CNI News

27 February 2024

Thai immigration has tightened Myanmar citizens who come to Maesot with border pass more than before, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers, told CNI News. 

Myanmar people who come to the Thai side with 7-day border pass through on the Myawady-Maesot No.1 Friendship Bridge are allowed to enter only if legal residents in Maesot recommend them, according to those helping migrant workers.

Moreover, although border pass holders were allowed to stay in Tak District in the past, they have been allowed to stay in Maesot only, Thai immigration has restricted, Ko Thargyi, a person who is helping in the affairs of migrant workers, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar people in Thailand

" Myanmar immigration came and told not to restrict, but Thai immigration didn't accept it. A very bad thing is that if a Myanmar national holding a border pass has backpack, although he could stay in Tak District for seven days, they suspected him that he could go to Bangkok or Chiangmai, they sent him back. These issues could be solved by senior government officials concerned, I think. If a legal resident didn't come and see, those holding border passes wouldn't be allowed to enter. When the number of people has increased, it's getting worse. What's this big bridge for? Myanmar people are passing on the bridge legally. They must be received according to existing laws. Suspect is only personal opinion. So, national level senior officials need to help about it effectively." he said.  

Tak District Immigration Department stated on 22nd February that the people who live in Tak District (Maesot) must report the list of guests who stay in their rented places.

Moreover, there have been an increase in the number of checks and arrests regarding undocumented people in Maesot and Myanmar authorities might have sent the list of people that must not be accepted to the Thai immigration department, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

Thai-Myanmar border bridge

" Thai police and security forces are going around to check the suspected people whether they are documented or undocumented. They arrest undocumented people. Some of the vendors there are undocumented. They were arrested, I heard. Border pass is not the rights to sell goods. It's just for shopping or visiting. If Myanmar people couldn't give the information they ask, some of them are sent back and others are blacklisted." he said.  

While the number of Myanmar citizens has increased to leave for Thailand after the People's Military Service Law was approved in Myanmar, Thailand has tightened Myanmar citizens like that. Thai PM Srettha said a few days ago that Myanmar citizens who would come to Thailand legally would be welcomed and those who would come illegally would be taken action against.

Moreover, Bangkok Post reported that Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang said that activities against the Myanmar Tatmadaw within Thailand were being closely watched.

CNI News

27 February 2024

There have been more toll booths on the Myla trade route and costs are rising more than ever, said traders. 

The number of toll booths has increased along the road going to the Myla border trade camp and the amount of money that has to be paid has increased as well since early 2024 reportedly.

Although it only cost about 60 lakh kyats to take a truck loaded with watermelon to Myla in the past, now it has cost 100 lakh kyats, Ko Thitsar, a watermelon trader, told CNI News.

While seeing trucks

" We had to pay 2, 3, 17, and 5 lakh kyats to the toll booths one after another on the way to Myla. When we arrived in Myla, it cost us 100 lakh kyats. In the past, it cost us 50 or 60 lakh kyats in the past. Although it cost you 100 lakh kyats, truck owners weren't paid well. For the time being, watermelon farmers, watermelon brokers and truck owners sell what they have and pay the debt." he said.

Because the amount of money that has to be paid for the toll booths has increased, goods imported from China have to be sold at a higher price. So, consequences have impacted on the consumer people more, said traders.

Although the number of toll booths and the money that has to be paid for them have increased, any group did not guarantee security, Ko Htut, a truck driver, told CNI News.

While seeing somewhere in Myla (EPA)

" As soon as we start leaving, we have to pay. No matter from where we load goods, for example from Daik Oo or Myla. We don't dare to ask what the toll booth is. If they ask for money, we have to pay them. If three armed men stopped us to ask for money, we would have to pay them. There has been an increase in the number of toll booths and the amount of money they ask has increased as well. A toll booth that we had to pay about 1,000 kyats now has asked for 50,000 kyats. But any group hasn't guarantee for our security. Traders, Truck owners and truck drivers are working fearfully." he said.

Motorcar traffic has been closed along Taunggyi, Hopong, Mong Pan, Loilem road at present because battles are breaking out in Hopong and Loilem Townships.

So, Myla border trade has been suspended for the time being since 20th February 2024 reportedly.

CNI News

26 February 2024

Leaders of the Tatmadaw should try to be good losers and trying like that would be the only best choice for them, said Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, Commander in Chief of the Arakan Army (AA). He posted the above on social media on 26th February, 2024.

" I pay respect to your military arts and attempts. But because you have surely been defeated, only an attempt to be good losers will be the only best choice of yours." he wrote and said on social media.

The battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA have been severely breaking in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State since November, 2023. A temporary ceasefire was agreed between the Tatmadaw and the AA in November, 2022. One year after that, battles resumed between the two sides.

While seeing the letter written by Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing

After that, the AA has seized control of Paletwa, Mrauk U, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Kyauktaw Townships after fighting against the Tatmadaw and in the remaining townships of Rakhine State, the battles are severely taking place between the two sides.

In collaboration with other ethnic armed groups, the AA is fighting against the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State, Kachin State, Sagaing and Magway Regions.

Due to these battles, in Myanmar, sectors such as economy, trade, social, health and education are deteriorating and the number of IDPs has been more than one million. Moreover, Human rights of civilians are being violated.

CNI News

26 February 2024

In the change of visa application to the online system for Myanmar people who are applying for Thai visa, brokers would be involved, overseas employment agencies and those who are carrying out for the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News. 

The Thai Embassy in Myanmar abolished the system of queuing up in front of the embassy in person to get an appointment and would accept only applying through online starting from 22nd February, 2024, it stated.

Because most Myanmar youths know how to use the online system skilfully, Although they can find it easy to apply for visa, brokers will be unavoidably required to participate, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

"Brokers can work with an embassy staff member to get you on the list quickly. In the past, an agency got twenty visas as a quota. Agencies and the embassy have been in contact since before. They can get visas quickly. So, they can get service charges. Moreover, those who can't get to the agencies have to apply through a broker, they have to pay more or they might be cheated." he said.

The system of queuing up in front of the embassy in person to get an appointment has been abolished to facilitate the applicants, to reduce the number of so many people applying at the same time and to ensure the security of office processes, said in the statement by the Thai Embassy.

Thai Embassy in Yangon

Although the Embassy has already worked at the rate of 200 tokens per day for 30 days starting from 22nd February, it would accept until 400 tokens for applying in advance.

Although The change to online system was good, it would be necessary to wait a little, U Myat Thu, general secretary of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF), told CNI News.

"There were so many people in line on that day. Those in line reached from the Thai Embassy to the Malaysian Embassy. Changing to an online system is more convenient compared to having to line up disfigured. You have to wait a bit. If you can't apply online, you might need a broker. But some people want to rely on brokers. So, they have to pay the brokers. Although you pay money, it's still not so bad if the broker does it right." he said.

Myanmar people who will leave for Thailand have obviously increased since early February and because so many people had to wait in line to apply for visas in front of the Thai Embassy in Myanmar, visa application changed to the token system on 14th February and 400 people were given tokens each day.

After that, visa application was changed again to the system of giving token appointment through online and when applying for visa, name, phone number, email address, passport number and type of visa must be filled up.

CNI News
24 February 2024

Those who live in Maesot, Tak District, Thailand must submit the list of foreigners who come and stay in their rented places to the immigration department, immigration authorities stated on 22nd February 2024.

'Landlords or landladies or accommodation tenants must submit the list of guests who come and stay in their rented places for the national security, peace and stability to the immigration department,' said in the statement. Accommodation tenants including hotel managers must submit the list of foreign guests who come and put up in their rented places within 24 hours, said in the order.

If tenants did not submitted the list of foreigner guests who put up in their rented places, they would be fined 10,000 bahts, said in the statement.

While seeing the statement by the immigration authority in Tak District

Most of Most of the democracy activists who are revolutionizing the Tatmadaw live in Maesot.

Moreover, people fleeing their homes to avoid fighting and those who sneaked into the town to work as migrant workers are staying in Maesot.

There have been many people trying to flee to Thailand in order to avoid military service after the People's Military Service Law was approved and signed by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council in Myanmar on 10th February, 2024
After that.

Thai PM Srettha expressed that those who came to Thailand legally would be welcomed and those who sneaked into Thailand would be taken action against.

Moreover, immigration authorities from Tak District ordered landlords, tenants and hotel managers to submit the list of foreigner guests who came and stayed in their rented places to the immigration department.

CNI News
24 February 2024

Although Bangladesh offered to buy 1.5 tons of rice from Myanmar, Myanmar was unable to export it, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).

Regarding the export of 1.5 million tons of rice from Myanmar to Bangladesh, Vice President of the Vietnam - Malaysia Business Association and Myanmar Ambassador to Malaysia discussed reportedly.

However, Myanmar has not been able to export the rice to Bangladesh because the it has been unable to negotiate price while domestic rice prices are going up and the price of buying from Bangladesh is low, U Nay Lin Zin, general secretary of the Myanmar Rice Millers Association (MRMA), told CNI News.

" For the time being, it has been cancelled. We haven't sold the rice to Bangladesh. We haven't been able to negotiate with that country. We are selling rice to other countries. We have a few crises regarding export and local market." he said.

While preparation is being made to export rice

Although the rice export to Bangladesh was started by sea since 2022, Myanmar has not been able to export rice to that country in this fiscal year reportedly. However, there are regular exports to other countries, according to the MRF.

Traders did not export rice to Bangladesh because the prices of rice within Myanmar were rising although Bangladesh offered to buy rice from Myanmar, an official from the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, told CNI News.

" There was a plan to sell rice to Bangladesh in the past, but when the domestic prices of rice went up, we made a decision to suspend selling rice to Bangladesh temporarily. We have sold rice to that country twice. It was convenient to sell. We exported rice by sea." he said.
due to the change in export earnings policy, profits for traders are less than before reportedly. Although export earnings gained from the export of rice and broken rice, is allowed to be spent to import fuel and edible oil, because they must be sold only at the price designated by the government, traders don't import any more, reportedly.

65 percent of export earnings are allowed to convert at the market price and 36 percent must be sold at the price designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar, according to the policy that have been changed.

CNI News
24 February 2024

It would make an effort to establish a public government based on public will, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) announced on 22nd February, 2024.

However, the statement did not mention exactly whether it meant a public government that would rule only Ta'ang (Palaung) people or one that would rule the entire country by attempting to overthrow the Tatmadaw.

" The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) will administer to further improve in the issues of security, rule of law, education, health and social development in areas where the TNLA Army is based including the seven towns that have been controlled by the TNLA in the Operation-1027 and will make an effort to establish a public government that is based on the public will." said in the statement.

Moreover, together with all ethnic people in the Ta'ang region, it would protect against the forced recruitment, tax collection and interference in the public management by other ethnic groups and it would lead to achieve the political goals of the people as soon as possible, the TNLA stated.

While seeing the statement by the TNLA

The TNLA, together with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army(MNDAA), the Arakan Army(AA), the Bamar People Liberation Army(BPLA), the People's Liberation Army(PLA), the Burma National Revolutionary Army(BNRA) and the Mandalay People's Defense Force (PDF-Mandalay), launched the Operation-1027 in northern Shan State on 27th October 2023.

After that, the TNLA was able to seize the control of Kutkai, Namkham, Mai Ngor, Nansang, Mang Ton and Namtu Towns after fighting against the Tatmadaw. However, Ta'ang (Palaung) people are being recruited by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the MNDAA.

At present, there is a territorial dispute between the KIA and the TNLA in Kutkai Township and a military tension is breaking out between them.

In the same way, the TNLA also has a territorial dispute with SSPP in Namkham Township and a military tension is taking place between them. There is a military tension between them.

CNI News
24 February 2024

After some top leaders of the New Mon State Party resigned from the party, people are keeping a close watch on where the party is headed.

Some leaders of the NMSP broke away from the party and built an offshoot called the New Mon State Party (anti-dictatorship) and stated that they would join with anti-Tatmadaw forces in the fight against the State Administration Council.

 Although the leaders of the NMSP made efforts to get their national rights through the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement(NCA), because they did not get them, Mon youths of the party broke away, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" Leadership of the NMSP has tried for the interests of their nationalities for about three decades. But they are facing a situation where they can't get their rights and at the same time, when the movements of the Spring Revolution intensify among other ethnic groups, young people of the party have broken away. This is a natural situation as well." he said.

While seeing Naing Banyar Lal, vice leader of the breakaway NMSP (one with glasses) while the NMSP was discussing with the SAC

The Central Executive Committee of the NMSM announced on 14th February, 2024 that it would try to reunite with the NMSP (Anti-Military Dictatorship).

The SAC was in contact with the leaders of the NMSP and the party leaders had nothing to do with the secession and the NMSO would go on with the NCA, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the SAC.

The statement released by the offshoot of the NMSP saying it would join with the revolutionary forces was hailed by most Mon youths, a Mon youth told CNI News.

While the NMSP was signing the NCA

"Most Mon youths are optimistic about it. The timing also happened. The State Administration Council (SAC) has approved the People's Military Service Law. It turned out to be a good situation for the opposing organizations. Most people probably have a lot to do with them. The NMSP that goes with the NCA reviews most youths will join the revolutionary forces. In practice, youths are joining." he said.

The Breakaway New Mon State Party stated that although the NMSP discussed with the Tatmadaw three times, expected results were not achieved at all after it made an effort to find a political answer to political problems in accordance with the NCA.

The NMSP is a Mon ethnic armed organization that signed the NCA on 13th February 2018.
Some military analysts are considering that it is also possible to pretend that the New Mon State Party is splitting into two factions in order to remedy the fact that the party is being criticized for not fighting against the Tatmadaw.

CNI News

23 February 2024

All the ethnic people who are suppressed and are searching for the revolutionary path would be accepted and welcome, the Shan State Progressive Party(SSPP)/ Shan State Army (SSA) stated as of 20th February, 2024. 

Pieces of news describing all the ethnic people are currently facing more oppression by military dictators are reported are heard everyday; in accordance with the law of revolution, if there is oppression, there will be revolution and all the ethnic people are searching for the revolutionary path which the SSPP/SSA has heard, the SSPP/SSA stated.

"If the oppressed people of all ethnicities who are searching for the revolutionary path will follow the objective, policy, rules and regulation of the SSPP/SSA, any race or religion will always be accepted and welcomed. However, the SSPP/SSA did not state exactly which organization the military dictator was.”SSPP/SSA said.

The statement released by the SSPP/SSA

After saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute that took place in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and has taken the State power. So, democratic elements are making efforts to topple the Tatmadaw.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), the Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA), the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched the Operation-1027 on 27th October, 2023 after which urban and rural areas were damaged and many civilians were wounded and killed.

After that, the TNLA seized control of Namkham and Kutkai towns and carried out restrictions on the freedom of peoples such as Shan and Kachin. 

While the leaders of the SSPP/SSA were holding a meeting

So, the TNLA is being denounced. Moreover, the TNLA and the SSPP/SSA have a territorial dispute and military tension.

In the same way, the MNDAA doesn't allow any ethnic armed groups including the KIA and the SSPP to go through the territories that it has captured after fighting against the Tatmadaw. Moreover, it is restricting on ethnic Burmans coming to work.