CNI News

10 February2025

Although women are eligible for military service under the People's Military Service Law, there has been no plan to call up female civil service personnel, said Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the State Administration Council (SAC).

After the SAC announced that the People's Military Service Law came into effect in 2024, a total of nearly 7 million men and women are eligible for military service.

Men were called up for military service under the People's Military Service Law, and they had been recruited up to 9th batch. But women have not been summoned up to now for military service.

However, social network pages and several quarters are reporting that women are being called up for military service.

" As for me, to tell you clearly, although the People's Military Service Law and Regulations apply to women for military service, there has been no plan to call up women for military service." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Inquiries regarding issues related to conscription or recruitment for military service and complaints regarding irregularities could be reported accurately, he added.

CNI News

10 February 2025

Because Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand has been appointed to Labor Minister, Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand might be tightened more, those who are carrying out the issue of migrant workers told CNI News. 

Labor Minister U Myint Naung who was in service for over one year was retired at the time when the tenure of Chairman of the State Administration Council was extended for another six months and he was replaced with Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand, U Chit Swe.

Because U Chit Swe U Chit Swe served as Myanmar's ambassador to Thailand, he is well-versed in labor issues in Thailand. So, it might get worse for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, U Min Oo who is helping migrant workers, told CNI News. 

" He knows the situation on the Thai side. And he also has contacts with Thai authorities. So, he can negotiate and carry out in some cases. That is to say, it could get worse for Myanmar migrant workers. He will surely tighten the workers. Because he has already known the situation on the Thai side. In some cases, he has become more skilled at how to negotiate with workers." said U Min Oo.

While seeing migrant workers

U Chit Swe was appointed to Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand at the time when the SAC was extended for another six months in June 2022. When the SAC was extended for another six months on 31st January 2025, he was appointed to Labor Minister.

It was reviewed that U Chit Swe is more skilled in the labor issue after which he was appointed to Labor Minister; however, it was unlikely to have a good prospect in the labor issue, U Aung Kyaw who is helping the migrant labor issue, told CNI News.

" We have never heard that an ambassador who has been appointed in a foreign country is appointed to a minister. The SAC seems to consider him to be more skilled in the labor issue. But in our opinion, as an ambassador, he had not work hard in the labor issue." said U Aung Kyaw.

Contracts for overseas employment for men between the ages of 18 and 35, the age limit to do a military job, have been suspended indefinitely starting from 31st January 2025.

Population decline may impact local labor force and elections, said Chairman of the SAC at a meeting held in Naypyidaw on 17th January 2025.

And then, bylaws of the People's Military Service Law arose on 23rd January 2025 and according to Section 51 of the bylaw, a person who receives a call-up order for military service is not allowed to travel abroad without permission from the Central Military Recruitment Board.

CNI News

8 February 2025

What the KIA Chairman General N'Ban La said seemed to urge the State Administration Council (SAC) to seek the peace only at the political roundtable, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw needed to use the power it has held for the peace of the country without seeking the peace on the battlefield, said Chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO/KIA) General N'Ban La on the 64th anniversary of the Kachin Revolution that fell on 5th February 2025. 

The meaning of what he said was urging the Myanmar Tatmadaw to hold peace talks instead of continuing the war for a long time and it was likely that the peace must be sought on the political roundtable, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

" I understand what he said means urging the Myanmar Tatmadaw to hold peace talks instead of continuing the war for a long time. If the Myanmar Tatmadaw seek the peace on the battlefield, it will be waging the decisive war. Instead of building peace for the decisive war, it's nothing short of urging the Myanmar Tatmadaw to hold peace talks, I think.  The KIA or the AA thought that it would be okay if their territory was liberated. Now they have understood they will be able to control their regions only if the mainland of Bamar people was liberated from the military council. So, they continue to fight, I think. The AA keeps fighting on and on and so does the KIA. Only if the Bamar people in the mainland are liberated, have they understood that they can control their regions. That's why they will continue to fight." said Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw.

A map showing the KIA's capture of Shan Ni people from Banmauk Township

The matters that must be resolved in the political dialogues should not solved prematurely, urged General N'Ban La. But he did not say exactly what the matters were. 

The KIA/PDF joint forces attacked and captured the Cannon Unit-366 of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Bhamo, Kachin State on 2nd February 2025 and battles reportedly are severely breaking out.

In the same way, the KIA/PDF joint forces are launching an offensive to capture Banmauk Town while battles are severely breaking out in Inndaw Town. 

The joint forces are making preparations to capture Banmauk Town by attacking Kyaung Le and Pinkha Villages and have arrested about 700 Shanni people and are reportedly using them as human shields.

When they were at war, they could not talk about peace. The KIA forces are coming down to Inndaw and it is showing signs of entering Sagaing Region, U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, told CNI News.

" It's just a message that says, "Don't look for peace on the battlefield when you're at war with each other." A battlefield is where both sides commit violence against each other. they fight with the best weapons within their reach. Talking about peace can't penetrate battles. The first step of the KIA's military operations, like other brotherhood EAOs, is to make Kachin State free from military council's military camps. And then, in collaboration with other armed allies, it will march to Naypyidaw. There are the Northern Command and Myitkyina only left. Now the KIA/PDF joint forces are coming down to Inndaw. They will enter Sagaing Region kind of." said U Than Soe Naing. 

At present, the KIA/PDF joint forces have captured Mabein, Myohla, Lweje, Dod Phun Yan, Myothit, Sinbo, Ingyanyan, Sumprabun, Sadon, Chipwi, Sawlaw, Panwa, Kan Pite Tee and Mansi Towns in Kachin State and northern Shan State.

CNI News

8 February 2025

The projects that will produce more than 1,000 megawatts of hybrid power using natural gas and solar electric engines are underway in Myanmar, said the State Administration Council (SAC) Vice Chairman, Vice Senior General Soe Win.

 He said the above at the Work Coordination Meeting for the Union-level MSME Product Exhibition and Competition held on 5th February 2025.

 "The cost of installing a solar system will be regained within a few years. For example, a 20-megawatt solar power system was installed and put into use at the Commander-in-Chief's Office about two years ago. The cost will be covered in one and a half years to come. So, the SAC want MSMEs entrepreneurs carry out in order to obtain electricity through a solar system." said Vice Chairman of the SAC.

The projects that will produce more than 1,000 megawatts of hybrid power using natural gas and solar electric engines are underway in other regions and states, and because the electricity generated will be distributed nationwide, so the regions and states will receive electricity in proportion. 

It would be more convenient for business owners to have their own solar systems for their businesses. So, they will need to do so, he said.

Although the electricity productivity of the country is 6,300 megawatts, there are some power plants that have stopped operating for various reasons such as incidents of violence; The Ministry of Electric Power is making every effort to provide states and regions with electricity on a rotating basis depending on the amount of electricity power plants can generate, said Vice Chairman of the SAC.

Six companies in the Thilawa Industrial Zone are generating and using more than 4.9 megawatts of solar power. Because of this production, it is more efficient in business operations; taking this action as an example, other companies are carrying out in order to produce more than eight megawatts of power through the solar energy; by doing so, the electricity is sufficient for a small scall business and excess power can be sold to the national grid, he said.

When electricity is supplied once, it lasts for four hours, then the power is cut off for another four hours, and then the power is restored for another four hours. Electricity has been cut for 16 hours. Some townships reportedly have seen a slight increase in electricity availability.

CNI News

8 February 2025

Those who have illegally arrived in the US with no residence permit should leave the country in advance before being deported by the US officials, warned the Myanmar Embassy to the US on 5th February 2025. 

Donald Trump who won in the US presidential election becomes president, the US government is carrying out to send those arrived  in the US illegally or with no residence permit back to their native countries.

In doing so, the US government will handcuffed the illegal residents and be deported by military aircraft and those who don't want to go back to their countries will be sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

"Those who have already arrived in the US illegally - if they leave the US in advance before being deported, they will be free from being handcuffed and being imprisoned. Moreover, they can go home after selling their assets and if they apply for a visa to return in the future, they have a better chance of getting a visa." wrote a social account called Moe Chan.

If Myanmar citizens were facing the expiration of your legal documents such as residence visa, they would be designated as undocumented aliens and because they could be deported, we inform them to carry out to secure residency through their plans, released the Myanmar Embassy to the US.

Myanmar citizens who have already arrived in the US illegally or undocumented Myanmar citizens should leave the US in advance before the US officials deport them; if they do not have any type of travel ticket for the return journey or if their passports have expired for quite some time, they can apply for ID cards and application forms and requirements can be found on the embassy website and the embassy can be contacted promptly by email/phone, said in the statement released by the Myanmar Embassy.

The US government has also suspended the work permits of more than 300,000 Venezuelans and deported them while Indian and Colombian migrants were also repatriated by US military aircraft.

The US government reportedly has also listed nearly 700 Myanmar nationals for repatriation.

CNI News

7 February 2025

The goals of ethnic armed groups are no more the same in the political landscape of Myanmar that has emerged since the overthrow of the NLD government, review military and political analysts.

The original goal of the EAOs, which was to build a federal union, was the same and so was the achievement of full rights to self-determination. However, organizations that have gained military advantage have had the goals that are higher than federalism, Chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

" Organizations that have gained military advantage are demanding political statuses such as confederation higher than federalism. In other words, they have raised the price politically on purpose. But in the long run,  I think they will return within the framework of a normal federal model. When the other side does not accept the federal normal position, I consider that the price has increased. Fake federal unions were created during the eras of U Nu and U Ne Win. If we end the game with a fake federal union this time, it won't be acceptable. So, they are fighting for a true federal union. So, they are demanding things such as confederation to gain a true federal union, I think." said Col. Khun Okkar.

While seeing the government, the Tatmadaw and leaders of armed organizations

The MNDAA announced that they would not collaborate with the NUG in 2024 while the TNLA has expressed that they would wage battles in collaboration with revolutionary forces. The MNDAA, the TNLA and the AA probably will discuss separately with China or the SAC.

TNLA,AA, MNDAA ,as members of the Northern Alliance, discussed with the SAC or China in the past and so did the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC). 

Now they are discussing with China or the SAC separately. Since ethnic armed organizations are located in different regions, although their goals may differ, their goals may be the same in overthrowing the dictatorship, some review.

The goal of overthrowing the dictatorship emerged only after 2021 and EAOs have had their original revolution for their rights, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), U Myo Kyaw told CNI News.

" Overthrowing the dictatorship was put on the agenda only after 2021. EAOs have had their original revolution for the rights of their people - their sovereignty, self-determination. These two points are different. Now that some EAOs have been able to dominate their regions, whether they fight for the mainland is being questioned. Some EAOs have wanted to take all the territories that they have attacked and captured." said U Myo Kyaw.

While seeing the leaders of the three northern allies

The SAC met with the MNDAA among the ethnic armed groups involved in the armed conflict with the help of China and a temporary ceasefire has been reached.

The SAC probably will meet with the TNLA, review some people.

AA has said that it wants a confederation at the lowest level and has aspirations to establish a Rakhine country at the highest level. 

In the same way, if necessary, because a new country would be established, Ta'ang (Palaung) people should be ready, said Maj-Gen Tar Bone Kyaw, secretary of the TNLA.

In the same way, ethnic armed groups would come to express ideas that go beyond federalism in 2025, said Lt-Gen Gun Maw, a leader of the KIA.

CNI News

7 February 2008

The State Administration Council (SAC) was holding on the 2008 Constitution because it didn't want to stage a coup d'état, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News. 

Although the SAC has been in service for four years, because peace and stability were still needed, the state of emergency was extended for another six months, announced the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on 31st January 2025.

The SAC was holding on to the 2008 Constitution because it didn't want to stage a coup d'état, and because it was leading to politics and it would continue to maintain political dialogues, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

While the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council was being held

" The SAC has been holding on to the 2008 Constitution because it didn't want to stage a coup d'état. If it wanted to stage a coup d'état, it would have staged already since early. If a coup is needed at this time, what is the reason? You have to find it yourself. There is no reason. Because the SAC is making preparations to discuss,  politics, it will continue to maintain political dialogues. It's hard to say about military affairs. We have to wait for some time to know the result that will come out." said U Thein Tun Oo.

Even during the period of holding power, the SAC was struggling to achieve stability. If the SAC staged a coup d'état, it would have things to face on all sides, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Force (NDF) U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News. 

" In my opinion, the SAC won't stage a coup d'état because during the period of holding power, the SAC is struggling to achieve stability. If staged a coup d'état, it would have things to face on all sides after the constitution is no more. It's unlikely for the SAC to stage a coup d'état, I think." said U Htet Aung Kyaw.

While seeing the book on the 2008 Constitution

The SAC would hold a general election in 2025 and the State power would be handed over to the winning party, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

On the other hand, armed revolutionary forces have proclaimed that they will destroy the election without fail. Because of political landscape that changed after February 2021, some EAOs expressed that they wanted to achieve confederation or build a separate independent new country.

In Myanmar's history, U Ne Win held a general election in 1960 and staged a coup d'état in 1966. So, some are concerned that the SAC will stage a coup d'état due to a situation.

CNI News

6 February 2025

Around 700 local Shanni people from Kyaung Le and Pinkha Villages, Banmauk Township, upper Sagaing Region, are being abducted and tortured by a group allied with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), released Shanni CSOs on 3rd February 2025.

Nearly 300 local Shanni ethnic people from Kyaung Le Village, Banmauk Township by were forcibly abducted and taken away by a joint group led by the KIA on 29th January 2025. 
In the same way, nearly 400 local Shanni ethnic people from Pinkha Village, Banmauk Township were also abducted by force by joint forces led by the KIA 30th January 2025, reported the Shanni CSOs.

" Among the Shanni villagers who were abducted were included children eight months to three years, whose parents had to flee to China, young women and elderly people as well as Buddhist monks. Joint forces led by the KIA committed many inhumane acts such as dousing the Shanni villagers who were tied up with hot water including assault with gun butts, beatings, and torture." said in the statement released by the Shanni CSOs.

According to some villagers who escaped, joint forces led by the KIA fired into the village with heavy weapons and damaged monasteries, and the joint forces were digging trenches under cover of religious buildings.

The statement was jointly released by the Shanni Nationalities Unity Association (SNUA), the Shanni Youths Network (Waingmaw), the Shanni Youths Network (Banmauk), the Shanni Youths Network (Mohnyin), the Shanni Youths Network (Mogaung), and the Tai-Leng Students Union (TSU).

The KIA-PDF joint forces attack Kyaung Le and Pinkha Villages and are making military preparations to capture Banmauk Town.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) and the KIA-PDF joint forces are being active in Banmauk Township, and the KIA-PDF joint forces are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SNA in the township.

KIA-PDF is using detained Shanni ethnic people as human shields during the battles, reported the Shanni CSOs.

CNI News

6 February 2025

To say that 'Myanmar could enjoy peace only if China helps' was not correct and Myanmar people themselves must work for internal peace, Chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

Due to China's brokered engagement, a ceasefire was reached between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Miss Mao Ning at the regular press conference on 20th January 2025.

Moreover, there are reports that a discussion between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA/the AA is scheduled this month. The Northern Alliance (the TNLA, the AA and the MNDAA) have announced that they would discuss peace with the Myanmar Tatmadaw with China's brokered engagement.

While seeing three northern groups and secretary of the NSPNC

China's mediation has not yet reached the level of peace; Stakeholders must carry out themselves to have peace; Myanmar won't have peace only when China provided, said Col. Khun Okkar

" In my opinion, peace can't be built through military means. Peace can only be built with military means, political means and diplomatic affairs. Only when a political agreement is reached and a good result is produced, will we have peace. At present, China's mediation hasn't reached peace. Regional flow of goods, opening trade routes, economy and stability are just prioritized. A political consensus is needed to bring peace to the entire country. It's not true that Myanmar will only have peace if China provides it. Stakeholders within the country must work for peace. China is carrying out the stability in the regions re."lated to it and will work to develop its economy. It is China's policy."

China would continue to actively support the peace process in northern Myanmar, said Miss Mao Ning, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China has had the upper hand in Myanmar politics, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator, told CNI News.

It's not because China is clever, but because we are weak. The SAC has to act humbly when dealing with China. The SAC has no one to depend on except for China. 

While seeing two leaders of the AA

Russia can't help the SAC. The three brotherhoods (AA,TNLA,MNDAA) , especially the MNDAA speak Chinese and use Chinese currency. China has automatic influence on the MNDAA. In the same way, the UWSA and the NDAA (Myla) are the same as the MNDAA. So, China has the upper hand in Myanmar politics." said U Kyi Myint.

Myanmar is accelerating collaborative projects with China and Myanmar will continue to be China's reliable neighbor and good friend, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the  Chinese New Year 2025 ceremony.

Battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed elements across the country and the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of its military camps by the hundred, the Northeast Command and the West Command as well as over 90 townships.

The MNDAA, the UWSA, the NDAA, the KIA, the TNLA and the SSPP are active near the Chinese border.