CNI News

5 April 2024

Fish have died in droves in the fish farming ponds in Ayeyarwady Region due to the adverse impact of very hot weather at present, fish farming operators told CNI News.

Because of the heat from the sun, water damage and fish diseases are taking place in almost all farming fish ponds in Ayeyarwady Region reportedly.

Due to water damage and diseases occurring in fish, fish have died from 40 to 500 each day and fish farming entrepreneurs were making a loss, U San Ngwe, a fish farming entrepreneur from Zalun Township, Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

" Because of heat, there are disease outbreaks in fish and fish deaths as a result of water damage. Fish deaths are reduced a bit in the places where old water can be taken out and new water can be put in. Otherwise, a lot of fish are dead. Some owners unavoidably have to catch fish in their ponds and sell at a lower price. So, at a period like this, fish farming entrepreneurs are making a loss because fish food is expensive and the price of fish is lower. In some ponds, 400 to 500 fish are dead each day. Moreover, it's not convenient to sell dead fish. Fish farming business is adversely affected by the heat from the sun that we can say." he said.

While seeing fish farming ponds

This year is the worst one in fish deaths because of the current heat, said fish breeders. fish has died since early March and this is the worst year for the fish breeding industry during the last five years, U Thein Aye, a fish farming entrepreneur from Danuphyu Township, told CNI News.

" It happened like this in the previous years, but this year is getting worse. It's because of the very hot weather. Even a fish was not dead during the last five years. About 40 to 50 fish are dead each day. It started on 15th March. In some ponds, fish started dying in early March." he said.

More than 4,000 entrepreneurs who breed, produce and sell fish are doing business of fish farming on over 100,000 acres of ponds in Ayeyarwady Region.

The department of livestock should provide fish breeders with necessary technologies to prevent water damage and diseases occurring in fish and fish deaths because of the heat from the sun and create a market that can make up for expensive fish food, pointed out entrepreneurs.

CNI News

5 April  2024

The United Wa State Army (UWSA)/the United Wa State Party (UWSP) will have made peace with the Myanmar Tatmadaw for 35 years on 17th April, 2024 and the UWSA/UWSP has raised its flags in its region. 

The UWSA broke away from the Communist Party of Burma and made peace with the Myanmar Tatmadaw on 17th April 1989.

Making peace will have been 35 years old on 17th April, 2024 and ceremonies will be held. The Wa region was designated as the Special Region-2 and the UWSA was given the self-administration.

While the UWSA flags have been raised to mark the 35th anniversary of making peace (CJ)

According to the section 56 (f) of the current 2008 Constitution, Hopang, Mongmao, Panwai, Nahpang, Metman and Pangsang (Pangkhang) Townships were divided into two districts and the region was designated as the Wa Self-Administered Division.

All these townships are being administered by the UWSA. the UWSA is more stronger than any other EAOs within the country in manpower, weapon and finance, and has won the confederation status.

CNI News

5 April 2024

Political and military analysts are analyzing what is the military objective of the Kachin Independence Army that is waging severely battles against the Myanmar Tatmadaw. 

The KIA/PDF joint forces are waging battles in Kachin State and Sagaing Region and the battles are fiercely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces.

The KIA is fighting together with its allies so as to be able to build a federal union, U Kun Gawng Kham, a Kachin politician, told CNI News.

While seeing the Lweje border trade post

" The objective of the KIA, to the best of my knowledge, is to build a federal union. So, the KIA is fighting together with its allies to build a federal union, I think." he said.

The KIA and its allies have capture the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw along the Momauk-Lweje Road and the Momauk-Dawhpumyang Road reportedly. The KIA was fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw because it wanted the China-Myanmar border trade camps, said a politician.

" Mainly, the KIA will take the border trade camps as able as it can. After it has taken the camps, it can take the opportunities from both governments. It didn't get Muse and Kutkai. The TNLA got them. It will do like the TNLA." he said to CNI News.

While the KIA has controlled the entrance to Lweje

According to the current state of battles, he guessed the KIA had already implemented its military objective, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" I guess the KIA has generally implemented its military objectives at present. Because the KIA captured the Shin Lun Gabar near Momauk and Lweje, an important great military camp, the KIA has already achieved its many military objectives, that we can say. But at the same time, the KIA prevents the entrance to Lweje trade, I heard. That is, because China needs to control military activities between the China-Myanmar border and Kachin State, the Chinese Special Envoy Mr.Deng Xijun came and seems to be discussing about it, I think. China conducts military drill on 2nd and 3rd April in the China-Myanmar border. China is trying to call these forces to the negotiating table in order to control the military conflicts in Myanmar, which the military council will welcome, I think." he said.

The KIA and its allies have captured important military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Bhamo, Momauk, Sumprabum and Lweje Townships, Kachin State.

CNI News

4 April 2024

Because the Arakan Army (AA) stated on 2nd April tha Ann-Padan road linking Ann township of Rakhine State to Padan village in Ngape township, Magway region in central Myanmar had been indefinitely closed, the people in Ann Town might find it difficult to get enough rice, said locals.

Although Ann locals bought rice from Mrauk U and Kyauktaw in the past, they could not buy rice from these towns anymore because of battles. 

So, they were importing rice from Minbu Town through the Ann-Padan road. At present, if the road has been closed, Ann locals might find it difficult to get rice, U Maung Thein, a rice trader in Ann Township, told CNI News.

While the AA has seized control of Mrauk U

" As usual, we had to be carrying the rice from the Minbu side. Rice is not available from Rakhine State as well. Now the road going to the Minbu Township has been closed, I heard. If we can't really go there, there will be no rice for the people in Ann to eat." he said.

Even though the State Administration Council has closed all the roads and waterways entering Rakhine State starting from 13th November 2023, Ann Township were allowed to carry rice through departments concerned once or twice a week. However, the AA has indefinitely closed the road entering Ann, it has been difficult for Ann locals.

As there are many grassroots in Ann Township, rice sellers and administrators were implementing a limited rice supply system to prevent a shortage of rice, an anonymous administrator told CNI News.

While carrying bags of rice

" There are more workers who live from hand to mouth here in our town. They can't buy rice for one or two months in advance. When they return from work, they tend to buy one pyi of rice (one pyi=4.375 lb). Now, administrators and rice sellers have arranged to sell rice to a household one or two pyis each day." he said.

Rice is not grown in Ann Township and cashew and upland crops only are grown in the township reportedly. Therefore, if the road between Ann and Padan was closed, there would be a high demand for rice and it could be worse in the rainy season due to difficult transportation, said locals.

Moreover, locals are worried that there will be battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA in Ann Township.

CNI News

4 April 2024

In a survey that asked 250 people, when asked if they viewed China as a good neighboring country, 54 percents of respondents said that China was not a good neighboring country, said in a report released by the Institute for Strategy and Policy- Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) on 2nd April 2024. 

The ISP conducted the survey in October and November 2023 and asked 250 individuals from six Myanmar policy communities for 100 questions.

The individuals were from ones from political and economic circles and ones from civil society organizations, experts who are familiar with Chinese politics, economy and international relations, activists and celebrities.

Moreover, EAOs and leaders of the PDFs/LDFs from the regions where Chinese investment projects are located were included in the respondents, the ISP-Myanmar stated.

While seeing the record of the respondents who said that China was interdering in the home affairs of Myanmar

54 percent of respondents said that China was not a good neighboring country and 41 percent, a good neighbor. Regarding the question whether China took the opinion of Myanmar people seriously, 82 percent of the respondents said that China took it seriously and 12 percent said that China thought about getting on well with the power holder.

In the same way, regarding the question whether China wanted Myanmar to become a democracy, 60 percent of respondents said that China wanted Myanmar to become a dictatorship and 26 percent, a democracy.

Moreover, 73 percent of respondents said that China was interfering in the home affairs of Myanmar and 24 percent said that China was not interfering, stated the ISP-Myanmar. The battles are currently breaking out severely between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDFs joint forces in Myanmar.

The Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) jointly launched Operation-1027 in northern Shan State on 27th October 2023 after which the battles broke out severely between the Tatmadaw and these allies.

While seeing the record of respondents who said that China wanted Myanmar to become a dictatorship

During the battles, three northern allies (TNLA,MNDAA,AA) seized control of Laukkai, Konkyan, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Kunglong, Theinni, Hopang, Panwar, Kutkai, Namkham, Nangsang, Mantong, Namtu and Mong Ngor Townships and fought against over 100 military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Moreover, the AA launched an offensive against the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State starting from 13th November 2023 and seized control of Mrauk U, Pauktaw, Minbya, Myebon, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw Townships in Rakhine State as well as Paletwa and Samee Townships in Chin State and attacked over 100 military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

In the same way, joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People Defense Force (PDF) are attacking and capturing the military camps of the Tatmadaw in Waingmaw, Sumprabum, Banmaw, Momauk and Lweje Townships.

China is supporting these armed groups behind the battles, pointed out military analysts, but China denied that.

CNI News
3 April 2024

Maj.Shan Kham Aung aka Maj.Shan Aung from the Eastern Naga National Organization/Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENNO/ENDA), a Naga EAO, was shot dead by the security forces of the Tatmadaw at 4:30 p.m. on 2nd April 2024.

While Maj.Shan Aung was asking for money from the motorcars together with a comrade from the ENNO/ENDA near Sone Zee Yar restaurant at the entrance to Lao Ngauk Village between Khamti Township and Lahe Township, security forces came and shot him dead.

“After that, the security forces seized an MA pistol, a bullet box, four 9 mm rounds, a national verification card and 70,000 kyats reportedly. While he was asking drivers for money, the army arrived. If he avoids the soldiers, nothing will happen. When he went head to head, he was shot dead." a person close to the ENDA/ENNO told CNI News.

While seeing the NVC card and a gun of Major Shan Aung

Although CNI News contacted the ENDA/ENNO regarding the death of Major Shan Aung, it has not got in touch with the organization. The name mentioned in the NVC of Major Shan Aung was Shan Kham Aung.

Major Shan Aung beat seven locals from Badoomon Village including a three-year child in Khamti Township, Sagaing Region on 23rd January 2023 after which the ENDA suspended him for six months reportedly.

Major Shan Aung was serving as the commander of the Khamti Column in the ENDA/ENNO and he had served in the NSCN-K as well. Col. Aung Sai, who was dismissed from the NSCN-K, led and founded the ENDA/ENNO with the help of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). At present, the headquarters of the ENDA/ENNO is located in Laiza, Kachin State.

In collaboration with the Naga People's Defense Force (NPDF) and the KIA, the ENDA/ENNO is fighting against the Tatmadaw every so often.

CNI News

3 April 2024

In spite of the fact that the price of baht has become higher, rather than a decrease in buying and renting condominium apartments in Bangkok, there has been an increase than the last two years, those who are doing business of buying, selling and renting, told CNI News. 

Buying and renting of condos have increased during the last three months because there has been an increase in selling condos at present, a person who is doing business of selling, buying and renting in Bangkok, told CNI News.

" Because there has been a sharp increase in selling condos at present, Myanmar people who buy the condos have sharply increased at the same time. They have paid reserve money to buy condos. It's not related to the price of baht. The number of people who will attend school are more. They will buy the condos during Thingyan." he said.

A small model of a condo from a Bangkok condo fair

When Myanmar people buy the condos, just a few of them rent their condos, and Chinese citizens tend to rent their condos after they bought three condo apartments reportedly.

Although Myanmar citizens bought only 20 condo apartments in 2020, there were 54 condo flats they bought in 2019 and 48 in 2018, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of the Government Housing Bank, a Thai State-owned bank.

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar citizens who enter Thailand since 2022 and buying and renting of condos and houses have increased as well, according to the people who are doing business of selling, buying and renting condos.

Bangkok cityscape

" We rent condos starting from 15,000 to 20,000 bahts per month. Those who rent the condos are the parents whose children who will attend school here or those who will receive medical treatment here. Sales start from 2,000 lakh kyats. Myanmar citizens have paid reserve money to buy the condos. Those who can afford buy condos worth more than ten thousand lakh kyats. There are many agents and brokers. There are also people who buy houses." said an official from a condo transaction and rental business to CNI News.

Myanmar citizens bought 349 condo apartments in Thailand in 2022 and they bought 76 condo apartments during the four months from January to April, 2023, said REIC.

In the list of top countries that purchase high value real estates in the cities of Thailand, Myanmar is in third place after China and Russia and it spent 2.25 billion bahts on real estates in 2023.

CNI News

3 April 2024

Lweje-Laying border trade, Myanmar-China border trade has been suspended due to battles breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, truck drivers told CNI News.

Trucks were often stuck on the way along the Banmaw-Lwele road in March during the battles that were breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the KIA-PDF joint forces.

It had not been convenient for trucks to go to Lweje starting from 25th March 2024 and the Chinese side has closed already after which the Lweje border trade has stopped, Ko Aung Zin, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

While the KIA force at the gate of Lweje

" The road to Lweje has been closed. You can't go to Lweje from Banmaw. The cars that have been stuck turned around and came back from the Inbaba Road. There are no cars that go to Lweje, but the cars that came back from Lweje. There isn't any government staff including ones from the customs department anymore." he said.

Because the Lweje border trade has stopped, Over 100 Myanmar trucks have been stuck on the Chinese side, Ko Tun Naing, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

" We haven't been able to do anything for the time being. Some trucks go back to Mandalay. Truck drivers deliver goods back to traders. There are also over 100 trucks that are stuck in China because China has closed the border gate." he said.

The Myanmar side was exporting regionally produced fruits such as tissue banana, watermelon and pumpkin to the Chinese side and importing construction materials, electrical equipment, motorcar spare parts and consumer goods from China.

CNI News

2 April 2024

The New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) would not accept any political discussion based on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), it stated on 1st April, 2024. 

According to the political position of the NMSP-AD, it would not accept any political discussion based on the NCA and would oppose any attempts to animate the 2008 Constitution as well as it would not allow the Tatmadaw to participate in the future politics, said in the statement.

Some top leaders of the NMSP resigned on 14th February 2024 and build the New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) after which it joined the revolutionary elements and has been fighting against the Tatmadaw.

The implementations of the NCA has stopped since 1st February 2021 and the peace talks they were holding were not related to the process of the NCA, Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) told CNI New

While seeing an anniversary celebration of the NCA

" There are certain things that we don't know yet. Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC), the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM)are the mechanisms of the NCA. Frankly speaking, the implementations of the NCA had stopped since 1st February, 2021. Peace talks and dialogues that we are currently holding are not conducted according to the NCA." he said.

According to the political position of the NMSP-AD, it would not accept the distribution of political power between those who have the political privileges; when collaborating with the revolutionary organizations, it would carry out in accordance with the federal standards, said in the statement.

At present, the NMSP-AD in collaboration with revolutionary elements is fighting against the Tatmadaw in Mon, Kayin States and Tanintharyi Region.