CNI News

1 April 2025

India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has begun rescue operations in the U Hla Thein Temple Extension Building, Masoe Yain Monastery, Mandalay to rescue 170 monks who were trapped in the ruins, released the Indian Embassy. 

Monks were sitting for examination in the extension building while the building collapsed due to the earthquake rocked on 28 March 2025 and the monks were trapped in the ruins.

" We searched with our trained dogs. But those who were alive were not seen in the monastery. We only found dead bodies." said the Indian rescue team.

About 90 monks who were sitting for examination were dead and the NDRF began searching the remaining monks who were trapped on 31 March.

The rescue task has been named 'Brama Operation' by India.

CNI News

31 March 2025

Current problems must be solved together with the military, chairman of the People's Party U Ko Ko Gyi told CNI News. Although the Tatmadaw must be under the civilian administration, because it is involved in various fields, including the administrative and social spheres. 

When solving these problems, they must be solved together with the Tatmadaw, he said.

" The ideal situation is that military is under the control of the civilian administration. But since 1962 when the military staged a coup d'état, the party which was formed by the military had ruled the country until 1988. And then, the military ruled the country until 2011. It was impossible for the military to withdraw from politics. It was involved in the administrative and social fields etc. So, when we solve the problem, we have accepted we have to solved the problem together with the military. But we'll go on trying to become a 100 percent democratic system. But in the current situation, it will be difficult to solve the problem if we lay down a pre-condition before a dialogue. Although we have to solve the problem together with the military, we have to continue to discuss to gradually reduce the military's participation in politics." said U Ko Ko Gyi.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and leaders of the NLD Party

General Ne Win got the state power from Prime Minister U Nu of the civilian government in 1958. The Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the civilian government led by PM U Nu in 1962 and took the state power. In 1988, the Myanmar Tatmadaw took the state power through the student uprising again.

After that, saying that the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi tried to form a government without solving the vote list dispute in the 2020 general election, the Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1 February 2021 and announced the state of emergency.

In the current politics, the Myanmar Tatmadaw would be involved in politics until the conflicts end, vice chairman of the National Democratic Force Party, U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.

" The Myanmar Tatmadaw will be taking part in politics until the current conflicts end. The reason why Bamar PDFs from the mainland are waging an armed resistance, they don't like that the Myanmar Tatmadaw has maintained the state power. It's not because of other ideologies. If elections were finished, which ideology would the PDFs maintain to go on revolutionizing? What are they going to do next if the Tatmadaw has returned to their place?" he said.

While seeing those who were protesting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw, and security forces

In the political change after 1st February 2021, according to the 2008 constitution, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has maintained the state power, said some political parties and the Myanmar Tatmadaw. However, EAOs, democratic forces and foreign countries have said that Myanmar Tatmadaw has staged a coup d'état.

It was necessary to finish holding elections during January 2026, said the SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the meeting of the SAC on 25 March 2025.

On the other hand, armed groups trying to overthrow the SAC and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have announced that they will surely destroy the election that will be held by the SAC.

CNI News
30 March 2025

The chairman of the State Administration Council Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Mandalay in the morning on 29 March 2025, where suffered the most casualties and building collapses due to a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked and supervised rescue and reconstruction efforts.

And then, a meeting was convened at the Central Command to carry out relief and support operations within the Mandalay Region. Because a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked near Mandalay, 1,002 people were killed and 2,376 people were injured all over the country as well as 68 people are missing, according to the statistics received as of the afternoon of March 29.

Due to the earthquake that rocked on 28 March 2025, in Mandalay Region, 694 people were killed and 1,640 people were injured, reported the SAC on 29 March 2025.

Moreover, 68 people are missing while 1,591 houses, 670 monasteries, 60 schools, three bridges and 290 pagodas were damaged, the detailed list was still being collected. reported the SAC.

Temporary relief camps have been opened in Mandalay and earthquake victims have been looked after. Currently, a state of emergency has been declared in Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Bago Region, Yangon Region, Eastern Shan State, and the Naypyidaw Council areas.

Russia, China, the United States, India, Malaysia, and ASEAN have sent relief teams and are also providing relief supplies to help earthquake-hit Myanmar.

CNI News

28 March 2025

It was necessary to finish holding elections during January 2026, said chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). He said the above in the SAC meeting on 25 March 2025.

During the two year period when the SAC had taken the state responsibility, although it had planned to hold elections, that period was the time shortly after the Covid-19 and unstable elections could not be held, said the SAC Chairman.

Because the census-taking has been conducted in 2024, the SAC has planned that elections will be held in the third week and fourth week of December, 2025, and in the first week and second week of January, 2026, said the SAC Chairman.

According to the election law, elections must be held in one day if possible on a public holiday. So, there is no set date for holding the election. In Myanmar's history, even during the parliamentary democracy era, due to internal armed conflicts, elections could not be held just one time. So, the SAC must carry out in order to finish holding elections successfully, he said.

Regarding the sessions of Pyidaungsu and Amyotha Hluttaws, provisions related to meeting quorum has been imposed in the constitution; because Region and State Hluttaws must elect and appoint chief ministers, it is important; as Electronic Voting Machine will be used, voters can vote in a short time and voting results can be achieved in a short time, said the SAC Chairman.

In any case, it was necessary to finish holding elections successfully during January 2026;  political parties are also allowed to run the elections in accordance with the law, he said.

Although the SAC had announced that elections would be held in August 2023, saying it was not a normal situation  because armed conflicts were widespread across the country, the state of emergency repeatedly was extended until today.

And then, elections will be held in December 2025 or January 2026, said the SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at a joint press conference with the Belarusian President Lukashenko on 7 March 2025.

On the other hand, armed groups trying to overthrow the SAC and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have announced that they will surely destroy the election led by the SAC.

Currently, battles are severely taking place in Myanmar's Shan State, Kayin State, Chin State, Rakhine State, Mon State, Kayah State, Kachin State, Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Mandalay Region, and Tanintharyi Region.

CNI News

26 March 2025

Very big challenges regarding politics could arise beyond 2025, said the chairman of the State Administration Council Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. He said the above in the meeting of the SAC held on 25 March 2025.

" Very big political challenges can arise beyond 2025; the SAC must consider and carry out how to maintain and strengthen the multi-party democracy system; because geographically, Myanmar borders two powerful countries that have different natures, it is facing a geographic challenge; the SAC must know Myanmar has a lot of challenges politically and geographically." said the SAC Chairman.

Forum on Myanmar Beyond 2025: Challenges and Opportunities in the Multipolar World regarding future prospects facing Myanmar was held in Naypyidaw on 20 March 2025

While the meeting of the SAC was being held

Currently, severe battles are taking place in Myanmar's Shan State, Kayin State, Chin State, Rakhine State, Mon State, Kayah State, Kachin State, Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Mandalay Region, and Tanintharyi Region.

Due to these battles, there have been over three million IDPs and many thousand houses and buildings including educational facilities were burnt down or destroyed. Amidst these situations, the SAC has planned to hold elections in December 2025 and January 2026, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Armed groups trying to overthrow the SAC and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have announced that they will surely destroy the election led by the SAC.

Moreover, western and European countries don't support the election that the SAC will hold and have imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations related to the SAC.

While seeing those who attended the Forum on Myanmar Beyond 2025: Challenges and Opportunities in the Multipolar World

In the same way, some members of the ASEAN support the election that will be held by the SAC and others don't support it.

 Some of the ASEAN countries point out that the government that would come to power beyond 2025 if elections were held may face huge challenges. So, the election should be held only after reaching a consent that can solve the current armed conflicts and political conflicts, they said.

In the geopolitical landscape, changes in US foreign policy are also creating international economic and political repercussions. 

Moreover, because of a trade war between the US and China, the Russia-Ukraine War, conflicts between China and Taiwan, and rivalry between China and India, Myanmar may face huge challenges.

CNI News

27 March 2025

The Peace Talk 2025 was discussed from 24th to 26th March and everyone is interested in what were discussed in the talk.

On the first day of the Peace Talk 2025, matters relating to conflict reduction and emergence of a peace process were discussed by Group-1 and important role of economic development in attempt for the peace and development was discussed by Group-2, participants in the talk told CNI News.

After that, on the second day, the Group-1 discussed the political change and the impact of the peace process after 2021; international relations, regional and international cooperation and the Myanmar's peace sector.

In the same way, considering related sectors in attempt for the economic resilience during conflict reduction; constitutional amendment and shaping democracy and a federal union were discussed by the Group-2.

The National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) led and held the Peace Talk 2025 in Naypyidaw. The talk included six NCA signatories, 27 political parties, those involved in the peace process under former government, CSOs and news media.

Myanmar's peace process has not been able to go ahead since 1st February 2021. Moreover, as the NCA was considered to be void, the processes of the NCA cannot be implemented.

In the same way, EAOs and armed groups emerged from the Spring Revolution are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw across the country.

Although the SAC is trying to stop battles, peace talks are not effective.

CNI News

26 March 2025

Security activities must be carried out systematically to ensure security and the rule of law so that a multi-party democratic general election could be held, said the SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. 

He said the above at the meeting of the National Planning Commission held on 24th March 2025.

" To ensure security and the rule of law, it is necessary to carry out security activities systematically in Regions and States so that  a multi-party democratic general election could be held," said the SAC Chairman.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and the Belarusian President Lukashenko

The SAC had planned to hold elections in Myanmar in December 2025 or January 2026 at the earliest, said the SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the joint press conference with the Belarusian President Lukashenko when he was in Belarus as a goodwill trip on 7 March 2025.

It is less likely to hold elections in 2025 and because 'at the earliest' was included in the announcement, there might be 'at the latest', pointed out domestic and foreign diplomats. Although the SAC Chairman had said that elections would be held in August, 2023, elections can't be held up to now.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing wanted to hold elections and the transfer of power could be conducted in April or May 2026, those close to the SAC said. 

It was necessary to have stabilities and peace in the entire country so that a free and fair general election could be held, said the SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in his message letter sent to the 77th Anniversary Celebration of Chin National Day on 20 February 2025.

While seeing the written message sent by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing to the Chin National Day on 20 March 2025

Battles are severely taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups in Myanmar's Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region, Mandalay Region, Ayeyarwady Region, Shan State, Chin State, Kachin State, Karen State, Kayah State, Rakhine State, and Mon State.

During these battles, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of many hundred military camps and over 90 townships as well as the Northeast Command and the West Command.
Because of battles, there have been over three million IDPs and many thousand buildings including houses were burned or destroyed.

CNI News

26 March 2025

The Peace Talk 2025 led by the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) was held from 24th to 26th March 2025. 

Although the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) was invited to the talk, it didn't send its delegate to the talk, according to those close to it.

The RCSS is a Shan EAO that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The chairman of the RCSS has taken the responsibility as the leader of the 7 EAOs Alliance that has been formed with seven EAOs among the ten EAOs that have signed the NCA. 

However, of the 7 EAOs Alliance, six EAOs was attending the talk. The talk would mainly discuss the two titles 'politics and security' and 'economy and development'.

CNI News

26 March 2025

The National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) leads and Peace Talk 2025 is being held from 24th to 26th March 2025 in Naypyidaw. 

The talk is attended by political parties, those involved in the peace process, political analysts, former members of Hluttaw, armed groups and news media and a total of over 100 people are discussing there.

On the first day of the talk that started on 24 March 2025, chairman of the NSPNC, Lieutenant General Yar Pyae delivered opening remarks; vice chairman of the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), Union Minister (Retired), U Thein Zaw bid farewell and secretary of the NSPNC Lt-Gen Min Naing explained the aim of the Peace Talk 2025 and plans.

While the Peace Talk 2025 was being held

Daw Le' Le' Thein would discuss under the title ' Important aspect of economic development in the attempt for peace and development' on 25 March.

On the second day of the talk, Dr. Zaw Oo will discuss “Considering Related Sectors in Efforts to Achieve Economic Resilience During Conflict Reduction” and Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, "Constitutional Amendment and Shaping Democracy and Federal Union".

On the third day, Lt-Gen Myint Soe (retd) will discuss the topic of “Elections, Security, Stability and Rule of Law” and U Ko Ko Gyi will discuss the same topic as well.