CNI News
19 December 2024

Senior military ranks of the Myanmar Tatmadaw were being reshuffled, said those close to Naypyidaw. 

Lt-Gen Kyaw Swar Lin who held the position of the Chief of Staff (Army) was transferred to the position of the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy, and Air) and Maj-Gen Than Htike, Commander of the Northwest Command was transferred to the position of the Chief of Staff ( Army).

The principal of the No. 13 Military Higher Training School, Brig-Gen Myo Min Htwe will be transferred to the position of the Commander of the Northwest Command. 
Moreover, Brig-Gen Soe Kyaw Htet was appointed as the Commander of the Southwest Command and Maj-Gen Wai Lin, commander of the Southwest Command, was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other top military positions are also likely to be reshuffled, according to sources from Naypyidaw.

CNI News
19 December 2024

General Tin Aung San and General Maung Maung Aye were transferred, announced the State Administration Council (SAC) on 18th December 2024. 

General Tin Aung San was transferred from the position of Minister of Defense to the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said in a statement issued by the SAC.

Moreover, General Maung Maung Aye who held the position of the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy, and Air) was transferred as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, announced the SAC.

General Tin Aung San served as the Chief of Staff (Navy) from 11th August 2015 to February 2021 and as the Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication from 3rd February, 2021 to 3rd August, 2023.

While seeing the statement released by the SAC

And then, he served as the Defense Minister from 3rd August 2023 to 17th December 2024. He is serving as a member of the SAC as well.

General Maung Maung Aye served as the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy, and Air) from 1st February 2021 to 17th December, 2024 and has been serving as member of the SAC up to now since 25th September 2023.

Moreover, he will serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister.

CNI News

19 December 2024

China's pressure on the Arakan Army (AA) was unlikely to be significant, U Khun Sai who is taking part in the peace process, told CNI News. 

The AA is severely attacking in order to capture the West Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw and on the other hand, leaders of the AA are discussing with the Chinese delegates. 

Although China might have put pressure on the AA more or less, it was unlikely to be significant, said U Khun Sai.

" The AA is different from the UWSA and the NDAA. The AA is far away from China. it's near to India and Bangladesh. China might have pressure on the AA more or less. But the pressure is unlikely to be significant like those on the Kokang and Myla, I think. It's up to the AA whether it will attack Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State. China does business in Kyaukphyu. And there is its deep sea port from which China imports petroleum and gas. There will be give and take between China and the AA for that. There is a navy camp of the SAC on Mahn Aung Island. It won't be easy for the AA to capture Mahn Aung because the AA doesn't have navy force." he said.

While seeing a junction in Rakhine State

While the battles are severely breaking out between the AA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Rakhine State, The AA officials and the Chinese officials met and discussed in Tengchong, China on 1st December 2024. 

The matters regarding building peace, ceasefire and the security for the Chinese projects were discussed in the meeting. 

However, the AA captured 10 battalions and divisions including military camps near the airport in Ann Township, it released on 6th December 2024.

Moreover, the AA announced that it had captured the Border Guard Police Unit-5 of the SAC on 8th December and seized control of the entire Maungdaw Town on 10th December 2024. 

The AA should abandon its armed policy and he wanted the AA on the right track, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in the 50th anniversary celebration of Rakhine State Day on 15th December 2024.

Rather than putting pressure on the AA, China was in a situation that it would have to negotiate with the AA, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) U Myo Kyaw told CNI News.

While seeing the AA

" Ann, Taung Goat and Gwa - they are exits of Rakhine State by road. The AA has captured Ann where the West Command of the SAC is located and Taung Goat. Now, the AA is launching an offensive to Gwa. It will be able to capture the town in a few days, I think. According to the geographic situation, I don't think China won't be able to put pressure on the AA. And the AA can relate with India and Bangladesh. So, rather than pressure, China will have to negotiate with the AA because China's a two ocean dream and investments are located in Rakhine State. So, they will negotiate and conduct a give and take, I think." he said.

Battles are severely breaking out between the AA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Rakhine State and there are also many IDFs there. 

Moreover, houses, schools, monasteries, religious buildings, bazaars, roads and bridges were damaged while people in the state are facing the shortages of food, medicine and fuel oil.

About 2 million people could face famine in Rakhine State and in early 2025, production of food in the state could meet only 20 percent of the necessity, estimated the UNDP.

CNI News

19 December 2024

Because the amount of onion left in the onion warehouses is fewer, newly appeared rainfed onions are being sold at good prices, according to onion traders and farmers. 

Just a few lakhs of onion viss were left in the warehouses in Myingyan and Pakokku, said onion traders. 

So, newly arisen onions were being sold at good prices and the prices could be going up until the end of this month, Ko Win Zaw, an onion trader from Sagaing Region, told CNI News.

" The prices of onions go up. Because the amount of old onions left has been fewer, rainfed onions seem to be sold at good prices until new onions arise. The prices of new onions go up by 100 to 200 kyats per viss."

Because the onions are in high demand in the domestic onion market, the prices of onions are going up in the Yangon market as well. 

While seeing onions

Export quality onions are sold at higher prices and  locally used onions and lower quality onions are being sold at high prices.

The price of onion is over 3,000 kyats per viss in the rural townships and 4,500 kyats per viss in Yangon. 

Because the newly appeared rainfed onions could be sold at good prices, it was beneficial to onion farmers, U Zaw Htay, an onion farmer from Pakokku told CNI News.

" Onion farmers have profited by 40 percent to 50 percent. The prices of rainfed onions will fall by the end of this month. Moreover, Myittha onions were sunk. This is the main cause." he said.

Normally, the prices of onions often fall, but because this year onions grown in Myittha where most onions are grown  were sunk and onions are few in stock, onions are sold at good prices.

CNI News

19 December 2024

The Ministry of Labor has planned to send only skilled workers abroad instead of general workers and the ministry notified it verbally, some overseas employment agencies told CNI News. 

Only those who have obtained certificates from the National Skills Standards Authority (NSSA) are designated as skilled workers and the ministry is planning to send only them abroad.

Due to domestic labor needs, overseas employment agencies are likely to be further restricted and the agencies may cease their operations, an official from one of the agencies, told CNI News.

" It is notified verbally. No instructions have been issued yet for implementation. It will be necessary to change general workers into skilled workers. Not every business uses skilled workers. It encourages openin training courses that will produce skilled workers. We'll take a long time to gather general workers for a demand letter. I don't think it will be successful. It may be gradually in the future. The current government will suspend sending workers abroad one day because labors have been in high demand. So, rules are coming out one after another." he said.

While seeing the Department of Labor

At present, skilled workers are being sent to Japan, South Korea and other countries while general workers mainly to neighboring countries. 

Some foreign countries call separately skilled workers or general workers and others, only general workers.

If skilled workers only were sent, it would not be convenient, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" Are recipient countries going to call only skilled workers? Whether skilled or general workers, standards they have designated are needed. Thailand mainly calls general workers. It won't be 99 percent. convenient" he said.

In Myanmar, there are over 500 agencies that can send workers abroad and most of them send workers to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan.

Because of departmental limitations at present, it is difficult for the agencies to send workers and workers are finding it difficult to go abroad as well.

CNI News

19 December 2024

The Arakan Army could leave Sittwe and Kyaukphyu as demilitarised zones, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, an NCA signatory, told CNI News.

China summoned and met with leaders of the AA on 1st December, he said.

“Whether a sensitive economic hub like Kyaukphyu and Sittwe, the current administrative capital of Rakhine State should be attacked or left as demilitarized zones, the AA seems to ask China for advice. 

These two places are left as demilitarized zones and by maintaining important military headquarters, the AA may get the political results it wants. In my opinion, Sittwe and Kyaukphyu could be left as demilitarized zones.” said Col. Khun Okkar.

The entrance signboard to Sittwe City

China met with the AA on 1st December, and with the UWSA on 3rd December and, with the TNLA on 5th December and, with the KIA on 8th and 9th December. 

The MNDAA met with the SAC delegation led by Lt-Gen Ko Ko Oo on 15th December.

Battles are severely breaking out between the SAC and the AA in Rakhine State and the AA has captured 13 towns. Currently, the AA is launching offensives in order to capture Ann and Gwa Towns.

According to the AA's political ambition and its deep connection with China, the situation would have to be watched, spokesperson of the 7 EAO Alliance, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt told CNI News.

The entrance signboard to Kyaukphyu Town

" It will depend on how deep the AA's relation with China is. I know they met. China wants armed conflicts to end. It wants peace talks. The AA can capture one town after another. The AA 's ambition is to win the level that is not lower than the confederation." he said.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw was not encouraging in the current battles against EAOs across the country, pointed out military and political analysts.

Armed groups could not demand their desire through armed means and armed conflicts could be solved at the political roundtable only, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in his letter sent to the 50th anniversary celebration of Rakhine State Day.

CNI News

18 December 2024

Because the discussions will be held in Thailand in order that armed conflicts and political crises in Myanmar can be overcome, people local and abroad are keeping a close watch on whether the discussion could find an answer or not. 

The two meetings about Myanmar issue will be held in Thailand on 19th and 20th December. 

The talks in Thailand will lead to many positive outcomes, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

" It's related to the security issue among the bordering countries. Frankly speaking, it's been a Regional Security issue. Although there are security issues and instabilities between the two countries, they can affect the regional security. So, because the discussion about them will be held. We must welcome this. I hope we can find an answer from the discussions. Surely, the talks in Thailand will lead to many positive outcomes." he said.

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn and chairman of the SAC in China

The Myanmar delegation led by FM U Than Swe will attend the discussions that will be held in Thailand. 

The meeting on cross-border crimes and security will be held on 19th December and the meeting of the FMs will be held on 20th December. Ministers and deputy ministers from China, India, Bangladesh and Laos will attend the two meetings.

It would not be easy to solve the problems and issues taking place on the Myanmar-Thailand border through the meetings, U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn

" A new problem has emerged between Thailand and Myanmar. The “Wa” forces have invaded the Thai border and set up military bases. Thailand has demanded the Wa forces to retreat from the military bases. And the problems at the Thai border that need to be resolved regularly will be discussed. But it's not easy to solve them. The problems that exist along the Thai-Myanmar border include human trafficking and drug trafficking. Although there are actions and arrests, because people who are having difficulty living within Myanmar, it's difficult to solve it." he said.

Since Thailand has offered that would host informal meetings in order to find an answer the crises that emerged after 2012 when the Myanmar Tatmadaw took the power, the meetings arose.

In the same way, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC and the Thai PM Paetongtarn met in Kunming, China and discussed about the Myanmar issue and the Thai PM said that Thailand would help the peace process of Myanmar.

CNI News

18 December 2024

Foreign Minister of the State Administration Council, U Than Swe will attend two discussions about the Myanmar issue that will be held in Thailand this month, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the SAC. 

Thailand will host two talks on Myanmar on 19th and 20th December. 

" The meeting of Myanmar and its neighboring countries that will be held in Thailand on 19th December 2024 will be attended by the Myanmar delegation led by FM U Than Swe." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

The two talks will be attended by China, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. 

" Mainly, the matters relating to border affairs and cooperation for anti-cross-border crimes," said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Because Myanmar is facing military and political crises and battles are breaking out across the country, its neighboring countries are also finding it difficult. 

So, in order to overcome the Myanmar crises, its neighboring countries will find an answer by holding two meetings.

In the same way, Thai PM Paetongtarn and chairman of the SAC Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing met and discussed the Myanmar issue in Kunming, China on 7th November 2024.

CNI News

18 December 2024

If wars and armed conflicts occurring around the world today were analyzed, air and space powers were key to winning wars, said Sr-Gen Min Aung at the 77th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Air Force and the cere mony for firstly deployed war planes on 15th December 2024.

" In modern times, if wars and armed conflicts are analyzed, air force and space power are playing an important to winning the war." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Superior air power could dominate, control, and annihilate the enemy and Superior air power could dominate, control, and defeat the enemy, and can further enhance the morale and combat capabilities of their own forces. 

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing with an MTX-1B produced by the Tatmadaw (air)

The Tatmadaw (Air Force) must be carrying out in order to improve its capabilities adaptably in acordance with the last developments, he said. 

MTX-1A and MTX-1B which are both reconnaissance aircrafts produced by the Tatmadaw (air) were shown at the ceremony for the first deployment of war planes.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw mainly depends on the air strikes in the battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups taking place across the country. 

However, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of a lot of its territories and military camps.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw is attacking mainly depending on the air strikes while armed groups are mainly using drones as their air strikes.