CNI News

2 October 2024

As there are discussions relating to politics, military and trade between the State Administration Council (SAC) and its neighboring countries, economic analysts are discussing whether border trades could be restarted or not. 

Owing to China's pressure on some EAOs in northern Shan State, discussion between the SAC and India to use local currencies and Thailand's plan to fix the Asia Highway on the Thai-Myanmar border, these reviews have emerged.

Although neighboring countries were making attempts to re-open the border gates for their interests, if the country was unstable, the border trades could not be restarted, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" If the border trades couldn't be restarted, not only Myanmar but also its neighboring countries would suffer. They want to be convenient. But there are battles in the border areas. Armed groups have their circles concerned while the attitudes and opinions of local people are relevant with the situation as well. If you can't use the roads to the borders, you can't conduct the border trade. Mainly, it's necessary to solve the political problem. Lashio, for example, is a Shan territory. The MNDAA has captured Lashio, which leaders of the SAC receive and whether they will restarted the border trade depends on their attitude." he said.

While seeing a truck on the Yangon-Myawaddy Road, part of the Asia Highway in Kawkareik Township

Currently, because all the border trades have almost stopped, illegal border trades are reportedly emerging. Moreover, because almost all the territories where border trades are located have been controlled by EAOs, it was questionable how to negotiate with them, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

No matter how good economy was, if the country was unstable, difficulties could be faced in some way, he added. 

" I wonder how the SAC will negotiate with EAOs because  all the border trade routes have been controlled by EAOs. There are KNU troops in Myawaddy and Shan EAOs in Shan State and the KIA in Kachin State, and northern allies including the MNDAA in northern Shan State. If the SAC can't sign the ceasefire agreements with these EAOs, it won't be easy to open legal routes. If the country is unstable, you can do nothing. How good the economy is, you can face something or another difficult." he said.

The SAC has urged EAOs and PDFs to take part in party politics and run the election as well as to solve the political problem by means of politics after abandoning armed policy a few days ago.

Depending on the attitude of international community, neighboring countries and EAOs, it could changed into something good or bad, revied some people.

CNI News
29 September 2024

Questions are emerging among the members of the public regarding which groups or individuals are making profits or losses while there are monetary instability in Myanmar.

Only those who have monetary power could play the foreign currency market and they only were making profits while there were monetary instability, an economic analyst told CNI News.

The monetary market has been in turmoil because authorities had no capacity and monetary strength to control them, he said.

" Those who can play the parcel game make profits. They pushed up the prices of land lots as able as they could. They dropped when the prices reached at the highest point. At that time, those who were able to play the market or those who have financial strength made profits. You need to have financial power to control the market.  The Central Bank had enough foreign currencies, for example. When the prices of foreign currencies go up, if it sell out foreign currencies, designating a price level it wants to keep, the prices will be stable. In the same way, if the Central Bank has enough reserve gold, the price can be made stable if it sell out gold when the price goes up quite a bit." he said to CNI News.

While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with businessmen

Because the Central Bank didn't sell out dollars to all the entrepreneurs, some of them had to buy dollars at the market price and as there has been an increase in the number of the people who want to go abroad, the demand for dollar has been high, pointed out some people.

Moreover, as some SMEs were not able to go on operating their enterprises due to unstable monetary market reportedly.

Although those who were in need of dollars found it difficult, because businessmen who had to buy dollars at the market price raised the prices and sold the products, they didn't make a loss, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

While seeing a goods seller within the country

" For example, daily income of basic class or blue collars is designated 10,000 kyat. But they don't get that amount in practice. Many consumer goods used in Myanmar come from abroad. They are imported. The products are sold again depending on the price of dollar. For example if you had to pay 2,000 kyats for a product, now you have to pay 8,000 or 10,000 kyats for that product. But income of blue collars hasn't increased. Basic class mainly suffer that. Secondly, middle class.  Most people are finding it difficult for their livelihood because their incomes haven't increased yet. Some people have to living on the money they had saved." he said.

Currently, the price of dollar has declined from over 5,000 kyats per dollar to around 4,900 kyats per dollar on 27th September. It was likely because the global price of dollar declined, pointed out economic analysts.

Moreover, they reviewed that the price of foreign currency has been stable for the time being because the banks increase the rates of interests and the Central Bank has sold out much foreign currencies.

CNI News

28 September 2024

Although there were demonstrations and demands in Thailand regarding Myanmar migrant workers, employers in Thailand would not stop recruiting Myanmar workers, those helping migrant workers told CNI News.

Some Thai citizens and Thai nationalist organizations have demonstrated regarding Myanmar migrant workers and demanded the Thai government to tighten the workers for the time being.

Because of the demonstrations, although they could impact on migrant workers a bit, because migrant workers only could do hard labor, employers in Thailand could not stop recruiting Myanmar migrant workers, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development, told CNI News.

" The employers in Thailand need migrant workers. Impact can't be great. That's why, in my opinion, the employers could not stop recruiting migrant workers because most Thai citizens can't work hard labor and some jobs. But there might be a little impact." he said.

In the demand of three Thai nationalist organizations were included that the validity of a work permit should be 90 days and if the work permit expired, a migrant worker whose work permit expired should return to his native country and re-enter Thailand; migrant women should not be allowed to be pregnant; if they were pregnant, they should be sent to their native countries.

Moreover, the mayor of Bangkok City announced a few days ago that selling goods on roadside must be conducted by only the Thai citizens and helpers must be the Thai citizens as well. 

While Thai citizens were demonstrating in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand

The situations like this have emerged because Myanmar citizens had no discipline and if discriminative Thai officials were on duty at the border gates, Myanmar citizens could find it difficult.

Although the Myanmar citizens have been doing the forbidden jobs since before, the Thai authorities including the Thai citizens have allowed them with understanding. 

However, later Myanmar citizens have obviously done businesses online, because they are impacting on the businesses of the Thai citizens, the Thai citizens are complaining, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

" The Thai authorities and the Thai citizens are seeing Myanmar migrant workers are doing forbidden jobs. But the Thai government didn't arrest these workers. But later the Thai people officially complained the migrant workers to the Thai government. So, the Thai government take some actions." he said.

There are over seven million Myanmar citizens in Thailand and many of them are doing forbidden jobs such as brokers, selling products on 'Live', selling goods on roadside, opening barber shop and so on.

So, the Myanmar citizens should be careful in other countries that they could not do what they like as in Myanmar, pointed out some people.

CNI News

28 September 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) invited EAOs and the PDF and other insurgent organizations in order to get in touch and perform for the ability to solve the political problem by a political means, stated the SAC on the night of 26th September.

The census-taking which would support to make the vote list correct for a multi-party democratic general election would be started on 1st October and this period was the time when the preparations were being made with might and main for the election, said in the statement.

Taking into consideration of the losses and sufferings that took place in the country due to the armed way and the terrorist way, in order to carry out the everlasting peace and development hand in hand with the people, EAOs, the PDF and insurgent organizations which are fighting against the government are offered and invited to get in touch and perform so as to solve the political problem by a political means, abandoning armed policy, stated the SAC.

After saying that the NLD government was trying to form a government without solving the vote list disputes in the 2020 general election, the Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and took the State power.

After that, some members of the Hluttaw and democratic elements including some leaders of the NLD armed and are fighting to overthrow the SAC and the Myanmar Tatmadaw after forming the National Unity Government, the CRPH and the PDF in collaboration with some EAOs.

Due to these attacks, battles are severely breaking out in Sagaing, Magway, Bago, Tanintharyi, Mandalay Regions, Kachin, Chin, Shan, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Kayah States.

Due to these battles, the number of IDPs is over one million and building were damaged by many tens of thousands. 

The SAC would conduct census-taking from 1st to 15th October and hold a general election after which the State power would be handed over to the winning party, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.

CNI News

28 September 2024

There are reviews among political circles regarding why China wants to make Myanmar stable. 

China objected to instability and war taking place in Myanmar, external intervention in the Myanmar's internal affairs as well as any speech or actions that cause dissension among the China-Myanmar relation and any speech or acts that blames China for no reason, stated the Chinese Embassy on 14th September 2024.

China wanted the stability of Myanmar for the China's interests, chairman of the Tailai (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP) Sai Htay Aung told CNI News.

" China said that for its interests and it might be because of political changes in Bangladesh. Before the political changes took place in Bangladesh, China could play Myanmar. But after the political changes in Bangladesh, the way China deal with Myanmar has changed greatly. The stability of Myanmar has been very important to China for its interests. That's why the embassy released the letter, I think." he said.

While seeing the TNLA force

It was necessary to hold a general election to make a political change emerge in Myanmar; China wanted to make a civilian government emerge, reviewed some people. 

Not only China, the entire people in Myanmar have wanted the peace and stability, Col. Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) told CNI News.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Deng Xijun

" China has a lot of its businesses in Myanmar such as the Kyaukphyu Deep Sea Port, Gas and Petroleum Pipelines, the Kunming-Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Railway Project and other projects. In order to operate these businesses and projects, the peace and stability are needed. So, China has urged the stakeholders to make peace. Not only China, have the entire people in Myanmar wanted the peace and stability. I came back from Taunggyi a few days ago. I asked many people there including those who came from upcountry. Everyone wants the peace and stability. If rivalling for the political power could be conducted so as to minimize or without hurting the public, it would be the best. Armed conflict costs the public a great deal of losses - lives and properties of the people were lost. We need to establish the peace and stability for the people." he said.

Chines FM Mr. Wang Yi came to Myanmar and met with Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC. 

Wang Yi said that he supported the five point road map that is being carried out by the SAC and the SAC's preparation for a free and fair multi-party democratic general election.

CNI News

28 September 2024

There are comments and discussions among military and political analysts regarding whether the China's pressure on the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA,TNLA,AA) has impacted on opposition elements. 

Although China put pressure on the Three Brotherhood Alliance, it didn't impact on the Spring Revolution, Dr.Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" It doesn't impact on the Spring Revolution because the military council won't be able to regain the control of Lashio and Laukkai. If the Tatmadaw attacked to regain them, the MNDAA and the TNLA would attack back." she said.

While seeing leaders of the MNDAA, the AA and the TNLA

Ruili State Security Committee sent the TNLA a letter in which the committee warned the TNLA to stop battles immediately and to keep the stability and peace of northern Myanmar and the China-Myanmar border areas on 29th August 2024. 

The MNDAA stated on 4th September that it would not cooperate with the NUG in the military and politics as well as it would not expand the military. Moreover, it would not launch offensives to Mandalay and Taunggyi, but it would maintain self-defense right.

The MNDAA and the TNLA have allied with the NUG and are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw and they are EAOs attempting to overthrew the Myanmar Tatmadaw. Because they didn't like the SAC that has taken power, the NUG/PDF has chosen the armed way. 

But they were likely to succeed, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

While seeing the TNLA

" Since the armed way was chosen without going from the election path, the NUG/PDFs have been in the wrong way. According to the history, armed ways in Myanmar were unlikely to succeed in the end. They will usually die out some time in the future." he said.
China was strategically carrying out its work and it has influenced on some EAOs, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" The TNLA hasn't released a statement and the AA and the KIA haven't released statements up to now. So, China strategically carries out the work it has to. It has adopted these organizations. It won't damage these organizations. It practices like a provocateur in the guise of a peacemaker. So, it might give in a bit or it might practice more severely. If our spring revolution doesn't have anything to do with these things, our spring revolution will succeed. Otherwise, our revolution will lose." he said.

Due to the political changes on 1st February 2021, democratic elements wage the Spring Revolution. And then, they collaborated with some EAOs including the TNLA and the MNDAA and are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

28 September 2024

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) have allied with the National Unity Government (NUG) and are fighting against the Myanmar government and get 200 million dollars from the US, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on the night of 25th September. 

The SAC accused as the above under the title ' China is a true friend of the Myanmar people'.

" The NUG and its allies are carrying out to make unrest and terrorist attacks throughout the country and are pushing Myanmar onto the utter devastation path. Because they performed to turn Myanmar that was stable and peaceful into battle ground, many people became homeless and were fleeing to safety. Western countries are helping those who are attacking Myanmar from all sides and have imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar. Moreover, western countries are supporting finance, weapon and technology to opposition elements in a big way." reported the SAC.

Western countries were providing assistance to so-called EAOs and made them wage battles; so, battles are breaking out in the border areas where opposition armed groups have based, reported the SAC.

While the US Deputy FM and FM of the NUG Daw Zin Mar Aung

" The MNDAA and the TNLA have allied with the NUG and are fighting against the Myanmar government. The NUG is getting about 200 million dollars from the US. The US is obviously spending about 200 million dollars to make Myanmar's internal affairs unstable. The US is spending its money to intervene the Myanmar's internal affairs not for its interests, but because it wants to beat up its main rival, China." said the SAC.

The MNDAA and the TNLA collaborated with the PDFs under the NUG on 27th October, 2023 and launched Operation-1027. 

While seeing Defense Minister of the NUG U Yi Mon and the MNDAA and the TNLA Forces

And then they attacked and captured towns and military camps in northern Shan State. The MNDAA and the TNLA captured Laukkai, Kon Kyan, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Mon Ko, Kutkai, Theinni, Namkham, Nansang, Mantong, Namtu and Mong Ngor including over 100 military camps of the Tatmadaw during the first part of Operation-1027.

And then, second wave of Operation-1027 has been waging since 25th June, 2024 and the MNDAA, the TNLA and PDFs have seized control of Mogok, Momeik, Thibaw, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Madaya, Sintku and Thabeikkyin Townships and are making attempts to attack Pyin Oo Lwin and Mandalay.

Myanmar is a neighboring country of China which has an exit to sea through Myanmar and China is the main trade partner of Myanmar; among five neighboring countries of Myanmar, the main trade partners of Myanmar are China and Thailand; The western group has imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar, said in the statement released by the SAC.

CNI News

26 September 2024

There are reviews and discussions among experts within the country regarding how the natural disasters will be prevented. 

Because of Typhoon Yagi entered Myanmar starting the second week of September, 56 townships in some Regions and States suffered floods and landslides.

Suffering natural disasters was a result of ignoring to preserve the natural environment since before; both authorities and members of the public needed to cooperate so as to preserve the natural environment, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was examining flood

" The flood took place in the places where a flood was never took place. Kalaw was flooded as well. This is the first time for me to hear that. People there were killed by hundred. It is a result of ignoring to preserve the natural environment for many years. We should take a lesson from that. Both authorities and members of the public need to cooperated to preserve the natural environment so that next generations may be safe. Otherwise, Myanmar can face worse natural disasters in future." he said.

Because of Typhoon Yagi, 56 townships were flooded and 384 people were killed, reported the SAC. 

Myanmar would face natural disaster each year if a national project was not laid down and implemented; it would be difficult to preserve natural disaster because of the current civil war, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the Policy Steering Committee of the Arakan National Party (ANP), told CNI News.

while seeing some people doing rescue tasks during the flood

" Myanmar will face natural disaster each year if an effective national project was not implemented. National interests was collapsed and damaged in a country where corruption and bribery dominated like Myanmar. National resources were extracted without any disciplenes. Trees are almost no more in our Rakhine State. It's necessary to lay down and carry out short term and long term projects to preserve national environment. But it's not possible to do so because a civil war is breaking out at present and when the country is in a crisis, I think." he said.

Because of Mocha Storm that entered Rakhine State in May, 2023, 148 people were killed and about 522 billion kyats was lost, reported the SAC.

CNI News

26 September 2024

There are discussions between businessmen and analysts regarding how the relation between the SAC and international community could develop from flood disaster that took place in Myanmar. 

At present, because Myanmar was flood-hit, Myanmar is receiving humanitarian aids from international community while some countries are offering that they want to help Myanmar in the reconstruction tasks after the flood disaster. 

As some businesses could take part in reconstruction tasks as a result of the flood disaster, job opportunities could emerge; as the SAC are widely carrying out in the international relation, it could be considered as a constructive situation, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

"When countries make relations with one another, their relations are based on diplomatic relation. They are not always friends or enemies. On the international page, they will be showing friendship. But it's hard to see what they are doing behind the scene. But when Myanmar face a flood disaster, some countries are found to be getting in touch with the SAC more. The SAC is making more relation with other countries, not because of the flood disaster alone, but for other reasons. It can be considered as a constructive situation." he said.

While philanthropic associations are carrying out rescue tasks in some flood-hit areas

Although Myanmar was in trouble due to the flood disaster, there would be no prospect that international investments could enter Myanmar, pointed out economic analysts. 

Moreover, as there were damages and losses due to the flood disaster in Myanmar, the country's GDP could decline; lots of money would have to be spent to import materials necessary for reconstruction, an economic analyst told CNI News.

" I don't politics inside out. But international community provides assistance to a country that faces such a difficulty. But they might not help the government directly. They might help flood-hit people directly or through helping organizations. Because Myanmar suffer the flood disaster or Myanmar is in trouble, there is no prospect that FDI will enter Myanmar. As international community provides humanitarian aids, some foreign currencies might enter, so the situation that the price of dollar will go up might suspend for a while." he said.

Due to the flood disaster in Myanmar, 2,116 houses were damaged and 158,373 houses were sunk. Moreover, 117 offices and departmental buildings, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings and some roads, bridges, lamp posts and telecommunication towers were damaged, reported the SAC. 

Besides, 128,344 animals were killed and 643,081 cultivated acres were sunk reportedly.