CNI News

11 July 2024

Although private banks could perform separately and freely, because some of them violated rules and regulations and encroached the country's economic policies, they were taken decent action against, said Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe, secretary of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above when patrons and chairpersons from private banks and secretary, associate secretary of the SAC, Union Home Minister, Central Bank of Myanmar and Deputy PM discussed matters relating to banking industry.

Private banks were responsible to protect the interests of depositors while they must perform for the stability, security and integrity of financial system. So, the government, the Central Bank and private banks must cooperate, said Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe.

While top officials of the SAC were meeting with bankers on 10th July 2024

The needs of private banks were met by the national government and the Central Bank while private banks must abide by the rules and regulations in accordance with international norms; in carrying out business activities, monopoly and price speculation must be prevented because they could hurt the public interests; in the same way, if violations of existing rules and regulation as well as any legitimate procedure hurt the national government's finance and property, culprits would be taken action against in accordance with relevant existing laws, he said.

"Because our country is using a market economy system, the Central Bank and private banks can perform separately and freely. But because violations of the rules and regulations are encroaching the economic policies of the State, the national government is taking decent actions." said Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe, secretary of the SAC. 

Moreover, it was necessary for the people so as not to make unnecessary withdrawals of large sums of money because they were too much worried about pieces of news coming from rumors as well as private banks were wanted to take serious action in order to widely use the card and e-Banking systems, he added.

While seeing private banks that have been taken action against

Yoma Bank, Myanmar Citizens Bank, Ayeyarwady Bank, SMEs Development Bank, UAB Bank, Myanmar Metro Bank and Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank were taken action against by the SAC on 1st July because they were found to have lent housing loans more than amount designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar. 

After that the people became excessively concerned and because they are making withdrawals from their bank deposits, banks only are issuing limited amounts of money.

Because of the lack of trust among the public, it was very important to the SAC to regain the public trust, and only if public trust is gained, would social economy and banking systems be strengthened again, pointed out business people.

CNI News

10 July 2024

There are reviews among political and economic circles regarding whether the trade that has stopped and stability could be revived through the visit of Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win, vice chairman of the State Administration Council to China, who attended the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Vice chairman of the SAC Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win met and discussed with Ms.Shen Yueyuethe, President of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on 7th July 2024.

During the meeting of the two delegations, the conditions the are being carried out in order to improve the relationship of relatives (Sino-Myanmar relationship) based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, partner relation between the two countries and improvement of all round strategic cooperation were discussed.

Because armed groups attacked Lashio, northern Shan State, while seeing a very long convoy of locals who fled to safety

The stability of the border areas of the two countries, cooperation for the full security of projects, illegal border crossing, elimination of online gambling and anti-drug activities were discussed in the meeting reportedly.

Because the TNLA and the MNDAA are attacking the Myanmar Tatmadaw in northern Shan State at present, the border trade with China has stopped.

Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win's visit to China was to attend the meeting of the SCO and could not impact on the battles in northern Shan State so much, a political commentator told CNI News.

" Because Myanmar is a member of the SCO, U Thein Sein went and attended the meeting. He and Chinese top officials spoke in a diplomatic manner. There was nothing more than that. It's difficult to reach agreements because there is no Hluttaw. There is nobody to approve." he said.

While seeing Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win and Ms.Yueyue on  7th July 2024

Myanmar's instability benefited China, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party), told CNI News. 

" When Myanmar is unstable, China can take advantage of getting mineral and natural resources from Myanmar. China can extract Myanmar timber by car a lot. During the rule of law, they can't do so." he said.

Because of armed conflict in northern Shan State, it was impossible to resume the border trade with China, said a border trade entrepreneur.

Due to armed conflicts breaking out along the China-Myanmar border, the border trade has stopped and most locals are fleeing to safety.

CNI News

10 July 2024

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) donated bags of rice and portable boxes of edible oil to the flood victims from the villages along the Chindwin River in Homalin Township, Homalin District, upper Sagaing Region on 9th July 2024 reportedly.

The SNA went and donated 1,000 bags of rice and 500 boxes of edible oil to the flood victims from 100 villages in Homalin Township.

Because of the flooding of the Chindwin River and Uru Creek within Sagaing Region at present, the people from Homalin and Khamti Townships have been flood victims.

CNI News

10 July 2024 

The Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) purposely was disturbing the part-two of Operation-1027 that was being implemented in northern Shan State, which the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) accused the SSPP in its statement that was released on 8th July 2024. 

The TNLA has been implementing the part two of Operation-1027 with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA) since 25th June 2024.

As a deliberate order of some central leaders, the SSPP troops were disturbing the part two of Operation-1027 in various ways, which was strongly denounced by the TNLA  that demanded to stop those actions, said in the statement released by the TNLA.

When the operation supervisory team was on the way to the Foothills Camp near Naung Pain to supervise on 5th July, it was attacked near the Naung Pain branch line by the SSPP troops and a first class military officer and the commander of Battalion-434 and the commander of the Battalion-577 and three troops were killed, said in the statement.

While seeing the statement accusing the SSPP that was released by the TNLA

When the TNLA attacked the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Thibaw and Kyaukme Townships as the part two of Operation-1027 that started on 25th June, the Myanmar Tatmadaw handed over some of its military camps to the SSPP before it lost control of them and the SSPP forces transported the Myanmar Tatmadaw troops and opened routes, the TNLA accused the SSPP.

Although the northern alliance (MNDAA, TNLA, AA) attempted to persuade the SSPP to fight against the Myanmar Tatmadaw through holding meeting with the SSPP leaders before the part two of Operation-1027 was launched, the SSPP leaders replied that it was not ready to participate, said in the statement released by the TNLA.

However, the SSPP denied the TNLA's accusation and said it didn't disturb Operation-1027.

While seeing the letter sent to the UWSA by the SSPP

Because the TNLA entered and carried out military activities in Namkham, Thibaw, Muse, Kyaukme and Nawnghkio Townships that have been controlled by the SSPP, territorial and administration disputes between the two sides and the two EAOs disarmed and forced to move troops each other.

So, the SSPP sent a request letter to the Commander in Chief of the UWSA to restrain the actions of the TNLA on 6th July 2024.

The TNLA and the SSPP are allies and members of the FPNCC (Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee) led by the UWSA.

CNI News

10 June 2024

The Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) sent a letter requesting to restrain the actions of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to the Commander in Chief of the United Wa State Army (UWSA/UWSP) U Zhao Zhongdang reportedly. 

The letter on which vice chairman (1) of the SSPP/SSA signed was sent to U Zhao Zhongdang.

The TNLA forces attacked the SSPP four times on 5th July, 2024, so the battles broke out between the two sides, said in the letter.

The SSPP wanted to have mutual respect and support relation with the TNLA like the relation between the SSPP and the UWSA, so the SSPP specially need the help of the UWSA, said in the letter. So, the the SSPP requested the UWSA in order to restrain the TNLA as necessary, said in the letter.

While seeing the letter sent to the Commander in Chief of the UWSA by the SSPP

The TNLA attacked the military camps of the SSPP in Kyaukme and Nawnghkio Townships and a few battles broke out between the two sides. Moreover, the TNLA disarmed the SSPP troops in Namkham Township and forced the troops to move.

And then, the SSPP disarmed the TNLA/PDF joint forces that were active in Thibaw Township and forced the forces to move on 7th July and the SSPP disarmed the TNLA forces that arrived in Manhero Town, Muse Township on 6th July and forced the TNLA troops to move.

There are territorial and administration disputes between the two EAOs in northern Shan State as well as military tension.

CNI News

9 July 2024

The Union Minister for Labor told agencies on 7th July to persuade the workers they have sent abroad to transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families in Myanmar through official channels. 

The minister said the above at the 11th anniversary celebration of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Association (MOEAA). So, agencies must present to the department whether the workers they have sent abroad have transferred money to their families within three months or not.

Agencies are finding it difficult because the ministry are putting pressure on them and the workers they have sent abroad don't transfer money through legal channels as there is a big gap between the market price and the one the Central Bank has designated, an official from an overseas employment agency, told CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers who have arrived abroad

" When transferring money, there is a big gap between the market price of foreign currency and the one the Central Bank pays. The workers don't transfer money through legal channels. The authorities forcibly ask us to make the workers transfer money. Because they say that agencies have to take responsibility, agencies are in trouble. When the money is transferred to Myanmar from Thailand, the market price of a Thai baht is 120 kyats, but the Central Bank of Myanmar pay only 90 or 98 kyats per baht. So, the workers don't transfer money to Myanmar through legal channels." he said.

Moreover, the Union Minister and the MOEAA met on 6th June and the minister asked the agencies to make the workers transfer money to their families and pay the tax, stated the Ministry of Labor.

Because the contract with the workers before they were sent abroad contained transferring 25 percent of the basic salaries to their families in Myanmar and to pay two percent of the income tax, agencies needed to supervise the workers they sent abroad to make them transfer money and pay the tax, said the minister reportedly.

While seeing those who will go abroad to work

Because the ministry has strictly carried out regarding remittance to families, every worker that made a contract with agencies must transfer money, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.

" The minister said that every worker was responsible to transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families in Myanmar through legal channels. The ministry has made a platform for that. The committee has been formed. The date will come out regarding how much the workers transfer to the bank whether they transfer or not." he said.

As transferring money to the country from Myanmar workers in foreign countries through legal channels could improve the country's GDP, the ministry possibly has tightened this, reviewed some people. The number of workers that were sent abroad is nearly 200,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, stated the Directorate of Labor.

CNI News

9 July 2024

Film actors Khin Hlaing and Myint Myat as well as comedy artists Mommy Thet and Moe Nyo were awarded comedian excellence awards by the State Administration Council on 7th July, 2024. 

14th Paying Homage to Elder Comedy Artists of the Myanmar Comedy Artists Association (Center) and the Comedian Excellence Award ceremony was held in Naypyidaw on 7th July.

Deputy Information Minister of the SAC Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun awarded comedian excellence awards to Khin Hlaing, Myint Myat, as well as gave a souvenir to Dain Daung. 

In the same way, comedy artists Mommy Thet and Moe Nyo were awarded comedian excellence awards as well as Ohn Daing was awarded the comedy supporting excellence award.

Moreover, Chit Chaw, Paw Oo, Director Ko Zaw (Ar Yon Oo) and Director Maung Thi were also awarded Comedy Creation Excellence Awards.

CNI News

9 July 2024

Vice chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Commander in Chief of the Defense Services Vice-Senior General Soe Win, and the President of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Ms Shen Yueyue discussed the cooperation for the peace and stability of the border areas of the two countries and the full security.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win is attending the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries that is held in China and he met and discussed with the Chinese delegate at 5:00 p.m on 7th July, 2024.

Increasing all-round strategic cooperation, peace and stability of the border areas of the two countries and full security of projects in order to carry out, illegal border crossing, elimination of online gambling and anti-drug activities were discussed in the meeting.

Moreover, increasing bilateral trade, bilateral economic cooperation and investment, implementation of five steps ahead of the State Administration Council, and attempts in order to hold a multi-party democratic general election were discussed reportedly.

While seeing Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win and Ms. Shen Yueyue were discussing on 7th July 2024

At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and revolutionary forces across the country. Because of these battles, border trades have stopped and so have economic investments and implementations of projects.

However, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) have announced that they would effectively take action against any organization or individual that hurt Chinese projects and economic investments.

There are many Chinese investments including petroleum and gas drilling, timber extracting, gold mining, copper production, agricultural industry, construction industry and Kyauk Phyu Deepwater Port in Myanmar.

CNI News

6 July 2024

Census-taking would be conducted in two phases in order that a general election could be held, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above in the meeting (5/2024) of the Union Government held on 5th July, 2024.

" Census-taking, a preparation task for the election, would be conducted across the country starting from early October. Census-taking will be conducted in every possible place and in the limited areas to the best of our ability and if necessary, census-taking could be conducted in two phases." said chairman of the SAC.

The number of people who were displaced for various reasons must be counted so that vote lists could be correct and only after conducting census-taking, would making vote lists be conducted, he added.

Census-taking would be conducted from 1st to 15th October, announced the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower by erecting billboards. And then, a general election would be held in 2025, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Census-taking is conducted every ten years in Myanmar and last census-taking, in 2014.