CNI News

6 February 2024

Politics and military experts are reviewing and discussing about how the revolutionary forces can put pressure on the State Administration Council during this year. 

Some EAOs and revolutionary joint forces were able to capture some military camps and towns from the end of 2023 and until now.

Revolutionary forces probably could capture medium and small towns and a slogan saying that all the columns would march to Naypyidaw had been issued, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar politics commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" At this level, revolutionary forces have captured medium and small towns. Within this year, they will launch operations to capture medium and large towns, I think. If medium towns could be captured easily and the disintegration of the military council army is faster than this, they can capture cities. They have issued a slogan saying all the columns will march to Naypyidaw. They will do as they have said." he said.

Although 2023 was proclaimed as the decisive year of the Spring Revolution, It turned out that neither side was able to outright win. However, after the Three Brotherhood Alliance had launched the Operation-1027 on 27th October 2023, revolutionary forces were able to seize control of 39 towns, revolutionary forces have stated.

The general public was facing high commodity prices due to monetary inflation. Moreover, due to roadblocks and financial charges by the revolutionary forces, the people were facing various kinds of crises, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party), told CNI News.

While seeing the Chin force

"They (revolutionary forces) can't be so much successful because, to tell you frankly, financial support is important. Even now, the people have complained a lot. The people who support them have complained as well. Frankly speaking, commodity prices have risen due to monetary inflation and the people have to pay the tax kind of. So, the people have complained. If this keeps up, the people will complain more. The kind of work without the public participation won't be successful, I think." he said.

Having said that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and has taken power after announcing the state of emergency.

After that, the battles have been breaking out between the Tatmadaw and revolutionary joint forces including some EAOs across the country and there have been crises in all sectors including politics, economy, health and education in Myanmar.

CNI News

6 February 2024

Undocumented foreigners including Myanmar citizens, overstayers and so on would not be prosecuted and they all would be allowed to go home, said the Malaysian Minister for Home Affairs at the news conference held on 31st January 2023. 

This plan would be started on 1st March at the decision of the cabinet, said the minister.

Although undocumented foreigners would not be prosecuted, they would face a fine, U Barbu Gyi who is helping in the affairs of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia, told CNI News.

" The plan that have allowed any undocumented foreigners to go home has been suspended for over one year. According to their plan, an undocumented Myanmar citizen has to go to the Malaysian immigration department after getting a certificate of endorsement that he or she is a Myanmar citizen from the Myanmar Embassy. And then, he must pay a fine at the immigration office after which he can go home. No more inspection will be needed. But they haven't announced whether undocumented foreigners will have to take appointments or not." he said.

While the Malaysian Minister for Home Affairs was answering media to their questions

An undocumented foreigner who entered Malaysia illegally without a passport must pay 500 ringgits as a fine. And an overstayer with a passport expired also must pay 500 ringgits as a fine as well as 300 ringgits have been fined for the violations of the rules reportedly.

It was likely that Malaysian Government was trying to reduce a lot of undocumented foreigners who has stranded in Malaysia, said Myanmar people in Malaysia.

Among the undocumented Myanmar citizens in Malaysia, there were a lot of Myanmar citizens who were waiting to go home with CIs and some of undocumented Myanmar people wanted to wait for the time when permits would be issued, U Nyi Nyi Lwin, director general of the Center for Arakan Refugees, told CNI News.

" There are two kinds. Arrests are rampant. In a situation an undocumented foreigner can't stay any longer, he wants to go home with a CI. But some undocumented foreigners want to go on staying if permits could be applied. But Myanmar Embassy takes very long to issue passports. Just a few Myanmar people could apply for passports all over the last year because it takes you six months or one year to get a passport from Myanmar Embassy. Other embassies issue passports within 24 hours or 36 hours or 48 hours. So, other foreigners can take advantage of the opportunity. On the other hand, Myanmar people had to lose the opportunity." he said.

Undocumented foreigners who have been arrested

Due to instability in Myanmar and the devaluation of Myanmar Kyat at present, it's more convenient to earn money by doing random jobs in Malaysia instead of going home. So, some undocumented Myanmar people don't want to go home reportedly.

Under the normal procedure in Malaysia, undocumented foreigners and overstayers could go home only after serving the sentence. However, it was better that they could go home without serving the sentence, said Myanmar people in Malaysia.

Because arrests are being conducted everyday in Malaysia, if Myanmar people who find it difficult to go on staying want to go home, they should go home under the CI program that will be started on 1st March 2024, they suggested.

CNI News

6 February 2024

Nitric acid, the main raw material in refining gold, has been in short supply in market and its price is skyrocketing, according to gold entrepreneurs.

Although the price of the acid was about 200,000 kyats for five gallons in the past, but now the price has been about 1,000,000 kyats reportedly.

Because the price of nitric acid has risen, the cost for refining gold has gone up, U Ohn Myaing, secretary of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.

" I heard that the acid has been scarce. The price has been around 10 lakh kyats for five gallons. The price was about two lakh kyats in the past. And the cost for refining gold has gone up exponentially as well. Now the charge for refining gold has been 6,500 kyats per tical. The charge was only 3,500 to 4,000 kyats in the past. In the same way, the price of gold also has gone up from 3,000 to 5,000 kyats per tical." he said.

While seeing gold ware

Due to the shortage of nitric acid, the productivity of gold finished product has declined, said gold entrepreneurs.

The government imports the nitric acid and gold entrepreneurs have to buy it from the companies concerned. At present, importing the nitric acid has been delayed due to difficult border trade routes reportedly. 

Nitric acid is mainly imported from China. The productivity of gold has been slow due to the necessity of the acid. So, later the gold shops won't be able to sell the gold as much as the customers want, said the gold market analysts.

However, gold price speculators might find a way to go on doing their business, Ko Nay Khant, a gold market analyst, told CNI News.

While gold is being melted

" The acid has been scarce really. The border trade routes have been interrupted. The acid is not like other products. You can't import it on your own. The government import it. We have to buy it from the government kind of. But the countries like Malaysia have allowed the companies whatever they want to import. If the acid was not available easily, the gold shops won't able to sell gold as much as the customers want. If so, the gold shops will have to re-buy the gold from the customers. If they did so, the gold price might decline but for not very long. And then, they will sell it again. An opportunity has arisen to speculate gold price." he said.

As now is the open season, the influx of raw gold from gold mines has increased and because it is the season when finished gold products are manufactured, the demand of the acid will be high. 

However, due to the shortage of the nitric acid in the market, the productivity of finished gold products has declined and the price of gold might be volatile, which gold traders and gold market analysts are worried about.

CNI News

6 February 2024

There were secessions from the Karen National Union (KNU) during the revolution and it caused a big challenge for the KNU, said Pado Saw Hla Tun, secretary-2 of the KNU. 

He said that there were secessions from the KNU, being different from other revolutionary groups while he was talking about the experience of going through the revolution on 75th Anniversary Celebration of Karen Revolutionary Day.

" During the past 75 years of our revolution, Karen nationals always took part in the revolution vigorously for the liberation of Karen people, for the liberation of other ethnic people and for the establishment of democracy in Myanmar. During our participation in the revolution like this, there were many challenges. So many of our Karen people had to sacrifice their lives. There were several secessions within the KNU. We had a great challenge. The KNU was different from other revolutionary groups and the KNU experienced most secessions. The KNU had to overcome such challenges with an attitude of a mother." said Pado Saw Hla Tun.  

While seeing Pado Saw Hla Tun, secretary-2 of the KNU

Saw Nerdah Mya, former Commander in Chief of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), announced that he had built the Kawthoolei Army on 16th July 2022 after being suspended from the KNU duties.

After that, battles broke out between the Kawthoolei Army and the Brigade-4 of the KNU after which the International Karen Organization (IKO) had to demand to stop fighting between the two sides as soon as possible.

The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) seceded from the KNU in January 1994 and made peace with the Tatmadaw. In the same way, the forces from the Brigade-7 of the KNU signed the peace agreement with the government in 2007 and formed the KNU/KNLA Peace Council.

While seeing the leaders of the DKBA

Efforts were being made to re-unite the different Karen armed organizations, Mahn Pyi Aung Soe, chairman of the Karen National Democratic Party, told CNI News.

" Their attitudes are different from one another. Saw Nerdah Mya seceded from the KNU. Among the remaining 7 districts, 6th District is different from others and so is 1st District. The KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the DKBA and the Border Guard Force had tried to re-unite. Now they are still trying. But the result hasn't come out as yet." he said.

At present, there are many Karen EAOs and they are the KNU, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Kawthoolei Army and the Karen State BGF led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu.

CNI News

5 February 2024

The cultivation of winter rice is between 50,000 and 100,000 acres and there has been an increase in the yield, according to farmers. 

Because of the ability to sell the rain rice at a profitable price, the farmers used more inputs in planting winter rice. 

So, although about 70 baskets of rice paddy could be produced from an acre in the past, more than 100 baskets can be produced at present, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" Winter rice is grown in September and October. The cultivation area of winter rice in three townships _ Kyaunggon, Yegyi and Thabaung _ might be between 50,000 and 100,000 acres. The yield has increased as well. Although about 70 baskets of winter rice could be produced from one acre in the past, but now more than 100 baskets can be produced. The farmers have grown more winter rice," he said.  

The winter rice is grown most in Yegyi, Kyaunggon, Thabaung and Pathein Townships reportedly. However, because the irrigation system in those regions was shallow, during high tide, the water availability in the irrigation system was low, said the farmers.

 While seeing paddy fields

Because the rice paddy could be sold at a profitable price, farmers in some townships grow rice paddy again that could be harvested within 90 days, U Kyaw Aye, a farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

" In the previous years, farmers didn't continue to grow rice. But now it's not like that anymore. As soon as the winter rice is harvested, they go on growing rice. They can harvest rice in April and May. They are cultivating rice with enthusiasm because they can sell rice at a profitable price. Many farmers have grown winter rice. The government needs to make a list of farmers who grow winter rice and should support them." he said.

There are 3,700,000 acres of rainfed rice cultivation, 100,000 acres of winter rice and 1,500,000 acres of summer rice in Ayeyarwady Region, according to the agricultural department.

At present, the price of 100 baskets of Shwebo Pawsan rice paddy is 2,600,000 kyats, and Ayeyarwady Pawsan is 2,400,000 kyats and other rough rice paddy such as Manaw Thukha, Sinthwe, Ayer Min, Pakham, Zeer, Bay Gyar and so on are from 1,800,000 to 1,900,000 kyats.

CNI News

5 February 2024

Although the air ticket price from Yangon to Rakhine is not expensive, the price of air ticket from Rakhine to Yangon has increased by three times, Rakhine locals who bought air tickets told CNI News. 

The price of air ticket from Rakhine to Yangon has risen to more than 300,000 kyats now although the price was only 200,000 kyats or so in the past. 

However, brokers are asking those who want to left for Yangon from 500,000 to 800,000 kyats, Ko Soe Khine who bought an air ticket told CNI News.

 While seeing the Yangon-Sittwe air ticket price and the departure timetable

" Brokers are asking 700,000 to 800,000 kyats an air ticket. They have bought air tickets in advance and sell them after changing names. The situations in Rakhine State are worrisome. So, many Rakhine locals want to left for Yangon. Tickets are not available when the examinations of basic schools finish. There's a cargo office where the air tickets might be available if you want to leave within a few days to come. The price of air ticket is not so expensive there. But brokers have bought tickets in advance and they ask 550,000 to 600,000 kyats an air ticket although legal price is just 350,000 kyats. Because regular tickets are available only on 20th or 22nd March, those who want to leave ASAP buy air tickets how much expensive they are." he said.

Those who wanted to go regularly could buy air tickets starting from April, people, who went to inquire about buying air tickets, told CNI News.

In buying air tickets from Yangon to Sittwe for April, the price of an air ticket is only 190,000 kyats. However, the price of an air ticket from Sittwe to Yangon is more than 200,000 kyats. 

The relevant state council should handle strictly air ticket price speculation and a regular price should be designated, Ma Mee Mee, a Sittwe resident, told CNI News.

While seeing tourists who will travel by plane

" The current government should inquire if air ticket sellers are officials or brokers, I think. The current government should tell all the agents that sell air tickets what should be done or what should not be done. When the two flights go, air tickets should be sold depending on the current situation. If we have to pay 190,000 kyats an air ticket when we buy in advance for April, we should get an air ticket at 190,000 kyats now, I think. How much is the price of an air ticket? Is it 300,000 or 190,000 or 200,000 kyats? The government should designate and control the price. The government should summon the agents and discuss it, I think." she said.

Rakhine locals have been buying air tickets in advance since December 2023 and there were tricks in relation to selling air tickets according to locals.

Although the flight going to Sittwe from Yangon was not full of passengers, the flight going to Yangon from Sittwe was full of passengers, according to those close to airports.

CNI News

5 February 2024

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) are expanding territory by forcing civilians to steal wood from the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA)'s territory, an official from the SNA told CNI News. 

The KIA/PDFs and businessmen cooperated and asked local civilians in Banmauk Township to steal wood from Banmauk region within the SNA territory, said some of the locals.

Because the jobs are scarce due to the current political situation, they accepted the job of chopping wood and but they did not know that they would have to chop wood in the SNA territory, said one of the people who were arrested by the SNA when they came to steal wood.

" When Ko Tu, a friend of ours, phoned and asked us if we would accept that job. We accepted that job because we had no jobs and our families' livelihoods are not okay. And then, we went to Banmaw to take money." he said.

While seeing the KIA/PDF joint force

Those who were forced to smuggle wood out by the KIA/PDF and businessmen were arrested in Banmauk Township that is controlled by the SNA's Brigate-614. Those arrested contained 16 men, 5 women and 4 children including a baby reportedly.

The place where wood was smuggled out was not easily accessible to people and the paths were not good. 

So, When the workers told the businessmen that they wanted to go home, the businessmen replied that they had given the workers' national registration cards and CVs to the KIA/PDFs as well as that the workers had been forbidden to pass through, said a person who was arrested.

" They told us that the road to the workplace was good and the workplace was not so distant as well. And we were told we had to work as soon as we got there. But when we saw for ourselves, the road was not good. So, when we told the businessmen that we wanted to go home, we were not allowed to go home. When we told them if we could go home after paying the debt, they replied we could. So, we went to the workplace. But we were arrested after sleeping one night there." he said.

About 200 KIA/PDF joint forces attacked a frontier camp of the SNA in Banmauk Township in August 2023 and at present, the joint forces often launch offensives.

 while seeing the SNA force

" We accepted their offer and went there because we had no jobs. They told us that everything was just fine and we would have to work as soon as we got there. But we had to wait there nearly one month. We couldn't wait any longer. So, when we told them that we wanted to go home, they didn't accept. When we went and see the road and workplace on motorbikes, the workplace also is very distant. It would not be convenient if we worked with our families. When we told them that we wanted to go home, they replied that the gates had been closed. They did not allow us to go home. When we told them, we would give the money back, we would go home. We were not allowed. They had given the numbers of our NRCs to every PDF gate." said a person who was arrested.

The SNA had told those arrested not to steal wood within the controlled area of the SNA, and all those arrested would be released, and they had been looked after for the time being , said an official from the SNA.

The SNA is an EAO that is trying to build Shanni State that will contain Mawlike, Kalay, Khamti, Homalin, Katha and Tamu Districts in Sagaing Region as well as Banmaw, Myitkyina, Mohnyin districts in Kachin State.

CNI News
3 Feb 2024

More and more Myanmar nationals in Malaysia have asked philanthropic associations for help than last year, Malaysia-based philanthropic associations told CNI News.

Requests from Myanmar nationals for help contained to help them with places to stay, with jobs, with foods and with health issues, Ko Thet, chairman of the Lovely Hearts Philanthropic Youths Blood Donors Organization, told CNI News.

" There have been requests for help almost every day since operaci checks and arrests. Some have no places to stay. Some want to go to clinics, but it's difficult to go there if you don't have any documents. Some don't have jobs for the time being. Some are cheated by brokers. Those cheated were abandoned in oil palm plantations. Some have to be staying under bridges. There are also people who are suffering in far away places such as Penang, Johor and Malacca. We can't go to so distant places to help them." he said.

Philanthropic associations have to go and guarantee for those who want to see physicians at the hospitals and clinics and to give places to those who have no places to stay at the offices of the associations and shops of acquaint ants or friends reportedly.

Moreover, if those arrested were sent to Malaysian immigration department, they would be sentenced to three month imprisonment reportedly.

More requests for help from Myanmar nationals might be because there have been an increase in the number of foreign workers than 2022, Ko Naing Lin, general advisor of the Dana Kusala Funeral Service Association, told CNI News.

" Because the population has increased, the arrests have increased as well. And then, it's also difficult to find jobs. Those who ask for help have increased. Some ask us to help find the jobs. Some have no permits and their employers can't accept them anymore. We haven't helped those arrested. Sometimes, when we help those who are inspected by the police as interpreters." he said.

Some of the undocumented Myanmar people were arrested while they were staying in the shops and offices opened by Myanmar citizens.

So, some philanthropic associations have suspended helping Myanmar people who have found it difficult to stay while the arrests are rampant and the associations will help them again only when the arrests have been reduced.

However, those who were finding it difficult might ask for help anytime, said philanthropic associations.

CNI News
3 February  2024

Rakhine locals were suffering from the instability caused by the actions of the Arakan Army (AA), said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the meeting of the National Defense and Security held on 31st January 2024.

The AA started attacking the Donpike police outpost of the Tatmadaw on 13th November 2023 seven months after Cyclone Mocha, he said.

“ AA insurgent group is making the region unstable and most of the Rakhine nationalities are suffering from the instability. Now is the time when basic education schools and universities are educating in the 2023-2024 academic year. When the academic year started, 573,000 students were learning. But now, due to the terrorist threats of the AA insurgent organization, 279, 392 students only are studying in the basic schools. Because over 48.76 percent has been absent, local students suffer from the negative effects of the AA insurgent group, affecting their future." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While seeing an intersection in Rakhine State

Only when everlasting peace could be built in Rakhine State, could a good future life be passed on to the local next generations. So, the Tatmadaw was carrying out for the regional stability, he said.

The battles resumed between the Tatmadaw and the AA on 13th November 2023 and roads have been closed since then. Because the roads have been closed, trades have been interrupted and commodity prices also have gone up.

Myanmar political problem should be solved practically and a situation that could be solved practically should be created, U Thar Tun Hla, chairman of the Arakan National Party (ANP), told CNI News.

While seeing Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing, leader of the AA

"The current battles in Myanmar are a political problem. They are the consequences of the political problem that has arisen since Myanmar gained her independence. The political problem is that rights to self-determination and self-governance of ethnic people were lost. We need to work hard on the processes that will be solved by political means. Because of the situation that was just talk, battles are severely taking place like this, I think." he said.

Over 500,000 Local people have fled to safety due to the battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA started again on 13th November 2023 reportedly.

The battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Sittwe, Kyauk Phyu, Ranbye, Myebon, Taung Gote, Thandwe, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U and Ponnagyun Townships in Rakhine State as well as in Paletwa Township in Chin State.