CNI News

6 June 2025

Businesspeople are questioning which businesses will be prioritized for assistance, as the SAC chairman said efforts must be made to restore businesses in earthquake-hit areas of Myanmar.

On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing, near Mandalay, destroying hotels, homes, religious buildings, roads, bridges, and towers, killing more than 3,700 people and injuring more than 5,000.

The earthquake had affected hotels and tourism, insurance companies, and small and medium-sized businesses, Businessman U Aung Pyae Sone told CNI News. 

"The question is whether the government will support small and medium-sized businesses, whether it will support large businesses, or whether it will stop supporting businesses and support the grassroots. We should not talk in general terms now. How will we support households earning less than 10,000 kyats per day by enumerating them? It's necessary to tell exactly. During COVID, there were many actions taken to blacklist and arrest entrepreneurs who could not repay loans issued from the COVID fund. We should learn from these cases. Whenever a natural disaster occurs, self-serving entrepreneurs automatically emerge. On top of that, the government needs to avoid these entrepreneurs and effectively help the necessary businesses,” he said.

While seeing a place inside Bogyoke Market

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on May 30, 2025, that the state has earmarked 700 billion kyats for loans to support businesses and create employment opportunities, and that he wants to provide 226 billion kyats to factories and workshops including oil mills, to boost the economy. 

He said that it was necessary to consider and negotiate at what interest rate.

A government often follows its own policies and does not implement what the public wants, an economic analyst told CNI News.

“Now, in the earthquake-hit areas, Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw are being given priority so that they can be up and running before the rainy season. Some hospitals, including the mobile clinic, were badly damaged. We are providing emergency assistance to them. The roads are damaged. They have been repaired. Many earthquake victims have nowhere to live, so some are currently staying in monasteries. Earthquake relief camps have been set up in wards and villages. They put up temporary shelters in parks and built them according to the township and district plans in Mandalay, and they put earthquake victims there. I don't know if the government will pay money to build houses. If their houses are destroyed, how much will it cost per family? I think the state will provide something like that." he said.

While seeing a small business

On March 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, affecting more than 600,000 people in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Shan State (South), Magway Region, and Bago Region. 

The earthquake destroyed businesses and homes, and the victims are living in evacuation centers and nearby areas.

CNI News

5 June 2025

 Solutions should be considered and found to restore economic activity and job opportunities in earthquake-hit areas, the National Democratic Force (NDF) Vice Chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News. 

The state has earmarked 700 billion kyats in loans to help businesses operate and create jobs, and will then consider and negotiate at what interest rate it can be paid, said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing  on May 30, 2025.

“I want to  lend 226 billion kyats. I want to lend all the factories, including oil mills, to boost the national economy. If we try to boost the economy like this, we must carry out to make prices drop. Frankly speaking, prices are rising. Once a price goes up, it's not easy to bring it down. That's why I told the people who are responsible for the economy and businessmen that they shouldn't raise the price too much.", said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

On May 30, 2025, a seminar on post-earthquake economic recovery and rehabilitation was held in Nay Pyi Taw. 

While attracting hotels and tourism

The discussion held in Nay Pyi Taw was jointly organized by the Myanmar Narrative Think Tank and the Union of Myanmar Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), and the discussions that emerged from the seminar would be submitted to the government, National Democratic Forces (NDF) Vice Chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.

“The state will lend some money to help businesses rebuild. It is really necessary to rebuild big businesses. It is also true that the state government should help. Thanks very much for doing this. But the problem is that everyone who works in business is not able to make a pretty living. Given the current situation in the country, most of the youth are leaving the country. So, there are many problems with labor shortages here in Myanmar. We need to think about what we have considered for the working class," he said.

While seeing railroad workers

On March 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, affecting more than 600,000 people in Naypyidaw, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Shan State (South), Magway Region, and Bago Region. 

Then, as businesses collapsed and homes were destroyed, earthquake victims were forced to live in the earthquake relief camps and around the places not far from their homes.

As a result, job opportunities are being lost in earthquake-affected areas, small and medium-sized businesses are unable to start, and hotel and tourism businesses have also come to a standstill, making it difficult for locals to afford food.

CNI News

5 June 2025

As there are numerous armed groups in northern Shan State, Myanmar, conflicts and territorial disputes could increase there, military and political analysts told CNI News. 

Following Operation-1027, conflicts and clashes among ethnic armed organizations and territorial disputes have increased in Shan State (Northern).

There are conflicts and clashes between the SSPP/SSA and the MNDAA, between the KIO/KIA and the TNLA, between the SSPP/SSA and the TNLA, and between the MNDAA and the TNLA.  

Minor issues between the forces will continue to arise among the armed groups, but since they have a policy to resolve the issues at the table if they arise, they are unlikely to become worse, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, an analyst of China-Myanmar affairs, told CNI News.

"Small battles. Not too big. Because if you live close to the border, you'll have problems like this. When we were in Pangsang, we even had arguments and shootings among ourselves. It didn't go to the point of death. The relevant groups are always talking about having discussions at the table as much as possible. I don't think it will get too big. Small problems will continue to exist. There are small problems not only between the Ta'ang and the KIA  but also between the KIA and the SSA." she said.

While seeing the MNDAA

Fighting broke out again on June 1 between the Kokang Army (MNDAA) and the Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) in Lashio Township, northern Shan State. The SSPP reported that eight MNDAA soldiers were killed in the fighting.

Last month, the central leaders of the two sides met in Pangsang to discuss the military tension between the MNDAA and the SSPP, but the meeting failed due to the MNDAA's territorial demands.

The TNLA also reportedly met with its ally KIA to discuss and resolve the conflicts that occurred in 2024-2025. The northern region of Myanmar is more prone to conflict than the southern region because of the greater number of ethnic armed groups and the greater number of ethnic groups, U Myo Kyaw, a spokesperson for the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.

While seeing UWSA-NDAA-SSPP leaders and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

“The constitution of Shan State, even before independence, was a federal state,with 33 Sawbwas, and 33 towns divided into administrative divisions. How will this be revived? But now, there are militias everywhere, in every town and village, ruling their territories. According to the 2008 constitution, the largest number of autonomous regions is in Shan State. In other words, the constitution divides Shan State into parts. That is why these problems have been fueled. That is why there are so many revolutionary forces and armed revolutionary groups there.” he said.

Shan State is home to a variety of armed groups, including the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA), the United Wa State Party (UWSA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). 

Moreover, there are armed groups in Shan State, such as militia, Pyusawhti and border guard forces that are serving under the command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

4 June 2025

The Department of Basic Education, the Ministry of Education announced on June 3, 2025, that there are over 6 million (6,119,260) students enrolled in basic education schools for the 2025-26 academic year.

Enrollment for the 2025-26 academic year began on June 2.

Then, for the 2025-26 academic year, there were over 4 million primary school enrollments (4,146,251), over 1 million middle school enrollments (1,344,236), and over 600,000 high school enrollments (628,773), for a total enrollment of over 6 million (6,119,260).

The Ministry of Education announced that in the 2025-26 academic year, students in primary, middle, and high schools were provided  free charge with textbooks, blank books, and stationery upon enrollment, and KG and elementary school students were also be provided with school uniforms free charge. 

However, in some regions and states, textbooks received at the time of enrollment are required to be returned when schools close, and  those who cannot return the books will pay for the books at their original value.

Due to the current intense fighting in Myanmar, there are many townships where schools cannot open, and many students are unable to attend school because schools cannot open.

CNI News

4 June 2025

Naga Self-Administered Zone Heavy rains were causing traffic difficulties, including landslides, in the Naga Self-Administered Zone in upper Sagaing Region, The Naga National Party (NNP) Chairman U Shu Maung told CNI News. 

Due to continuous heavy rains in the upper parts of the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin since the past few days, the Naga region, Kachin State (upper) and Chin State are facing natural disasters such as floods, inundations and landslides.

In the Naga region, which is dependent on the Chindwin River, heavy rains have caused the Chindwin River to rise, blocking roads and bridges, making it difficult to travel, and there are also landslides and houses collapsing, the NNP Chairman U Shu Maung told CNI News.

Heavy rains and flooding in Nanyun, Naga region

“Houses around Leshi have been destroyed. The rains are incessant. There are landslides on the roads. The main way to transport goods from Monywa is by boat. That is not very convenient now, so we have to rely on India. When the rains are incessant, the roads are not convenient. Our region is a difficult one. We'll soon grow paddy. Now we are facing floods and landslides. We need healthcare as well. Students are finding it difficult to go to school around Nanyun in a situation like this." he said.

People whose homes were damaged by the recent rains in Leshi Township are now living in the General Administration Office, Building (2), Leshi Township.

In addition, landslides have also damaged houses and rice barns in Leshi Township, Ma Thaw Yi Village Tract, Ami Khi Village and Amudan Ward. 

The Naga Self-Administered Zone is made up of Leshi, Nanyun and Lahe townships. The region is underdeveloped and faces conditions such as heavy rains and heavy rains during the rainy season, which make road transport very difficult, hamper the flow of goods, make it difficult for children to get an education, cause landslides, and destroy agricultural crops.

CNI News

4 June 2025

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin's declaration of a war on drugs politically treads on the "Wa", military and political observers told CNI News. 

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced on May 27, 2025, a war on drugs to combat the drug distribution of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Shan State, Myanmar.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was trying to regain popular support  by declaring a war on drugs in the “Wa” while his popularity in Thailand was declining, Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO/NCA-S), which is an NCA signatory told CNI New.

“Former Prime Minister Thaksin is in a slump in public support in Thailand and is in danger of going to prison, but he has received letters of support saying he 'd better to stay well in a police hospital. What he doesn’t like are the former military generals who overthrew him. Thaksin doesn’t like General Prayut and his group. When they don’t like each other, it becomes a power struggle. He wants to put blame on Thai generals kind of, saying something they don't take action endanger Thailand when his daughter is Thai PM. So, according to his local politics, he said that he would fight against the Wa, which he is trying to regain the public support kind of. But we have to say something about whether some of the problems are directly related to the Wa or not” he said.

While seeing former Thai PM Thaksin

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has accused the UWSA of being responsible for the flow of drugs into Thailand, and he said that the Thai foreign minister would soon discuss measures with Myanmar to crack down on the UWSA.

Thaksin also boasted of good relations with Myanmar government leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the Lao Prime Minister, and said he could seek their cooperation to stop drug shipments to Thailand. 

However, Thaksin pointed out that Thailand must handle the fight against drugs independently, and that Shan State in Myanmar is currently not under the Myanmar government's control.

leader of the UWSA

Thaksin's response could be a threat to the "Wa" over the drug issue to divert attention from their own domestic problems, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs analyst, told CNI News. "I wonder why Thaksin is trying to divert the public attention from domestic problems. This is not the first time they threaten to attack the Wa. Thai troops had fought against the Wa when the Wa troops arrived in the Thai border. They know how the Thai troops suffered at that time. But this time, it's just a threat. Now many Thai people don't like Thaksin. It seems that the threat comes from the Thai local politics. They are turning to the drug issue to divert people's attention and talking about the "Wa". They won't fight," she said.

Thaksin declared a war on drugs in 2003, during which more than 2,800 extrajudicial killings were committed, and now, on May 27, 2025, he has declared a new war on drugs. 

Thaksin also said he would seek permission from his daughter, current Prime Minister Paetongtarn, to conduct mass checks to find drug dealers.

CNI News

3 June 2025

Donors from local and abroad have donated money for the rehabilitation due to the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, causing damage and losses.

There are questions about where this money should be prioritized to spend. 131.53 billion kyats and  more than 2.3 million US dollars (2,314,900)  were received from the earthquake relief donation event on May 29, 2025. 

In addition, donations for 51 four-storied buildings with 16 apartments each at a rate of 20,000 lakh kyats per building were received, reported the SAC.

At the first donation event on April 1 (2025), 112.87 billion kyats and 12.4 billion kyats worth of donated goods were received from local and abroad donors, for a total of 125.27 billion kyats. $300 million has been donated to earthquake victims, and that  suggestions on how to donate and where to donate from Facebook pages.

While seeing a building that collapsed during the earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025

An economic analyst told CNI News that the government may prioritize the resumption of government departments over the public in its rehabilitation efforts for the earthquake-affected population.

 “The government has many damaged offices, roads, bridges, schools, and fire stations. Religious buildings are also under the government. The Ministry of Religious Affairs only will spend the budget that they have received for their damaged buildings and does not give the budget to the people. The people will have to help each other. But they will help some people who are really in trouble.  What I mean is that monks help each other, people help each other, and governments help each other. Haiti received billions in international donations after the earthquake, and they are rebuilding people's homes. The government will rebuild the infrastructure necessary for the government as a priority, I believe" he said.

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28, 2025, affecting 10 regions and states, with 6 of them experiencing severe damage. 

if you want to donate the people, you can donate them through social organizations that are going among the people, U Myoe Set Thway, secretary of the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News.

Those who working to rescue victims of the earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025

“You can donate through the government. You can also donate through the general administration department and ward administrators. But the trust and relationship between the people and the ward administrators is not always good everywhere. That is, the administrators often send things donated to their relatives and friends.There are social organizations among the people that really help. If you donate through them, it is more effective. It's obvious on the ground which people should be preferentially helped. Junior government employees in the rehabilitation can't do their own rehabilitation. These things should be prioritized first." he said.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that when carrying out rehabilitation activities, it is necessary to take into account not only the current disasters but also potential future disasters and then implement them in accordance with established standards to ensure sustainability for the future. 

The earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025, affected 374 wards, 944 village tracts, 2,081 villages, 162,167 households, and a total population of 506,069 people in 10 regions and states, including the Nay Pyi Taw Council. Moreover,  3,739 people died, 68 were missing, and 5,104 were injured, reported the SAC.

In addition, 51,210 houses, 431 road works, 103 bridges, 83 railway damage sites and 11 railway bridges, 6,730 mobile communication stations, 10 power lines, 3,435 power poles, 594 irrigation canals, 6 embankments, 11,338 departmental buildings, 384 hospitals, 364 clinics, 166 ancient buildings and museums, 2,409 basic education schools, 72 higher education schools, 90 private schools, 6,469 pagodas, 5,588 religious buildings, 344 private factories, 7.5 acres of crops, 133,700 animals were damaged, with a total damage value of Ks3,804.549 billion, the SAC reported.

CNI News

3 June 2025

The Myanmar Tatmadaw may focus on territorial control in order to hold elections in Myanmar by 2025, pointed out military and political analysts. 

The Myanmar Tatmadaw 's losses are unprecedented in the current political landscape in Myanmar, and that repreparations are currently being made. 

Therefore, more battles may take place and a more severe response from the Myanmar Tatmadaw may emerge, Myanmar political analyst Dr. Aung Myo told CNI News.

“Traditionally, the military will fight to regain lost territories such as the food supply situation and ammunition availability situation. The Tatmadaw will focus on security and territorial control for the elections. Therefore, fighting is likely to increase. The Tatmadaw has suffered an unprecedented defeat. This is because there are mistakes in the constitution and the Tatmadaw was not prepared well with its overconfidence. The Tatmadaw will try to regain the territories it lost in the past year or two. The Tatmadaw will also gain manpower under the People's Military Service Law. If it does, we will see a strong response from the Tatmadaw," he said.

While seeing the joint forces of ABSDF and KIA

The SAC chairman has told the international community that elections will be held in December 2025 and January 2026. 

In addition, on May 24, he inspected the military operations of the Triangle Command in Kengtung, Shan State (East) and said that the units need to be able to successfully carry out operations, security, and territorial control in the areas they are responsible for.

In the post-2021 political landscape of Myanmar, fighting between some ethnic armed groups/revolutionary forces and the Myanmar Tatmadaw has been ongoing for more than 4 years. Therefore, peace and stability in a region are difficult to sustain in the long term, given Myanmar’s history, and only when there is peace in the Union can they move towards a path that is beneficial to all,” Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson for the 7 EAOs Alliance, told CNI News.

" Only when there is peace in the Union that we are talking about, can we cease fire in the entire country and move towards a path that is convenient for all. It is difficult to sustain the peace in a region  in the long term due to the historical circumstances of the country. Therefore, whether militarily or politically, these two are intertwined. Therefore, I believe that only if we can build peace in the Union, whether in each region or each state, will we be able to implement security, stability, and rule of law for the people there in the long term,” he said.

Currently, over three million people have been displaced and thousands of houses have been destroyed by fire due to the ongoing armed conflict across Myanmar. Similarly, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of hundreds of military bases and more than 90 towns.

Furthermore, due to China's intervention and pressure, negotiations have been held between some northern armed groups and the Tatmadaw, and the Tatmadaw has also regained the key area of Lashio.

CNI New

2 June 2025

Local and international donors held a second donation ceremony in Naypyidaw on May 29, 2025, to support the rehabilitation of those affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar.

131.53 billion kyats and more than 2.3 million US dollars, as well as the donations for 51 four-storied buildings with 16 flats each at a rate of 200,000 kyats for one building were received from the second earthquake relief donation event, the SAC reported. 

At the first donation ceremony on April 1, 2025, a total of 125.27 billion kyats, including 12.4 billion kyats worth of donated goods were received from domestic and international donors.

“The national government will establish short-term and long-term plans to successfully carry out the rehabilitation work and ensure that it is better than the original situation. Since the government’s strength is limited in carrying out this work alone, only through such cooperation can the rehabilitation work in the earthquake-affected areas be carried out quickly and effectively,” said the SAC chairman.

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28, 2025, affecting 10 regions and states, with 6 of them experiencing severe damage.

The earthquake affected 374 wards, 944 village tracts, 2,081 villages, 162,167 households, and a total population of 506,069 people in 10 regions and states, including Naypyidaw Council area.

The SAC then reported 3,739 dead, 68 missing, and 5,104 injured. In addition, 51,210 houses, 431 road works, 103 bridges, 83 railway damage sites and 11 railway bridges, 6,730 mobile communication stations, 10 power lines, 3,435 power poles, 594 irrigation canals, 6 embankments, 11,338 departmental buildings, 384 hospitals, 364 clinics, 166 ancient buildings and museums, 2,409 basic education schools, 72 higher education schools, 90 private schools, 6,469 pagodas, 5,588 religious buildings, 344 private factories, 7.5 acres of crops, 133,700 animals were damaged, with a total damage value of Ks3,804.549 billion, SAC reported.