CNI News

12 October 2024

When census-taking was being conducted, if the information about it was wrong, it might affect the country, Col. Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News. 

As the information about the population of the country, job and education support a lot of the drawing of projects, if the information was wrong, it could affect the country, he said.

" After conducting the census-taking, when comments and results are released, if the information was wrong, you may be wrong in calculating the age group, workable age group, race, language and population. If the information was correct, projects can be drawn by quoting it. For example, how many people aged 18 to 45 are those who can work for national productivity? In drawing the projects regarding economy and education, the census can support a lot." he said to CNI News.

While the census-taking about Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and his family was being conducted

Although the census-taking has been conducted since 1st October, some people are not answering the right information because they are worried. 

The census-taking tends to be conducted every ten years and because there are doubts and worries among the people, they are likely to give wrong information. So, those who conduct the census-taking need to explain thoroughly to the people, pointed out some people.

Although there would be no problem if one percent of households did not give right information, if 90 percent did not give right information, it would affect the sectors such as economy, education, health and so on, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

While the census-taking was being conducted

" How many men and women between 18 and 35 and how many people between 35 and 65 are there? Among them, how many people who can work are there? How much income of their income? Only if we know them, can the economy of the country be cured. Although there are a lot of people who can work, if there are no job opportunities, the government must think about creating job opportunities. And if they answer that those who are working are dependents or those who no longer exist are living, they can affect the government's economic policies." he said.

According to the census collected in 2014, the population of the country was over 50 millions and grownups male 85 percent and female 50 percent were in the workforce and four percent only were jobless.

CNI News

11 October 2024

In Myanmar, not only is there domestic consumption of avocado, it was also exported. However, the avocado could not be exported this year, according to avocado growers and sellers. 

Although Myanmar was mainly exporting its avocados to Singapore and Malaysia, the vocados could not be exported this year because of difficult transportation and unstable foreign exchange rates, U Kyaw Soe Min, secretary of the Myanmar avocado growers, producers and exporters association, told CNI News.

"About 2,000 tons of Hass avocados were produced last year. There's demand for it from Malaysia and Singapore. But according to the current quality of avocado and situation, it's too difficult for us to export the avocado. And the exchange rates are also unstable. So, it's difficult for us to buy avocados to export. That's why, it's unlikely to export avocado this year." he said.

While seeing Hass type avocado

Because not only has the quality of avocados declined, the avocados also could not be exported, avocados could not be sold at good prices at the domestic market. 

Although one kilo of avocados could be sold at 2,500 kyats, the lowest price, in the previous years, it can be sold at 1,500 kyats only this year.

" At present, because of difficult transportation, six days later, avocados have gone rotten. So, brokers don't dare to buy. The current wholesale price is just 1,500 kyats per kilo and the retail price, between 5,000 and 6,000 kyats. In the previous years, 2,500 kyats per kilo was opened." added U Kyaw Soe Min.

While avocados were being plucked

Because of difficult transport and political landscapes, the supply and the price will decline and maintenance of quality will be weak as well. So, the export will decline, pointed out avocado exporters.

Kinds of Hass and Buccaneer as well as Emerald which are mainly exported are being grown in Pyin Oo Lwin, Ywar Ngan, Yatsauk and Taunggyi.

CNI News

11 October 2024

If one or those who were not honest in politics, they would suffer its consequence, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, at the meeting on the Yangon Region Security and Development on 8th October 2024.
 
As for them (members of the SAC), road map was laid down and carried out since they took the State responsibilities and as an ultimate goal, a general election was held again and the State power would be handed over to the winning party, which they had said clearly; in order to win the goal, they were continuously implementing, he said.

" If one or those who are not honest in politics, they will suffer the consequence of the dishonesty, not only were there those incidents in our country, there were also the incidents in other countries." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. 

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

It is not clear that he did refer to which individual or organization or political party or incident.

The NLD government was overthrown on 1st February 2021 by the Tatmadaw which said that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute in 2020 general election and has taken the State power.

And then, leaders of the NLD, NLD members of the Hluttaw, democratic elements and some civilian politicians were arrested.

Meanwhile, protests against the Tatmadaw emerged and riots and bloodsheds took place. And then, some NLD leaders, members of the Hluttaw and democratic elements have been waging armed battles against the SAC government and the Tatmadaw in order to overthrow.

Battles are severely breaking out in Shan, Karen, Chin, Rakhine, Mon, Kayah, Kachin States, Sagaing, Magway, Bago, Mandalay and Tanintharyi Regions. Because of these battles, the number of IDPs has been over six million, released the ISP-Myanmar in the first week of October this year.

CNI News

11 October 2024

Farmers have demanded sugar mills to pay 170,000 kyats per ton of sugarcane because the agricultural cost becomes higher. 

Farmers got only 130,000 kyats per ton of sugarcane last year and it was necessary to get more this year; because this labor cost and the prices of fuel oil became higher, agricultural cost for one ton of sugarcane increased until 15 lakh kyats although the cost was about 800,000 kyats only, so they demanded to pay more, U Maung Swe, a sugarcane farmer from Sagaing Region, told CNI News.

" Farmers and sugar mills met the other day. They didn't tell the price. They will designate the price later. Farmers are demanding to raise the price. They want 170,000 or 180,000 kyats per ton. The agricultural cost has increased a lot. Last year, diesel was paid around 800,000 kyats per barrel (50 gallons) and but this year, 140,000 kyats per barrel. Last year, farmers asked sugar mills to pay 150,000 kyats per ton of sugarcane and the price was designated 130,000 kyats. Last year, the agricultural cost for one ton of sugarcane was about 800,000 kyats. But this year, labor cost and the price of diesel have been higher. So, agricultural cost for one ton of sugarcane has been about 15 lakh kyats." he said.

While sugarcanes were being reaped

At present, sugar mills are issuing 20,000 kyats per ton as advanced money to farmers in order to chop sugarcane. 

According to the current price of sugar, the price farmers were demanding could be paid by sugar mills; besides as there has been an increase in the number of sugar mills in Sagaing Region and there has been demand for sugar cane, sugar mills could pay the price farmers have demanded, U Win Htay, vice chairman of the Myanmar Sugar and Cane-related Products Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.

While seeing sugarcanes

" According to the current price of sugar, 170,000 kyats per ton of sugarcane could be paid. The cultural cost becomes very higher. The price of diesel is just over 600,000 kyats per barrel here in Yangon, but in the upcountry, 10 lakh kyats and above. There has been an increase in the number of sugar mills in Sagaing Region. The demand for sugarcane becomes higher as well. Even though it is unlikely to be 180,000 kyats, it is likely to be 170,000 kyats." he said.

The yield of sugarcane this year could be reduced because the sugarcane chopping season and regrowing were late. 

In Myanmar, sugarcane is grown in upper Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Yangon, Bago Regions and northern Shan State and its cultivation area is over 500,000 acres.

CNI News

11 October 2024

Although China was putting pressure on EAOs in northern Shan State to stop their military activities, whether they would comply with the China's pressure would be watched, said military and political analysts. 

China send the TNLA that is waging battles against the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region a letter in which China warmed the TNLA to stop battles immediately or would punish the TNLA.

Moreover, China has warned the MNDAA that has captured Lashio City to retreat from Lashio and so as not to disintegrate the Tatmadaw and if the MNDAA didn't accept the China's attitude, China would take action against the MNDAA. 

If China put pressure on the EAOs, some rebounds could emerge and if China imposed sanctions on the EAOs, it could close the border areas on the Chinese side, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Mr. Deng Xijun

" In any case, if there is a pressure, there will be a rebound. When Operation-1027 was launched, because of China's pressure, Wa and Myla groups announced that they would not participated in the operation and wouldn't take with any side. But there seemed to be understanding among them. They said that they would help IDPs. China can sanction only one side, border areas on its side." she said.

Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Deng Xijun met with the delegation led by vice chairman of the UWSA and asked situations regarding battles in northern Shan State and the Naypyidaw government on 27th August, 2024.

During his meeting with the UWSA delegation, Chinese Special Envoy told the UWSA to stop helping the MNDAA. Although China has sanctioned against the MNDAA, because the MNDAA had received the sources such as rice, oil, medicine, arms and ammunition from the UWSA's territory, the MNDAA went on waging battles. So, the UWSA must block so as not to make the sources reach the MNDAA, he said.

Moreover, China did not want Myanmar Tatmadaw to be disintegrated and China would not accept at all that the NUG/PDFs that were close to western group would win, he said.

While seeing leaders from the UWSA, the NDAA and the MNDAA

If the peace of Myanmar was damaged, the interests of the two countries would be damaged. So, China seemed to worry that they could not carry out for their interests, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

" This is a problem that tend to emerge between the two neighboring countries. We have to work mainly for the interests. And there is a very long borderline sharing the two countries. It is important to strongly cooperate between the two countries for their interests. If the peace of Myanmar was ruined, Chinese interests all would  be ruined. It goes without saying." he said.

According to the meeting record that was leaked out, China would not lift its sanction against the MNDAA as long as the Kokang troops did not retreat from Lashio City and China would take more severe actions against the MNDAA, said Deng Xijun.

Although China is putting pressure on the TNLA and the MNDAA to stop battles and asking the MNDAA to retreat from Lashio, in cooperation with the PDFs, the TNLA and the MNDAA are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region up to now.

CNI News

9 October 2024

As the Coastal Guard is a civilian-oriented troop, it must carry out the public security and rule of law, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above at the third anniversary celebration to mark the establishment of Coastal Guard Command on 6th October 2024.

" As the coastal guard is a civilian-oriented troop that is to help the public, it needs to help or rescue mariners, civilian waterways authorities and agencies, especially, it must solve natural disaster or emergency situations or issues and disputes regarding waterways." he said.

In doing so, because the guard must get in touch with the public closely and enforce the rule of law, it needs to be skillful in public relations, he said. 

While seeing the ships that were firstly deployed

Four  high speed patrol ships whose lengths are 48 meters were firstly deployed at the third anniversary celebration to mark the establishment of the Coastal Guard.

The chairman of the SAC urged the guard to become a qualified coastal guard that is able to protect the areas from the coastal to special economic zone whose waters and air. 

As Myanmar has a coast whose length is about 1,300 water miles and about 1,400 islands, as well as a waters territory of 143, 110.72 square water miles, it would be necessary to expand the military strength of the coastal guard, he added.

The coastal guard is an organization that must carry out non-military operations such as seeking and rescue or preservation of waterways environment and protecting or crushing down pirates, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

CNI News

9 October 2024

There are some discussions between businessmen and analysts regarding whether the Myanmar border trade with China could be easier than other border trades.

At present,  as the transportation still is unsafe to restart the official border trade with China, it would need some time; trade by sea must be relied upon and it would be necessary to keep a close watch on the situation, they pointed out.

If Myanmar could not trade with China, it could trade with other countries; China was mainly relying on Myanmar goods; the border trade with Myanmar was an exit for China, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" Rather than putting pressure on the organizations, if an answer was found through a diplomatic negotiation, it could be an exit for Yunnan Province of China. Even though Myanmar cannot sell its goods and products to China, we can find other markets from trading by sea. Our export to China officially or unofficially is more beneficial to China's interests because Yunnan is landlocked and it is quite far from its mainland. It was importing rice, cows and so on from Myanmar. Now, the mainland is exporting goods and products coming from trading by sea to Yunnan. Yunnan is affected as well because the border trade with Myanmar isn't working." he said.

At present, Thailand is making attempts to restart the border trades with Myanmar and so is India. 

While seeing the MNDAA

There is a territorial problem in Lashio, northern Shan State; because it is located on a road where it is important militarily and economically, rival groups would not give it up, commented people.

Because the border trade is more convenient through the G to G system, although it still is unclear how China put pressure on the organizations concerned, it would be okay only if China put a great pressure on them, an economic analyst told CNI News.

" Mainly, it depends on China. The border trade can be reopened if China put a great pressure on the organizations concerned. But it's necessary to build a lot of infrastructure. Next, how will the tax be collected on the exports and imports?  How will it be divided? If the agreement to that was reached, the border trade could be restarted. The border trade with China is being conducted from Kengtung. But it's not as active as Muse." he said.

Almost all the border trades have been suspended at present due to battles, commodity price and prices of foreign currencies are going up.

If the border trades can be restarted, commodity price and prices of foreign currencies can go down. So, it was time to carry out in order to restart the border trades, suggested businessmen and economic analysts.

CNI News

9 October 2024

Kachin State's Kanpaiti and Lweje border trade gates with China cannot be restarted in the current open season, according to truck drivers.

Although now is the time to export tissue culture banana produced in Kachin State to China, as there is no banana to be exported, truck drivers have to be working in other townships. 

Moreover, battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces along the route going to Kanpaiti and Lweje, Ko Sit Naing, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

While seeing the KIA

" We have stopped the work since April or May because there is no tissue banana. We might restart the work in October or November. But for the time being, we possibly can't start because battles are severely breaking out in all the places where we work." he said.

Because battles often break out on the road between Myitkyina and Mandalay, trucks are blocked and battles are severely breaking out in Waingmaw Township as well.

Moreover, as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has captured Kanpaiti Town, the border trade could not be opened, said truck drivers. 

The truck drivers who were working at the border gates in Kachin State went to northern and eastern Shan State to work, Ko Thawdar Aung, a truck driver from Kanpaiti, told CNI News.

While seeing the Kanpaiti trade and trucks

" For the time being, Kanpaiti has been closed. The trucks from lower part are not sure to carry banana because the entire Bhamo has been captured. Even if we want to go to northern Shan State, we have to go through Kalaw, Aungban or Pindaya." he said.

The border gates in Kachin State are mainly used to export tissue culture banana that have been grown in Kachin State. Moreover, rice, corn and other crops are also exported. 

And then, construction materials, consumer goods and electric products are imported from China through the border trade gate.

CNI News

9 October 2024

Due to territorial instabilities and floods this year, there are some comments among tourism entrepreneurs regarding how the tourism could be in the open season in comparison with last year. 

There are just a few places where tourists can visit this year and they can mainly go to Bagan, Mandalay, Chaung Thar, Ngwe Saung and Myeik islands only.

So, in comparison with last year, tourism would decrease in Thadingyut. However, in Tazaungdaing and Christmas periods, tourism would increase, U Naung Naung Han, chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.

While seeing a beach

" In comparison with last year, there has been an decrease in the number of places where tourists can go to this year. So, tourists mainly go to Bagan, Chaung Thar and Ngwe Saung. In comparison with the last Thadingyut, local tourists can decrease. But many hotels in Bagan and Mandalay have full bookings and so have most hotels in Chaung Thar and Ngwe Saung. If the flood disaster has been resolved to a great extent in Tazaungdaing, tourism can increase again. And then, in Christmas and new year, tourism can increase as well." he said. 

Local tourists tend to travel of their own than hiring travel agencies and at present, because of higher price of fuel oil and difficulty to earn money, tourism could decrease, estimated tourism entrepreneurs.

Moreover, as unstable regions have increased lately, tourists might take that into account, they said. 

In the same way, travelling abroad was not convenient as well because inspections have been tightened at airports. 

While seeing Bagan region

So, tourism was not satisfactory, U Thet Lwin Toe, the tourism entrepreneur, told CNI News.

" Tourism industry is not very promising because it's hard to earn money as well. Most local tourists travel of their own without hiring travel agencies. Many people go abroad, but inspections have been tightened at airports and especially youths are inspected. Passports are convenient while visas might not. If you go abroad as a tourist, you must report to the authorities when you get back. There isn't much freedom." he said.

Over one million foreign tourists entered Myanmar in 2023 and over 500,000 foreign tourists only entered until September this year. The number of foreign tourists couldn't overtake that of last year, people estimated.

Local tourists travelled to an extent until October last year and later, travelling was reduced.