CNI News

2 Feb 2024

A system in which rupees and kyats can be used in direct paying could be started in February, said the Central Bank of Myanmar. 

There will be a decline in the need of US dollars in paying for the products including medicine mainly imported from India by implementing the system.

Moreover,  there will be advantages such as easier payment, smooth flow of goods and better bilateral relation. India-Myanmar border trade could not be opened up to now. So, the system would not take effect for the time being, U Ne Win Soe, In charge of the Region, Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization ( Ayeyarwady Region), told CNI News.

" Some say the current situation is convenient. Others say it will be more convenient if rupees can be directly exchanged to kyats. It's 50-50. Because dollars are not needed in the middle anymore. It's more convenient if it is realized. But how will it be implemented due to territorial instability. I don't think it will work because of instability on this side." he said.

However, the direct paying system with Indian rupees and Myanmar kyats could not be used at the maritime trade, said traders.

Myanmar kyats

The regulations regarding payment for trade would be cooperated by the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and the Indian Traders Association, according to the Central Bank of Myanmar. 

However, there is a gap between the Central Bank's exchange rate and market rate at the border trade. So, the price of Myanmar kyat was needed to be stable, U Khin Maung, a border trader, told CNI News.

" Mainly, it's necessary to have territorial stability and make the price of Myanmar kyat stable. The price of Myanmar kyat is declining so much. At the currency exchange of the border trade, the price designated by the Central Bank is different from the market price. So, traders are worried that they will make a loss." he said.

The authorized banks are the UAB Bank and the CB Bank on the Myanmar side for the direct payment with rupees and kyats and on the Indian side, the Punjab National Bank reportedly.

CNI News

2 Feb 2024

U THein Soe, chairman of the Union Election Commission,was retired and he was replaced with U Ko Ko, the State Administration Council (SAC) stated on 31st January 2024.

 U Thein Soe served as the chairman of the UEC from 2021 to 31st January 2024.

While U Thein Soe was meeting with political parties

The law on registration of political parties was enacted on 31st January 2023 and political parties were forced to re-register. 

According to the law, a political party that will compete all over the country must have 165 offices and 100,000 members, which was criticized.

CNI News

1 Feb 2024

The presence of disloyal armed forces destroying the country was greatly dangerous to the country, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Tatmadaw. 

He said the above at the meeting (1/2024) of the National Defense and Security Council held 31st January 2024. 

" While the country is being built to become a union based on democracy and federalism, the presence of unfaithful armed forces that are destroying the country and worsening the conflicts is greatly dangerous to the country." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic armed organization, has trained and supported the People's Defense Force (PDF) troops. 

And then, they attacked the Tatmadaw's military camps. Moreover, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the PDF waged terrorist attacks. And a drug smuggling gang including the Arakan Army (AA) was identified and arrested. 

Next, the Chin National Front (CNF) is conducting terrorist acts in Chin State in collaboration with the Chin Defense Force (CDF). In addition, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) attacked border trade routes including the Tatmadaw's military camps, he said.

However, he didn't mention the disloyal armed groups by name. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) have supported so-called PDFs and are conducting terrorist acts, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Battles are severely ongoing between the Tatmadaw and  armed groups including the KIA, TNLA, MNDAA, AA, KNU, CNF, KNPP, PNLO and ABSDF. And the Tatmadaw is fighting with the PDFs that are being supported by the EAOs.

CNI News

1 Feb 2024

Democracy could not implemented by trying to hold election under the 2008 Constitution, said in the statement jointly released by the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the National Unity Government (NUG). 

The Tatmadaw that has taken power violated the provisions of the 2008 Constitution and so, the constitution had been illegal, said in the statement.

" According the 2008 Constitution, trying to hold election cannot implement democracy. But it legitimizes the coup and allows the Tatmadaw to rule the country for an unlimited period. The Tatmadaw must not be allowed to participate in the future political process. A new constitution of federal and democracy that can be accepted by all the stakeholders is needed for the implementation of self-determinism, national equal rights, democracy, peace and stability." said in the statement.  

While seeing the Defense Minister of the NUG

The state contained to abolish the 2008 Constitution for good, to combat any attempt that revives it and to draft and enact a constitution based on a federal and democratic system. Two general elections were held under the 2008 Constitution and democracy could be implemented, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party), told CNI News.

" As we were able to implement democracy, from 2010 to 2020, two general elections were held for two governments. The democratic system must be practiced gradually. According to the current situation of Myanmar, some limitations are still needed. Our democracy is still young. There were inconveniences even in the last two elections. We have to change gradually to democracy." he said.

The statement described only their policies and the public would make a decision whether democracy could be implemented under the 2008 Constitution or not, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing the NUG

" They have released their opinion. History will go depending on whom most of the people support. There are two kinds of the public support. One is asking for support by pointing guns at the people and the other is asking for help by holding democratic elections. Depending on the current situation, the public will make a decision." he said.

The State Administration Council has said that the census-taking would be conducted all over the country in 2024 and the State power would be handed over to the winning party after a general election had been held.

CNI News

1 Feb 2024

South Korea has not contacted to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar for 2024, U Nyunt Win, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour, CNI News.

Although Myanmar and South Korea have discussed to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar, there has been no contact from South Korea up to now, he said.

" It's right that we have discussed. They have offered to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar. But they haven't contacted. If they contact, we will continue in accordance with the rules and procedure. If they don't contact, we can't send the workers." he said.

Myanmar amd South Korea have signed an MoU to send seasonal workers from Myanmar and the Ministry of Labor has allowed to send Myanmar workers to South Korea, Ministrty of Labor told media on 19th December 2023.

He did not want to tell whether it was right or not that Myanmar was not included in the countries from which seasonal workers would be recruited by South Korea, U Kyunt Win told CNI News.

According to South Korean newspapers,  South Korea have agreed to call seasonal workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos. But Myanmar was not included.

Migrant workers who came to South Korea to work as seasonal workers _ their rights have been increasingly violated since last year, Ko Khant Nay Kyi, in charge of the centre for supporting migrant workers, told CNI News.

There are 15 countries that have agreed with South Korea to send workers on E9 (labor hiring system) visas. However, not all the 15 countries have been included in the countries from which seasonal workers must be sent to South Korea. So,  it was too early to say whether Myanmar was included in the countries that must send seasonal workers, he said.

" The companies that send workers abroad want to hear that South Korea is going to call workers so that they can have gathered workers and asked money. Seasonal workers have faced labor rights and human rights violations since last year. This is a testing system only. There were not many problems as families and their relatiuves were called on a small scale." said Ko Khant Nay Kyi.

Myanmar workers who want to work in South Korea have been more interested because the pieces of news related to sending Myanmar seasonal workers to South Korea emerged in the last week of 2023. Seasonal workers have to work for eight months a year.

CNI News

31 January 2024

It would collaborate with friend groups that oppose territorial expansionism and narrow-minded patriotism, the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP/SSA) stated. The SSPP/SSAA held its Annual Plenary Meeting for 2023 of the Central Committee from 20th to 29th January 2024 and released the statement.

The SSPP/SSA opposed dictatorship, chauvinism and expansionism and only when a federal democratic union based on equal rights and self-determinism could be built, would a developed union that could keep abreast with the world be built. Moreover, it would match together with its friends, the SSPP stated on 29th January.

The SSPP has a territorial dispute with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and there is tension between the two sides. 

While seeing the statement released by the SSPP

The TNLA has captured the Tatmadaw's military camps in Namkham Township and made an effort to control the township. However, Namkham Township has been a territory that the SSPP has controlled since before.

There are disputes related to military and administrative territory within Namkham Township between the two sides.

The SSPP would make efforts to protect and maintain regional stability and would carry out for the regional development tasks such as education, agriculture, health, irrigation, road and bridge construction and it would help local people for the improvement of life and food security as able as it could, it stated on 29th January 2024.

CNI News

31 January 2024

A staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State Administration Council attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Laos reportedly. 

The meeting started to be held on 29th January 2024. Myanmar and South China Sea issues would be mainly discussed, said Lao Foreign Minister Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith.

He said that sending a senior staff for the first time by the leaders of the Tatmadaw  who took the State power on 1st February 2021 to attend the ASEAN meeting that was being held in Luang Prabang, a Lao historic city, was a good sign, AP reported.

While seeing Myanmar delegate at the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 29th January 2024

“This time we feel a little bit optimistic that the engagement may work, although we have to admit that the issues that are happening in Myanmar will not resolve overnight,” said Kommasith.

Myanmar has been barred from sending Foreign Minister or a political representative to ASEAN summit talks since the end of 2021.

However, Myanmar sent an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daw Marlar Than Htike, to the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held in Laos, AP reported.

However, the SAC did not report about who was sent as a delegate to the meeting of ASEAN FMs.

CNI News

31 January 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) was not a political government, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC at the meeting of the union government held on 29th January. 

The SAC was a government that was made up mostly of civil servants and free from politics. Moreover, only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions, he said.

" Civil servants have to serve their duties free from party politics and for the interests of the country but not for individuals. So, they need to carry out in accordance with the rules and regulations designated so as not to make weak administration and security incidents emerge. The SAC is free from politics and is not a political government. And the SAC is made up mostly of civil servants and only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While seeing the union government

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

Although the SAC did not represent any political party, it was doing politics, U Than Soe Naing, Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" It is that he has admitted partly. The military council doesn't represent any party. But it's participating in politics. The SAC is trying for the longevity of military dictatorship, holding the 2008 constitution. So, the SAC is not a political party. But it is doing political work. They are working to take census and to hold election. What they said that the SAC is not a political government is nothing short of admitting that it is the military council that came up as a coup government." he said.

While seeing the chief ministers of the states and regions

Myanmar Tatmadaw will have taken power already for three years on 1st February 2024. Saying that the SAC was not a political government was not enough and a government that contained politicians should be formed, U Thet Zaw, a political commentator, told CNI News.

" It's right. If it's a political party, it's not a political government. A political government means an elected government. Only an elected government will become a government that can speak internationally. Only if a government was formed with elected individuals, will international community accept it. Foreign Investments will enter and so will international aids. Sanctions will be lifted. Saying that it's not a political government is not enough. A government that contains real politicians should be formed." he said.

Six months were extended to the state of emergency for the second time at the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council held on 31st July 2023 under the Section 425 of the Constitution and its period will expire on 31st January 2024.

CNI News

31 January 2024

If the rice target alone could be met, the country's economy would improve a lot, said chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the meeting of the union government. 

However, businessmen pointed out that Myanmar should not depend on rice alone because there are many agricultural products in Myanmar.

Foreign currency earned from rice is less than that earned from coffee and oil crops. So, Myanmar should not depend on rice alone, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" In fact, there are many agricultural products that can earn more foreign currency than rice. Only if we export one ton of rice, will we get about 400 dollars. How much can we get even if we export rice by the million tons. It's not a very rich amount of money. There are not many countries that become rice from exporting rice Not many countries get rich from rice exports. Largely, various kinds of products have to be exported. There are products that earn more foreign currency than rice as well. We can earn a lot of foreign currency from exporting coffee, for example. If we can export a lot of coffee, we can earn more foreign currency than rice. In the same way, there are also many oil crops that can earn foreign currency. We should not depend on rice alone, I think." he said.

Farmers grew more rice this year because they received agricultural loans and other aids from the government and relevant businessmen. Moreover, because rice could be sold at a profitable price, farmers made a profit reportedly. 

While bags of rice are being loaded onto a container car

If the markets for agricultural products could be created, cultivation could increase and agricultural products could be exported more, said farmers.

However, if the national income has declined, it would be difficult to maintain by the rice sector alone, U THein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" What is the most important is that it is necessary to link the agricultural products with good, markets. If we could produce three tons of rice and three tons of bean in the previous years, we will be able to produce five to six tons of rice this year, I think. But if the national income has declined, We can't maintain by rice alone. In fact, the income of people working abroad is actually foreign income for this country. But it's necessary to use them systematically." he said.

In comparison with neighboring countries, Myanmar was still weak in technology and businessmen who would invest in rice cultivation were also needed, said farmers.

Vacant or virgin soil should be allowed to be used again for cultivation and inputs such as fuel and fertilizer should be able to be bought easily. 

Moreover, shallow irrigation should be repaired and the government needed to support farmers in buying agricultural machines, said farmers.