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CNI News
23 April 2024
Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Friendship Bridge has been closed indefinitely, an official from the immigration department in Myawaddy told CNI News.
Because of the closure, border pass and passport holders were not allowed to use the bridge and it was not clear when the bridge would be re-open, he added.
" I still don't know when the bridge will re-open. The bridge has been closed for the time being. 7 and 14 day border pass holders have been suspended and so have passport holders. The Myanmar side has suspended." he said to CNI News.
The Myanmar side has closed the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Bridge since 21st April and the Thai side has opened regularly, according to the Thai media. However, the Thai authorities allow passport holders only to enter the Myanmar side reportedly.
Rumor has that the reason why the bridge had been closed was because the department had been short of necessary papers. However, it has not been exactly known. Some people consider it might be for the safety of government employees at the border post.
Hundreds of local residents are trying to flee to the Thai side because the battles are severely breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces near and around the Thai-Myanmar No.2 Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy, Karen State.
View in front of the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Friendship Bridge
Because an official channel had been closed, there might be a sharp increase in the number of people who would enter the Thai side illegally and brokers could exploit the situation, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED, told CIN News.
"Most of the people who fled for the time being are because of battles. Among those who fled might be migrant workers who will work in Thailand. But the Thai army and all the local organizations are watching carefully along the border. They will accept those who entered as refugees. They are making a list of the people who entered the Thai side. Brokers will take advantage of the situation including human trafficking, I think." he said.
Because of severe battles between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces, the number of Myanmar people who crossed Thaung Yin River and the bridges were about 3,000 reportedly.
Moreover, The Thai PM was to go to Mae Sot to know the situations including the arrival of Myanmar people to Mae Sot by the thousand as IDPs because of the battles breaking out in Myawaddy, according the Thai media.
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CNI News
23 April 2024
It had started administrative reform that comes from the bottom with democratic equal rights and self-determination, which the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) stated on 22nd April, 2024.
General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS, met local people within the territory that the RCSS has seized control of and the recruits learning military skills and explained to them about the intention of his trip.
" The Restoration Council of Shan State has started carrying out for the regional stability, federal democratic equal rights, self-determination and administrative reform that comes from the bottom. In doing so, the RCSS is inviting those who want to participate, including other ethnic groups and the Tatmadaw." said in a statement released by the RCSS.
The youths who were to serve in the Shan State Army and were learning military skills for many reasons needed to realize their national duties and the values towards Shan State and the native community. Moreover, they needed to learn basic military skills until they could protect themselves and their own community, said in the statement.
The RCSS had shown that it was able to secure territories after political peace talks without human deaths or without houses to be burned and damaged.
While military trainees of the RCSS
Moreover, it had shown it it could start its administrative mechanisms in its territories without a gunshot, Col.Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.
"It's clear. The RCSS has educated the armed and fighting people indirectly. The northern allies fought and gained the territories and so did Karenni. Many people were killed. Many houses were burned. The KNU (Karen National Union) also has to be fighting and so do other regions. But the RCSS seems to boast that it has got three districts including Linkhe, Mong Pan and Mong Ping without opening fire. There are no armed conflicts in its territory. Its territories have been mentioned at the top of the statement." he said.
Releasing a statement like that had prevented other EAOs that would enter the administrative area of the RCSS, pointed out Col.Khun Okka.
General Yawd Serk met about 6,000 recruits attending basic military traing course and local people from 33 villages, said in the statement.
The RCSS is an EAO that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and its headquarters is located in Loi Tai Leng. It has been active basically in Linkhe, Mong Pan, Mong Hsu, Loilem, Panlon, Kholan, Lecha, Mong Kung, Tangyan, Mongyai and Thibaw reportedly.
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CNI News
12 April 2024
Border pass certificates will be issued to those who have held Unique Identification (UID) Number Card aka citizen verification smart card only starting from 1st May, 2024 and after the people made UID cards in their townships, if they enter a neighboring country through the border gate, it would be easier for them, philanthropic associations told CNI News.
Those who would apply for temporary border pass (TBP) and border pass (BP) would need to bring their original citizen verification cards together with their UID card and TBPs and BPs would issued to the UID card holders only starting from 1st May, 2024, stated the Department of Electronic Registration, the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower.
Although the UID cards could be applied in the townships concerned, if the UID cards were applied in the border regions, it could take longer. If the people applied for the UID in their townships, it could be easier, an official from the Beautiful Heart Philanthropic Association, told CNI News.
While seeing the Myanmar Immigration Department
" If you apply for UID in your native township, it is easier. If you apply in the border regions, it can take you longer. The number of people who enter and exit is almost a thousand on average each day. Many Myanmar people have to come back after they entered neighboring countries. Overstayers are sent back. Nearly 100 Myanmar people are sent back each day." he said.
Because TBPs and BPs will be issued to UID holders starting from 1st May, 2024, there may be an increase in the number of the people who enter and come back in April, which people review.
In the situation like that, the role of brokers would go on existing, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Thai-based FED told CNI News.
" It will be convenient for you if you apply for the UID in your township. For example, how will you apply in Myawady where there is no government department anymore. Most of brokers will take advantage of any situation or any issue. They exploit ignorant workers or workers would be. Saying they will do on behalf of workers, they'll ask workers for money. Things like that may happen." he said.
While Myanmar people are waiting in line at the border trade gate
Moreover, UID numbers have been issued since 22nd April and passports would be issued to those who have necessary certificates only, the government stated.
At present, personal and biographical information of the people over the age of 10 are collected by an electronic system and registered after which UID cards with 10 digits are being issued.
The Electronic Registration System Department of the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower has stated that those who want to apply for the UID cards have to to bring citizen verification cards or officially issued certificates.
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CNI News
12 April 2024
Domestic price of corn is likely to rise a bit in the wake of the Thingyan festival, which traders are reviewing. According to the Thailand's demand of corn, Thailand possibly could purchase Myanmar corn more after the Thingyan period, said corn traders.
Because the price of corn probably could rise in the near future, corn farmers and traders within the country should not sell too much corn in one go so that supply and demand would be balanced and a profitable price would reach, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.
" Thailand has raised the price of corn gradually since a few days ago. Approximately, the price of corn could go up if the Thai side bought Myanmar corn more in the wake of the Thingyan period. In the situation like this, corn farmers and traders within the country should buy corn little by little at a time so that the price will reach a profitable one that we want." he said.
Although people have guesstimated that the price of corm could rise in the wake of the Thingyan period, it would not be convenient for corn traders to buy corn to store, said traders.
While seeing Myanmar corn
A situation in which it is difficult to estimate up and down of the price of corn has arisen and as one could make a loss if one buy corn in advance to store. So, traders are buying and selling corn at a market price, Ko Sai Kham, a corn trader from Tachileik, told CNI News.
" In the previous years, we had paid brokers' sales centers in advance to buy corn. When the price went up, we carried corn to Tachileik. But now we can't do like that. The price Thailand paid declined. Although we thought that the price would go up, it declined. And then we made a loss. So, we do not dare to buy corn in advance. That's why, we buy corn at the market price and we sell it at the market price. Although it's difficult to predict the ups and downs of the price, it would be better if the price went up." he said.
Traders have been allowed to export corn to Thailand with tax exemption from 1st February to 31st August 2024. The price of corn could go up in July and August, 2024 and there would be ups and downs at intervals before July, said traders.
The expansion of corn cultivation in Thailand has increased this year and it is difficult to export corn because of territorial instabilities. Moreover, traders and farmers are waiting for the time when the price of corn will go up. So, there will probably be a lot of corn left within the country, according to corn traders.
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CNI News
11 April 2024
The question how much armed conflicts taking place in Myanmar are affecting Thailand is being asked. If there were peace and stability in Myanmar, Thailand would be the most profitable country, said Thai PM Srettha.
If there were peace and stability in Myanmar, Myanmar migrant workers could go to Thailand to work legally; moreover, products could be mutually exported and at present, discussions were being conducted to mutually export the products, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.
" If there are stability and peace in Myanmar, Myanmar migrant people can go and work in Thailand officially. And then, they can enjoy basic labor rights more. Another thing is border trade between the two countries. The borderline is more than 2,000 Kilometer long between the two countries. In the southern part of the border are businesses and waterways. During the Thingyan, mutual visits have been allowed and then, discussions are being conducted to mutually export products. Due to the current stabilities on the other side of Mae Sot, Thailand is suffering a lot economically. So, the Thai authorities want to make Myanmar stable." he said.
While seeing the Thai-Myanmar border trade gate
There were over three million legal Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, he said. Because battles are breaking out along the Thai-Myanmar border, the Myawady border trade has stopped.
617 troops including families from the Thin Gan Byuha Military Camp under the Southeastern Command of the Tatmadaw in Myawady Township, Karen State surrendered to the Karen National Unity(KNU) a few days ago, the KNU stated on 6th April, 2024.
Most of the Thai products that enter Myanmar come into Myanmar through the Myawady border trade, said traders. Because battles are breaking out along the Thai-Myanmar border, the interests of Thailand including the Thai national security was being affected, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.
While seeing an armed group
" Revolutionary elements have captured Myawady where arrangements were made for the Thai-Myanmar border trade but also the product coming from other countries. For example, the products from Japan don't enter Myanmar directly. They come from Bangkok through Mae Sot to Myawady. Trade value gained from trade route between Bangkok and Myawady is a very large amount of money. But as the troops of the SAC have retreated, it will affect Thailand to an extent. So, it seems that Thailand wants to negotiate to protect their interests." he said.
Because severe battles are breaking out in Myawady, the Thai army and the Thai Border Guard Force are patrolling and tightening security in Mae Sot, reported in the Thai media.
The Thai-Myanmar borderline is over 1,300 miles long and a lot of revolutionary forces as well as the Karen National Union (KNU), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA), the United Wa State Party (UWSP/UWSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) have been active along the Thai-Myanmar border.
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CNI News
11 April 2024
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the group of elected Hluttaw representatives said in a letter sent on 8th April 2024 to the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) that it could not attend the second People's Conference (5th day) led by the NUCC.
The People's Conference led by the NUCC was held from 4th to 6th April and the conference was extended for another two days. However, the conference was one day off on 8th April and confirmed to hold on 9th April as the last day.
Because the NUCC tried to confirm the five points that the CRPH did not agree, the CRPH would not attend the conference to be held on 9th April, said in the the letter.
The NUCC tried to confirm the points beyond the provisions included in the part (2) of the federal democratic charter; it tried to confirm the point beyond the agendas that were distributed in advance; the NUCC tried to reform and confirm the particulars the chairman decided to record at an agenda of the conference; Additional proposals that were not included in the original program at the conference that are needed to take time and discuss among the groups concerned and some representatives of the conference failed to comply with the rules and regulations laid down by the conference, said in the letter.
If the particulars in the letter were analyzed, cooperation among the opposition elements would be found to be weak, and it seemed that they were giving priority to the public support without thoroughly discussing the political process, pointed out political analysts.
The CRPH is a committee which is made up of the Hluttaw representatives who won in the 2020 general election and most of them were from the NLD and are included in the National Unity Government as well.
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CNI News
11 April 2024
When departmental officials submit pieces of information relating to trade, investment and other business activities to relevant ministry levels, if the pieces of information were wrong without being consistent with the ground conditions, the economy of the country may be affected, considered economic analysts.
Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council, told a Russian News Agency that Myanmar's economy was on an upward trajectory several days ago.
Because of the speech, it was a matter of thinking whether the pieces of information received by top officials of the SAC was really correct or not, pointed out businessmen and economic analysts.
While seeing the exports
If the pieces of information regarding trade and investment were wrong, the decisions about those activities may be wrong and it was dangerous to the economy of the country, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.
"It is important to get the statistics right. The first step is data. Only after the data are translated, they have become information. Only after putting that information in the system and reviewing it, that review is right. If the review is wrong, all the remaining things will be wrong. It is dangerous." he said.
Moreover, if the data related to import and export were wrong, insurance of import and export licenses may be increased or declined, said traders.
If it happened like that, traders and businessmen could experience losses and delays. Because the Ministry of Commerce had reduced the number of export licenses, exporters were finding it difficult, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.
" Traders find it difficult to export. An export license has limited the amount of export. For example, if you want to export corn, the number of tons you will export has been limited. So, we find it difficult to load the corn onto the ship because a larger ship can hold twenty thousand tons and above, but a smaller one, two or three thousand tons. So, if you have to use a larger ship, you'll find it difficult." he said.
While seeing the lower class
Although an export license was allowed to export over 20,000 tons in the past, about 3,000 tons only have been allowed to export now reportedly. 3,000 tons of goods are just fit for a domestic coastal vessel and there is a wide gap between a domestic coastal vessel and a larger ship used for export abroad, that can hold until 20,000 tons.
It was not east to get correct statistics related to trade from the departments at present because the right statistics were not be available in the past, said economic analysts.
It was necessary for departmental officials to present not only right data and information but also pieces of information on the reality of the current Myanmar economy to the Chairman of the SAC, pointed out businessmen.
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CNI News
10 April 2024
Religious leaders made a request to stop battles breaking out in Kayin State and make peace, said in a letter that was sent to General Saw Johnny, Commander in Chief of the Karen National Union (KNU)/ the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) by Christian leaders and Buddhist monks within Karen State.
The title of the letter was a special request for peace and it was sent on 5th April 2024.
Buddhist monks within Karen State discussed at the Lamin Priyatti Sar Thin Daik, a monastery where Buddhist Scriptures are taught to monks, in Hlaingpon Village, Hlagadown Village Tract, Pa-an Township, Karen State.
While seeing the special request of religious leaders
After that, Buddhist monks and Christian religious leaders met in Gyar Taw Ya Monastery in Pa-an City and sent the Special Request letter to the Commander in Chief of the KNLA General Saw Johnny.
Because religious leaders want (1) peace within the entire nation (2) absolute unity (3) everlasting peace, Buddhist monks in Karen State made a special request to free from the damage of religious buildings, roads, bridges, schools, lives and properties of the public and the troubles of the IDPs due to the battles breaking out in Karen State, said in the letter.
While seeing the special request of religious leaders
Moreover, stakeholders involved in the armed conflict should collaborate in building the everlasting peace in a peaceful manner as a show of humanitarian, said in the request letter.
Battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces in Karen State.
Due to these battles, houses are being burnt; local people are fleeing to safety; border trade routes are interrupted and commodity prices are going up.
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CNI News
10 April 2025
CNA has maintained a policy that will crush down other armed groups so as not to enable other armed groups to exist any more, Eastern Division Director Puzothang from the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) told CNI News.
The ZRA had got ready to make a political dialogue and the Chin National Front (CNF) had maintained a policy that it alone must exist in Chin State, he said.
" We are always ready to discuss politically. But the CNF isn't. Because they armed first, they don't try to negotiate with other armed groups in Chin State. They have maintained the policy that their organization alone must exist in Chin State and that it will crush down other armed groups. We told them to show self-control among our ethnic groups during the democratic revolutionary period. They don't negotiate politically. The Tatmadaw and the CNF come and attack our territory." he said to CNI News.
While the Zomi Revolutionary Army
The fighting broke out between the ZRA and the CNF a few days ago in Tedim Township, Chin State and any more of battles could take place, he said. Although CNI News.
made a phone call to Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson of the CNF to know more about the ZRA's speech, he made no answer.
The ZRA was carrying out for the stability of its region, but the CNF was giving military training to their ethnic people and has been active, said Puzothan.
While the Chin National Front (CNF) force
"The Chin National Army/ Chin National Front (CNA/CNF) is giving military training among our ethnic groups and the CNA/CNF asks their armed groups to attack our Zomi region." he said.
Battles often break out the CNA/CNF and the Eastern Division (ZRA). The ZRA has been active in Tonzan, Tedim in Kachin as well as Kalay and Tamu Townships in Sagaing Region, Kabaw Valley region and area near the India-Myanmar border.
The CNF is an EAO that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement(NCA) whose headquarters is located in Thantalan, and has been active in Hakha, Tedim and Matupi.