CNI News

16 March 2024

Because battles broke out severely in northern Shan State, those who worked in Laukkai moved to Pangsang Town that has been controlled by the United Wa State Army and are working there, philanthropic associations and businessmen in northern Shan State told CNI News.

There are many businesses including the restaurant business and hotel industry as well as there are plenty of jobs in Pangsang, headquarters of the UWSA. So, he moved to Pangsang and was doing business like that, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Northern Shan State Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.

" Most groups from Laukkai and Kunlong have moved to Pangsang. Business people haven't started their businesses. Mainly, staff and laborers go to Pangsang in order to get jobs because there are plenty of jobs there. Some are working in restaurants and others in hotels. Many workers who worked in Laukkai have moved to Pangsang." he said.

While seeing the UWSA force

Among those who moved to Pangsang, the majority was Burmans and other nationalities were included and women outnumbered men. A Myanmar citizen can work there if he or she has a national registration card reportedly.

Although transportation in northern Shan State has not yet recovered, when people go to Pangsang from Lashio, they have to go there through Tangyan reportedly. Working after moving like this was because businesses have not yet recovered as a result of battles that took place in northern Shan State, an official from the Phyu Sin Myittar Philanthropic Youth Association, told CNI News.

" The wages in Pangsang are not too different from those in Laukkai. Jobs are convenient in the Wa region. So many Burmans are working there and so are other nationalities. They must show their NRC cards and then they are OK. But it would be better if they have recommendation letters. Nearly two third of businesses are operating in Lashio and Thibaw. In many places including Laukkai, Kunlong and Theinni where battles broke out, businesses don't operate. Small cars go there and the fare is nearly 350,000 kyats for each person, I heard." he said.

While seeing somewhere downtown Pangsang

Previously in Laukkai, a construction worker earned 100 yuans to 300 yuans (over 40,000 to over 100,000 Myanmar kyats) and in casinos, however, a staff earned 3,500 to 4,000 yuans( over 10 lakh Myanmar kyats).

Basic salary is 2,000 yuans in Pangsang (800,000 Myanmar kyats) on average and 3,000 yuans can be earned from a well-paid job reportedly.

CNI News
16 March 2024

Young people in Myanmar have lost their future because armed people are carrying out to force young people to serve in the military by different processes, said youths and political circles.

Because of the People's Military Service Law approved by the State Administration Council as well as EAOs' forced recruitment, young people are worried and many of them are leaving for foreign countries reportedly.

Young people who cannot avoid being called up for military service by armed organizations have lost their ambitions. The reason why young people lose their future was related to the management of the leader who ruled the country and it had been since before, U Sein Win, former member of Pyithu Hluttaw (Maubin), told CNI News.  

" When we analyze subjects that happened in the past, the reason why it's happening like this is because leaders don't know to appreciate seriously the future of young people. Governments that came to power are interested only in building houses, roads and bridges. They were not able to improve the knowledge of the people, the future education of the young people, and the technologies. Since then, to the best of my knowledge, there were three million of our people in Thailand. But now, there have been about five million. The number of our people left for Thailand was 30,000 a month on average, which I had read then. Young people are very important to the future. If the young people were wrong in their knowledge, it would be the fault of ruler. If the young people had no chance to work, it would be because of leaders' mismanagement. And then, it's right that the young people lost their future. But I'm carrying out so as not to make the young people's future lose as able as I can in accordance with the the people's desire." he said.

While seeing a member of the Tatmadaw on security duty

Because of forced recruitment in the areas that had been controlled by the EAOs in the pase, most young people had to flee to the cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing and some of them had to leave for neighboring or other countries. At present, ward administrators are collecting the list of young people who must serve in the military in Yangon and Naypyidaw after the SAC had enacted the People's Military Service Law.

The intention of the recruitment of soldiers by EAOs was to protect their community and regions, Khun Wai Htoo, secretary-2 of the Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC), told CNI News.

"The Military Council has been doing the forced recruitment of soldiers in the ethnic areas since before. Any men, women, adults or children in the ethnic areas were arrested as porters. The enactment of the people's military service law by the military council is nothing short of announcement that arresting the people to be porters has been legal. The intention of the military council is to make the people fight against or kill one another. The intention of non-Burman EAOs' recruitment is to protect their regions and community from attacks or bullying by successive military dictators' troops." he said.

At present, there are many armed organizations including Myanmar Tatmadaw, EAOs, Border Guard Force, Militia and the People's Defense Force and they are recruiting for many reasons.

CNI News

15 March  2024

Myanmar tourists are getting interested in Thai Thingyan that will be celebrated grandly from 1st until 21st April and making preparations to participate in the event, according to tour operators.  

Thai Thingyan (Songkran) was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Songkran Water Festival 2024 will become the biggest and most celebrated event in Thai history, which the Thai government has announced.

At present, air ticket offices and foreign travel service companies have sold out all the air tickets for the Songkran; tourists from all over the world are interested in Thai Thingyan and so are Myanmar tourists, U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism, told CNI News.

While seeing Thai Thingyan (Songkran)

" All the air tickets have been sold out since 9th or 10th March. Our company was selling air tickets everyday. Air tickets have been sold out till April for Yangon-Bangkok airline, Yangon-Singapore and Yangon-Malaysia. But because Malaysia has restricted Myanmar people lately, the number of people who go to Malaysia has decreased quite a bit. Thailand is currently opening its doors. When Thailand held Songkran in a big way, the event got global attention. About 25 million tourists entered Thailand last year. Of them, there were more than eight million Chinese tourists. This year, a lot of Myanmar people will also go to Thailand. There aren't many package tours. There are also trips to South Korea, Japan and Europe." he said.

The people from Yangon and Mandalay Regions are interested in visiting Thai Thingyan and those from Mandalay Region are more interested reportedly. Some are planning to go by flight and others, in groups by road, to participate in Songkran.

However, because battles are breaking out along the Thai-Myanmar borderline, going to Thailand through the border is being weighed, a travel service entrepreneur told CNI News.

While seeing Thai Thingyan (Songkran)

" The first day of the new year is the main one of the Songkran. Tourists are planning to arrive in Thailand for that day. Tourists from Putao, Tachileik and Kawthaung tend to go to Thailand. The situation should be reviewed on the 20th of March. Tourists from Yangon are interested in going to the Songkran and those from Mandalay, more interested. If transportation is convenient,some want to go by car. Going by flight is more expensive. It will cost you about 6 lakh kyats for a round trip if you go there by plane." he said.

The Travel trade fairs from many countries around the world are also interested in Songkran and making preparations and they are preparing to use the festival to their advantage. 

Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, although tourist arrivals decreased, Thailand was able to attract tourists by using the Thingyan period and over 20 million tourists entered Thailand.

Thailand has expected that more tourists will enter Thailand this year during Songkran period because the Thai Thingyan has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site recently.

CNI News

15 March 2024

Name lists of young people whose ages are suitable for military service are being collected through village administrators. Because of filling out and collecting name ists, anxiety among young people is increasing day after day.

And then, some youths have left for foreign countries; some are going to their relevant EAOs and some, to PDFs, said youths. 

" I want the conscription law to be suspended. Because ethnic armed groups forced their people to serve in the military, parents sent their sons to cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing. Now that the government has imposed the conscription law and forced the people to serve in the military like EAOs, we are expelled from the country. No citizen will be hesitant to do a military service.to protect from foreign enemy. We don't want to be sacrificed in the civil war in which our citizens are fighting against one another. We want authorities to understand the future that young people want to be and the attitudes of young people." said a young man in Yangon.

While seeing the form that must be filled out for the military service

The civil war has been breaking out since March, 1948 in Myanmar. EAOs have forced their people to serve in the military during the civil war. Now the Myanmar Tatmadaw has started implementing the conscription law after stating that the law has taken into force on 10th February, 2024.

So, even though armed people are proclaiming that they are building the country, turning a blind eye to the future of youths and the type of country that youths have wanted should be re-examined, pointed out youths.

The Tatmadaw would start enforcing the mandatory military service law at the end of April; the Batch No.1 would be started with a population of 5,000 and 20,000 recruits would be called each year, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council, told CNI News.

While seeing the TNLA force

Legal action would be taken against those who joined EAOs and other armed groups, he said.

However, the government cannot take action against those doing military service in the ethnic armed groups. 

Moreover, those who were detained and taken away by the armed groups to force them to do military service were not able to be protected in accordance with the law, pointed out some politicians.

CNI News

14 March 2024 

Among the Myanmar citizens who are undocumented or overstayers, there are more people returning from illegal routes than ones who officially return with CI (certificate of identity), those who are helping in the affairs of Myanmar citizens, told CNI News. 

Those who didn't want to officially go home with CI were afraid of conscription law that has been approved in Myanmar and chose illegal routes, U Barbu Gyi, a person who is helping Myanmar citizens, told CNI News.

" Those who will go home with CI cannot return to their countries at once. They have to wait two weeks or one month. A lot of people who couldn't wait any longer have chosen illegal routes to go home. Next, there are many young men who are afraid of going home legally because the mandatory military service law has been approved in Myanmar. Some of them are worried that they will be arrested at the airport." he said.

While seeing illegal workers in Malaysia

Myanmar people who will apply for CI have to wait in line together with those who apply for passports, which causes delays. Moreover, because Myanmar people who are undocumented or overstayers from various regions of Malaysia have to come in person to Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, they found it difficult on the way.

So, if Myanmar Embassy made appointments through online like ones from other countries, it would be more convenient, suggested Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.

So, Myanmar Embassy stated on 12th March 2024 that it would provide service to issue CIs within daytime with a system of making appointment through QR code starting 18th March 2024.

While seeing those who are waiting to pay the fines

However, although the validity of a CI in the past was two months, because it is only one month at present, those who want to go home don't have enough time, U Aung, chairman of the Yadana Sekka Funeral Service, told CNI News.
"Waiting in line takes us from one to three weeks. The valid period they have allowed is still short. We must find agents. We have to carry out to get CI within one day. If we have to go home in two weeks once the fingerprint is pressed after applying for CI, we can't do so. If we have to go home within 14 days, only after staying 12 days we have to. When you press your fingerprint on the CI, if the one month given by the embassy is full, you will be in trouble. Immigration department will fine you. If you applied for CI, they would issue a copy only.  An office of the Myanmar Airways International has been open in the embassy. Only when you buy the air ticket, they would issue the original." he said.

Malaysian authorities started the migrant repatriation program which allows undocumented foreigners and overstayers to go home without prosecuting them from 1st March until the end of December. 

However, the number of Myanmar citizens who go back to Myanmar with CI are still few and only unhealthy people are mainly going home reportedly.

CNI News 

14 March 2024 

If the liberation attempt of each region cannot be combined with those of other regions, 2024 wouldn't be the decisive year to overthrow the military dictatorship, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

Whether the year 2024 would be the decisive year that the National Unity Government has said or not depended on the NUG's strategy and ability to attack, he said.

"The NUG is carrying out actively in the revolutionary movement after proclaiming the 2024 will be the decisive year. There are also somewhat progressive developments in many aspects. But whether the year 2024 will be the decisive year or not depends on the ability of combination among regional liberation attempts, collective strategy and the ability to attack effectively. If the NUG didn't so, its proclamation wouldn't be consistent with the reality." said U Than Soe Naing.

While seeing the TNLA force

The year 2024 would be a landmark year when the Tatmadaw will be obliterated at all, said Mahn Win Khine Than, Prime Minister of the NUG at the meeting of the Union Hluttaw held in February, 2024.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA,TNLA and AA) was able to capture most of the towns in northern Shan State during its Operation-1027 that was launched on 27th October, 2023. And then, the MNDAA and the TNLA were able to seize control of their territories after which the TBA and the Tatmadaw agreed to ceasefire in northern Shan State at the mediation of China.

At present, the NUG and all ethnic alliance organizations were trying to end the military dictatorship, combining armed resistance and public struggle; they should not
content with armed resistance status and needed to produce better military results, said Duwa Lashila, Acting President of the NUG.

It was necessary to arise an all-inclusive political dialogue for the ability to establish a peaceful union after overcoming political crises, Saw Kyaw Nunt, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), told CNI News.

While seeing the members of the NUG

" We believe that we are able to build the peace of the union that will be a good heritage for the next generation after overcoming the current political crisis. So, we are making efforts with all the strength and organizations we have. in order to overcome unprecedented difficulties and crises that the entire nation is facing and in order to arise an all-inclusive political dialogue, how can we start carrying out? How can we approach to get international aids? We are making attempts to implement these things through various difficulties." he said.

Currently, battles are severely breaking out between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw as well as between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Tatmadaw to seize control of territories.

Organizations involved in armed conflict are focusing only on obliteration each other rather than making dialogues, which could more adversely affect the country, said politicians.

CNI News

13 March 2024

Although rubber produced from Mon and Karen States was being exported through border and seaborne trades in the past, at present because battles are breaking out along the roads going to border trades, exporting through the border has been suspended, according to rubber entrepreneurs. 

The rubber produced from Mon, Karen and Tanintharyi Region is being exported to China, Thailand and other countries.

Exporting rubber through Chinese and Thai borders has not been okay. So, it is being exported through seaborne trade only reportedly. Although the global price of rubber has been high at present, because of transportation difficulties, the price of Myanmar rubber is falling, U Tun Min Naing, a rubber entrepreneur from Mon State, told CNI News.

" We exported rubber through both the border trade and the waterway. But border trade has been suspended. Moreover, because the export earnings policy has been often changed by the Central Bank of Myanmar, exporters don't buy rubber a lot anymore. Although the global price is high, the price within Myanmar is falling. So, we are in a very bad situation." he said.

While some rubber is being dried

Although rubber could be transported freely in the past, now checkpoints ask for documents regarding rubber and if the documents could not be shown, rubber could be seized or the checkpoints ask for some money. So, rubber traders and farmers are finding it difficult.

Because the rubber farmers have to pay the amount of money checkpoints ask, they have to sell their rubber at a lower price than it deserves, added U Tun Min Naing.

" In the past, according to the law, we could transport rubber freely. But now, when we transport rubber, if we can't show the full documents, our rubber can be seized. So, we have to pay at the checkpoints. In fact, farmers have to pay the amount of money that is paid on the way. The farmers have to be selling their rubber at a lower price than it deserves." he said.

Moreover, because the export earnings policy has been changed every so often in the current fiscal year, exporters are making a loss and rubber export has been reduced as well reportedly. 

While rubber is being scraped

So, regarding rubber export in this fiscal year, it would not be in a position to export the target tonnage, U Khaing Myint, secretary of Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association, told CNI News.

" It won't be in a position to export the target tonnage of rubber this fiscal year. According to the export earnings policy, exporters didn't make a profit, 80,000 tons of rubber could be exported in November, 2023. At that time, if you exported one ton of rubber, you would make a loss. Many exporters made a loss. So, as a pilot project, 70 percent of export earnings was allowed to be spent in order to import fertilizer from 1st December to 31st March. And then, exporters made a profit and rubber export has increased again." he said.

Although rubber entrepreneurs are trying in order to reach the global sales level, they have not been able to do so due to the political situations in Myanmar. Due to the decrease in rubber exports, domestic rubber prices are also decreasing.

Due to the decrease in rubber prices, rubber entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to increase the wages of rubber workers. Rubber workers went to Thailand and are working there because they can get higher wages.

So, Myanmar rubber industry would face scarcity of workers more in the coming rubber season and the productivity would be reduced, said rubber entrepreneurs.

CNI News

13 March 2024

The death of U Shwe Min, patron of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party) was a loss for the Lisu people, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Dulei Party, told CNI News.

Their Dulei Party was saddened by the death of U Shwe Min and a person like U Shwe Min who could point out EAOs decidedly was rare, he said.

" Our party is saddened by the death of our patron and so are the entire Lisu nationality because a person like him who dare to tell EAOs decidedly is rare. He told some EAOs daringly risking his life that they tortured or killed Lisu people. So, his death caused a great loss to the Lisu people." said U Li Paw Reh.

While seeing U Shwe Min at the NCA signing ceremony

The motorcar in which U Shwe Min and his men were riding was attacked by the KIA/PDF joint forces near Aung Myay Thit Village on 7th March, 2024 and U Shwe Min was killed. 

The death of U Shwe Min was a loss for the Lisu people and the Lisu Literature and Culture Association was saddened by the death of a Lisu nationality, an official of the association told CNI News.

" His death is a loss for the Lisu people. To tell you the truth, there might be an EAO near my house. You can't say what you want to because all the walls have ears. But we are sorry for his death." he said.

While seeing U Shwe Min while he was serving as the leader of the Lisu Militia

U Shwe Min's home in Myitkyina  was attacked on 15th January 2024. 

" We know the attitude of young Lisu people although they don't express. Some of them express their sorrow and resentment online. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) assassinated our leaders who worked for them and they denied. But young Lisu people have realized that the KIO is going on like this." said U Li Paw Reh.

U Shwe Min, former chairman of the Dulei Party, took responsibility as the patron of the party and served the leader of the Waingmaw Militia. 

U Shwe Min won the minister for Lisu nationality affairs in the 2020 general election and Thiri Pyanchi Title conferred by the State Administration Council. 

It was U Shwe Min who was demanding to get the Lisu Autonomous Region in Kachin State.

CNI News

13 March 2024

As there are people who got into trouble due to the shortage of jobs on the Chinese side, Myanmar people should not go to China through border gates, philanthropic associations in Muse told CNI News. 

Moreover, human trafficking was found more, claiming that Myanmar people can get jobs on the Chinese side, an official from the Beautiful Heart Philanthropic Association in Muse, told CNI News.

" When you get to the Chinese side, you can't get a job at once. Brokers will say that you can get a well-paid job on the Chinese side and lie to you. They even pay you for the cost of travel. And then, they will sell you. The number of people who were sold like that has increased a bit more. Honest girls living far from cities or ones who have never travelled may be sold. Frankly speaking, girls or boys should not go to the Chinese side to work without having a reliable contact or friends or without connecting with a reliable employer. Not only girls but also boys get into trouble. Some of the people who returned from China are found to be ill or chronic patients and ones who suffer badly. If you don't have enough money to receive treatment, you will find it difficult." he said.

While seeing Myanmar citizens sleeping on the platform

Some Myanmar citizens have to sleep on the platforms, waitin to get jobs in Ruili Town on the Chinese side and there are many arrests reportedly. Moreover, those who came from Muse on the Myanmar side with temporary border pass (TBP) would be allowed only if they had recommendation letters from a labor office starting from 5th March 2024 reportedly.

At present, being difficult to get jobs on the Chinese side was because the incoming population was very large and the available jobs were very few, an official from the Kan Let Ku Nyi Philanthropic Association in Muse, told CNI News.

" There are about 200,000 job vacancies for example. But the number of people who entered is between 200,00 and 300,000. In fact, it's hard to let you do a job for long rather than finding the job. Although you get a job, you are not allowed to do the job for long. 

While seeing Myanmar citizens

You will be fired for many reasons within a month because your supervisor won't let you do the job for long. He or she wants to hire people from his native town or those who will pay him." she said.

Myanmar citizens are entering the Chinese side with red books whose validity is one year long or TBPs, and overstayers are being arrested by Chinese authorities reportedly.

Because the number of Myanmar citizens who enter the Chinese side is too many, wages are being reduced reportedly.