CNI News

2 April 2024

Some hotels in Bagan, ancient heritage site, and northern Shan State were sold because there were almost no tourist arrivals, hotel entrepreneurs associations in those regions told CNI News. 

Moreover, hotel industries were making a loss because there were a few tourists who came to and electricity was not regularly available and the number of hotels that were closed had increased than before, they said.

Although some businessmen were interested in buying the hotels that were prepared to be sold, they had not come back yet after they inquired, U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Myanmar Hotelier Association (Bagan Hotel Zone), told CNI News.

"There's not much actual buying and selling yet. There are people who came and inquired. There are people who want to sell. I haven't heard which hotel has been sold already. There are people who want to buy hotels. But the transaction has not been conducted. There are a lot of hotels that have been closed. They can't sustain in the long run. Now it has been over three years already. They were making a loss everyday. You can buy hotels at a lower price at a time like this. Buyers will calculate as well because tourism no longer works." he said.

An aerial view of a high-rise hotel in Lashio

Hotel owners have to sell at the prices lower than the market ones and sellers ask buyers to reduce the price a lot, said regional hotelier associations. 

Because the businesses have not been operated again in northern Shan State where battles broke out, there are hotels that will be sold, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of Northern Shan State Hoteliers Association, told CNI News.

Moreover, there are many businessmen who are watching to buy hotels in Lashio, northern Shan State, he added.

" Some people come here in Lashio to inquire to buy hotels or invest on other businesses. If your hotel is in a good place and your business is good, you can sell it at the price that you want. But there haven't been many transactions yet. There are many people who watch Kashio to buy hotels and other businesses." he said.

The tourism sector has declined since the Covid-19 pandemic and political changes took place in 2021. The sector improved a little in 2022.

 However, in 2023 the battles broke out in many parts of the country, it was difficult to travel, the electricity was not regularly available and hotel room accommodation fees increased. So, there were almost no tourist arrivals.

According to the current situation, it has not been easy to improve the tourism sector of Myanmar, reviewed hotel entrepreneurs.

CNI News

2 April 2024

Because it is not easy to carry goods from other regions to Paletwa, Mindat, Matupi and Samee Townships in southern Chin State, locals have to rely on the goods coming from India, according to Paletwa residents. 

Due to the battles breaking out in Rakhine State at present, it is not convenient to carry the goods from Kyauktaw to Paletwa. So, Paletwa locals have to buy and carry the goods from India, U Kyaw Khin, a Paletwa resident, told CNI News.

" Because we, staffs, can't transfer our money to Paletwa from Yangon, firstly we sent the money to Thailand. And then the money has to be sent to India from Thailand. The money is changed to Myanmar kyats in India and people in Paletwa have to receive Myanmar kyats. The people in southern Chin State have to buy and carry goods from India. Transportation is not good for the time being. We can't transport goods from Kyauktaw. We are depending on the goods from India alone." he said.  

While seeing villages along Kaladan River

Locals from Mindat and Matupi Townships in southern Chin State are relying on the goods from Nagaland and Mizoran States in India. The locals from southern Chin State bouught and consumed the goods coming from Pakokku Townships in the past. However, because of territorial instabilities at present, they have to use Indian goods.

Although Paletwa locals bought and used a small amount of the Indian goods by waterway last year while battles were breaking, at present they have to be using the goods more than before, U Htay Win, a resident of Paletwa, told CNI News.

While seeing villages along Kaladan River

" In the past, because necessary goods entered from Kyauktaw, this route going to the Indian border was not used so much because boats capsized in the past. But as the route going to Kyauktaw is closed, the route going to the border is being used more." he said.

Consumer goods are mainly imported from India, and foodstuff, medicine, rice and edible oil are also imported reportedly. If a person goes to India by waterway, it will cost him 60,000 kyats and if he carries goods, it will cost him 100,000 kyats reportedly.

CNI News

1 April 2024

When a Myanmar citizen went to the Chinese side through the China-Myanmar border to work, because he has to make a lot of evidence documents, it cost him over 10 lakh kyats, philanthropic associations in Muse told CNI News.

He has to make a lot of evidence documents including a certificate that contains QR code to report guest list, labor card, health card and residence card. Moreover, if he is the who will enter with a temporary border pass (TBP), he has to take a pass sheet to go from Kye Gaung to Ruili. So, the average cost is between 1,500 and 2,000 yuans reportedly.

" The cost has been over 10 lakh kyats. A worker who will go and work on the Chinese side has to pay service charges for laborers, charges for medical check up, for TBP. And a red book is to be translated and you have to pay for translation. The Labor office takes 100 yuans for finding a job. And then when he go to the factory, he will have to pay bus fare. Labor offices have been opened by all Myanmar citizens. Because labor brokers know the weak points of compatriots, they ask for money saying many reasons." an official from the Kanlet Ku Nyi philanthropic association, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar people who will go to the Chinese side (RFA)

If a Myanmar worker make documents in person, it takes long to get documents, and if he hire a broker, he can get documents quickly. But the brokerage is until 30 lakh  kyats reportedly. Those who enter the Chines side must mention exactly the places where they will stay and work.

However, the number of people who will enter and work on the Chinese side has increased everyday, an official from the Beautiful Heart philanthropic association, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar people who will go to the Chinese side (RFA)

" As soon as the morning dawns, a lot of Myanmar people arrive in groups in the highway bus terminal of Muse. We don't want them to come. They can't get the jobs at once. Myanmar people are getting into trouble on the Chinses side by the thousand. Many Myanmar people are also arrested. Many Myanmar people are sent back. You can't get a job here with a guarantee." he said.

Although those who enter with TBPs find it difficult to get a job, those entering with a one-year residence permit book are convenient reportedly According to estimates, there are about 500,000 Myanmar people in Ruili, China and the number of workers is much higher than that of jobs.

CNI News

1 April 2024

If Myanmar people who were working in the places that were not designated were arrested by the Malaysian immigration department, it was not easy for them to be released on bail, the people who are helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia, told CNI News.

If foreigners were arrested in Malaysia, undocumented workers and overstayers only were sent back home. But documented workers who were working in the wrong places were released on bail had to attend court hearings in the past. 
However, later because there are too many people who worked in the wrong places, the restriction like this has been conducted, U Barbu Gyi, a person who is helping Myanmar citizens, told CNI News.

" To tell you the truth, if you have documents and permits and are working in accordance with the documents and permits, there's no problem. Otherwise, if you are working in the different places from those in designated places, you commit a crime. And then, Malaysian authorities will arrest and send you back home. Those who entered illegally, those who have been overstayers after entering legally and those who worked in the wrong places would be arrested and sent them back home, which have been announced by the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs." he said.

Migrant workers who are detained

However, if illegal foreigners were arrested by Malaysian police, depending on the case they were charged with, they could carry out to be released, hiring a lawyer. 

However, it was not easy to be released for those who committed two or three crimes such as undocumented case, overstaying and working in wrong places, U Barbu Gyi told CNI News.

If those who worked in the places that are not officially designated were arrested, relevant agents and employers, they would possibly be released if their agents and employers issued transferred assignments and paid fines. However, it was less likely reportedly. Moreover, agents hardly came and solved the problem reportedly.

Malaysian authorities carry out to send those arrested back home without making contacts to relevant agents, U Aung, chairman of the Malaysia-based Yadana Sekka Funeral Service, told CNI News.

" If Malaysian authorities really work, they can find agents. If they phoned the agents, the agent would come. But because most agents here are Malaysian citizens, the authorities ignored and tried to the workers arrested to send back home." he said.

Because most arrests arise due to the complaints of Malaysian citizens, Myanmar citizens who are working in the places that are not mentioned in the documents and permits should be careful, suggested the people who are helping in the affairs of Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.

CNI News

1 April 2024

Dala Township in Yangon Region that experienced water scarcity every year becomes less a little than before, according to locals.

Although the township faced with water scarcity every hot season, there is still some water left in the ponds this year, and because the water is systematically managed in a timely manner, water scarcity has relieved rather than before, U Aye Win, administrator of Raza Thingyan Ward, Dala Township, told CNI News.

" We have systematically managed the ponds. So, the situation hasn't been so bad. We allowed the people to draw the water one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. And then, we study the amount of water. Later, we give the water one hour each day. The water wastage becomes less. In comparison with previous years, we don't find it so difficult." he said. 

Because the ground water in Dala Township is not fresh water, but salt water, people in the township are mainly depending on the rainwater ponds.

While seeing a pond in Dala Township

There are 25 wards in Dala Town, 23 village tracts and 54 villages in the Dala Township whose population is over 162,000.

There are 329 ponds in Dala Township and 124 ponds in the town and 205 ponds in the villages reportedly.

Another pond was dug this year and the pond has been arranged to be a water storage tank, said U Aye Win.

" As a project, another pond has been dug this year. A purified water group donated for the pond. The pond will receive more water in the rainy season. If we get more water, the water will be sufficient for our ward. Later, they will arrange this pond to become a water storage pond and distribute the water." he said.
Although some lakes have already dried up at present, they can still be used. However, If the rains were late, it could be difficult, Ko Moe Kyaw, a Dala resident, told CNI News.

While people are drawing water from a pond in Dala Township

" We can definitely say the situation 15 or 20 days later. If the rains were late, it wouldn't be convenient. The ponds have become shallow. The current situation has not been so bad." he said.

Although water donors tend to come and donate the water to Dala Township every year, they haven't come this year reportedly. 

Water donors are not allowed to donate independently this year and they can donate only after letting ward or village administrators know. So, water donors possibly don't come, said Dala residents.

When the ponds dry up, if the water donors don't come, locals might buy purified water.

CNI News

1 April 2024

Although the Arakan National Party has applied to be registered as a political party for one year, it has not been registered reportedly. The ANP re-applied to be registered as a political party to the Union Election Commission (UEC) in fourth week of March, 2023. 

The party had not been registered because the authorities had an intention, U Thar Tun Hla, chairman of the ANP, told CNI News.

" We have applied for one year in March this year. We have not been registered because they have an intention. We have not been registered since before the battles broke out in Rakhine State. We review it is because they have an intention." he said.

While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with political parties

The UEC released laws and bylaws relating to political parties registration on 31st January 2023 and political parties must apply to be registered within 60 days.

Among the political parties that applied to be registered, 40 parties have been registered. However, some political parties including the National League for Democracy party (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy party (SNLD) did not apply to be registered.

Their party applied for registration in order to politically solve the grievances of the public, but they didn't know why the ANP was not registered, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the Policy Steering Committee of the ANP, told CNI News.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" The ANP is the party that received the most public support. We carried out in accordance with the law. Our party was formed with a view to that we'll carry out to meet the need of the public. We pointed out politically the need and grievances of the public. We have firmly believed up to now that we'll carry out politically in accordance with the law. We applied for registration in accordance with the law. The UEC will know why it hasn't registered our party." he said.
In the same way, the Mon Unity Party has not been registered by the UEC reportedly. The census-taking would be conducted in 2024 after which a general election would be held and then the State power would be handed over to the winning party, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council.

CNI News
30 March 2024

Because of the current armed conflicts, opium poppy has been more cultivated again, which is known from international surveys and seizure of narcotic drugs. In the Southeast Asia Opium Survey, Myanmar is the country which grows most and produces heroin most in the world, according to the UNODC.

Before political changes that started in 2021, the State spent a lot of budget on the opium substitution program and the regional development. So, although opium poppy cultivation was reduced, after political changes, opium poppy cultivation has been higher again.

Although elephant foot yam, avocado and so on were grown in the past as opium substitution crops, at present because of armed conflicts, difficult transportation and lack of market, opium poppy has been grown again, Naung Kham, a Pa-O youth, told CNI News.

" Mainly, opium poppy is grown most around the Manal Mountain and to the east of Hsi Hseng, around the Lwemaw Mountain. Around these mountains, because the main cultivation area contains many mountain-sides, it's not easy to grow other crops. Moreover, even though other crops can be grown, their prices are not high and transportation is difficult. So, other crops are not grown. In the past, elephant foot yam and avocado were grown. But transportation charges are very high and the market of elephant foot yam is not stable. So, opium poppy is grown again because it is easy to grow and it is light to carry it. And battles broke out severely in that region about two weeks ago." he said.

While scraping opium poppy

Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar was gradually reduced starting from 2015 and it was reduced until 11 percent, according to the surveys of the UN. However, the cultivation became high again starting from 2021. According to the UNODC, opium poppy cultivation has increased by 20 percent per year in Shan State, the main opium poppy cultivation area.

Moreover, regarding the opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar, over 100,000 acres in northern Shan State, over 10,000 acres in Kachin State, about 2,000 acres in Chin State, over 1,000 acres in Kayah State and 600 acres in Sagaing Region have increased than in 2015, according to the report of the UNODC.

Myanmar citizens have chosen the opium poppy to cultivate because of their difficult income, Saw Khun Kyaw Win from the Pa-O National Organization Party, told CNI News.

While scraping opium poppy

" We educate the people not to grow the opium poppy. But we can't tell them not to grow it at all  because there are many organizations concerned. But we carry out opium substitution programs in the places within our reach in collaboration with many foreign organizations and social organizations including the government. But because it's very difficult for the people to earn income, they will choose the method that they can earn income. Mainly, they have the rights to choose." he said.

The price of opium is 800,000 kyats per viss at least and four to six visses of opium can be produced from an acre of cultivation reportedly. The current political situation, the country's economic decline and higher commodity price were pushing local farmers to grow opium poppy, remarked economic analysts.

At present, Myanmar is growing opium poppy more than Pakistan and Afghanistan that were regarded as the biggest growers in the past, according to the surveys of the UN.

CNI News
30 March 2024

Over 200 troops of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) launched an offensive against the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) by bombing over 50 times with drones, the SSPP/SSA reported on 27th March 2024.

The MNDAA force attacked the SSPP column that has been active in Namslut Village Tract and Sae U Village Tract, Theinni Township, northern Shan State by dropping bombs from drones at about 3:00 p.m. on 26th March 2024 and battles broke out between the two sides.

And then, about 200 troops of the MNDAA attacked the SSPP's special military camp by bombing over 50 times from the drones from the farmland near Panna Village, Sae U Village Tract at 9:00 a.m. on 27th March, 2024 and then about 200 MNDAA troops launched an offensive the camp at 11:00 a.m. or so, SSPP/SSA stated.

" The SSPP fought back against the offensives of the MNDAA in a position of defense and it will make efforts to solve the problems through dialogue as able as it can looking forwards to ethnic reconciliation." the SSPP said.

While seeing the MNDAA force

Without the ability to solve the problem through dialogue, if the people in its territory were insulted, it would respond effectively, the SSPP stated.

The MNDAA, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) launched Operation-1027 on 27th October 2023 and made efforts to wage battles to capture  towns and military camps of the Tatmadaw.

After that, the MNDAA captured Theinni, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Kyukote, Kunlong, Laukkai,and Kon Kyan, and is establishing an administrative area.

Moreover, any other armed group would not be allowed to be active in the area where it has seized control of, the MNDAA has stated. In the same way, the TNLA has captured Nangsang, Mantong, Mong Ngor, Kutkai, Namkham, and Namtu, and is building administrative territories.

While seeing the SSPP force

Battles might break out at any time between the SSPP/SSA and the TNLA due to the territorial dispute in Namkham Township. Moreover, there is a military tension between the SSPP/SSA and the MNDAA in Theinni Township.

The SSPP/SSA has been active in Muse, Namkham, Kyaukme, Naunghkio, Theinni, Lashio, Kutkai, Namtu, Monghsu, Kyethi, Mongyai, Tangyang, Momauk, Panglong and Yatsauk townships and is building an administrative area.

CNI News

29 March 2024

The role of the Tatmadaw was added to the 2008 Constitution for the ability of preparation to the historical weaknesses, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above at the anniversary celebration of the Tatmadaw held on 27th March 2024 and the role of the Tatmadaw was not for the sake of the Tatmadaw, but for the interests of the country, he said.

" Although the Tatmadaw of every country are different from one another in formation, strength and ambition, they have the same ambition that they must defense their countries. In the same way, constitutions may differ. Constitutions are enacted for the long-term interests. You can't say which constitution is right or wrong because they were enacted based on how their countries were built, their histories, ethnicity, religion, politics, economy and other basic facts. The main ambition of a constitution is national interests. The reason why the role of the Tatmadaw has been added to the constitution is in order to protect in advance from weaknesses that the country experienced in history. The provisions in the role of the Tatmadaw were not for the sake of the Tatmadaw but for the interests of the country." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

The NLD made electoral mistakes in the 2020 general election and tried to take the State power, and in order to prevent those illegal acts, the Tatmadaw took power temporarily, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

According to the 2008 Constitution, the Tatmadaw has got the 25 percent of the seats in the two Hluttaws without having to be elected. Moreover, the Tatmadaw can carry out military operations independently.

Because they did not get their rights politically, the ethnic groups were waging an armed revolution, and adding the role of the Tatmadaw to the 2008 Constitution was a matter that must be solved politically, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the Policy Steering Committee of the Arakan National Party (ANP), told CNI News.

During the military parade at the Tatmadaw Day ceremony

" Before Myanmar gained her independence in 1948, General Aung San and ethnic leaders signed the Panglong Agreement with a view to establishment of a federal union based on equal rights. But civil wars have broken out since 1949. Ethnic groups waged an armed resistance because, according to their announcements, they did not get their federal rights. Adding the role of the Tatmadaw to the 2008 Constitution is a matter that will be politically solved patiently. And then, the decease has been identified. But the medicine is not at all related to the decease." he said.

The 2008 Constitution was enacted to enable the Tatmadaw to participate in the leading role and any decision could not make if the Tatmadaw did not agree, which some people have reviewed.

The 2008 Constitution was approved on 29th May 2008.