CNI News

23 October 2024

Prevention so as not to sell goods imported from China and Thailand with no license could not be effective on the ground, pointed out economic analysts. 

Importing goods without license is illegal and only if the government could prevent along the route where the goods were carried, would it be effective, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" Whether a product in the market was imported with an import license or not cannot be known by retail shops and distributors. And buyers or customers can't know whether it was legally imported. If the government will supervise closely so as not to sell illegal goods only when they are in markets, it won't be so natural. The government should inspect and take action or seize illegal products along the import route through check points. Prevention of illegal products only when they are in markets won't be effective, I think." he said.

While seeing the Myawaddy Border Trade Zone

If it was not convenient to check on the routes going to the borders because of territorial instabilities, checkpoints on the roads entering towns or cities should thoroughly check goods whether they were legal or illegal, pointed out economic analysts. 

Myanmar people are mainly using Thai and Chinese products and if prevention measures like that were conducted, it would be necessary to issue import licenses easily and quickly, they suggested.

Illegal trades have emerged due to the imbalance between demand and supply and they should be tackled only after the way to balance were found, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

While seeing the 105 Mile Trade Zone on the route to the Chinese border

" I don't mean illegal importing is right due to the imbalance between supply and demand. The reason why illegal importing is conducted is because they have to sell or buy. Why are there things to be sold or bought? It's because of an imbalance between supply and demand. For example, you had to spend about 50,000 kyats a month on medicine in the past. But you have to spend about 120,000 kyats now. You can't find the medicine you want in the market. And then, black market has arisen. The black market can't be tackled. What should we do to create a balance between supply and demand?" he said.

Illegal trade growing that could make armed groups exist longer must be prevented and got rid of, said chairman of steering committee at the meeting of anti-illegal trade committee held on 9th October.

So, checks and arrests must be conducted on routes and roads. Moreover, warehouses must be checked and arrested and lastly, until in markets, he said. After that, shop owners were warned not to sell illegal goods.

CNI News

23 October 2024

Any organization or individual who recognizes or signs the ceasefire agreement between the National Socialist Council of Maga-Khaplang/Anmai (NSCN-K/AM) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw will be regarded as those who go against the national movement, released the National Socialist Council of Naga-Khaplang/Yung Aung (NSCN-K/YA) on 22nd October 2024. 

Whether the ceasefire could be signed or not, carrying out to damage their region for the interests of anyone who wanted to corrupt would not be allowed, said the NSCN-K/YA.

Moreover, it would go on maintaining the current condition at any rate; the NSCN/GPRN and the Naga people keep out of the Myanmar conflict and they would stand at the current situation unless they were forcibly pushed to take part in the conflict, said the NSCN-K/YA.

While seeing the statement released by the NSCN-K/YA

" So, in accordance with the statement by the NSCN/GPRN dated 28th September 2024, for the sake of national liberation revolution, the above-mentioned Naga public organizations are informed to avoid encouraging the NSCN-K/AM. Any organization or individual who recognizes or signs their ceasefire will be regarded as those who go against the national liberation movement." said the NSCN-K/YA.

The discussion was held between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the NSCN-K/AM in Khamti on 26th January, 2024 and on 5th February 2024 about ceasefire and security for the Naga region. 

After that, the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the NSCN-K/AM discussed in Monywa on the second week of September 2024. 

And then, as the fourth time, the two sides discussed in Khamti on 27th September 2024 and the preliminary ceasefire agreement was reached at the Region level.

However, chief minister of Sagaing Region reached Khamti on 27th September and ceasefire agreement cannot be signed until 22nd October for many reasons.

While seeing the NSCN-K/YA

Although the NSCN was formed in 1980, because there were disagreements among leaders, the group led by U Khaplang has based on the Myanmar side as the NSCN-K in 1989 and the group led by Muivah and   Isak Chishi Swu   on the Indian side as the NSCN-IM.

U Khaplang passed away in 2017 and vice chairman U Kham Ngor was elected chairman of the NSCN-K. 

However, he was removed from power on 17th August that year and U Yung Aung was elected chairman of the NSCN-K. U Kham Ngor left for India with a few troops of his and made peace with the Indian government in 2020.

And then, Deputy Commander in Chief Lt-Gen Nikisumi, minister Starswam and C in C Lt-Gen Nyamlan were dismissed from the NSCN-K/YA by U Yung Aung on 29th July 2020. 

While seeing the ENNO/ENDA

The group led by Nikisumi formed the NSCN-K/NK and made peace with the Indian government on 8th September 2021.

In the same way, U Yung Aung dismissed Anmai and Lannyei from the NSCN-K/YA in July 2023 and warned them to abolish new group establishment and surrender. 

Anmai formed the NSCN-K/AM and battles often take place between the NSCN-K/AM and the NSCN-K/YA. 

On the other hand, former NLD members of the Hluttaw and Awng Sai who was dismissed from the NSCN-K led and formed the Eastern Naga National Organization/ the Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENNO/ENDA).

CNI News

23 October 2024

The China's consulate in Mandalay often likened as second capital was attacked at about 5:00 am on 18th October by some anonymous people. Although no one was hurt due to the attack, some office buildings were damaged, stated the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar. 

While the Bloomberg news agency asked the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China about the attack, he was very shocked and strongly condemned the attack, he answered.

" The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar and the Chinese Consulate quickly started the emergency response mechanism and China seriously demanded Myanmar to investigate the attack thoroughly and to severely punish the culprits in accordance with the law after they are arrested." he said.

While seeing the spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian at the regular press conference on 21st October

Myanmar has been urged to promote the security for the Chinese Embassy, the Chinese Consulates, the Chinese organizations, projects and staffs so as not to make similar incidents take place, said the spokesperson.

" Myanmar was very shocked and sad because of this incident and has carried out necessary measures. The Myanmar side will keep the promise and comply with international laws and take the responsibilities practically the security for the Chinese staffs and organizations." said Myanmar.

And then, the Chinese Consulate in Mandalay recently issued a security notification and urged the Chinese citizens, companies and organizations to take care of security and make preventions for the safety, promoting security measures, said the spokesperson.

While seeing the front view of the Chinese Consulate in Mandalay in 2021 (photo-CJ)

Saying that China is intervening the domestic affairs of Myanmar, opposition elements waging the Spring Revolution in order to overthrow the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SAC are protesting against China by burning the Chinese flags and steading on the images of Chinese leaders.

In the same way, nationalist elements in Myanmar are protesting against China, saying that China is supporting the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, TNLA and AA) behind the scene, attacking the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in order to capture towns and cities.

Because some Spring Revolution armed elements have released that they would attack and destroy the Chinese interests in Myanmar, the MNDAA, the TNLA and the AA have stated that they would effectively take action against those who attack the Chinese projects, investments, companies and citizens.

CNI News

22 October 2024

After China put pressure on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to stop the war, China closed down its border gates with Kachin State and whether China could sanction on the KIA in practice or not is being questioned by military analysts.

The news came out of the discussion between the Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Deng Xijun and the leader of the KIA, General Gun Shawng about stopping battles on 17th October.

And then, the KIA attacked and captured Panwa Town near the Chinese border, where China is working on rare earth and other natural resources mining industries.

China closed down the border trade gates - Laiza, the headquarters of the KIA, Myjayan, Lysen, Hkashan and so on shortly after the KIA captured Panwa Town.

The China's pressure was just a political demonstration and it could be difficult to close down the border gates in practice, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

" The China's pressure is just its political demonstration. But it's very difficult practically to close down the border gates. The Kachin people in Yunnan Province are like relatives and family members of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). I don't think it'e easy for China to close down in detail." he said.

While seeing Panwa Town in Kachin State

The reason why the KIA captured Panwa where there were trade, militia and border guard force might be it wanted to re-gather the parts of Kachin State when the Myanmar Tatmadaw was weak, pointed out political commentators.

China was probably telling strategically and because there were Kachin people on both China's side and Myanmar's side, as China would have to take its ethnic policy into account, it wouldn't be to able put pressure anymore, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affair commentator, told CNI News.

" China will be telling strategically while we'll have to do what we have to. China probably won't put pressure any more. Although it has imposed sanction, we can find other ways. It's no problem. Kachin people are on the Chinese side as well. Kachin people didn't accept even though China had closed down the border gates. They were accepting their relatives or ethnic people. Because China has to take its ethnic policy into account, it doesn't dare to carry out strictly. War refugees from Kachin State entered China, crossing the border. To the best of my knowledge, Kachin people from the Chinese side donate clothes, and stationeries and books for the children  in the Kachin State every year. No matter what China tells, the KIA will carry on what it has to." she said.

While seeing the Laiza-Naban China-Myanmar border gate

The KIA re-captured its territories as it wanted to establish Kachin State of its own, she added. 

" The KIA has always wanted to build Kachin State of its own. Panwa is included in Kachin State, where it was owned by the KIA in the past as well. Zakhun Taint Ying was member of the KIA at first and then he joined the Burma Communist Party. After he seceded from the BCP, he became a militia leader of Bo Khin Nyunt. The story was very complicated. The KIA retook its place (Panwa). Around the place are Kachin villages only, where I had lived." she added.

Along the Kachin border with China controlled by the KIA are about 4,000 war refugees and people by the dozens of thousand, and foodstuffs and consumer goods are imported from the Chinese side. 

The five border gates with China namely Kyin Hsan Kyawt, Chin Shwe Haw, Yanlon Kyine, Mongko and Namkham have been closed down by the Chinese side.

CNI News

22 October 2024

It was necessary to designate the profitable reference price of paddy more than agricultural cost, said farmers.

The steering organization for the promotion of farmers' right and interests has designated the reference price of paddy as 950,000 kyats per 100 baskets.

The agricultural cost for the rainfed paddy was 700,000 to 1,000,000 kyats per acre and the current reference price was not beneficial to farmers, former chairman of the Farmers Development Association, U Thein Aung told CNI News.

" The basic reference price means the guarantee foundation market which is in every country and the price is 30 percent more than the agricultural cost. The yield of paddy this year is 70 baskets per acre on average. In comparison with the reference price designated, a farmer could earn around 700,000 kyats per acre, but the agricultural cost is 700,000 to 100,000 kyats per acre. In fact, if the reference price was designated 30 percent more than the cultural cost, it would be 1,300,000 kyats." he said.

While paddy is being threshed

However, the price of paddy is 1,700,000 to 1,900,000 kyats per 100 baskets in the market. When the paddy appeared abundantly in the previous years, calculating on the reference price, as the paddy was bought, which hurt farmers.

When the agricultural cost has risen, the reference price should not be about half lower than the market price, U Kyi Lwin, a farmer, told CNI News.

" The yield of rainfed paddy this year is produced only half of the previous years. So, you can't buy the paddy, reducing the reasonable price. In the previous years, when the paddy appeared, for example, the reference price was designated 600,000 kyats per 100 baskets. In practice, there was no one who bought the paddy at that price. But it's necessary for the government to clearly issue an order." he said.

The currently designated reference price of paddy is for the rainfed paddy of 2024 and for the summer paddy of 2025 and at present, rainfed paddy is being reaped and bought at 1,700,000 to 1,900,000 kyats per 100 baskets.

CNI News

22 October 2024

Businessmen and experts within Myanmar are discussing what the military tensions in the Middle East can affect Myanmar.

Because the countries in the Middle East are not Myanmar's trading partners, although they cannot directly affect the economy of Myanmar, they can indirectly in the petroleum and related cases, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" They are the countries which produce petroleum. They are mainly supplying petroleum while the global fuel oil consumption is rising. Although Myanmar doesn't buy fuel oil directly from them, it buy fuel oil through Singaporean companies or third parties. National productivity will decline if the battles are going on. Next, it can hurt purchasing weapons and ammunition. But because they are not our main trading partners, they can't hurt economically Myanmar." he said.

While seeing description of the situation of Gaza war

It was necessary to consider possible impacts depending on other countries which could take part in the Mideast wars; if so, a great fuel oil problem could take place in Myanmar, pointed out political analysts. However, it was less likely to happen so because other countries had their own problems as well, they said.

If the military tensions in the Mideast rose any more, it could hurt Myanmar more than other countries because Myanmar had not made preparations, there are lots of instabilities within the country, and there were foreign currency problems, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

While seeing a bowser carrying fuel oil

" When we have to solve the economic problem or political one, we need money and so does a family. But we don't have enough money. So, we have to pray that anymore of tensions won't take place. If the tensions take place any more, other countries will suffer by ten percent and our country will by 20 to 40 percent. Importers, exporters and students' parents are facing a very difficult situation. You need to have a financial strength if you want to solve a problem. But we don't have it." he said.

Battles are severely breaking out between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, between Israel and Hezbola in Lebanon, and between Iran and Israel in the Middle East. Israel has demanded the UN Peace-keeping Force to leave Lebanon.

Houthi rebels in Yemen are attacking cargo ships and oil tankers going through the Red Sea in order that they can put pressure on Israel.

CNI News
20 October 2024

It was necessary to overcome foreign countries' influence and their incitation must be careful, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

He said the above in his speech video which was sent to the 9th anniversary celebration of the NCA on 15th October 2024.

At present, power struggles among powerful countries, powerful countries' political, military and economic interventions on small countries, territorial disputes among countries, terrorist attacks and domestic instabilities were taking place in many parts of the world, said chairman of the SAC.

Some powerful countries were involved in the domestic conflicts of countries and they were attempting to colonize again, which should be careful, warned Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. But he didn't tell exactly which countries he referred to.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" World powerful countries are making efforts in order to control the economic sector mainly important for the development in attempting to influence on small countries. They are creating a variety of conflicts and crises in small countries so that they can manipulate as they like. At a situation like this, small countries need to overcome their conflicts and crises by using natural resources and sources within their countries." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Moreover, only when armed conflicts died out through the NCA, the Myanmar people could reach the goal they wanted and it was necessary not to believe what foreign countries were supporting terrorism and incited to arise bloodshed among their citizens, he said.

The actions by the MNDAA, the TNLA and the AA which started in October 2023 worsened the public social economic situations and beyond the terrorist acts like that, there were a variety of supports from foreign countries, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
During Operation-1027 that was launched in October 2023, the MNDAA, the TNLA, the AA and the NUG/PDFs captured a lot of territories that the Tatmadaw had controlled, including Lashio City.

While seeing an official from the MNDAA and a Chinese police officer

The MNDAA and the TNLA have made allies with the NUG and are fighting against the Tatmadaw and receiving 200 million dollars from the US each year, which the SAC reported on the night of 25th September.

China has forbidden its citizens from exporting fuel oil and basic foods to the towns and villages in northern Shan State where the MNDAA and the TNLA have controlled.

And then, the MNDAA has forbidden its party members, troops and those related to them from travelling to or dealing with the ASEAN members, the US and western countries, reported the MNDAA on 9th September.

Foreign troops were planning to enter and intervene Myanmar and as a result, big and severe changes could arise in the country, said in the statement by the MNDAA not long ago.

Myanmar, a neighboring country of China, has an exit to the Indian Ocean for China and Myanmar is mainly conducting the border trade with China; although Myanmar has five neighboring countries, the main economic partners are China and Thailand; western group has imposed on Myanmar and Myanmar wanted western group to impose on its neighboring countries as well, reported the SAC under the title - China is a true friend of the Myanmar people.

CNI News
20 October 2024

The NCA signatories should not forget their determination that they would successfully implement the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

He said the above in the video speech he sent to the 9th anniversary celebration of the NCA on 15th October, 2024.

" I believe those who signed the NCA will emphatically remember that they determined to implement successfully the points that are included in the NCA based on responsibility, accountability and transparency so that the perpetuation of peace since the NCA was signed." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The NCA that emerged with the intensions that NCA signatories would walk to a new democratic country that is stable and developed - how much could it be implemented while facing disturbances; how much firm was it which everyone knew, he added.

While the 8th anniversary celebration of the NCA was being held on 15th October 2023

" The NCA is a new historic agreement of Myanmar that came out of many negotiations and discussions among officials from organizations concerned. Discussions were thoroughly conducted to reach the agreement between the two sides." he said.

The NCA was signed by the KNU, the CNF, the ABSDF, the RCSS, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the PNLO, the ALP, the LDU and the NMSP.

Saying that the NCA has been void, the KNU, the CNF, the ABSDF and the PNLO are waging battles to overthrow the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SAC and don't attend the celebrations of the NCA anymore.

CNI News
20 October 2024

Discussions are being conducted among military and political analysts, regarding how Myanmar will be shaped in the future because military conflicts are taking place across the country.

Moreover, they are discussing which policies should be used in shaping the country in the future as well. All the stakeholders were responsible to resolve their domestic problem by themselves, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), Dr. Aye Maung told CNI News.

" Myanmar people will have to solve the Myanmar political problem. The National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) has invited us to attend the 9th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA. And then, there'll be a workshop where the NSPNC will hold a discussion about Myanmar that will be shaped in the future. So, Myanmar citizens only will decide how Myanmar should be shaped in the future. We have to lead how the international community will cooperate. They get ready to help us all out. All the stakeholders must be leading to the interests of the public." he said.

Because of political disagreements that started 1st February, 2021, armed conflicts took place across the country and there were over six million IDPs until October 2024, according to the ISP-Myanmar.

Moreover, the Myanmar people are facing not only narcotic drugs and online scams but also scarcity of jobs, higher commodity price and thieves or robbers.

So, The Myanmar Tatmadaw and EAOs should shape the future Myanmar with policies appreciating the interests of the public, pointed out military and political analysts.

While seeing seven NCA signatories and the delegates from the NSPNC

The public-centered policy must be implemented without fail, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

" It's necessary to make the ground situation stable if it is resolved politically. The public is important. Because there is the public, ruler class, government and country emerge. Next, if a leader, for example, is very clever and his intention is very good, he might persuade the public and push them to a place. But if he established military and politics by force, there is no reason to produce a good result in the long run. If he could center on the public really, he must know what problem the public are facing, how it could be resolved. How will the above-mentioned discussions guarantee the public? At least, if they guarantee that the people can live peacefully, make their economy develop, they will be convenient. Surely, the public-centered policy must be implemented." he said.

Armed conflicts have been taking place in Myanmar up to now since Myanmar gained her independence in 1948 and means that can resolve the armed conflicts has not been found.