CNI News

5 May 2025

The increase in prices of some goods due to the earthquake in Mandalay and Sagaing Regions is due to an imbalance between supply and demand, as well as greedy traders, a tourism entrepreneur told CNI News. 

The prices have increased is also due to the damage to cropland because of the earthquake, the high demand for construction materials, and the difficulty in transportation due to the damage to roads and bridges, they said.

"Another reason is that prices are rising due to the inappropriate greed of merchants. For example, in places like Magway Region, where were not affected by the earthquake, construction materials and cement prices are rising. This means that the price increases for these items could be due to an imbalance between supply and demand, or it could be due to the extreme greed of these traders. If supply and demand are not balanced, the government and relevant organizations should ensure that goods in high demand are imported and brought to the market in a timely manner. Only then will the public who have lost their homes and belongings due to the earthquake not be burdened by rising prices.” said a tourism entrepreneur.

In an emergency situation, the government can negotiate with relevant traders or, if the goods are imported from abroad, change tax supervision policies, and, as an exception, change import and export policies to reduce prices, he said. 

Additionally, the public is enduring and overcoming the impact of rising commodity prices in regions and states that were hit by the earthquake, Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, founder of the Yangon Watch, told CNI News.

“Transportation has become difficult. Production has decreased. People who grow vegetables have to transport their products from one place to another. Transport costs have become very expensive. I will only talk about the price of food. The price of oil has not decreased either. All of that has led up to rising prices. Prices are always rising in this country. There was also damage in Naypyidaw due to the earthquake, so Naypyidaw is struggling to resume its normal operations," said Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin.

On March 28, 2025, a strong earthquake destroyed 48,834 houses and 5,275 pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Bago Region, and Shan State, and damaged 198 irrigation dams, 148 bridges, and the Yangon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay highway and railway sections.

In addition, 148 sections along the expressway were damaged, according to a SAC press release.

CNI News
4 May 2025

Discussions were underway to form an interim government for a transition to federal democracy to overcome the current crisis in Myanmar, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson for the 7 EAO Alliance, told CNI News.

The 7 EAO Alliance, a group of seven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), held a meeting on April 29 and 30, 2025.

The meeting laid down five points for the transition to federal democracy and discussed the formation of an interim government, said Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt.

" The 2-day meeting covered a wide range of topics and sectors. One of the 7 EAO Alliance’s initiatives is the Transition to Federal Democracy. Plan (1) is a nationwide ceasefire and Plan (2) is a discussion of federal democracy by all stakeholders. It's necessary to promise to do so. Plan (3) requires the formation of an interim government for the transition to federal democracy. Plan (4) is, in short, drafting a constitution, and plan (5) is finally holding elections. We were able to discuss and adopt these five plans to hold nationwide elections in accordance with the emerging constitution." he said.

While the meeting of the 7 EAO Alliance was being held

The 7 EAO Alliance will share these discussions with local armed groups, political parties, and civil society organizations, including Thailand and ASEAN.

They  must work towards reaching an agreement among partners to shape the discussions in order to form an interim government, and they must negotiate and gradually move forward to ensure that the armed groups accept those discussions, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

"We have been saying since the NCA was signed that there should be an interim or transitional government. However, the NSPNC has not yet accepted it. To illustrate this point, you first need to reach an agreement among your colleagues. Will the seven northern organizations accept the idea of an interim government? Will P2C from the southern part accept it? "I think it's something we'll have to negotiate first and then move forward gradually." said Col. Khun Okkar.

Military and political analysts consider that everyone has agreed to build a federal and democratic Union. Although new ideas and assumptions may emerge under the current unusual political environment, if organizations concerned could engage in dialogue for the benefit of the Union, they would be able to find a negotiated solution.

While the NSPNC and the 7 EAO Alliance were discussing

The 7 The EAO Alliance meeting was attended by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Pa-O National Liberation Front (PNLO), the Arakan Liberation and Peace Army (ALPR), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the Karen National Union/
the Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC).

The 7 EAO Alliance then announced that the meeting reviewed and revised the federal democratic transition plan set by the 7 EAO Alliance to overcome the current political crisis facing the country.

If China comments on the Bengali issue, it could be a political mistake

CNI News

3 May 2025

It would be a huge political mistake if the Chinese Communist Party made any comments about the creation of a separate and independent state for the Bengalis in Rakhine State, U Thein Tun Oo, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News .

That Bangladesh's opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami met with a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CCP) on April 27. 

During the meeting, the party urged China to support for establishing a separate autonomous region for the Bengalis in Rakhine State.

The Chinese side would not comment on the discussion, but would only listen to the Jamaat-e-Islami party's discussions and return. If China commented on the matter, it would be the biggest political mistake. said U Thein Tun Oo.

While seeing the Chinese Communist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami party

"We do not accept the name Rohingya they use. The Myanmar governments have accepted Bengali only. We have a lot to negotiate over this term. So, the fact that they want this name and this place is the biggest violation of a country's current policy and sovereignty.  I don't think China would comment on that either. On the other hand, Bangladesh seems to put out some feelers to know whether an independent state for Bengalis could be got or not. If China echoed the party's attitude, it would be the biggest political misstate for China. I think China's attitude was that it would listen to what the Bangladeshi party said and came back. However, it remains to be seen what Bangladesh will do next. "Regardless of international pressure or external discussions, we must decide based on our country's national interests and security." he said.

The Jamaat-e-Islami party was prosecuted under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government and has been banned from contesting elections since 2014. 

After the interim government led by pro-American leader Mohamed Yunus came to power, the charges were dropped and the party was allowed to establish again.

The SAC told CNI News that the demand for a separate and independent territory for the Bengali people in Rakhine State is a violation of Myanmar's sovereignty, and Myanmar rejects and condemns it.

The SAC said that the Bangladeshi and Myanmar Deputy Foreign Ministers met in Kunming, China, to discuss the repatriation and supporting program for Rohingya refugees, but the talks were halted due to the armed conflicts.

While seeing those who were demanding rights for Bengalis

Since the AA which control northern Rakhine State and the SAC have diplomatic and political ties with Bangladesh, it would be best if the issue could be resolved politically, U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the policy steering committee of the Arakan National Party (ANP), told CNI News.

"When it comes to resolving international affairs, it is best to resolve them through political and diplomatic means. The ULA/AA, which has controlled a large area in northern Rakhine State, is also seen in the news as having political dealings with Bangladesh. In addition, government officials are also acting in accordance with the law through diplomatic channels. However, our political party cannot say exactly what kind of pressure the other forces will put and how they'll be going forward. It is best to resolve any issue politically. " he said.

Currently, Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed that Myanmar will take back 180,000 (one hundred and eighty thousand) Bengali refugees. 

The SAC said that Myanmar has a basic policy of taking back Bengali refugees through verification.

Therefore, sufficient facilities for the refugees who will return to live in have been built with Chinese assistance and have been demonstrated to international diplomats.

CNI News
2 May 2025

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar military met in China but the talks ended in failure after the Myanmar Tatmadaw demanded that the TNLA withdraw its forces to the Palaung Self-Administered Zone.

With the mediation of China, a ceasefire was negotiated in Kunming, China by the two sides on April 28 and 29.

During the meeting, the SAC/the Myanmar Tatmadaw demanded that all TNLA forces in Naung Cho, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mogok, and Momeik areas withdraw to Nansang and Mantong townships in the Palaung Self-Administered Region, the TNLA announced on May 2.

The TNLA said that since the PSLF/TNLA representatives could not agree to that demand, the talks could not proceed and they agreed to meet again in August to reach a ceasefire.

The meeting was attended by the TNLA delegation led by the TNLA Vice Chairman Lt-Gen Ta Jock Ja and by the Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation led by the Commander of the Bureau of Special Operation (1) Lt-Gen Ko Ko Oo.

Delegates from the TNLA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw met on February 15 and 16, 2025, but the talks ended without an agreement.

CNI News

2 May 2025

The Indian central government needs to regulate and correct the claims made by Indian lawmakers over Myanmar's territorial areas, the Myanmar government told CNI News.

Mr. K. Vanlalvena, a senator from the Mizo National Front (MNF) party in Mizoram State, India, visited the Chin National Front (CNF) headquarters in Chin State, Myanmar, in March 2025 and discussed the merger of Chin State with Mizoram.

Similarly, in the Indian Upper House session held in March 2025, a Manipur MP also discussed the merger of the Kabaw Valley (Kalay-Tamu) with India. 

The Myanmar government answered to CNI's questions

The Myanmar-India border issue is a national issue that is being formally discussed, approved and worked out between the two governments , but It is regrettable that remarks made by political parties and MPs from Manipur that India should own some of Myanmar's territories are often used as a political campaign slogan, the Myanmar government told CNI News.

In 2011, Manipur BJP leader Shantikumar said that Manipur should own the Kabaw Valley, and in 2013, the party campaigned that if people voted for them, they would reclaim the Kabaw Valley. Now, the BJP MP from Manipur has said that the Kabaw Valley belongs to India kind of, which is not appropriate, said the Myanmar government.

“The Indian senior officials need to take necessary steps to correct and rein in the attempts of one state or one party to sabotage the issues that are being agreed upon at the national level. The Kabaw Valley region has historically belonged to Myanmar and is currently recognized by both governments as Myanmar's territory," said the Myanmar government to CNI News.

While seeing Mizoram MP Mr. K. Vanlalvena and the CNF

The Myanmar government has always maintained good neighborly and friendly relations between India and Myanmar, and India also values the existing friendly bilateral relations and should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Indian government should take necessary measures to prevent any actions that could damage bilateral relations, said the Myanmar government.

Currently, battles are taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and revolutionary forces in Chin State and the Kabaw Valley (Tamu-Kalay) region on the Myanmar-India border.

Military and political analysts have pointed out that Indian lawmakers may be taking advantage of the instability and weak rule of law in the region caused by these clashes to organize territorial acquisitions. Similarly, it is not yet clear whether the Indian parliamentarians' land grabbing campaigns are the intention of the Indian central government.

The Indian central government also needs to clearly regulate the activities of its parliamentarians so that the Myanmar public can have a clear view of India, they pointed out.

CNI News

2 May 2025

Myanmar rejects and condemns the call for a separate autonomous region for the Bengali people in Rakhine State by the Jamaat-e-Islami, an opposition party in Bangladesh, the SAC told CNI News.

On April 27, 2025, at the Hotel Westin in Dhaka, Bangladesh, representatives of the Communist Party of China (CCP) and a delegation led by Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, a member of the Central Committee of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party, discussed China's support for the establishment of a separate autonomous region for the Bengalis in Rakhine State.

“The SAC would like to express its deep condemnation and protest against the statements made by the Jamaat-e-Islami Party during the meeting with the Chinese Communist Party for political gain, as they violate Myanmar’s sovereignty,” said the SAC.

While seeing delegates of the Communist Party of China and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Party

The SAC told CNI News that the Bangladeshi and Myanmar deputy foreign ministers met in Kunming, China, to discuss the repatriation and support program for Bengali refugees (Rohingya Muslims) in Bangladesh, but the talks were halted when armed conflict broke out.

“Myanmar has a basic policy of verification and repatriating Rohingya refugees, and that sufficient facilities have been built with Chinese assistance for the refugees who will return to Myanmar which Myanmar has made it clear to international diplomats ” the SAC said.

Currently, Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to repatriate 180,000 (one hundred and eighty thousand) Rohingya refugees. Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist-based political party in Bangladesh, has called on China to push for the establishment of a separate independent country for the Rakhine people and the creation of a separate independent state for the Bengali people in Rakhine State.

The region where Muslims live within Rakhine State

The political party was prosecuted during the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and has been banned from contesting elections since 2014. After the Sheikh Hasina government was overthrown in August 2024, an interim government led by pro-American Muhammad Yunus took office, which dropped the charges against Jamaat-e-Islami and allowed it to form a party again.

The Bengalis are trying to unite the Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine State, Myanmar, and create an independent territory. Currently, battles are taking place in Rakhine State between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Army, and between armed groups fighting for the Rohingya people (ARSA, RSO, ARA) and the AA.

How is the agricultural sector affected by natural disasters?

CNI News

2 May 2025

There are indications that the government should conduct a study on how the agricultural sector is affected by the annual natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, and earthquakes in Myanmar. 

The government should take steps to improve the agricultural sector as agricultural land has been damaged in Mandalay and Sagaing regions, which have been hit by natural disasters. Former Pyithu Hluttaw MP U Sein Win told CNI News.

“I recommend that for agriculture in earthquake-affected areas, soil preparation work be prioritized in this early rainy season. After that, I think we can grow on this prepared land in the cold season. Farmers no longer have money to invest because they made a loss in the past hot season. So the cultivated acres may decrease. If the agricultural acreage decreases, agricultural inputs will decrease. Farmers can't plant in earthquake-hit areas. If they can't plant, they can't buy. Agricultural inputs will be reduced as they cannot be purchased. I advised the government to prioritize earthquake-affected areas and provide short- and long-term loans to prevent this from happening again." he said.

An earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, and a state of emergency was declared in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Naypyidaw Council Area, Bago Region, Magway Region, and Shan State, and relief efforts are underway. 

While seeing farmers

Similarly, in September 2024, floods occurred in Yangon Region, Naypyidaw Council Area, Shan State, Bago Region, Magway Region, Rakhine State, Sagaing Region, and Mandalay Region, causing relief efforts and damage to farmland and reducing crop yields.

Moreover, on May 14, 2023, Cyclone Mokha hit Rakhine State, causing extensive damage to farmlands in Rakhine State.  it will take a year for the soil to recover due to the flooding that occurred before the earthquake in Sagaing Region, an agriculturist from Sagaing Region told CNI News.

While seeing farmers

“We can plant again, the soil has moved, so there are no other major changes. It is not easy to reach the normal rate, it may decrease. Fertilizer prices and transportation charges have increased, so it will decrease slightly from the normal rate. Usually, there are cracks in the soil in these fields. But we will plow this normally, and after plowing, after a while, we will add fertilizer and wait for about 50 days. Then it will return to normal." he said.

Cyclone Mocha, which hit Myanmar on May 14, 2023, caused widespread flooding across the country, damaging nearly 900,000 acres of farmland, according to the SAC.

The statement said that in some regions and states, including Naypyidaw, nearly 800,000 (793,000) acres of rice were damaged due to flooding, while more than 70,000 (73,424) acres of other crops were damaged.

 Group that makes most profit in Spring Revolution said to be Wa

CNI News

2 May 2025

The organization that benefited the most from the Spring Revolution was the “Wa,” not the Myanmar military or other armed organizations, political commentator U Kyi Myint told CNI News. 
“Wa” group would stand here or there and take whatever they could get, and would take whatever China allows, he said.

"Wa" as you known stands here or there and takes whatever he can get. It's very clever. But I can't tell if it's a Chinese plan. "Wa" gets what they want without having to fight for anything. It’s not SAC, and not even the other organizations, that are comfortable with the victories they achieved in the Spring Revolution without having to sacrifice anything, but the Wa. "Wa" will take everything it gets. It'll take whatever he gets, as long as China gives it the green light and allows it to. China will give it to because it's one of its sub-states. Wa speaks Chinese. Wa uses Chinese currency and weapons. They have very valuable minerals and Heroin. All of their products go to China." said U Kyi Myint.

The AA, the MNDAA, and the TNLA jointly launched Operation 1027 on October 27, 2023, and launched a series of town-taking battles in northern Shan State. 

While seeing the UWSA and the MNDAA

The UWSA did not participate in the operation but gained control of the two towns of Hopan and Panlon.

Similarly, the UWSA also was gaining economic benefits from selling weapons and ammunition to armed groups fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw. 

It can also use other revolutionary forces to protect its territory from military pressure from the Myanmar military, military and political observers point out.

Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Front (PNLO-NCA/S), which signed the NCA, told CNI News that China has been using the “Wa” indirectly since the beginning of its military operations, and that the “Wa”’s statements in Myanmar’s internal affairs could be China’s policies, so it was necessary to wait and see carefully.

"China has both political and military influence on the Myanmar border with Yunnan, and China has been using the “Wa” more indirectly than directly since these has operations. So, Wa's expressions may be China's policies. Wa has become more important in Myanmar's affairs. Moreover, as they controlled Tangyang and live together, eventually they will carry out for the peaceful coexistence, I think." he said.

In September 2024, the Kokang Army (MNDAA) announced that it would not cooperate with the National Unity Government (NUG) and requested the China's brokered engagement in the Myanmar issue.

While the UWSA was taking over the security of Hopan and Panlong

Then, thanks to Chinese intervention, the Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) handed over the city of Lashio it had occupied on August 3, 2024 to the Myanmar Tatmadaw in April, 2025 and it was allowed to take over the Kokang Special Region (1).

There are speculations that China may have asked the United Wa State Army (UWSA) to intervene in the remaining areas of northern Shan State after the Lashio handover process. 

Furthermore, military and political observers point out that since the 7-point Lashio Agreement stipulates that the “Wa” will be responsible for handling the TNLA, negotiations could take place through the “Wa.”

China will continue to push forward the Kunming Peace Talks process, and accelerate efforts to end conflicts and achieve peace in Myanmar and stabilize the China-Myanmar border, said Mr. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on April 22, 2025.

On July 29, 2024, the UWSA announced that it would use its own strength to bring peace to Myanmar.

Myanmar should respond to Bangladesh's territorial claim

CNI News

1 May 2025

The SAC should respond to Bangladesh's call for a separate and independent state for Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine State, Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

The Bangladeshi side raised the issue during a meeting on April 27 between a high-level delegation from the Communist Party of China, which was in Bangladesh, and the main opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami.

The Myanmar authorities have officially stated that there is no Rohingya people in Myanmar, only Bengalis, and that even the name of the people will require much negotiation, U Thein Htun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

' In any case, I think a responsible government should make a statement on this. Will the Myanmar government object to some of the Bengalis who have started to express their attitude towards this? What is Myanmar's position on this? I think Myanmar should make its position on this matter public through diplomatic channels. The use of the term "Rohingya" is something that officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to consider. "I think we need to express our position that we will not accept any form of interference in Myanmar's internal affairs." said U Thein Tun Oo.

While seeing Yunus and Bangladeshi refugees

Bangladesh has hosted over 1 million Muslim refugees, and that providing them with shelter and food alone will not solve the Muslim refugee problem, and that resettling them in Rakhine State as a separate territory is the right solution, said Mohammad Taher, a leader of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party. 

U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the policy steering committee of the Arakan National Party (ANP), told CNI News that Myanmar citizens would not be willing to give up even an inch of their homeland to another country.

UN Secretary-General arrived at a Bangladesh refugee camp

“This has happened many times in Myanmar. During the Bangladeshi civil war, Lots of Bangladeshi people also entered Myanmar to escape the war. During the Naga Min (King Dragon) operation, the people who did not comply with the law often fled to Bangladesh, fearing that they would be prosecuted. Later, the two countries negotiated through political means and reached the best solution. Many times. When Myanmar can only accept after verification in accordance with its precisely stipulated citizenship law,this problem will be solved if we accept the people we should accept, I think." said U Tun Aung Kyaw.

Currently, fierce battles are taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA in Rakhine State and the AA has controlled the Muslim-majority townships of Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung.

Therefore, UN Secretary-General Guterres has also said that there is a need to negotiate with the AA on the repatriation of Muslim refugees.