CNI News

4 July 2024

Nearly 60 civilians were killed in Kyaukme, northern Shan State because of battles, according to regional philanthropic associations. 

There were many deaths due to the explosion of artillery shells and their philanthropic association was finding it difficult to get enough fuel, a member of a philanthropic association, told CNI News.

" There have been nearly 60 civilian deaths. 55 civilians were killed because of heavy weapons, and three people got sick and died. Today, we hear cracks of heavy weapons every 20 minutes. We are finding it difficult to get enough fuel for the car." he said. 

The battles have been breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) in Kyaukme since 25th June, 2024.

While seeing IDPs

The battles between the two sides contain heavy weapon fire and air strikes and there are home damages and civilian casualties. At present, there are explosions of artillery shells within Kyaukme Town. So, almost all the residents of the town have fled to safety, a resident of Kyaukme told CNI News.

" Shells of heavy weapons fell and exploded on the houses in 8 Ward. Residents of the town largely went down to Mandalay. Some residents fled to Pon Woe and Naung Pain. Those who cannot go far away gathered at the monastery. There have been over 10,000 IDPs." he said.

Monks were looking after the IDPs with the help of the people who lived away, he added.

The battles have been breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA joint forces since 25th June in Kyaukme, Thibaw, Nawnghkio, Mogok and Madaya and locals are fleeing to safety.

CNI News

3 July 2024

As the Arakan National Party (ANP) was found to be inconsistent with the provisions of Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Act, the party's application for registration was rejected, announced the Union Election Commission (UEC) on 1st July 2024.

According to the verification replies of the relevant ministries in relation to the ANP's application to be registered under the Section 25 of the Political Parties Registration Act, the party was found to be inconsistent with the provisions of Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Act, said in the statement.

While seeing the statement that has refused the ANP's rights to establish a political party

According to the decision of the Union Election Plenary Session (11/2024), the UEC refused the ANP's application for the party registration in form (g) of the bylaw of the political parties registration and the UEC was verifying the rest parties that has applied for the party registration, reported the UEC.

The ANP is a party with strong public support in Rakhine State and a big party that won with the most votes in the 2015 general election and in the 2020 byelection within Rakhine State.

Refusing the application of the ANP with strong public support for registration was questionable for the survival of democracy and the ability to hold multi-party democratic elections, pointed out some people.

CNI News

3 July 2024

Thailand started the 120 Day Plan that will arrest undocumented foreigner migrant workers in June and within 24 days of the plan, over 60,000 illegal Myanmar migrant people were arrested, stated the Thai Ministry of Labor.

When illegal workers were checked across Thailand from 5th to 28th June, nearly 80,000 were arrested. Those arrested are 58,868 Myanmar people, 11,913 Cambodians, 5,571 Laotians, 22 Vietnamese people and 2,424 other foreigner workers reportedly.

The four month long plan came after the Thai government approved to issue the Thai Pink ID cards to undocumented migrant workers in June. Arresting like that might be related to online gambling, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Rights Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

"In my opinion, the arrests seem to be related to their national security and online gambling. Myanmar citizens are not involved in gambling and frauds. But taking advantage of our ignorant Myanmar citizen workers, their documents and bank accounts were abused. These things may be related to the arrests." he said.

While authorities concerned have arrested those who entered illegally

If migrant workers with incomplete documents were checked and found, the four month long plan that would arrest, fine and send back to their native countries had been officially announced by the Thai authorities.

Among about 80,000 illegal migrant workers who were arrested, 352 Myanmar workers, 75 Laotian workers, 53 Cambodian workers, five Vietnamese workers and 49 other citizens had been taken action against already, announced the Thai Ministry of Labor.

The Thai authorities sought and arrested at 203 places including shops, factories, workshops and restaurants reportedly.

While authorities are checking a workplace

"In my opinion, the news came out in a threatening manner to make all undocumented workers take Thai Pink ID cards. Brokers in Thailand were waiting for that. It's difficulty to get jobs. Jobs are scarce. There are a lot of liars. Many people were cheated. Jobs are very scarce for those who are undocumented. Even some MoU workers were cheated by their agents." said Ko Moe Lay who lives in Mae Sot to CNI News.

If an undocumented worker who is not allowed to work or a worker who works in a type of work that he does not have the right to work is found, he will be fined from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai Baht and will be sent back to his country as well as will be banned to work in Thailand for two years.

If an employers who hires a worker who is not allowed to work is found, the employer will be fined from 10,000 to 100,000 Thai Baht for a worker. If the employer committed the offence again, he will be imprisoned one year at most and be banned to hire foreign migrant workers for three years reportedly.

CNI News
2 July 2024

Seven banks that lent housing loans more than the amount designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar would be taken action against, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on the night of 1st July.

The Central Bank of Myanmar allowed housing loans for a term of more than three years, depending on the total banking loans, with a view to offering a new loan system for private banks and creating opportunities for property ownership by the people, stated the SAC.

However, Yoma Bank, Myanmar Citizens Bank, Ayeyarwady Bank, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bank, UAB Bank, Myanmar Metro Bank, Construction, Housing & Infrastructure Development Bank were checked and found that they granted housing loans beyond the stipulations of the CBM, said in the statement released by the SAC.

YOMA Bank grants loans exceeding 11 per cent than the fixed amount of the Central Bank of Myanmar.

Myanmar Citizenship Bank grants loans exceeding 8.94 per cent than the fixed amount of the Central Bank of Myanmar.

AYA Bank grants loans exceeding 1.96 per cent than the fixed amount of the Central Bank of Myanmar.

SME Development Bank grants loans exceeding 1.01 per cent than the fixed amount of Central Bank of Myanmar.

UAB Bank grants loans exceeding 3.38 per cent than the fixed amount of Central Bank of Myanmar.
Myanmar Metro Bank grants loans exceeding 0.39 per cent than the fixed amount of the Central Bank of Myanmar.

CHID Bank grants loans exceeding 16.34 per cent than the fixed amount of the Central Bank of Myanmar.

The officials concerned would supervise the return of the loans exceeding the fixed amount of CBM from the banks within the fixed time and officials from these seven private banks would be taken action against in accordance with the law, said in the statement.

The seven private banks would be fined under Section 154 of the Financial Institutions Law, and the relevant officials of CBM would also be taken action against for their weakness in the supervision of the private banks, said in the statement.

CNI News

2 July 2024

Because there had been a sharp increase in the number of people who went abroad, the shortage of farm workers was getting worse, the people who are doing business of agricultural industry told CNI News. 

Although the shortage of farm workers was since before; youths wanted to earn a lot of income by going abroad to work rather than working on farms, U Aung Thein Hla, a farmer, told CNI News.

"Farm workers are now scarcer. When we were young, those who works on the farm were youths and middle-aged men. But now men at the about 60 years of age can be found on the farms. Most of the people who went abroad found it difficult for their livelihood.
 Moreover, even children of farm owners are not interested in working on the farms and then they also went abroad as well. Some people who went abroad are convenient, but others, not." he said.

In reaping the paddy, because of higher price of fuel, when the workers are hired to harvest, due to the shortage of workers, there were a lot of wastage of paddy, he added.

Because of low wages and hard work on the farms since before, youths and young men were not interested in the work. So, the shortage of workers has been taking place.

While paddy is being transplanted

Moreover, among industries facing labor shortages, agricultural industry is facing the worst situation. As a result of labor shortage, productivity has declined, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

" We are facing labor shortage - both white collars and blue collars. The agricultural sector has faced labor shortage since before. But at present, it's facing the worst situation. It's necessary to find a solution why the labor shortage is taking place. Is it because the policy has been tightened? Policy makers need to make a decision to tackle the problem." he said.

While there has been labor shortage, because battles are breaking out in some regions and states, agricultural industry is being mainly conducted in Ayeyarwady, Bago Regions and around Naypyidaw reportedly.

Moreover, because of higher prices of fuel and inputs as well as difficult transportation in some regions, commodity prices are also going up.

CNI News

2 July 2024

Some IDPs from Loikaw couldn't still go home because of the battles that broke out in Loikaw, a Loikaw IDP told CNI News.

Residents could live in some parts of Loikaw City and it was unlikely for some residents to go home because their houses were burnt down or destroyed, he added.

"I haven't gone back to Loikaw for seven months. I can't go home because my house was burnt down. Some residents can go home because their houses were not destroyed. I have no plan to go back up to now. I'll consider to go home one day when everyone can live peacefully." said a Loikaw IDP.

While seeing the KNDF Force

After Karenni revolutionary forces launched Operation-1111 on 11th November 2023, battles severely broke out in Loikaw and residents of the city had to flee to safety.

The operation contains the Karenni Army (KA), the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), the Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF), the Demoso People's Defense Force (DMO-PDF), the Loikaw People's Defense Force (Loikaw-PDF), the Mobye People's Defense Force, the Battalion-1006 of Pekon People's Defense Force and southern Shan State People's Defense Force.

And then those who avoided battles fled to southern Shan State and some IDPs had gone back home reportedly. 

In order that administrative mechanisms could be functioned again in Loikaw, the State Administration Council (SAC) has instructed its staff to come back to the city in August. 

Moreover, the SAC has instructed the Taunggyi-Loikaw passenger bus lines to resume their operation starting from 1st July, 2024 reportedly.

While the Kayah State Government is checking for the security of Loikaw City and has carried out for the resettlement

" I don't go back home because we can't get in touch with the other side (people in Loikaw) by phone. So, I don't know whether the situation there is good or not." said a Loikaw IDP.

Either of the two sides has not be able to capture Loikaw City up to now and battles are breaking out every so often, according to locals. Nearly 40,000 residents of Loikaw had to move to Pinlaung, Sesai, Nyaung Shwe and Taunggyi in southern Shan State.

The SAC stated on 15th June, 2024 that things had been back to normal in Loikaw and arrangements were being made to resettle IDPs. However, some residents are finding it difficult to go home because they are worried for their security.

CNI News

2 July 2024

With the intention of causing economic chaos, rice traders, owners of rice mills, rice shops and shopping centers who were raising the prices of rice excessively in the domestic rice market were attested and taken action against, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on the night of 30th June, 2024.

As it was reported that the prices of rice were being sold at exorbitant prices, security organizations checked 102 rice warehouses, 25 rice mills, seven shops, 58 rice and paddy entrepreneurs in Regions and States including Naypyidaw whether they were selling rice at reasonable prices that were monthly announced by the Myanmar Rice Federation. 

After that, 27 rice and paddy entrepreneurs who sold rice at the price 10 percent more than that designated, and 24 rice and paddy entrepreneurs, at the price 11 to 20 percent more and seven rice entrepreneurs, at the prices 31 to 70 percent more were found.

Fine and additional taxes will be collected from 24 rice entrepreneurs who sold rice at 11 to 30 percent more than the set price. 

The seven rice entrepreneurs who sold rice at 31 to 70 percent more that the set price would be taken action against under the Section-5 of the 2012 Important Goods and Services Act, stated the SAC.

The seven entrepreneurs are director of the Global Myanmar Trading U Lin Ko Ko Naing, owner of Yadanabon Rice Mill U Kyaw Zaw Lin, owner of Kanbawza rice trading business U Myint Swe, director of Theingi Rice Mill and Brokers' Sales Center U Lin Htut Naing, in charge of Sein Ngar Bwint Rice Shop U Thein Oo, owner of Thitsarshin Rice and Edible Oil Trading U Aung Tin and in charge of Thant Rice Shop U Win Zaw.

In the same way, 53 shopping centers and stores that sold ready-packaged rice bags of various weights at the higher prices than those monthly designated by the MRF were checked by the security organizations which found that a store sold the bags of rice at the price 20 percent higher than that designated, 30 shopping centers and stores that sold at 21 to 50 percent higher than that designated and 22 shopping centers that sold at 51 to 70 percent higher than that designated, announced the SAC.

Moreover, some shopping centers and stores unnecessarily added expenses for promotional activities and company employees to the selling prices, said in the statement.

So, 30 shopping centers and stores that sold rice at the price 21 to 50 percent higher than that designated would be fined and collected additional taxes. However, four responsible persons from 22 shopping centers that sold rice at the price 51 to 70 percent higher than that designated would be taken action against under the 2012 Important Goods and Service Act, stated the SAC.

The four persons are director of One Stop Mart U Myo Thant, the CEO of City Mart Holding U Phyo Min Kyaw, Managing Director of Sein Gay Har Trading U Maung Maung Win, and director of Aeon Orange Mr.Kasamatsu Hiroshi.

The SAC would continue to take action against those who sell rice at the prices higher than reasonable ones and the people could complain to the authorities if they found those who raised the price and sold rice, reported the SAC.

CNI News

1 July 2024

Myanmar Ex-President U Thein Sein was invited by the Chinese government to attend 70th anniversary celebration of the approval of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that was held on 28th June. 

U Thein Sein went to China on a Tatmadaw (Air) special plane and attended the ceremony.

Chinese media reported photos of U Thein Sein and Xi Jinping shaking hands at the event.

The Bandung Conference that was held in Bandung City, Indonesia in 1955 was attended by the leaders of 29 countries from Asia and Africa and they approved the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that were agreed by China, India and Myanmar.

While it was difficult to find a solution to the widening political conflict in Myanmar, emergence of U Thein Sein's visit to China might bring effects, reviewed political analysts.

CNI News

29 June 2024

When Myanmar citizens who have been waiting to go back to Myanmar with CI (certificate of identity) are arrested, if they can show complete documents to officials concerned, they will be released, Myanmar people living in Malaysia told CNI News. 

A Myanmar citizen or an alien who will go back to the native country - when he was arrested, if he can show complete documents including an unexpired passport or a CI sheet issued by his embassy, an air ticket, a sheet stating that a fine has been paid at the Malaysian immigration department and exit pass that allows to leave Malaysia, he will be exempt from being arrested.

If a foreigner who would go back home has an unexpired passport or a CI sheet and hadn't paid a fine, he would not be exempt from being arrested, Ko Thet, chairman of the Lovely Hearts Philanthropic Youths Blood Donors Organization, told CNI News.

" A Myanmar citizen who have drawn the CI from the Myanmar Embassy and then fingerprinted at the Malaysian Immigration Department will be exempt from being arrested. If you have only CI alone, you won't be exempt from being arrested. You have been allowed to stay in Malaysia for two weeks after you have fingerprinted at the Malaysian Immigration Department. If you don't have a passport, you have to go to the Myanmar Embassy and draw your CI after showing your national verification card and list of the members of household. Only if you have the CI sheet, can you fingerprint at the Malaysian Immigration Department." he said.

While a foreigner who wanted to go home with CI was fingerprinting at the Malaysian Immigration Department

If you have paid a fine, you will have 14 days to go home. If you don't go home within 14 days, you will be arrested. In the past, the Malaysian government allowed undocumented foreigners who wanted to go home with CI after fining about 3,000 Ringgits.

However, this year those who want to go home must pay 500 Ringgits for a fine and 100 Ringgits for exit pass, stated the Myanmar Embassy.

" Overstayers had no jobs. They didn't have enough money to go home. In the past, if they went home, it would cost them about 5,000 Ringgits. So, they couldn't go home. But now they can go home. The Malaysian government doesn't want overstayers to be in Malaysia anymore. When CI sheets were given in the past, the Malaysian authorities didn't arrest overstayers. But even when CI sheets are given, are there arrests because there are so many overstayers in Malaysia." said Ko Par who stays in Malaysia, told CNI News.

There are about 600,000 undocumented foreigners in Malaysia and going back to native countries with CI has been allowed from 1st March to December.

At the start of the program for going back to native country with CI, although there were many people who wanted to go home, now there has been a sharp decrease in the number of the people who want to go home. 

So, the Malaysian authorities are threatening overstayers or illegal residents by arresting.