CNI News

5 November 2024

Myanmar EAOs, the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), political parties and representatives from peace supporting organizations started their trip to India on 4th November.

The trip contains 10 political parties, chairman of the NSPNC Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, secretary of the NSPNC Lt-Gen Min Naing, U Hla Maung Shwe and U Kyaw Lin Oo from the CPR, and the representatives from six NCA signatories.

The discussion on constitution and federalism will be held from 5th to 6th November and the trip will be finished on 7th November. They are making attempts to build a union based on federalism and democracy.

CNI News

5 November 2024

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, would go to China to attend economic meetings, released the Information Team of the SAC on 4th November.

He would go to China in a few days at the invitation of China, said in the statement.

During his trip, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will attend the Great Mekong Sub-region Summit that will be held from 6th to 7th November, the 10th Summit on Ayeyarwady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation Summit Talks.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

And then, he would discuss with officials of the Chinese government, said in the statement. He reportedly would discuss to strengthen multi sector cooperation including friendship and economy between the two governments and among the people from the two countries.

At present, battles are severely taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA, the MNDAA, the TNLA, the PDF joint forces in northern Shan State and Kachin State both of which are sharing border with China. Due to these battles, China-Myanmar border gates have been closed down and border trade activities have stopped

CNI News

5 November 2024

He believed that Deepawali was showing the unity among worshipers of different religions, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above when he attended the ceremony of Deepawali of Hindis held at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street, Dagon Township, Yangon on 2nd November 2024.

“The ceremony of Deepawali Day held this year was not different from those in previous years and Hindi religious organizations, social organizations and worshipers of other religions are well-attended. It is showing the unity and harmony among the diversity of faiths, I believe." he said.

That all the Hindis take part in the ceremony was a milestone because of which, he was elated and proud of them, he said.

Although Myanmar citizens were different from one another in religion and ethnicity, they were brought up together in the motherland. 

So, one has to pay respect to another's religion; he wanted all of them to carry out for the interests of Myanmar through mutual friendships based on the union spirit, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

CNI News

4 November 2024

As there has been a decrease in the number of Thai young people who can work, the Thai government might begin thinking about the plan that will grant citizenship to migrants, those who carry out the issues of migrant workers in Thailand told CNI News. 
The plan that would grant citizenship to 500,000 foreigners was very good, they said.

The cabinet meeting held on 29th October decided to carry out the plan, said spokesperson of the Thai government. The detailed process that will recognize the citizenship reportedly will be stated in a few months.

" The plan hasn't been started now. They have intended it and it was discussed at the cabinet meeting because there has been a decrease in the number of Thai young people in Thailand. There were ten year long baht (permit to stay in Thailand for 10 years) in the past. There is a policy that grants citizenship to stateless people. Children of migrant workers or migrant people who have been staying during the time designated - because they are at the age that can work, they should be granted citizenship, which were proposed at the cabinet meeting." said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development to CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers

The people who will be recognized as citizenship contain about 120,000 migrants who have been staying from 1984 to 1999 and 215,000 migrants, from 2000 to 2011 as well as 29,000 ethnic children who were born and brought in Thailand and about 113,000 children who were born in Thailand from those who are undocumented to stay in Thailand. 

The Thai government decided to grant citizenship to over 480,000 migrants.

Granting citizenship to nearly 500,000 migrants could have partly resolved the goods selling problem between Myanmar citizens and Thai people, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers

" There is not anything reformed in the management law relating to foreigners. There will be jobs which foreigners have no right to do. But those who are recognized as citizenship will have right to do any jobs." he said.

The nearly 500,000 migrants have lived for a long time and they have firm documents. So, they should be granted citizenship and they have been allowed to move freely within the country. Moreover, as their addresses and information can be recorder correctly and it could be beneficial to Thailand, said spokesperson of the Thai government.

Although the Thai government is thinking about facilitating the implementation of the plan, it could take about 44 years to finish the implementation the process of granting citizenship to the nearly 500,000 migrants.

CNI News

4 November 2024

Some sections of the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Road, a part of the Myanmar-Thailand border trade route, reportedly can be re-used. The Myawaddy-Kawkareik Road was not able to be used during the rainy season last year due to armed conflicts and bad weather. 

However, the sections that were destroyed have been finished at present and because of successful negotiations of two rival organizations, they can be re-used starting from this week.

Before the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Highway could be used, formerly used Dawna Mountain Road, Htokawko Road and Kyet U Taung Road were used to trade, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, U Thant Zin Tun told CNI News.

While seeing the condition of the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Road

" Old roads and jungle roads going from Kawkareik were used in the past. Now there are about four roads that can be used, including Kyet U Taung Road and the 1080 Road. For the time being, we haven't exported corn, using Myawaddy Road. In December 2024 and January 2025, we might carry corn so that it can reach Myawaddy in February 2025 if we still can use the Myawaddy Road. For the time being, it's not possible to carry it because the cost is high." he said.

In exporting onions through jungle roads, the cost has been high and because the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road sections can be re-used, the cost for trucks could be reduced by half, U Aung Sein, an onion trader from Myingyan, told CNI News.

While seeing the Myawaddy-Kawkareik trade zone

" When it was raining heavily, a viss would be paid 700 kyats if we used the road, but according to the current situation, the cost have been saved by half from using this road. But 18 or 22 wheel trucks haven't been able to go yet because it's a short cut. We can use 12 wheel trucks. If we can go to Myawaddy straightly in 12 wheel trucks, the cost will be saved by half. Now, truck fare is 300 or 350 kyats per viss from Tharmanya to Myawaddy. We have to pay 250 kyats per viss from Myingyan to Tharmanya. If we can go directly to Myawaddy, the truck fare will be 350 or 400 or 500 kyats per viss in stead of costing us 700 kyats." he said.

Although the sections of the road have been recovered, because there many checkpoints of armed groups collecting gate fee and the fees have been higher, the trade costs will be higher, said traders.

CNI News

4 November 2024

Myanmar citizens broad who transfer their salaries and wages to their families through the banks officially designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar would be allowed to import electric cars and electric motorcycles each year, announced the Central Bank of Myanmar.

If Myanmar citizens working abroad transfer their salaries and other income to their families in Myanmar through the banks officially designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar, as a special plan, (a) salary earners including seamen who transfer 200,000 dollars and above within one year are allowed to import an electric car that is equal to 5 percent of the money transferred each year.

While seeing dollar, migrant workers and electric car

(b) Apart from salary earners, those who earn other income - if they transferred 50,000 dollars and above, they would be allowed to import an electric car or a motorcycle that is equal to five percent of the money transferred each year, announced the Central Bank of Myanmar on 31st October.

As a Myanmar citizen who was abroad, if he could not import an electric car or motorcycle alone, he could in partnership with other people, said in the statement.

As Myanmar citizens who are abroad, if they transfer their wages and salaries to their families in Myanmar, remittance charge rates, list of remittance business license companies and licensed banks trading foreign currencies have been described on www.cbm.gov.mm.

CNI News

2 November 2024

Due to international push to solve growing armed conflict arising from a political crisis in Myanmar, questions have emerged how Myanmar could evolve. 

Myanmar's neighboring countries, the UN and the ASEAN were making attempts to raise political dialogues, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, an NCA signatory, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

" All the neighboring countries of Myanmar, the UN and the ASEAN are pushing all the stakeholders to raise political dialogues. So,  without hurting the dignities of stakeholders, it's necessary to create a political landscape that can contain all the stakeholders without any organization having upper hands. For the time being, facts are being gathered because a meeting will be held in India on 5,6,7,8th November. Many stakeholders will meet there, I think. India, China,and the UN are all making attempts in their own ways. The ambition of all of them is to reduce armed conflict and start a political roundtable. At least, it will start an informal meeting kind of, I think." he said.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Miss Bishop

If armed conflicts go on, the general public will be hurt more and buildings will be destroyed more, pointed out military analysts.

Moreover, armed conflicts took longer, reconstruction tasks could be delayed; so, political dialogues only were the most suitable, they pointed out.

Special Envoy of the UN to Myanmar, Miss Julie Bishop met with Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw and discussed the Myanmar issues, she said at the UN Assembly on 29th October 2024. 

he urged neighboring countries and the ASEAN to use their influence on Myanmar and implement the five point consent. Moreover, she urged Myanmar to lead and find an answer to the conflict at the assembly.

On the other hand, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is to go to China to attend the Great Mekong Summit. 

While seeing U Aung Kyaw Moe attending the ASEAN FMs Meeting on 11th October 2024

Moreover, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Aung Kyaw Moe attended the ASEAN Summit held in Vientiane, Laos on 11th October 2024. 

The SAC was trying to have the upper hand in diplomatic affairs while diplomatic circles were attempting for the sake of the Myanmar people, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator, told CNI News.

" The SAC is trying to have upper hands in diplomatic affairs. But world countries are diplomatically helping the Myanmar people as much as they can." he said.

India has invited 10 Myanmar political parties, six EAOs, the NSPNC and over 20 representatives from the Center for Peace and Reconciliation to attend the meeting where the constitution of India and federalism will be discussed on 5th and 6th November. 

In the same way, an informal discussion about Myanmar will be led and held by Thailand among the ASEAN countries in December 2024.

CNI News

2 November 2024

Carrying rubber that is grown and produced in Mon State from one place to another is limited and testimonials are being aske when it is transported, according to those who are doing business of rubber. 

As rubber is an agricultural product, it can be freely transported and sold, said in the farmers' right protection and benefit promotion law. However, at present, check points are asking testimonials and money. 

So, the matter regarding the transportation of rubber would be presented to the government of state, secretary of the Mon State Rubber Association, U Tun Tun Naing told CNI News.

While rubber is being produced from rubber latex step by step

" When we carry rubber, check points ask if it is allowed to carry. But the law has allowed to freely carry the rubber because it's an agricultural product. But checkpoints ask permits to transport. At last, if they get a certain amount of money, they are pleased and they allowed to go carrying. So, we are to ask questions to the government of state about it." he said.

Moreover, rubber is not allowed to carry from Mon State to Karen State and vice versa. In the same way, the rubber produced in Mon State is not allowed to carry to Tanintharyi Region and permits are being asked reportedly. 

Because it is not allowed to freely carry like that, the cost becomes higher and rubber farmers don't get good prices, a rubber entrepreneur from Yay Township, told CNI News.

While rubber sheets are being dried in the sun

" Because we have to pay the money to the checkpoints, although traders or brokers have to pay, practically farmers have to suffer. The higher the cost, the more farmers suffer. They don't get reasonable prices." he said.

The price of rubber is about two times higher this year than last year and currently is 3,000 kyats per pound, but just 1,500 kyats in the past. 

Rubber is grown most in Mon State where over 100,000 tons of rubber are produced yearly.

CNI News

2 November 2024

An MoU regarding labor affairs was signed by Myanmar and Laos a few days ago and those who carry out labor affairs and businessmen are considering if Myanmar had been poverty-stricken that it had to send its workers to even Laos.

Although Myanmar and Laos were developing countries in Southeast Asia, people can say that Myanmar had been so poverty-stricken that it has to send its workers to even Laos, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

Although not every worker could enjoy 100 percent of their benefits in Thailand, many workers were enjoying full benefits of theirs. However, Laos had not reached the level of Thailand; Laos still was lower than other neighboring countries, he added.

While seeing workers

" It can't be convenient for Myanmar workers who have reached Laos. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Myanmar workers in Laos asked for help. Laos was not able to do anything for them. Myanmar workers can be sent to Laos. But we have to consider it is because our country is so poor. To tell you frankly, there is a demand for labor in Thailand. At least, basic salary is designated. There are also social security and other rights. It's not certain that there are these things in Laos. It's hard to get basic information in Laos. So, why are the workers sent to Laos? It's beyond me." said U Min Oo to CNI News.

In comparison with most of its neighboring countries, basic salary of Laos is lower, but in comparison with Myanmar, basic salary of Laos is much higher, pointed out those carrying out for labor issues and businessmen.

According to the current situation, because it was hard to find jobs within the country, Myanmar citizens wanted to do the jobs that were available and they would go there to work, they made comments.

While seeing Lao Ambassador to Myanmar and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC

" There's one thing I can say, in Southeast Asia, there were four developing countries - Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Vietnam has developed for long. Cambodia also has developed to an extent since 2020. Laos has been selling its electricity as well. In fact, it's landlocked If you compare the basic salary of Laos with that of Myanmar, you know whether Myanmar is poorer or not." said U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman.

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar citizens who go to Laos illegally and some are facing a variety of troubles. To catch up with higher living cost, the basic salary of Laos was raised from 66 to 82 dollars.