CNI News

26 September 2024

In carrying out territorial security and stability activities, regional forces must be with locals indivisibly, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above while he was checking the performance regarding territorial stability and peace as well as the urban development implementation in the Pyin Oo Lwin Cantonment Area under the Central Command on 24th September, 2024.

" Pyin Oo Lwin Cantonment needs to systematically carry out the territorial security and stability activities; the cantonment needs to know thoroughly the territorial situations and facts of the territories where they have to serve in carrying out territorial organizational activities and territorial domination tasks; regional forces must be with locals indivisibly; territorial and locals' security need to be carried out together.by mutual assisastance and cooperation " he said.

While seeing the TNLA force

The three northern allies (MNDAA,TNLA, AA), joining with opposition armed group PDFs, are waging battles against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in northern Shan State and Pyin Oo Lwin Township. 

At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA/MDY-PDF joint forces in Taung Khan Village near Pyin Oo Lwin and there are casualties from both sides.

Because there are military threats that Pyin Oo Lwin and Mandalay will be attacked, locals are fleeing to Yangon, Naypyidaw and other cities.

While battles are severely breaking out, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing goes to the regions where battles are taking place and meet with government and Tatmadaw officials and is verifying territorial security and stability processes.

Military and political analysts within the country are making a comment that the Myanmar Tatmadaw could wage counter-offensives in the open season starting from October this year.

CNI News

25 September 2024

Australia announced it would donate 1.7 US dollars to the Myanmar flood victims again. Australia keeps supporting those in need of help through development and humanitarian projects.

It reportedly has demanded officials concerned to deliver humanitarian aids to all the people who are in need of help. 1.7 US dollars would be spent on food, drinking water and shelters for the Myanmar flood victims.

Due to the flood disaster in Myanmar, 2,116 houses were damaged and 158,373 houses were sunk.

While seeing a flood hit area

 The government opended 438 rescue camps for the flood victims and had to move 42,858 households and 163,780 people. 

Moreover, 117 offices and departmental buildings, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings, some roads, bridges, lamp posts and telecommunication towers were damaged, reported the SAC. 128, 344 animals were killed and 643,081 cultivated acres were sunk as well.

CNI News

25 September 2024

China is able to protect its interests of national security and economy, said Dr.Hla Kyaw Zaw, a commentator of Chinese-Myanmar affairs.

"According to the China's policy, it didn't enter another country to protect its interests, but it was responsible to protect them, she said to CNI News. " China has told leaders of the regions concerned where there are Chinese investments to guarantee the investments and the Chinese citizens. Did you notice? No matter how they release their announcements, the AA and other EAOs had to tell that they would protect the Chinese investments in their regions and the Chinese citizens. According to the China's policy, it has no right to enter another country to intervene. But it has to protect its interests in other countries which is included in its constitution. It enters to arrest those who damage its interests in another country if that country agrees to it." she said.

In collaboration with the SAC, China arrested the culprits of telecom fraud along the China-Myanmar border while it is arresting the culprits of online scams in cooperation with EAOs. 

There are a lot of Chinese investments in Myanmar such as the Myitsone Project, the Kyauk Phyu Deep Sea Port and Special Economic Zone.

While seeing the Kokang Force

According to the bilateral agreement, the country concerned has to protect the investments, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News. 

" The two countries bordering with each other have to work for the common interests or to get the win-win situation. Surely, China is building to increase its power and promoting its image. It will work with the ruling government. I have no comment special to make." he said.

The Chines FM Wang Yi arrived in Myanmar on 14th August and met with Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC after the Chinse Special Envoy Mr.Deng Xijun visited Myanmar. 

China has its influence on some EAOs and it is attempting to influence on the SAC, reviewed the political circles.

CNI News

25 September 2024

Some Thai citizens demonstrated in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to make the Myanmar migrants leave Thailand on 23rd September. 

They demonstrated the embassy to cope with the influx of Myanmar migrant workers into Thailand in multitude and it was the first time in Thailand, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

These problems emerged because there has been a sharp increase in the number of the Myanmar citizens who do the jobs that are designated for the Thai citizens only, he said.

" The demonstrators gave the embassy a letter in which they have mainly demanded to ask Myanmar migrants to go home and Myanmar people are robbing their jobs. They released a statement about two weeks ago that they would demonstrate like this. They point out that Myanmar migrant workers are doing the jobs that the Thai citizens will have to such as selling goods. Moreover, some Myanmar people sell goods online after advertising officially kind of, which, in fact, is not officially allowed." he said.

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

Not only Myanmar migrant workers but also Myanmar people who entered Thailand with other documents are doing the forbidden jobs and earning income. 

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar people who has been doing the forbidden jobs since the last year and because the Thai citizens are not pleased with that, they complained about that to the Thai authorities reportedly.

These problems emerged because the Myanmar citizens did have no discipline, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

"It's all because our citizens had no discipline. We must watch our steps, the way we go or come or stay. Forbidden jobs for migrant workers have been imposed in the Thai laws. Our citizens want to be rich as soon as possible, so some of them break the law and do the forbidden jobs. Some have been doing the jobs for even 10 years. But if you keep a low profile, they won't mess with you. Moreover, our people are very keen on boasting. It's part of problem as well." he said.

Because the number of demonstrators was just a few, they might be from ultra-nationalist organizations, not from opposition parties. 

So, Myanmar migrants in Thailand should be more careful in their behavior for the time being, suggested those helping workers.

CNI News

24 September 2024

Due to the flood disaster that took place recently in Myanmar, the money that was donated by well-wisher people in order to carry out the reconstruction tasks in the flood-hit area was 31 billion kyats and the amount was almost ten times more than expected, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above at the donation receiving ceremony held in Naypyidaw on 21st September, 2024.

Although he expected that three to four billion kyats would be received as donations, as more than 30 billion kyats was received, he thanked donors, said chairman of the SAC.

" The money that you donated is not a small amount. Thank you so much indeed. We can't spend the money recklessly. This takes the responsibility of the country partly." he said.

He wanted donors to help the country whenever it needed. He thanked again individuals and organizations that donated, he said.

While seeing chairman of the SAC Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

Chairman of the AYA Bank, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the A Bank, U Zaw Win Shein, chairman of the CB Bank, U Khin Maung Aye, crony tycoon U Tun Myint Naing and crony tycoon U Maung Weik donated lots of money to the flood victims as well.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged all the donors and members of the public to help in census-taking that will start on 1st October this year. 

Voter lists would be made based on the census and elections would be held. And then, the State was to go on the path that the people would choose, he said.

Due to the floods on 9th September, 56 townships of Myanmar were flooded and 226 people were killed, 77 people were lost. 

Moreover, over 200,000 people were flood victims and over 100,000 households had to be removed. On top of that, over 10,000 buildings were destroyed as well, reported the SAC.

CNI News

24 September 2024

The central office of the Arakan National Party (ANP) was destroyed, which U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the policy steering committee of the ANP, denied and he said that to CNI News.

According to the military situation in Rakhine State, officials of the ANP have been in other places and they could not take care of the party's office; some people have taken away articles for use in the office and other people have occupied in the office at night, he said.

" When the office has been closed down, it's been a long time since other people took the things owned by the party such as electric fans, table and chairs after breaking into the office and various kinds of people have occupied the office and are spending the night there, I heard. The electricity isn't available. It's not easy to go and look after the office at night when the transportation is difficult. As there are some people hiding in the office, government officials might go and check the office." said U Tun Aung Kyaw.

While seeing supporters of the ANP

Security forces destroyed the office of the ANP, reported a Rakhine regional news agency. According to members of the ANP, it was not correct that the office was destroyed by security forces and the door and other articles of the office had been destroyed since before, said U Tun Aung Kyaw.

" It's not correct. According to officials of the party in Sittwe, the roofs and walls were not destroyed. But the door and other articles had been destroyed." he said.

The ANP is a powerful party in Rakhine State where it won with most votes in previous elections.

Although the ANP registered in the Union Election Commission, because it got entangled with Section.7 of the Political Parties Registration Law, it has been refused, reported the commission on 1st July, 2024.

CNI News

23 September 2024

All the Myanmar migrants in Thailand needed to be more careful than before, those who are helping migrant workers told CNI News. 

Three nationalist organizations submitted an eight point demand to the Thai government in order to restrict migrant workers a few days ago. 

Although the organizations' demand  was inconsistent with the law and international norms, the Thai government or regional Thai people could put pressure on migrant workers to an extent, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" Their demand contains eight points. Among them include child birth, enrollments in schools, passport and visa cases. According to the law, many cases are unlikely to happen. They are not consistent with international norms as well. But they seem to warn their government kind of. The way Myanmar citizens are selling goods in various regions, the way Myanmar people are doing business through the social media which they kind of warned the government to prevent Myanmar citizens from doing them. As the Thai government might take action against some things if its citizens complained." he said.

While the Thai authorities are arresting illegal migrants

A work permit should be allowed until 90 days only and then, migrant workers must go back to their native countries after which they should re-enter Thailand; not to allow migrant women who fled because of political instability to be pregnant and if they were pregnant, to send them back to their native countries, which were included in their demand.

Moreover, the right to adopt as a Thai citizen should be reconsidered, they demanded. Their demands are opposed to human rights, said those helping migrant workers.

Although The organizations use the term ' migrant workers', they mainly meant Myanmar migrant workers; Myanmar citizens were doing what they liked without knowing the Thai laws, they pointed out.

While seeing a mason worker in its workplace

" Because our citizens can't keep a low profile, Thai ultra-nationalists widely criticize and point out. Our citizens are working beyond jobs permitted. Our citizens tend to boast their ownerships. Children who came of migrant workers were educated, which was obviously posted on the social network. For these reasons, Thai nationalist organizations have demanded like this, I think." said U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Rights Foundation to CNI News.

Moreover, the Thai citizens have been allowed to do selling on roadside and Thai citizens only must hired as helpers, announced Bangkok mayor a few days ago.

As the Thai authorities have tightened the rules and regulations on migrant workers lately, some jobs could be scarce for Myanmar migrant workers.

CNI News

22 September 2024

Reasonably priced houses reportedly are being built and donated at 1,500,000 kyats per house in Pyin Oo Lwin and Pyinmana to the flood victims.

Because of floods that are currently taking place, some people are mainly in need of houses to live in when the water falls down. 

So, reasonably priced houses are being built and donated to them, Ko Wai Yan Tun, a person who works iron grille in Pyinmana, told CNI News.

" Because I started this work, I was among those who went to rescue since the flood began. They went in my car. They were talking about the flood victims whose houses were no more, I heard. What they want most are houses. I had considered building and donating houses since then. When the water fell down and iron rods to be donated arrived, I started the work." he said.

While seeing a reasonably priced house

As the size of the house to be built and donated, its length is 15 feet and so is the width. 

The height of the ridge post is 9.5 feet. The houses were built at the cheapest rate, at 1,500,000 kyats per house. He would build and donate up to 10 houses, said Ko Wai Yan Tun. Moreover, he reportedly accepted the cash from foreign donors only but not from local donors. However, he accepted construction materials from local donors.

Because manpower was needed to carry houses and donate, in collaboration with other rescue groups, he would go to necessary places and build and donate, Ko Wai Yan Tun told CNI News. 

Up to now, there are 15 houses to be built and donated and as there are organizations that get in touch, more houses would be built and donated reportedly.

In the same way, reasonably priced houses are being built and donated at 20 lakh kyats per house in Pyin Oo Lwin. Because there has been a sharp increase in the number of people who have lost houses at present, as a philanthropic deed, he is building and donating the houses, Ko Shein Maung Maung, builder of the bamboo furniture and building, told CNI News.

While seeing a reasonably priced bamboo house

" The cost for building a house is about 22 lakh kyats altogether, including that for bamboo and screws. As for the size of the house, the width of the front is 10 feet and the length is 15 feet. It has two rooms and the one is 10'x8' and the other,10'x7'." he said.

Because the area of a reasonably priced house is 15'x15', 5 to 6 people can live in. 

Those who need houses don't have to pay for the building fee, but for the construction materials. 

There are reportedly plans to build the houses free of charge for those who cannot afford.

CNI News

21 September 2024

China regards Myanmar as a province of its, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator, told CNI News. 

China wouldn't permit Myanmar to be an ally of western group and the statement released by the MNDAA was the attitude of China, he said.

" Our country has fallen to the lowest. Our citizens are disdained in other countries. The number of our citizens is about 7 million in Thailand. After all, China regards our country as a province of its. There are many people who have been organized as their followers. If their followers attack Mandalay, they'll win it within one month. But China won't do it because it takes a lesson from Bangladesh. Chin doesn't permit Myanmar to be an ally of the western group. China has persuaded the military government. Frankly speaking, China has prolonged the life of Min Aung Hlaing. He becomes very active. At any rate, China won't permit Myanmar to be an ally of the western group. So, everything is going under the management of China. China warned the TNLA. China asked the MNDAA to release a statement. Next, it has closed down all its border gates. China encourage Myanmar to hold the election." he said to CNI News.

 The MNDAA won't change its political position called to win self-governance and it won't make efforts to secede from the State, to rob the sovereignty of the State and to establish a new country after gaining the independence, said in the statement released on 4th September.

Moreover, it would not collaborating with foreign elements that go against China or Myanmar, not relate with them and not making ally are the political red line.

While seeing the Kokang Force  

“The MNDAA won't carry out cooperate with the NUG in military and politics, and expand any battlegrounds as well as to launch offensives to Mandalay and Taunggyi. But it will maintain its self-defense right" said in the statement. 

And the MNDAA specially requested China to mediate the situation of Myanmar that is getting worse; it will actively collaborate with China after it ceases fire and find an answer through a political dialogue, said the MNDAA.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw wouldn't accept the announcement of the MNDAA; it was not consistent with the constitution, a Myanmar military and political analyst told CNI News. 

" In fact, the Tatmadaw won't accept the announcement of the MNDAA. The MNDAA practices one upmanship. If it retreats from Lashio, it's trying to be officially recognized in the Kokang region. The Tatmadaw might not accept that. it's not consistent with the constitution as well." he said.

Chinese FM Wang Yi arrived in Myanmar on 14th August and met with both Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Sr-Gen Than Shwe (retired). After that, the SAC announced the Three Brotherhood Alliance (the MNDAA, the AA, the TNLA) as an terrorist organization. China reportedly is putting pressure on the alliance to cease fire.