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CNI News
9 May 2024
Not only are there territorial instabilities along the Myanmar-China border trade routes, check points of armed groups along the route have also asked for more money along. So, the prices of goods imported from China are getting higher reportedly.
Because of higher trade costs like that, more Thai goods could enter Myanmar than the Chinese goods.
Although the Thai goods are pricey, because the Thai products are of good quality and the trade route with Thailand is fast and smooth, more Thai goods could be imported, U Thiha Paing, founder of the Via Logistics and Supply Chain, told CNI News.
" Because the trade route going to the Chinese border is not good, More Thai products are imported. Some Thai products are of better quality. Thailand tries to lower the prices of its goods. Traders import the goods that will make a profit for them. For example, if the price of the Thai detergent is the same as that of China, the Thai detergent will be imported because the trade route with Thailand is short." he said.
However, the kinds of products coming in from China are different from those coming in from Thailand. The products coming in from China are electrical equipment, construction materials, motorcar spare parts and kitchen wares and those coming in from Thailand are mainly cosmetics and foodstuffs.
While seeing the cargo trucks
According to trade route conditions, however, the Chinese products are getting higher while the Thai products are of better quality. So, the Thai market can take the place of the Chinese market.
Although textile was imported from China in the past, it is being imported from Thailand now, added U Thiha paing.
" Largely, Myanmar imports electric products from China such as mobile phone handsets. But most of the Thai products are of better quality.At present Thailand already dominates the textile market a little." he said.
The people would choose the Thai products that were of better quality if the prices were the same as those of the Chinese products, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.
"Those born in the 1960s have been using Thai products. So, China is competing with the price. But the Thai products have been better since before. For example, motorcar windshield glass and mirrors that are made in Thailand are of better quality than those made in Taiwan. So, the people will choose better products if there is a narrow gap between the prices." he said.
It is not easy for goods to flow at present because battles are breaking out along the maing border trade routes with China and Thailand. So, the people are facing scarcity of some goods and higher prices.
While seeing the Myawaddy border trade zone
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA) are active along the Myanmar-China border trade routes.
Moreover, the Karen National Union (KNU), the Border Guard Force of Karen State, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council are active along the Thai-Myanmar border trade routes.
Although the freight prices were 20 to 50 lakh kyats on the trade route with China in the past, now the prices have been 150 lakh kyats because of monetary requests from armed groups and higher tax rates at the checkpoints.
Although there are organizations that ask for money on the trade route with Thailand, there are just fewer than on the trade routes with China reportedly.
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CNI News
8 May 2024
As a bomb blast took place on the Malaysia-Thailand border, the Malaysian authorities have tightened security at the border.
So, Both those who would sneak into Malaysia and those who would come back from Malaysia needed to be careful, Myanmar organizations in Malaysia told CNI News.
Because of tightening like that, some of the people who would illegally come back from Malaysia and sneak into the country were arrested and others escaped without being arrested, U Barbu Gyi, a person who is helping in the affairs of Myanmar citizens, told CNI News.
" The Malaysian authorities are tightening more security along the border. Those who will sneak into Malaysia could find it difficult a lot. Many people of them were arrested. At any rate, it is not convenient for those who will illegally enter. There are arrests almost everyday. You can see about 30 Myanmar citizens in the courts at the border areas." he said.
The bomb blast took place in Sungai Golok District, southern Thailand on 29th April, 2024. So, While those who will sneak into or those who will come back are finding it difficult, brokers are taking advantage of the situation and asking more money reportedly.
Because there are more and more scam brokers, Myanmar citizens should not come to Malaysia through illegal channels, U Aung, chairman of Yadana Sekka Funeral Service, told CNI News.
" Malaysian authorities have tightened more security along its border areas. Barrier gates have been placed at many places. It's getting more difficult to pass than before. But there might be some channels that you can enter. You have to pay more money. Agents are also increasing. You need to have a reliable agent and connecting with with relatives or friends who have already been in Malaysia, if you have to pay in Malaysia, it is convenient. If you go like in the past, you probably will be cheated. There are many liars who don't take responsibility or accountability." he said.
Jobs are still scarce in Malaysia and Ricarli Braci permit stickers will be issued at the end of June at the latest. There might be more arrests after June, reviewed people.
Moreover, Malaysia has stopped recruitment by demand letters and frauds of brokers and agents should be watched out, suggested organizations in Malaysia.
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CNI News
8 May 2024
Banning men's right to work abroad indefinitely could affect the recruitment markets of neighboring countries, those who carry out for the affairs of migrant workers and agencies told CNI News.
The Myanmar men who have held passports for job (PJ) have been banned from working abroad indefinitely since 1st May, 2024 by the Ministry of Labor.
Because of banning like that, neighboring countries would recruit workers from other countries instead of ones from Myanmar. So, the ban could affect the recruitment market, U Min Oo, In charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development, told CNI News.
While seeing Myanmar citizens who will go abroad to work
" Neighboring countries need workers from Myanmar. It's right. But when they find it difficult to recruit workers from Myanmar, they will recruit workers from other countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Moreover, Thailand and Bangladesh discussed the free trade and reached some agreements." he said.
Although Thailand, a neighboring country of Myanmar, often recruits MoU workers from Myanmar, if Myanmar has banned its men to work abroad for long, those living illegally might be officially recruited.
Banning men from working abroad could take a few months, reviewed among overseas employment agencies.
Banning like that affects overseas employment agencies and they are waiting for the time when the ban will be lifted reportedly.
While seeing Myanmar citizens who will go abroad to work
When foreign countries recruit workers from Myanmar, they mainly tend to recruit Myanmar men. So, if Myanmar women were not included in the demand letters, overseas employment agencies would suspend their businesses, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.
" Myanmar woman workers are 10 percent of all Myanmar workers who are recruited by foreign countries. We can continue our business if Myanmar woman workers are included in the demand letters." he said.
Although men who have held PJ passports have been banned from working abroad starting from 1st May, 2024, those who have been allowed to work abroad before that date can go abroad reportedly.
Banning like that encourages men to go abroad through illegal channels kind of, pointed out some people.
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CNI News
8 May 2024
He thought that Thailand would be able to find an answer to the Myanmar political problem, Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.
Revolutionary elements had been active based in Thailand since the government led by U Nu; revolutionary elements and former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra met and he made an effort to advice, he said.
" Myawaddy issue that took place recently might be related to the position of Thailand, the US's involvement or its National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Thai government seems to consider that it would have to be involve in the Myanmar issue. Thaksin Shinawatra made an effort to be able to give an advice to the Thai government, I think. When Laos, a neighboring country of Myanmar and Thailand, is the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thailand will attempt to find an answer, I think." said Dr. Aye Maung.
While seeing armed forces who attacked Myawaddy
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra met with delegates from the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Kachin National Organization (KNO) and the National Unity Government (NUG) before he met with the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) a few days ago before reportedly.
If there were priority on trade and pressures on ethnic armed organizations in the meeting with former Thai PM, it probably would impact on the current revolution, Saw Law Kapaw from the Karen Peace Support Network, told CNI News.
While seeing the KNPP force
" I think that these meetings were held because the current government had no different response. Another thing, the current border trade situation will be involved, I think. Especially, if there were priorities on trade and pressures on EAOs, these will probably impact on the current revolution." he said.
The Thai economy is directly involved with Myanmar and basic workers come from Myanmar as well as the trade value from the Thai-Myanmar border trade is by the billions, according to a politician.
The Myanmar-Thai border is more than 1,300 miles long and the KNU, the RCSS/SSA, the KNPP, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the revolutionary forces are active along the border.
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CNI News
8 May 2024
The border trade between China and Myanmar has restarted in Lweje Town, Kachin State, which has been controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to truck drivers.
After the battles broke out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA in April, the KIA seized control of the town.
Although the border trade stopped due to the battles, at present the trade has restarted and the KIA is collecting tax along the trade route in Lweje. But the Myanmar government is collecting tax in Bhamo Township reportedly.
However, regarding the goods imported from China, because the customs department in Bhamo didn't issue certificates that customs duties has been paid, there were checks and arrests, an anonymous truck driver told CNI News.
While seeing the KIA troops at the entrance to Lweje
" Traders have to pay tax to both sides. You have to pay tax to the KIA in the territory controlled by the KIA. But when you arrive in Bhamo, you have to pay tax to the customs department of the military council. But the officials don't issue the certificates that customs duties have been paid. So, traders can't carry the imports to the main land. If the imports are carried to the main land, there are customs duty gates and military checkpoints on the way such as in Let Pan Hla, Pinle Gyi and Madaya and there are many checks and arrests." he said.
Although the Lweje trade border gate has been reopened, some truck drivers do not dare to travel because they are worried about their security reportedly.
Because the present period is the time when the tissue culture bananas are exported to China has ended, trade is almost non-existent, according to traders.
While seeing the Lweje border gate
Although exports are lower, imports from China remain prudent reportedly. However, the amount of collecting money from the KIA and the SAC's checkpoints becomes about two times higher than before, Ko Aung Zin, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.
" The amount of money we have to pay both side become over two times higher than before. Although we had to pay more than four lakh kyats in the past, we have to pay about 10 lakh kyats. Some gates ask money for goods only while others ask for both goods and truck. But later, largely, they ask for goods only." he said.
Although the Lweje border trade gate has been reopened, those who went to China to work have not been able to use the gate and they have been allowed to enter or leave through Laiza and Maijayan border gates reportedly.
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CNI News
7 May 2024
The Karen National Army/ the Border Guard Force (BGF) ordered the foreigners who are working in the telecom scamming (Zhapian) and online gambling businesses and the foreigners who illegally entered to leave Myawaddy Township on 31st October at the latest.
The KNA/BGF published vinyls on which the announcement saying that those who were doing the business of Zhapian and online gambling business must leave Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko Townships from 1st May until 31st October at the latest were mentioned.
All the foreigners who were working in the online scamming business in Myawaddy Township and the foreigners who illegal entered must leave starting from 1st May until 31st October at the latest and if they were found after 31st October, they would be effectively taken action against, said in the statement.
The Chinese government is putting pressure on the Myanmar side to take action against those who are working in the Zhapian and online gambling businesses.
So, several thousand people who were included in the Zhapian and online gambling businesses in northern Shan State including Kokang and Wa regions were arrested and handed over to the Chinese government In the same way, China is demanding Myanmar to take action against the Zhapian and online gambling businesses in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko Townships.
So, the KNA/BGF in Karen State ordered those including in the Zhapian and online gambling businesses to leave on 31st October at the latest.
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CNI News
7 May 2024
The National Unity Government was grouping columns that contain one thousand and above troops, the NUG's Ministry of Defense stated. It was mentioned in the report to the people to mark the three year long establishment of the People's Defense Force (PDF).
At the current military affairs, the PDFs not only could destroy the enemy's mechanism but also could seize the enemy's small and large weapons; The ability to turn the enemy's weapon into your own weapon was an important military progress, said in the statement.
"The PDF's ability to use heavy weapons will increase and the drone force is also being expanded. Now according to military region and military area, grouping columns containing troops by the thousands and upgrading trainings are being conducted. The objective is to launch strategic offensives. The corps such as medical corps, telecommunication corps, engineer corps and vehicle machinery corps are also being expanded." said the NUG.
Because of political changes that arose on 1st February 2021, the PDF had been formed for three years on 5th May 2024.
While seeing Ko Zwe, commander of the Kyarbyu Column
They defensed against the Aung Zeya Column designated as the national level by the Myanmar Tatmadaw, but the military subregion-3 didn't protect them while the enemy columns were launching offensives; didn't provide them with sufficient arms in advance and ammunition and didn't send sufficient funds to them as well, said Ko Zwe, commander of the White Tiger (Kyarbyu) Column, on his social network page.
"Except that we defended against the Aung Zeya Column of the enemy as much as we could, we didn't receive any military support from any groups. The NUG didn't make any preparations for us. It didn't contact us until we had to retreat. I tell these things to make the public known because we are worried the people will think that we had to retreat even though we had enough weapons and ammunition supported by the NUG. We retreated until we had 210 bullets only. When we retreated, we could bring all our arms and ammunition including 31 guns that we could seize from the enemy."he said.
Launching strategic offensives could become the decisive battles and in this decisive period, military and political balance was vital, said in the report by the NUG's Ministry of Defense.
While seeing the NUG's Defense Minister, U Yi Mon and Deputy C in C of the KIA
However, because the KNU/PDF joint forces had to retreat from the battle of Myawaddy, the NUG and the KNU were criticized.
As a battalion level, the NUG's Kyarbyu Column had to defense against the enemy's offensive with joint division that contained Division-44 and Division-55 not to mention army, navy and air operations. On the 6th day of operation, Kyarbyu Coulmn had to retreat from Kawkareik own, Except for a few troops from the Kawthoolei Army, any group didn't join his column, said Ko Zwe on his social network page.
It was continuing negotiation to make the common attitude position agreed between the NUG and K3C, three EAOs become the common attitude position of all the revolutionary forces; it was maintaining and improving the people's endurance and support; it was supplying enough weapons and ammunition physically and enhancing revolutionary faith and courage mentally; it was managing to ensure that there is no shortage of funds, the NUG's Ministry of Defense stated.
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CNI News
7 May 2024
Because there was no way to find an answer at the political roundtable anymore, battles would break out, said Lt-Gen Sao Khun Seng, vice chairman of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP)/the Shan State Army (SSA).
He said the above at the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the Shan State Army on 24th April, 2024, the SSPP/SSA stated on 3rd May, 2024. Successive military regimes that practiced chauvinism ignored the Panglong Agreement that was signed to build a true federal union. So, the SSPP had to decide to choose the military means, said Lt-Gen Sao Khun Seng.
" We have discussed at the political roundtable for 77 years since the Panglong Agreement was signed. Successive military regimes bullied ethnic minorities and didn't comply with the points that were included in the Panglong Agreement. It didn't make any difference even after military councils couped. At last, the Myanmar political situation became the one in which there were no ways to find an answer at the political roundtable. So, we have to choose unavoidably the armed resistance program." he said.
Under the leadership of the SSPP/SSA, Shan nationalities needed to decisively fight the military dictatorship and the entire people including revolutionary forces would have to try to fight against the military dictatorship, he urged.
While the SSPP and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing were meeting
"We have no reason to have two minds anymore. What we wanted was to find an answer by the political means for the political problem. But now, there is no more finding an answer by the political means at all. So, we'll start battles. We'll start a war today if we don't want it tomorrow. We'll start struggling today if we don't want to face difficulties tomorrow." he added.
The SSPP/SSA is one of the Shan EAOs, that signed bilateral ceasefire agreements both at the state level and at the union level under the government led by U Thein Sein in 2012.
However, the battles sometimes broke out between the Tatmadaw and the SSPP/SSA and at present, there are territorial disputes between the SSPP/SSA and the TNLA in Namkham Township, northern Shan State and military tensions are taking place between the two sides.
While seeing the SSPP force
Because the Myanmar Tatmadaw launched an offensive against Wan Hai, the headquarters of the SSPP/SSA from 2015 to 2017, battles broke out severely.
The SSPP/SSA is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) that also contains the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
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CNI Article
6 May 2024
Since anti-government forces in Myanmar took control of Laukkai this year, Myanmar army has lost more than 50 posts near the area. Laukkai is the largest and capital city of Kokang region that shares a long border with Yunnan province of China. With a population of large Kokang Chinese, the fall of the city to the ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance’ raised suspicion among the top leadership in Naypyidaw regarding growing Chinese influence in the region.
China, which has long supported the Military Junta, is now playing with both sides. Many analysts believe that without the support from Beijing, it is impossible for the ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance’ to capture the city. China is continuously supporting these rebel forces in order to maintain the game of check and balances with the Tatmadaw.
On one hand China is supplying military equipments and aircraft to the Naypyidaw, on the other hand, it is continuously arming the rebel forces like Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. Experts even claimed that it was Beijing that actually facilitated the unification of these three groups into the ‘nce’ against the Tatmadaw.
Recently, these forces have acquired strongholds in a large part of the northern border. And it’s not just a coincidence that China is operating hundreds of casinos, cyber trafficking industries and ‘pig butchering’ hubs in these areas. Laukkai has been the crime capital of Northern Myanmar owing to the influential Chinese gangs in the region. From gambling industries to kidnapping, extortion and arms smuggling, under the influence of these armed Chinese gangs crime has raised to another level.
Three Brotherhood Alliance
In last one year, Tatmadaw has accelerated military actions against these groups. These Chinese gangs and the illegal businesses in the region have direct or indirect connection with many of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) members. Corrupted local CCP members from bordering provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan operate illegal casinos and ‘pig butchering’ hubs in these northern part of the country. Local populace are either forced to work for them or forced to migrate.
Another business in which many of CCP members are involved is of drug trafficking. Being part of the ‘golden triangle’, more than 50% of all drugs smuggled to Southeast Asia and the Pacific passes through Myanmar. As per a report by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Myanmar became the world’s largest producer of opium in 2023, with an estimated production of more than 1000 tones of opium.
Poppy cultivation is the prime source of living in the Northern and Northwestern part of the country. As per several reports, many of the Chinese CCP members and their associates and local Chinese groups have been directly associated with the cultivation and smuggling of opium and drugs to the adjacent countries. Question remains that whether Beijing is aware of these CCP members or not? Or whether there is any involvement of bigger players (ministers) that stops Beijing administration to take actions against these individuals.
Tatmadaw fears that the monetary gains from these drugs smugglings have recently been used by the rebel groups to illegally import arms. Therefore, it has launched a drive against these groups. Fearing the complete wipe out of poppy cultivation in the region, Chinese groups have started favoring the various rebel groups, who in exchange of support, money and arms, provide safe haven for these groups.
While the Chinese police arrested the leaders of the tiger distribution business
Another reason of Chinese interest in the rival groups of Myanmar is because of the huge deposits of rare earth metals. In terms of processing and refining of rare earth metals, Myanmar accounts for 9% of global production. It is estimated that Myanmar might have seven times more deposits of these metals. With help of these rival groups, it would be easy for Chinese mining gangs to smuggle these rare elements worth of billion of US dollars.
Beijing also fears the uncontrolled growth of these local Chinese groups in northern Myanmar had now started to launch cyber frauds against the Chinese citizens. Despite regular requests from Chinese authorities, Tatmadaw seems least concerned. By supporting these rival groups, China is trying to somehow blackmail the Junta.
Similar blackmails have been visible in the case of Chinese economic interests as well. China needs the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) to start operating on time. Chinese Malacca dilemma has paranoid her and it is trying to put pressure on the Myanmar government to complete the project on time. Many geo-political experts argue that with the mounting pressure from Beijing and its support for the rival groups has forced Tatmadaw to allow Beijing to use various ports and islands of Myanmar as military bases. Recently, Chinese military presence on the Coco Island has increased rapidly, raising concerns in the adjacent countries.
When the MNDAA occupied the Myanmar Army military base
Another reason is the issue of the Shan state. Since, rebels took control of a vast region of the Shan state, number of illegal migrants in the adjacent Chinese Province of Yunnan increased rapidly. By appeasing these rebel groups would not only help Beijing to get rid of these unwanted guests but would also help it to control the inflow of opium smuggling into China through Yunnan.
Beijing also fears that the ethnic minorities of the Yunnan might also get influenced by these rebel forces as these people along both side of the border share same ethnicity. A rebellion is something that Beijing fears the most. CPC is already dealing with the wrath of Tibetans, Mongolians and Uyghurs and it would not allow any new revolt like situation in its territory, especially in a region like Yunnan where tens of different minorities reside.
Among these check and balances and the geo-political games, it’s the people of Myanmar that are suffering the most. Since 2021, approx a million of people have lost their habitats and hundred of thousands were forced to leave their nation. In such a time when Beijing needs to provide assistance to the people of Myanmar, it is involved in a zero sum game in order to fulfill its own self-centered geo-political wants.