CNI News

May 27, 2026

Political analyst Dr. M Kawn La told CNI News that some of the world's powerful nations are shifting toward establishing economic influence over Myanmar rather than pursuing military aggression.

Currently, a powerful neighboring nation is increasing its economic encroachment in certain areas, including Mandalay and northern Shan State. They are using Myanmar citizens as proxies while freely funding and operating businesses behind the scenes, he said.

Dr. M Kawn La stated: "To give a clear example, in the jade mining industry of Phakant in our Kachin State, auction systems are used. For instance, areas with rich jade veins are put up for auction. In the past, local ethnic businessmen could still win them. However, lately, Chinese investors are using a Myanmar national as a proxy while funding the operations from behind. As a result, our ethnic businessmen cannot compete. They cannot afford to bid for the mining blocks. Because they cannot compete, the production of raw gemstones has fallen into the hands of the Chinese. Since the market for finished goods is also in their country, they control the raw materials, leading to fewer opportunities for our citizens in our own gemstone industry. Everyone knows this. This is just one example of foreigners exerting economic dominance. Another issue is the buying and selling of land, which has been going on for a long time. They use citizens as proxies and buy land in groups. Consequently, our ordinary citizens no longer have the opportunity to buy land with their hard-earned money. Inflation has risen. Through these methods, our country's economy has declined, and the opportunities in the hands of our citizens have dwindled."

Furthermore, political observers point out that powerful nations are manipulating things from behind the scenes to achieve their desired political outcomes.

Currently, rather than invading a country through military means, powerful nations are attempting to dominate and control them through aid and assistance, said General Ye Win Oo, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, during the 23rd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting held on May 21, 2026.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing

He added that instead of military invasion, they are approaching and operating through diverse forms—including political, economic, social, ideological, propaganda, military, and diplomatic means—in order to control and dominate the targeted country.

Particularly, some powerful nations are making competitive efforts to bring smaller countries in the Asia-Pacific region under their influence, moving from political and economic dominance to forming military alliances and conducting joint military exercises for military dominance, General Ye Win Oo stated.

Dr. Kyaw Swe, a Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) MP from the National Unity Party (NUP), told CNI News that a separate border security force needs to be formed to protect against the influence of powerful neighbors.

He said: "International domination is now proceeding under neo-colonialism. In our case, we have two neighboring powerful countries next to us—China and India. We also see Thailand acting like a state of the United States. The main problems are occurring right at those borders. It is obvious from the current perspective that those countries are breeding proxies and maintaining proxy forces to get raw materials cheaply for their own countries. This is clearly visible. To counter this, we must strengthen security in ethnic and border regions. Furthermore, we must erect fences on the ground according to the defined borders. It will be necessary to form something like a dedicated border security force separately."

Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin, Chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), told CNI News that Myanmar stands between two large countries and is also being watched by powerful nations like those in Europe; however, if the country has stability, unity, and good strategies, invasions from other countries will not be possible.

Leaders from neighboring and powerful countries

She said: "In this day and age, democracy is flourishing in many countries around the world. We see a lot of nations being built by prioritizing democracy and human rights. In the case of our country, we are positioned between two large nations, while some powerful European countries are also watching this side. From my perspective, if a country is weak, there are many ways another country can come and invade it. If a country has, number one, political stability; number two, prosperous citizens; number three, unity among all its people; and if it is rich in above-ground and underground natural resources as well as knowledgeable and skilled human resources with good strategies, it is impossible for other countries to enter and invade. Our citizens as a whole, including ethnic unity, need this a lot."

Military and political analysts assess that if the impact of foreign influence cannot be prevented, Myanmar’s oil, natural gas, jade, gemstone reserves, and strategic coastal ports will be manipulated and exploited at will.

They further analyzed that control over territories in Myanmar is currently fragmented among ethnic armed organizations, local defense forces, and the military. If a foreign invasion occurs under these conditions, the centralized power system could completely collapse, potentially tearing the country apart and posing a grave danger of Myanmar becoming a failed state.

CNI News

May 27, 2026

President U Min Aung Hlaing stated that political conflicts in Myanmar escalated significantly due to weaknesses in the 1947 Constitution, which allowed states the right to secede.

The President made these remarks during the Union Government Meeting of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar held at the President's Office in Nay Pyi Taw on May 26, 2026.

He said that "after gaining independence, the country had to address and resolve internal armed conflicts, instability, and foreign invasions, alongside the emergence of factions within the ruling party, as evidenced by the political stability of that time and the population and housing censuses collected."

U Thein Tun Oo, Executive Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News that while Myanmar is currently unified in terms of borders, there are internal issues that remain unresolved, but many possibilities exist if they are tackled through political means.

He said: "It can be said that most of the ongoing internal armed conflicts are rooted in this issue. The main point is that compared to the time when the nation was established in unity, we are now only unified geographically by borders, while having irreconcilable internal problems. If we resolve this aspect through political means, there are many possibilities. So, it comes down to how we approach a workable path. There are viable paths forward for Myanmar today. It is important that we learn lessons from past events and focus on how to unite and coexist within a single territory at this time. The situation back then was what it was, but we have to consider whether maintaining those same flaws suits the present times or not."

Ethnic Armed Organizations.

President U Min Aung Hlaing also noted that reviewing the historical events experienced by the state requires assessing and balancing domestic political situations and international relations from the post-independence era up to the present day.

Political analysts point out that the flaws of the 1947 Constitution lay in the over-centralization of power rather than granting genuine self-determination and full equal rights to the states, as well as restricting equal representation for ethnic groups in the Chamber of Nationalities (the Upper House).

They further noted that these flaws caused discord and dissatisfaction among ethnic groups, leading to attempts to secede from the Union and the breakout of armed conflicts.

A spokesperson for the Ta'ang Women's Organization (TWO) told CNI News that if ethnic equal rights had been granted and justice delivered as previously agreed, she does not believe the conflicts would have reached this current level.

An illustrative painting depicting the signing of the Panglong Agreement.

She said: "I assess that the root cause of these conflicts largely depends on the fact that ethnic people did not achieve national equality and self-determination. When the public does not receive their rightful opportunities, freedoms, and the right to shape their own destiny, they naturally oppose the policies and provisions handed down by the center. Since this is a legal matter, rather than looking at any single cause, I see it as depending heavily on the rules and policies imposed on the public by the center. The Panglong commitments and the 1947 issues are topics still being discussed today. If ethnic equality had been created from the start in accordance with what was agreed, and if the right to shape one's destiny, self-determination, freedom, and justice had been given, I don't think the conflicts would have gotten this severe today."

Chapter 10 (Sections 201 to 206) of the 1947 Constitution prescribed the right to secession, with Section 202 stating that the right of secession should not be exercised within ten years from the date on which the Constitution came into operation.

Military and political observers point out that this implied secession was permissible after the ten-year period; however, in practice, ethnic nationals never received that right.

The reason they did not receive it was that in 1958, nearing the ten-year mark, instead of attempting to secede, ethnic groups proposed and demanded amendments for a genuine federal system. However, General Ne Win led a coup d'état in 1962 and abolished the 1947 Constitution, rendering the right to secession practically null and void.

CNI News

May 28, 2026

When it comes to federalism, it must be understood that it is a federalism based on territory, not one based on ethnicity, said President U Min Aung Hlaing.

He made this remark during the Union Government meeting held on May 26, 2026.

President U Min Aung Hlaing stated, “We will work towards firmly establishing a multi-party democratic system politically, and we will build a Union based on democracy and federalism. When we say federalism, it is necessary to understand that it is a federalism given to territory, not to ethnicity.”

He added that after gaining independence, the nation had to resolve internal armed conflicts, instability, and foreign invasions. He noted that due to the weaknesses of the 1947 Constitution, the emergence of the right of states to secede led to even greater political conflicts.

President U Min Aung Hlaing further emphasized that lessons must be drawn from past events to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future. He stated that efforts must continue to achieve political stability, strengthen the economy, and bring an end to armed conflicts from a security perspective.

In global practice, federal systems include ethnicity-based federalism, geography (territory)-based federalism, combined ethnicity- and geography-based federalism, and nation-based federalism, among others.

Among these, federalism experts point out that Myanmar has built a federal system based on both ethnicity and geography, which shares slight similarities with India's federal model.

CNI News

May 27, 2026

Local residents from Pakokku told CNI News that Pyu Saw Htee militias in Pakokku Township, Magway Region, are conducting forced conscriptions (portering) and extorting money from wealthy youth and middle-aged business owners.

As a result of these forced conscriptions and extortion cases, business owners in Pakokku have been forced to relocate to other cities. Locals noted that these activities are being carried out specifically by the Pyu Saw Htee militias, rather than the military or police forces.

A business owner from Pakokku told CNI News that the militias usually demand between 5 million to 10 million MMK (50 to 100 lakhs) from individuals with moderate wealth, and between 50 million to 100 million MMK (500 to 1,000 lakhs) from merchants, brokers, and large business owners.

"Every time the Pyu Saw Htee arrest someone for portering, we have to go and ransom them. We have to pay the ransom at the large fire station on the bypass road near the eastern side of the town. Sometimes, we have to go to other locations they specify. This has nothing to do with the military or the police; it is just the Pyu Saw Htee causing trouble. They are the ones everyone is afraid of, which is why people are fleeing the town. If a business is even slightly large, the Pyu Saw Htee want to extort money from them. They usually come around 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM at night and say, 'Come along with us for a moment.' Even I had to flee. Most of the wealthy people have moved to other cities; they are no longer here. To ransom an arrested business owner, it costs 50 million or 100 million MMK. You cannot get them back with just 5 million MMK. The ransom depends on the scale of the business. That is why most wealthy individuals have already relocated," he said.

It is also reported that when arresting and demanding money from business owners, the militias threaten them by falsely accusing them of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) or the People's Defense Forces (PDF), claiming they will report them to the Myanmar military.

 Local residents of Pakokku

Currently, these forced conscriptions occur at any time of the day or night within Pakokku. Just a few days ago, two men aged 37 and 48 were reportedly taken. However, because the two victims were acquaintances of the Pyu Saw Htee members who detained them, they were released without having to pay any money.

A Pakokku resident told CNI News that these forced conscriptions have led to labor shortages at local commodity exchange centers, and the number of people moving around the town has drastically decreased.

"The forced conscriptions are getting worse. Knowing they can extort money, they just pick up anyone they see on the streets. They especially like to arrest youths in their 20s and 30s. Last night, they caught older individuals aged 37 and 48, so they didn't do anything to them and released them. They brought them back with their hands tied behind their backs and their eyes blindfolded.
Right now, it is only the Pyu Saw Htee doing the arrests. They drive around the town in cars to abduct people. The town has become so quiet and deserted that it feels like a ghost town. There is practically no one around," the resident said.

According to local sources, the fear of forced conscriptions has significantly reduced the presence of young people outdoors. Furthermore, residents from nearby villages have almost completely stopped coming into the town to buy or sell goods, causing local trade and commerce to plummet.

CNI News

May 27, 2026

It is crucial to review the anomalous skyrocketing of car prices in Myanmar, said Sai Kaung Thet San, a Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) MP from the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), in an interview with CNI News.

Due to the depreciation of the Myanmar Kyat, most domestic entrepreneurs and investors have been shifting their capital into real estate, gold, and automobiles, driving up market speculation.

Sai Kaung Thet San stated that the drastic surge in domestic car prices has created a massive gap between the original manufacturer's factory price and the domestic retail price. He emphasized the need for a systematic review to understand why such a massive discrepancy has emerged.

"If we look back at the parliamentary landscape around 2012–2013, a Hijet cost around 4 million Kyats and a Probox was around 10 million Kyats at that time. For us to return to such an era and elevate the public's standard of living, the first and foremost requirement is for the government's national policy to be properly aligned and correct. Secondly, we need to review the country's current situation alongside the tax burdens placed on citizens. Thirdly, import laws need to be reassessed and amended to keep pace with the times. In our country, a Hilux Revo costs between 250 million and 320 million Kyats. While it costs around 300 million Kyats with a license here, the same Revo costs just over 50 million, 60 million, 70 million, or at most 80 million Kyats in Thailand, where it is manufactured. We need to analyze what exactly went wrong to cause such a massive difference in our country," he said.

Photo of an EV charging station.

The Pyithu Hluttaw representative further explained that these price disparities depend heavily on government policies, and that outdated policies must be amended.

> "The price difference depends primarily on government policy, and secondly, on the need to review existing laws. These two factors are key. What I mean is that we must review taxes and arrange things so they align with the public's actual income. To make cars affordable for ordinary people and to bring prices down, we need to amend laws to improve the current situation. The government policy must also change in certain areas. If no changes are made, it is highly unlikely for a civil servant to ever afford a car. If we can introduce installment plans—such as multi-year payment options—I believe car and motorcycle prices will drop to a reasonable level," he added.

U Aung Pyae Sone, a local businessman, also told CNI News that the primary driver behind the current spike in car prices is solely the government's regulatory policy.

"To look at it from another perspective, when the government imports a vehicle from abroad, it requires US dollars—foreign currency. If the government had sufficient foreign currency reserves, citizens could import as many cars as they wanted. For example, even if a population of 60 million imported 60 million cars, it wouldn't be an issue. However, while citizens earn in Kyat, importing requires US dollars, and the government faces difficulties in subsidizing and allocating foreign currency for this. Consequently, to stabilize the prices of fundamental necessities like fuel and cooking oil, the government has restricted passenger vehicle imports. This is the government's side of the policy. When imports are restricted like this, what issues arise? A car abroad that was worth 10 million Kyats back in 2015 might now be worth 12 million Kyats at most. However, in Myanmar, that same 10 million Kyat car has shot up to around 100 million Kyats. If we look at why this happened, it is due to this policy. Showroom companies and importers cannot cause a 10-fold price hike on their own. It is not that car companies, importers, or traders are manipulating the car market; rather, car prices are fluctuating entirely based on government policies," U Aung Pyi Sone analyzed.

Photo of an EV charging station.

Furthermore, U Aung Pyae Sone added that the government is encouraging the public to use electric vehicles (EVs) by allowing EV imports, while heavily restricting the import of traditional fuel-powered cars, which is driving up overall car prices.

"The government is adhering to the same policies as the previous administration. Because they are maintaining this stance, car prices continue to surge. While they push the public toward EVs and allow EV imports, restrictions on fuel-powered vehicles remain in place. This is why car prices are rising. The government needs to ease import restrictions, allow the import of conventional fuel-powered cars alongside EVs, and implement systems to assemble and sell cars domestically through the SKD (Semi-Knocked Down) system," he said.

Currently, the Myanmar car market faces numerous hardships alongside soaring prices.

Additionally, due to odd/even license plate regulations, EV prices have reportedly surged by 25 percent per vehicle, bringing costs up to around 200 million Kyats.

Businessmen have pointed out that Parliament(Hluttaw) needs to intervene and regulate this situation, and the government needs to reopen car import permits.

CNI News

May 26, 2026

Political and economic analysts have pointed out that property prices in Myanmar have skyrocketed, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to own homes, and that the government should find ways to address this issue.

Under the current circumstances, an ordinary working-class person in the country cannot afford to own a home even after working for 20 years, resulting in a continuous rise in squatting.

Political analyst U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News that while Myanmar has adequate land for its people based on its geography, the exorbitant rise in real estate prices indicates a policy failure that the government must remedy as soon as possible.

"Land prices are so high that an ordinary worker cannot catch up with them even after working for 20 years," said U Htet Aung Kyaw. "This is something a government must take into consideration. It is a real problem when people work so hard but cannot even afford a small plot of land. This is a policy issue. It implies that something is wrong with the policy. A government must thoroughly consider and manage these issues. The government must think about and implement plans to ensure homeownership for all its citizens. Given Myanmar's land area relative to its population, having squatter homes is deeply embarrassing. It can be said that the policy is flawed. Squatting shouldn't exist given the vastness of this country's land area. Why this is happening points to a policy failure. I believe this needs to be corrected as quickly as possible."

Apartments in Yangon

Efforts have been made in Myanmar to help citizens own homes and land, including property sales expos, bank home loan systems for those without full cash upfront, and installment plans offered by government and private housing projects.

However, political and economic analysts point out that these measures remain out of reach for the general public, and even affordable low-cost housing projects often end up turning into high-priced properties.

Economic analyst U Thet Zaw told CNI News that there are fallow agricultural lands within Yangon where cultivation has ceased, and the government should utilize these lands to construct low-cost housing to better help the public secure shelter.

President U Min Aung Hlaing.

"What I'm saying is that in places like Dagon Seikkan and East Dagon, they can no longer cultivate crops. There are many acres of vacant land left over," said U Thet Zaw. "Take housing projects like Thukha Dagon, for instance—we could easily develop two or three times more of those. There are plenty of vacant spaces like that where housing can be built. Build them constructively, and then divide them; one group for those who work abroad, and another group for squatters. Build low-cost housing and provide rental housing. The state truly needs to invest in this for the country."

Economic analysts have pointed out that in Myanmar's real estate market—particularly in Yangon, Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, and Shan State—property purchases by Chinese nationals have driven market prices well beyond the reach of local citizens.

To address the challenges of citizens being priced out of the real estate market and the shortage of affordable housing, many foreign nations, including Canada, have implemented bans on foreign nationals owning residential property.

CNI News

May 26, 2026

U Maw Late, a Sagaing Region Hluttaw (Regional Parliament) representative from the Naga National Party (NNP), told CNI News that it is essential to implement permanent terraced farming to ensure rice self-sufficiency in the Naga Self-Administered Zone of Sagaing Region.

He stated that because the Naga Self-Administered Zone currently relies primarily on shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture), rice self-sufficiency is virtually non-existent. Furthermore, due to transport and communication hardships, rice supplies often fail to reach the region.

"Since most people here practice shifting cultivation, rice self-sufficiency in our region is almost close to zero," said Sagaing Region Hluttaw MP U Maw Late. "Right now, due to difficult transportation and road access, rice cannot reach the Naga region. Consequently, there is a bit of a rice scarcity in the area. That is why if we have terraced farming in our region, we will achieve rice self-sufficiency, and shifting cultivation will decrease. If permanent terraced farms can be developed, the region will have enough food. By establishing these terraced farms, we won't need to transport rice all the way from the lower parts of the country. Seasonal crops could also be grown like that. In such a scenario, some areas will achieve rice self-sufficiency, and moreover, we might even reach a stage where we can export to other regions."

Agricultural activities in the Naga region seen

Naga community leaders have pointed out that due to topography and climatic conditions in the Naga mountain region of Sagaing Region (Leshi, Lahe, and Nanyun), paddy cultivation is weak, causing frequent rice shortages and price hikes for rice, which is the staple food.

To replace the shifting cultivation system that harms the environment, modern hillside farming techniques aimed at long-term sustainability and increasing agricultural yields are currently being implemented in the Naga region.

However, U Maw Late told CNI News that because there is currently no commercial market output for agricultural products in the Naga region, local communities lack the motivation to put effort into farming.

"In terms of agriculture, most people on this side engage in shifting cultivation. However, there are plans in place to develop terraced farms. There are already some individuals currently practicing terraced farming, and projects are underway to establish more of them. For the most part, though, shifting cultivation remains dominant. Currently, there is a plan to transition from shifting cultivation to terraced farming in the Naga region. Fruits and vegetables are grown in flatter areas, but since there is no commercial market for the products, the public doesn't put much effort into it," he explained.

Naga ethnic people seen

It is learnt that the development of upland agriculture and terraced farms in the mountainous Naga Self-Administered Zone (Lahe, Leshi, and Nanyun) aims to prevent soil erosion and ensure food security.

Due to the lack of flat arable land and weather conditions, the region cannot cultivate enough rice and has to rely primarily on upland farming. Furthermore, due to cross-border trade restrictions, pest infestations, and natural disasters, the rice yield still falls far short of local self-sufficiency requirements.

Although exact data is unavailable because most households in the Naga Self-Administered Zone (Lahe, Leshi, and Nanyun) rely on shifting cultivation as their primary livelihood, it is estimated that the average annual shifting cultivation area ranges between 30,000 and 50,000 acres.

On February 16, 2026, while serving as the Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, the current President U Min Aung Hlaing stated that necessary measures would be undertaken for the development of the Naga Self-Administered Zone in Sagaing Region, which remains heavily underdeveloped in Myanmar.

CNI News

May 26, 2026

Political analysts and the public are questioning how the Parliament(Hluttaw) will manage and control the skyrocketing commodity prices that the people of Myanmar are currently experiencing.

While the prices of basic foodstuffs continue to rise gradually, the income of the general public has not increased, leaving citizens facing numerous challenges in making ends meet.

Speaking to CNI News, Sai Kaung Thet San, a Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) MP from the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), stated that stabilizing commodity prices must be the primary consideration when working to lower them.

Furthermore, he emphasized that efforts must also be made to raise the income of the public.

Working-class citizens

"First and foremost, we must work to stabilize the prices of essential goods," said Pyithu Hluttaw MP Sai Kaung Thet San. "While doing so, the second key factor is that public income needs to rise. Even if the prices of essential goods are stable, if people's income does not increase, they will still face hardships in their daily livelihoods. Therefore, in Parliament, we plan to submit and enact laws that regulate commodity prices, initiatives that protect domestic entrepreneurs, and motions and laws that support MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). From the parliamentary side, we enact laws that benefit the public. On the other hand, to control the flow of illegal goods, the executive branch needs to take effective action without discrimination. If illegal goods continue to thrive without the state receiving taxes, it could lead to a situation that destabilizes domestic entrepreneurs. On this matter, administrative bodies and legislative parliamentary groups are constantly in discussion. If necessary, we will effectively enact new laws or amend and supplement existing ones. By doing so, I believe we can significantly alleviate the livelihood hardships and the issue of high essential commodity prices that the public is currently facing."

Business owners have pointed out that if the issue of labor shortages in Myanmar cannot be resolved, commodity prices will continue to rise, adding that commodity prices can only be controlled if domestic production is strong.

Additionally, they analyzed that the three fundamental reasons for the rise in commodity prices are increased demand, decreased supply, and inflation.

U Kyaw Min Htet, a Yangon Region Hluttaw MP from the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News that the worst problem the public is currently facing on the ground is livelihood hardship, and that efforts will be made to further develop domestic businesses.

Hluttaw and Hluttaw representatives seen together.

"Right now, the worst problems are human security and livelihood hardships," he said. "Mainly, it's the high commodity prices. To some extent, prices are rising based on the global situation. However, rather than just high commodity prices, it's more accurate to describe it as an imbalance between income and expenditure. It wouldn't be a problem if incomes were good and prices rose, but when incomes don't rise while commodity prices do, it's not just the general public—we hear that civil servants are also facing difficulties. Everyone in Yangon is aware of the situation with MSMEs and SMEs. The media knows this too. For instance, we see that potato chip and jam-making businesses are struggling. We need more developed SMEs and MSMEs to emerge within the Yangon Region. Since I am an MP from Yangon, I can only speak from a Yangon scope. For example, we will need to properly re-implement industrial zones. And as mentioned earlier, we need to make policy amendments to make it easier for SME and MSME businesses to operate. We are currently studying these issues, and when the time and opportunity are right, we will take action on them."

Political analysts pointed out that a new government needs to continuously work on peace processes, while also striving for the country's economic stability.

They analyzed that under the current new government, peace invitations and offers may be extended, and efforts may also be made to revive the economy.

However, everyone highlighted that economic and peace policies must be correct and aligned, and that existing policies need to be reassessed.

CNI News

May 26, 2026

Commodity prices are rising in Pakokku and neighboring townships after authorities restricted the transportation of food, consumer goods, and other commodities at the entry and exit points of Pakokku in Magway Region, according to local residents.

Locals noted that the restrictions on commodity transport at the entry and exit points of Pakokku town have been in place for more than 10 days now.

Mainly, commodities including onions produced in regions such as Yesagyo, Myaing, Pauk, Seikphyu, Myittha, and Yaw are typically transported and sold to other regions through the Pakokku commodity exchange centers.

Currently, cargo trucks traveling in and out of Pakokku town face movement restrictions, and the transport of various types of goods has been restricted since May 13, 2026.

U Zaw Myint, a trader from Seikphyu Township, told CNI News that these restrictions have led to increased expenses and higher commodity prices. Consequently, instead of heading to Pakokku to sell their goods, traders are forced to resell them within their own local areas.

Authorities inspecting cargo trucks at the entry/exit bridge of Pakokku town. (Photo: MOI)

He stated: "The restriction has been in place for about 10 days. We are not allowed to transport consumer goods and food items to our local areas. Of course, commodity prices have risen significantly. Onions can still be transported, but because transportation costs are high, inter-city trade is no longer carried out like before. For instance, the market price in Pakokku is 2,100 kyats, but if it is transported to Seikphyu, it becomes 2,250 kyats. Previously, the transport cost was around 50 kyats per viss. When it increases from 50 to about 100 kyats per viss, the profit we could make from trading vanishes. Therefore, we end up in a situation where we just have to trade within our own town."

Furthermore, while more than 70,000 viss of onions used to enter the Pakokku commodity exchange center daily, current arrivals have reportedly dropped by about half.

Military and political analysts point out that the Myanmar military may be restricting the transit of goods through Pakokku town to cut off food supplies to the western part of Magway Region and the Magway-Chin State border areas, where revolutionary forces are strong.

They mentioned that this current restriction falls within the "100-day plan" period being implemented by the new government, and the format might change once this period passes.

U Khin Zaw, an onion trader from Pakokku Township, told CNI News that if such restrictions on goods transport persist for a long time, farmers will not get good prices, and consumers will face high prices and commodity shortages.

Authorities inspecting cargo trucks at the entry/exit bridge of Pakokku town. (Photo: MOI)

He said: "Farmers do not get a good price, and consumers are facing high commodity prices. When intermediary expenses increase excessively, it's no longer profitable for the traders, nor is it profitable for the farmers downstream."

In 2025, the Myanmar military also restricted the transport of medicines, fuel, electrical appliances, and chemical fertilizers between townships within Magway Region, including Pakokku Township. Currently, almost all consumer goods and food items are being restricted further.

It is learnt that while certain goods are permitted to enter and be sold within Pakokku town, no goods are allowed to be transported out to other regions through Pakokku Township.

Currently, clashes are breaking out between revolutionary forces and the Myanmar military in Saw Township in western Magway Region, as well as in the southern Chin State region that borders Magway.