CNI News

19 December 2024

China's pressure on the Arakan Army (AA) was unlikely to be significant, U Khun Sai who is taking part in the peace process, told CNI News. 

The AA is severely attacking in order to capture the West Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw and on the other hand, leaders of the AA are discussing with the Chinese delegates. 

Although China might have put pressure on the AA more or less, it was unlikely to be significant, said U Khun Sai.

" The AA is different from the UWSA and the NDAA. The AA is far away from China. it's near to India and Bangladesh. China might have pressure on the AA more or less. But the pressure is unlikely to be significant like those on the Kokang and Myla, I think. It's up to the AA whether it will attack Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State. China does business in Kyaukphyu. And there is its deep sea port from which China imports petroleum and gas. There will be give and take between China and the AA for that. There is a navy camp of the SAC on Mahn Aung Island. It won't be easy for the AA to capture Mahn Aung because the AA doesn't have navy force." he said.

While seeing a junction in Rakhine State

While the battles are severely breaking out between the AA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Rakhine State, The AA officials and the Chinese officials met and discussed in Tengchong, China on 1st December 2024. 

The matters regarding building peace, ceasefire and the security for the Chinese projects were discussed in the meeting. 

However, the AA captured 10 battalions and divisions including military camps near the airport in Ann Township, it released on 6th December 2024.

Moreover, the AA announced that it had captured the Border Guard Police Unit-5 of the SAC on 8th December and seized control of the entire Maungdaw Town on 10th December 2024. 

The AA should abandon its armed policy and he wanted the AA on the right track, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in the 50th anniversary celebration of Rakhine State Day on 15th December 2024.

Rather than putting pressure on the AA, China was in a situation that it would have to negotiate with the AA, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) U Myo Kyaw told CNI News.

While seeing the AA

" Ann, Taung Goat and Gwa - they are exits of Rakhine State by road. The AA has captured Ann where the West Command of the SAC is located and Taung Goat. Now, the AA is launching an offensive to Gwa. It will be able to capture the town in a few days, I think. According to the geographic situation, I don't think China won't be able to put pressure on the AA. And the AA can relate with India and Bangladesh. So, rather than pressure, China will have to negotiate with the AA because China's a two ocean dream and investments are located in Rakhine State. So, they will negotiate and conduct a give and take, I think." he said.

Battles are severely breaking out between the AA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Rakhine State and there are also many IDFs there. 

Moreover, houses, schools, monasteries, religious buildings, bazaars, roads and bridges were damaged while people in the state are facing the shortages of food, medicine and fuel oil.

About 2 million people could face famine in Rakhine State and in early 2025, production of food in the state could meet only 20 percent of the necessity, estimated the UNDP.

CNI News

19 December 2024

Because the amount of onion left in the onion warehouses is fewer, newly appeared rainfed onions are being sold at good prices, according to onion traders and farmers. 

Just a few lakhs of onion viss were left in the warehouses in Myingyan and Pakokku, said onion traders. 

So, newly arisen onions were being sold at good prices and the prices could be going up until the end of this month, Ko Win Zaw, an onion trader from Sagaing Region, told CNI News.

" The prices of onions go up. Because the amount of old onions left has been fewer, rainfed onions seem to be sold at good prices until new onions arise. The prices of new onions go up by 100 to 200 kyats per viss."

Because the onions are in high demand in the domestic onion market, the prices of onions are going up in the Yangon market as well. 

While seeing onions

Export quality onions are sold at higher prices and  locally used onions and lower quality onions are being sold at high prices.

The price of onion is over 3,000 kyats per viss in the rural townships and 4,500 kyats per viss in Yangon. 

Because the newly appeared rainfed onions could be sold at good prices, it was beneficial to onion farmers, U Zaw Htay, an onion farmer from Pakokku told CNI News.

" Onion farmers have profited by 40 percent to 50 percent. The prices of rainfed onions will fall by the end of this month. Moreover, Myittha onions were sunk. This is the main cause." he said.

Normally, the prices of onions often fall, but because this year onions grown in Myittha where most onions are grown  were sunk and onions are few in stock, onions are sold at good prices.

CNI News

19 December 2024

The Ministry of Labor has planned to send only skilled workers abroad instead of general workers and the ministry notified it verbally, some overseas employment agencies told CNI News. 

Only those who have obtained certificates from the National Skills Standards Authority (NSSA) are designated as skilled workers and the ministry is planning to send only them abroad.

Due to domestic labor needs, overseas employment agencies are likely to be further restricted and the agencies may cease their operations, an official from one of the agencies, told CNI News.

" It is notified verbally. No instructions have been issued yet for implementation. It will be necessary to change general workers into skilled workers. Not every business uses skilled workers. It encourages openin training courses that will produce skilled workers. We'll take a long time to gather general workers for a demand letter. I don't think it will be successful. It may be gradually in the future. The current government will suspend sending workers abroad one day because labors have been in high demand. So, rules are coming out one after another." he said.

While seeing the Department of Labor

At present, skilled workers are being sent to Japan, South Korea and other countries while general workers mainly to neighboring countries. 

Some foreign countries call separately skilled workers or general workers and others, only general workers.

If skilled workers only were sent, it would not be convenient, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" Are recipient countries going to call only skilled workers? Whether skilled or general workers, standards they have designated are needed. Thailand mainly calls general workers. It won't be 99 percent. convenient" he said.

In Myanmar, there are over 500 agencies that can send workers abroad and most of them send workers to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan.

Because of departmental limitations at present, it is difficult for the agencies to send workers and workers are finding it difficult to go abroad as well.

CNI News

19 December 2024

The Arakan Army could leave Sittwe and Kyaukphyu as demilitarised zones, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, an NCA signatory, told CNI News.

China summoned and met with leaders of the AA on 1st December, he said.

“Whether a sensitive economic hub like Kyaukphyu and Sittwe, the current administrative capital of Rakhine State should be attacked or left as demilitarized zones, the AA seems to ask China for advice. 

These two places are left as demilitarized zones and by maintaining important military headquarters, the AA may get the political results it wants. In my opinion, Sittwe and Kyaukphyu could be left as demilitarized zones.” said Col. Khun Okkar.

The entrance signboard to Sittwe City

China met with the AA on 1st December, and with the UWSA on 3rd December and, with the TNLA on 5th December and, with the KIA on 8th and 9th December. 

The MNDAA met with the SAC delegation led by Lt-Gen Ko Ko Oo on 15th December.

Battles are severely breaking out between the SAC and the AA in Rakhine State and the AA has captured 13 towns. Currently, the AA is launching offensives in order to capture Ann and Gwa Towns.

According to the AA's political ambition and its deep connection with China, the situation would have to be watched, spokesperson of the 7 EAO Alliance, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt told CNI News.

The entrance signboard to Kyaukphyu Town

" It will depend on how deep the AA's relation with China is. I know they met. China wants armed conflicts to end. It wants peace talks. The AA can capture one town after another. The AA 's ambition is to win the level that is not lower than the confederation." he said.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw was not encouraging in the current battles against EAOs across the country, pointed out military and political analysts.

Armed groups could not demand their desire through armed means and armed conflicts could be solved at the political roundtable only, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in his letter sent to the 50th anniversary celebration of Rakhine State Day.

CNI News

18 December 2024

Because the discussions will be held in Thailand in order that armed conflicts and political crises in Myanmar can be overcome, people local and abroad are keeping a close watch on whether the discussion could find an answer or not. 

The two meetings about Myanmar issue will be held in Thailand on 19th and 20th December. 

The talks in Thailand will lead to many positive outcomes, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

" It's related to the security issue among the bordering countries. Frankly speaking, it's been a Regional Security issue. Although there are security issues and instabilities between the two countries, they can affect the regional security. So, because the discussion about them will be held. We must welcome this. I hope we can find an answer from the discussions. Surely, the talks in Thailand will lead to many positive outcomes." he said.

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn and chairman of the SAC in China

The Myanmar delegation led by FM U Than Swe will attend the discussions that will be held in Thailand. 

The meeting on cross-border crimes and security will be held on 19th December and the meeting of the FMs will be held on 20th December. Ministers and deputy ministers from China, India, Bangladesh and Laos will attend the two meetings.

It would not be easy to solve the problems and issues taking place on the Myanmar-Thailand border through the meetings, U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn

" A new problem has emerged between Thailand and Myanmar. The “Wa” forces have invaded the Thai border and set up military bases. Thailand has demanded the Wa forces to retreat from the military bases. And the problems at the Thai border that need to be resolved regularly will be discussed. But it's not easy to solve them. The problems that exist along the Thai-Myanmar border include human trafficking and drug trafficking. Although there are actions and arrests, because people who are having difficulty living within Myanmar, it's difficult to solve it." he said.

Since Thailand has offered that would host informal meetings in order to find an answer the crises that emerged after 2012 when the Myanmar Tatmadaw took the power, the meetings arose.

In the same way, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC and the Thai PM Paetongtarn met in Kunming, China and discussed about the Myanmar issue and the Thai PM said that Thailand would help the peace process of Myanmar.

CNI News

18 December 2024

Foreign Minister of the State Administration Council, U Than Swe will attend two discussions about the Myanmar issue that will be held in Thailand this month, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the SAC. 

Thailand will host two talks on Myanmar on 19th and 20th December. 

" The meeting of Myanmar and its neighboring countries that will be held in Thailand on 19th December 2024 will be attended by the Myanmar delegation led by FM U Than Swe." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

The two talks will be attended by China, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. 

" Mainly, the matters relating to border affairs and cooperation for anti-cross-border crimes," said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Because Myanmar is facing military and political crises and battles are breaking out across the country, its neighboring countries are also finding it difficult. 

So, in order to overcome the Myanmar crises, its neighboring countries will find an answer by holding two meetings.

In the same way, Thai PM Paetongtarn and chairman of the SAC Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing met and discussed the Myanmar issue in Kunming, China on 7th November 2024.

CNI News

18 December 2024

If wars and armed conflicts occurring around the world today were analyzed, air and space powers were key to winning wars, said Sr-Gen Min Aung at the 77th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Air Force and the cere mony for firstly deployed war planes on 15th December 2024.

" In modern times, if wars and armed conflicts are analyzed, air force and space power are playing an important to winning the war." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Superior air power could dominate, control, and annihilate the enemy and Superior air power could dominate, control, and defeat the enemy, and can further enhance the morale and combat capabilities of their own forces. 

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing with an MTX-1B produced by the Tatmadaw (air)

The Tatmadaw (Air Force) must be carrying out in order to improve its capabilities adaptably in acordance with the last developments, he said. 

MTX-1A and MTX-1B which are both reconnaissance aircrafts produced by the Tatmadaw (air) were shown at the ceremony for the first deployment of war planes.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw mainly depends on the air strikes in the battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups taking place across the country. 

However, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of a lot of its territories and military camps.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw is attacking mainly depending on the air strikes while armed groups are mainly using drones as their air strikes.

CNI News

17 December 2024

The Myanmar Tatmadaw was not encouraging in the battles against EAOs across the country and it was difficult to estimate what the Myanmar Tatmadaw's strategy regarding the military was, military and political analysts told CNI News. 

The Myanmar Tatmadaw which has taken the responsibility of the State was not encouraging in the current battles; it was hard to say which part the Myanmar Tatmadaw was leading to, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

"The Myanmar Tatmadaw which has taken the leadership responsibility is not encouraging in some battles. But it's early to say decisively the potential of victory or defeat regarding the war taking place in the entire country. It's a little difficult to estimate what the strategy the SAC has laid down is. We don't have enough data to say which part it's leading to. We'll need to watch it. For the time being, the SAC doesn't have the upperhand on the Rankine front." he said.

While seeing Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing

If wars and armed conflicts occurring around the world today were analyzed, air and space powers were key to winning wars, said Sr-Gen Min Aung at the ceremony of firstly deployed war planes on 15th December 2024.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw is mainly dependent on air strikes in the battles breaking out across the country. 

The Arakna Army (AA) was severely launching offensives in order to capture Ann and Gwa Towns and that the Myanmar military's performance has also declined has proved, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, an NCA signatory, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

" The Myanmar Tatmadaw was powerful ten years ago and had the upper hand in the ethnic areas. But now EAOs have had the upper hand on the Myanmar Tatmadaw. That the AA has the upper hand is because the AA's performance becomes higher while the Tatmadaw's performance becomes lower." he said.

While seeing the Air Force of the Myanmar Tatmadaw

While battles are severely breaking out in north Shan State, due to China's brokered mediation, the TNLA expressed that it was ready to meet and discuss with the Myanmar Tatmadaw. 

After the MNDAA announced the unilateral ceasefire, the MNDAA and the SAC delegation led by Lt-Gen Ko Ko Oo discussed it in Kunming, China on 15th December. 

Moreover, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the KIO discussed the issue.

However, the battles between the AA and the SAC are more severely taking place and the AA has been able to capture 13 townships in Rakhine State.

The AA could not demand its desire through armed means and the conflicts could be solved through peaceful means at the political roundtable only, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in the letter sent to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of Rakhine State Day that fell on 15th December.

CNI News

17 December 2024

Khawng Yi (ethnic traditional intoxicant brew) was being used as medicine if children had fever in the Naga Self-Administered Region because the number of health staff was not enough although there are rural clinics there, chairman of the Naga National Party (NNP) U Shu Maung told CNI News. 

Many patients there lost their lives because of difficult transportation in the region and locals' lack of health knowledge.

As there are no health staff in the rural clinics in the Naga region, although some locals who could spend money went to Homalin and Khamti Towns in Sagaing Region to receive medical treatment in the past, because of higher cost at present, they also couldn't go to the towns any more, said U Shu Maung.

" Parents in some villages make their children drink Khawng Yi if Paracetamol isn't available. The child is drunk, drowsy, and then fall asleep. When he wakes up, he feels a little refreshed. He seems to have recovered. Some parents buy Paracetamol. Some parents who can afford it went to Khamti or Homalin or Mandalay. But as the cost is higher, most people can't go there anymore." he said.

Although most villages in Nanyun Township have rural clinics, because there are not enough health staff, locals are finding it difficult for their health. 

While seeing the Naga region

It is getting worse in the current political situation, said a local to CNI News.

" Nanyun has the township hospital. There is a circuit hospital in Pan Saung as well. But there are not enough health staff. There is a doctor or two. There are also a lot of medicine and facility requirements in the hospital. Meanwhile, when patients are serious, there are challenges.  In the current situation of the country, it's getting worse." he said.

Health staff from Yangon, Mandalay and other cities who serve a distant Naga region are few. So, the government should make a plan to teach Naga nationalities medical education, chairman of the Naga National Party (NNP) told CNI News.

" Nursing training or something like this should be given to those who have passed the matriculation from the Naga region. A medical university should be built for more qualified Naga youths. In this way, local Naga doctors and nurses will emerge. Because they are Naga people, they will certainly serve in the Naga region, I believe. 10 or 20 or 30 years later, the current problem will be no more." he said.

The NLD government made a plan to build rural clinics in the Naga region and the construction of clinics were completed in 2022.

However, because health staff did not come to the clinics, locals have to go to towns or cities to receive the medical treatment.