those who are carrying out labor affairs told CNI News. As those who would go abroad to work have been more tightened, there are no alternatives but to choose illegal channels.

The number of illegal Myanmar workers is very large in Malaysia and due to the scarcity of jobs there, getting jobs is the main priority for them, rather than getting basic salaries reportedly.

If any more illegal workers reached, wages could be reduced, Hmwar Michael who lives in Malaysia told CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers

" When a lot of illegal workers enter, there are hardly any jobs. Moreover, employers used to pay workers for wages once a week, but they pay every 15 0r 20 days. They don't pay 1,500 Ringgit as a basic salary but factories are hiring workers at only 1,200 or 1,300 Ringgit per month. Because illegal workers have no jobs, they have to work with basic salaries that employers pay." he said.

When they have to work illegally, their rights including wages and labor rights could be violated.

However, employers were finding it difficult to recruit workers from Myanmar because of restrictions in Myanmar,, reviewed some people.

If employers could not hire legal workers, they would apply documents for illegal workers and hire them, U Min Oo, In charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development, told CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers

" It's difficult for illegal workers to find jobs. If they got jobs, their wages could be reduced than the basic salary designated. They have to work, ignoring basic rights. Legal workers foreign countries are called. But these workers can't come at once because of inspection processes. Workers are needed, but illegal workers are hired, employers can be taken action against." he said.

Because of allowing youths who would go abroad at an age limit only, banning from PJ (passport for job) to PV (passport for visit) and controlling working abroad legally, those who want to work abroad unavoidably have to choose going abroad illegally.

With more and more people who will go abroad through illegal channels, roles of brokers and human traffickers will be bigger.

CNI News
13 July 2024

There are reviews and discussions regarding how far Operation Shan-Man can advance among political and military analysts.

The operation is led by the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA), and the People's Defense Force-Mandalay (MDY-PDF), battalions and forces under the National Unity Government (NUG) are included reportedly.

However, Operation-Shan-Man was assisted by the TNLA and it was led by the PDFs and the operation would advance unti Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway and the delta region, which he thought, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" TNLA just provided assistance to the PDFs in the matter of going down to the Mandalay Region. The MDY-PDF troops will take the lead in operations in the Mandalay Region. This is a new development in the Spring Revolution. Revolutionary groups in the middle part of the country lack military experience and situations that cannot be clearly organized as an army can change. The operation mainly will reach Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway and delta region, I think." he said.

The NUG announced on 9th July that Operation Shan-Man contained ShweBo District Battalion, Nyaung U District Battalion, the PDFs from Mandalay, Mogok, Kyaukme, Pyin Oo Lwin, Madaya,and Sintku, which are all under the NUG.

While the MDY-PDF seized an anti-aircraft after it captured the Missile Battalion in Nawnghkio

The TNLA and joint forces launched the part two of Operation-1027 and currently battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA joint forces in Kyaukme, Mogok, Nawnghkio, Madaya and Sintku Township.

The operation was taking place mainly in the region where there was the Chinese interests and it was a limited war, a Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

 " There are a lot of costs for the battles. These must have been paid by China. China cooperates with armed groups for the Indian Ocean outlet without negotiating with  the government, which the entire Myanmar people have understood. So, China won't manage everything in the long run but to an extent. It might have been intended until around the place where the Lashio-Mandalay railway will be built. It won't devastate the whole country. if it is devastated, it will suffer bad consequences." he said.

Revolutionary forces have announced that they have captured Nawnghkio Town and seized a lot of arms and ammunition. Locals from Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Mogok, and Madaya, Sintku within Operation-1027 and Operation- Shan Man are fleeing to safety.

CNI News
13 July 2024

Khit Thit Media will be prosecuted under existing laws for broadcasting false information about Yoma Bank, the bank officially announced on 11th July 2024.

The media broadcast pieces of news stating directors of Yoma Bank were inspected regarding money laundering and they were detained, which was performed with an unscrupulous intent by the media, said in the bank's announcement.

The media carried out to hurt the public interests while there were instabilities and the bank would prosecute those who distributed false information under the existing laws, said in the statement released by the bank.

Yoma Bank, Ayeyarwady Bank, SMEs Development Bank, UAB Bank, Myanmar Metro Bank, Construction, Housing and Infra-structure Development Bank were found to have lent housing loans more than amount designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar, said the State Administration Council (SAC) and then they were taken action against on 1st July.

While seeing the reporting by Khit Thit Media

After that, the public is so worried that they are withdrawing their deposits, so the banks are issuing the money in a limited amount. And then, secretary, associate secretary of the SAC, Union Home Minister, Central Bank and Deputy PM met with patrons and chairpersons of the state-owned and private banks in Naypyidaw on 10th July.

As Myanmar was practicing the market economy, the Central Bank and private banks could perform freely. But violations of the rules and regulations could hurt the country's economic policies.

So, the government had to take decent action. Moreover, the people should not withdraw their deposits unnecessarily and they should not be worried about rumors; the SAC wanted banks to comprehensively use card and e-Banking systems, said Lt-Gen Aung Lin dwe, secretary of the SAC.

CNI News

12 July 2024

The Ministry of Labor has said that working abroad with passports for visit (PVs) would be controlled and if it wanted to do so, it would need to relax the age limit, pointed out some people. 

Because of sending youths to work abroad with an age limit and ban on changing Passport for Job (PJ) into Passport for Visit (PV), PV holders left for a neighboring country and are working there. 

If working abroad with PV was controlled, permission to go abroad with an age limit should be relaxed, which agencies demanded the ministry. However, the ministry refused it, an official from an overseas employment agency told CNI News.

" They (authorities) are tightening everyone. They are also tightening agencies so much. Since they limited age of the people who would work abroad, there has been a decrease in the number of people who come to agencies to work abroad. Because of an age limit, PV 
holders go abroad to work. Some go abroad through illegal channels. They also know that. So, they are limiting. Youths obviously will leave the country in any way. Agencies presented the authorities that some youths had to make preparations for years to go to Japan as 
skilled workers and most of them are 23 to 32 years old since before the order to limit age came out. They had to study Japanese for years. We requested the authorities to allow the youths, but they rejected that." he said.

Those who are waiting in line to apply for passports

Although agencies presented to relax the permission to go abroad with an age limit, the Ministry of Labor replied that it had no plan to relax that. Because the government departments are tightening the permission to go abroad one after another, there might be a sharp increase in the number of people who illegally sneak out. So, roles of brokers and human traffickers probably will be bigger.

" We always urged those who would go abroad since many years ago to go officially. By going officially, they can be safe and fully enjoy their rights. We strongly urged them not to go unofficially. But at present, we can't tell them like that. I'd like to tell all the young generation to make a decision only after studying properly with their own intelligence." he added.

At present, there have been a large number of people who leave for foreign countries in various ways while there has been a decrease in the number of people who will leave for foreign countries due to an age limit and other strictures reportedly. 

Moreover, although overseas employment agencies have got demand letters from foreign countries, due to labor shortage, sending workers abroad could be reduced in the future, according to overseas employment agencies.

CNI News
12 July 2024

The Kokang force (the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) has attacked the places where are outside the Kokang region and expanded the territory, which Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council stated on 9th July, 2024.

The MNDAA was making efforts to get the Kokang Special Region-1 and performed discussions with the National Unity Government (NUG) and it said what the NUG said kind of, he said.

" The MNDAA has attempted for so-called getting the Kokang Special Region-1. They met with the terrorist group NUG and showed their territory. Moreover, they have attacked the places outside the Kokang region and expanded the territory. They said what the NUG said.

They recruited minors. They arrested all the other ethnic workers including Bamar in the Kokang region and forced them to fight against the Myanmar Tatmadaw. They also closed the schools." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

The MNDAA captured Laukkai, Kon Kyan, Theinni, Mongko, Phaungsai, Chin Shwe Haw and Kunglong Townships in northern Shan State in the end of last year during Operation-1027 waged by the Three Brotherhood (AA, TNLA and MNDAA). At present, the MNDAA and its allies are attacking Lashio City and the battles are breaking out between the MNDAA joint forces and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Territory disputes were taking place in northern Shan State and it would take a long time to solve the issues, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

"There are territorial issues in northern Shan State. Wa wants to expand the territory. There are also territorial disputes between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP). There are many problems. It will take a long time to solve the problems even after democracy is won. Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun will tell according to military and political stratagems and exercise psychological warfare, so what he says can't be taken for granted. EAOs will have to solve their problems by negotiating and discussing." he said.

Because of the battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the MNDAA joint forces within Lashio Township at present, several ten thousand locals are fleeing to safety.

According to the 2008 Constitution, Laukkai and Kon Kyan Townships were designated as the Kokang Self-Administered Zone Special Region-1.

CNI News

12 July 2024

The Ministry of Labor has said that working abroad with passports for visit (PVs) would be controlled and if it wanted to do so, it would need to relax the age limit, pointed out some people.

Because of sending youths to work abroad with an age limit and ban on changing Passport for Job (PJ) into Passport for Visit (PV), PV holders left for a neighboring country and are working there.

If working abroad with PV was controlled, permission to go abroad with an age limit should be relaxed, which agencies demanded the ministry. However, the ministry refused it, an official from an overseas employment agency told CNI News.

" They (authorities) are tightening everyone. They are also tightening agencies so much. Since they limited age of the people who would work abroad, there has been a decrease in the number of people who come to agencies to work abroad. Because of an age limit, PV holders go abroad to work. Some go abroad through illegal channels. They also know that. So, they are limiting. Youths obviously will leave the country in any way. Agencies presented the authorities that some youths had to make preparations for years to go to Japan as skilled workers and most of them are 23 to 32 years old since before the order to limit age came out. They had to study Japanese for years. We requested the authorities to allow the youths, but they rejected that." he said.

Those who are waiting in line to apply for passports

Although agencies presented to relax the permission to go abroad with an age limit, the Ministry of Labor replied that it had no plan to relax that. Because the government departments are tightening the permission to go abroad one after another, there might be a sharp increase in the number of people who illegally sneak out. So, roles of brokers and human traffickers probably will be bigger.

" We always urged those who would go abroad since many years ago to go officially. By going officially, they can be safe and fully enjoy their rights. We strongly urged them not to go unofficially. But at present, we can't tell them like that. I'd like to tell all the young generation to make a decision only after studying properly with their own intelligence." he added.

At present, there have been a large number of people who leave for foreign countries in various ways while there has been a decrease in the number of people who will leave for foreign countries due to an age limit and other strictures reportedly.

Moreover, although overseas employment agencies have got demand letters from foreign countries, due to labor shortage, sending workers abroad could be reduced in the future, according to overseas employment agencies.