CNI News

5 December 2024

As the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army has announced the unilateral ceasefire, China should tell the State Administration Council to cease fire, political commentators told CNI News. 

The MNDAA announced it would politically discuss at the Chinese mediation and start the unilateral ceasefire from 3rd December on. 

Moreover, it would not start fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Myanmar Tatmadaw would have to cease air and ground attacks, which the MNDAA has demanded. 

What the MNDAA demanded is like requesting China to put pressure on the SAC to cease fire so that it would be just and fair, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

" Chinese FM Wang Yi has said that China would relate with all the stakeholders fairly when the discussion and ceasefire are conducted. So, the MNDAA seems to want to tell China that if it is asked to cease fire, the SAC should be asked to do like this so that it will be just and fair."

While seeing the Kokang force has captured the Northeast Command

If the SAC wanted to discuss with the MNDAA, the MNDAA would send a high-level delegate and it had hoped that conflicts and disagreements could be solved with the political means, but it would maintain the self-defense, said in the statement.

As the SAC has lost many territories in northern Shan State, it might not accede to requests to cease offensives, pointed out military and political commentators. Moreover, new facts were not included in the statement of the MNDAA and it was the same as its previous statements. 

That the MNDAA released the statement was likely because the SAC has not ceased fire yet, U Khun Sai who took part in the peace process told CNI News.

" The state doesn't seem to contain any new facts. But it's likely because the SAC hasn't ceased fire. It hasn't been convenient although the statements are being released by the MNDAA and the TNLA. China needs to tell the SAC to cease fire. But I think China has already told the SAC. It seems to be waiting for the SAC's response." he said.

While the Kokang force has controlled Lashio

The similar statement was released by the TNLA before the MNDAA did and the same point, self-defense, was included in both statements. 

So, if the SAC launched offensives, they would defense.

China is putting pressure on organizations concerned to cease fire, and the MNDAA and the TNLA said that they accepted the China's mediation.

With the leadership of the MNDAA and the TNLA, the AA, the PDFs, then-1027 MNDAA and the TNLA launched Operation-1027 in northern Shan State on 27h October 2023 and as the second part, the operation was launched in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region in June, 2024.

During Operation-1027, the SAC lost control of Mogok, Momeik, Thabeikkyin, Sintku, Madaya, Lashio, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Thibaw, Kutkai, Theinni, Namkham, Namtu, Mong Ngor, Mangtong, Nansang, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Kon Kyan, Laukkai and Monko Townships.

CNI News

5 December 2024

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) would send a high-level delegate to discuss with the State Administration Council (SAC), it announced on the night of 3rd December 2024. 

The MNDAA would cease fire where its troops were starting from 3rd December and it would not launch offensives against the Myanmar Tatmadaw; under the Chinese mediation efforts, it hoped that issues concerned including Lashio could be solved with dialogue means, said in the statement.

With the Chinese brokered peace efforts, it would actively cooperate, reported the MNDAA. 

" The MNDAA will send a high-level delegate to discuss with the SAC and it hopes it will be able to seek resolution of the conflicts and disagreements between the two sides with the political means." said in the statement.

While seeing the statement released by the MNDAA

So, the SAC would have to cease its air and ground attacks waging across the country and although the MNDAA supported the political means, it would maintain the self-defense, said in the statement.

Haigeng Discussion was started in Haigeng Hotel, Kunming in order that battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the MNDAA-AA-TNLA could be stopped.

Haigeng discussion was conducted on December 23, 2023 and from 1st to 3rd March, 2024. 

After that, ceasefire was void and the discussion that had been planned to be held in July, 2024 was broken and then the discussion has not been able to be conducted up to now.

CNI News

5 December 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) would invite Russia to study the election that would be held in Myanmar, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC told  Russian State Duma Deputy Chair Mr Sholban Kara-Ool when they met.

Chairman of the SAC said the above when he received the delegate led by Russian State Duma Deputy Chair Mr Sholban Kara-Ool in Naypyidaw on December 3, 2024. 

The SAC was making preparations in order that a free and fair general election could be held and the SAC would invite Russian study groups to study the election, chairman of the SAC told  Russian State Duma Deputy Chair Mr Sholban Kara-Ool.

The election would be held in 2025 and international study groups would be invited to study the election; depending on the security condition, the election would be held in phrases, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. 

The conditions regarding Russian standing with Myanmar firmly on the international front and vice versa were discussed.

In the same way, bilateral cooperation conditions in relation to tourism promotion, trade, production, agricultural technology, production of fertilizer and industrial development were reportedly discussed as well.

CNI News

4 December 2024

All the foreign workers who were working illegally in Thailand have been allowed to stay independently from 28th to 30th December, announced the Thai authorities.

However, it would come into effect only the Thai royal family signed the statement, in charge of labor affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) U Min Oo told CNI News.

" The statement has been issued. It's right. But it can be confirmed only if the royal family sign the statement. It's complex situation for them. There are three groups to be renewed - firstly foreign workers who have been working in Thailand for long, secondly undocumented workers and  thirdly, dependents. When all of them are registered online, there are some difficulties. To the best of my knowledge, the Myanmar side has demanded to pay the tax when the documents are renewed. Myanmar migrant workers have to transfer the money to their families in Myanmar. According to the MoU, MoU workers have to go back to their native countries. It's difficult quite a bit because there are a lot of employers." he said.

The statement applies to all undocumented workers and those who are working with PV, PJ and CI documents. 

While seeing a worker holding a Thai Pink ID card

Although all illegal foreign workers are allowed to stay independently, employers must have reported personal data of their workers to the labor management office in the territories concerned.

All the workers had been allowed to stay independently in the past and if the workers stayed beyond the period designated, they might be arrested, Ko Moe Lay, a Myanmar migrant worker in Thailand, told CNI News.

" The Thai authorities make a list of workers including where undocumented workers are staying. And then undocumented workers are not arrested. If they go beyond the area designated, they will be taken action against. But after one month, there might be arrests. The SAC want to collect the tax from those who will apply documents, visa, and work permit in February 2025." he said.

The Thai Ministry of Labor has urged undocumented workers to apply Thai pink ID cards in December at the latest.

Although this case has been confirmed at the Thai cabinet meeting on September 24, Thai PM has not signed to confirm it.

CNI News

4 December 2024

The security company that is being planned to be established jointly by China and Myanmar might be transformed from an armed organization, a Myanmar political commentator, U Than Soe Naing told CNI News. 

The Chinese government is discussing with Myanmar to build a joint security company in order that the Chinese investments and projects in Myanmar could be protected.

The working committee on building the China-Myanmar security company was formed on October 22, 2024 by the State Administration Council (SAC) and the SAC is studying the possibilities. 

If the foreign forces entered Myanmar, the situation could be complex and the forces might be transformed from armed organizations, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing the workplace of Gold Natural Gas Pipeline Project on Madei Island in Kyauk Phyu Township, Rakhine State

" It will be more complex, that is to say, if foreign armed elements that you don't know where they are from and what kind of uniform they wear and what kinds of weapons they have maintained, Myanmar people have no business to accept that. A civil war is breaking out in Myanmar and Chinese interests are threatened when the military council can't take responsibility for that. The SAC has agreed to let foreign security elements enter Myanmar. It's more likely that they are transformed armed elements. We all should protest against it." he said

Although Chinese private security companies have mainly intended to protect the Chinese projects along the Silk Road Project, they might join the Myanmar Tatmadaw to fight against revolutionary forces, said in an article of the US based the Eurasia on December 2.

Moreover, because Chinese private security companies entered Myanmar, the civil war could be more severe and diplomatic tensions could emerge as well, stated the South China Morning Post on November 28.

If the China-Myanmar joint security company was established, If undesirable forces entered and attacked the designated area where security forces were deployed, rules that could respond could be included, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), Dr. Aye Maung told CNI News.

While seeing Private Security Companies called PSCs

" The Chinese interests will have to be protected in accordance with the law. As long as their interests are not affected, security staff could be within the designated area. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is long and battles are breaking out along the BRI. If undesirable forces enter and attack the area where security staffs are deployed, rules that security staffs can respond could be included in the agreement and how they can cooperate with the security forces within the country." he said.

Because foreign security forces who would enter Myanmar would take security responsibility with a few staff, they could have maintained hi-tech weapons, pointed out political analysts.

China is using private security companies called PSCs that have been formed with former soldiers to protect its interests and projects as well as their staffs in Middle Asia, Middle East and Africa where armed conflicts are taking place.

CNI News

4 December 2024

A Thai fishing boat was detained in Myanmar waters and there were fatalities or injuries, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council (SAC) on December 2, 2024. 

The fishing boat was arrested in the Myanmar waters near Kawthaung, Myanmar on November 30, 2024 by a Myanmar navy ship and 31 crew members - 27 Myanmar nationals and four Thai nationals, he said.

" Myanmar navy didn't enter the Thai waters to arrest the Thai fishing boat, but in the Myanmar waters. There were no fatalities or injuries.  Thai fishing boats were arrested in accordance with the procedures of the law. There were no fatalities or injuries." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun. 

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn

Crew members in the Thai fishing boat detained are being inspected and the Thai government has been informed of it, reported the SAC.

The fishing boat was owned by a Thai national who lives in Ranong, Thailand and it left at 3:00 pm and entered Myanmar waters at 9:00 pm on November 29 and caught fish, said Mag-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Among those who were working in the fishing boat, a Thai national earned 15,000 baht a month and a Myanmar national, 12,000 baht reportedly.

A Thai fishing boat was arrested in the Thai waters and a crew member was killed, said the Thai media adding that Thai PM Paetongtarn has protested against the incident.

CNI News

4 December 2024

Although battles between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have suspended in Paletwa, Chin State, Paletwa locals are deserting their town because commodity prices are higher and there are no job opportunities reportedly. 

Although residents of Paletwa have avoided battles since January this year, at present,  residents are deserting the town more.

Lots of the displaced persons left for the India border areas and some of them went to the villages where hill-side cultivation could be conducted. 

Moreover, the locals have arrived in Yangon where there are lots of job opportunities by the thousand, U Kyaw Khin, a Paletwa local told CNI News.

While seeing Palet local IDPs

" Some of locals evade to the India border areas or went into India. Some went and are staying in the villages where they suppose are safe. Paletwa locals have already arrived in Yangon by the thousand. Samee is the same as Paletwa. The locals have no income there. They can go on living in a place where they can make a living. Even though there are no more battles there, if they have no income there, it will be very difficult for them to go on living." he said.

Paletwa Township depend on goods coming from Rakhine State and due to the current battles, it is difficult to make goods from Rakhine State enter Paletwa. 

Moreover, the transportation is not convenient for goods coming from Pakokku Township due to battles.

While seeing an IDP

Many Paletwa locals are government employees and at present, because the government mechanism has suspended, they are finding it more difficult; it is not convenient for them to do other jobs reportedly.

"In Paletwa, most town dwellers are government employees and some are NGO staffs. And some are religious leaders. They are most town dwellers. Because the government mechanism has ruined, it's been very difficult for the livelihood of government staffs and their families in the town. In the villages there, people are doing hill-side cultivation. There are no factories and workshops. When the government mechanism operated there, people were working in the government's projects building road and bridge." said a Paletwa local.

Among over 100,000 people who were living in Paletwa ownship, about 50,000 have displaced because of battles, according to those who are helping IDPs.

CNI News

4 December 2024

Revolutionary EAOs should sign a bilateral agreement with NCA signatories to make ethnic representatives show up on the political platform, chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin told CNI News. 

The ALP is an EAO that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 15th October 2015.

The government needed to think about how it would open the way in order to make ethnic representatives show up on the platform by finishing the talks that were not finished, said Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin.

" Revolutionary EAOs should sign a bilateral agreement firstly with NCA signatories in order to make ethnic representatives show up on the political platform. And the government needs to think about how it can open the way for the ethnic representatives to make them reach on the political platform after finishing the talks that are not finished. Myanmar is a country where a civil war is breaking out. So, firstly it's necessary to cease the war. On the other hand, it's very important to talk with each NCA signatory trying to solve the political problem by political means." she said.

While seeing leaders and representatives from various ethnic organizations

Ethnic representatives needed participating in the political platform more so that they could demand for the sake of their regions and their races in accordance with the law, said chairman of the SAC on 19th November. 

The SAC was carrying out to implement the proportional representation system  in order that more representatives representing social classes could include in the Hluttaws of Regions and States, he added.

EAOs and political parties had had intension since before to cooperate in the political dialogues; however, those situabilateraltions had disappeared for many reasons and armed conflicts appeared, spokesperson of the 7 EAO Alliance, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt told CNI News.

" We, national races, as EAOs or political parties, we had intended to cooperate in holding political dialogues since before. But these situations disappeared for many reasons and armed conflicts appeared. Political dialogues have almost suspended. As the SAC that has taken the State responsibilities, if it should be generous and tolerate to make the situations leading the future peace, all inclusive dialogue will emerge although there are difficulties, I believe." he said.

While leaders of EAOs and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

Without solving political problems with political means, if they were solved with weapons, it would produce the condition that was not peaceful; the current conflicts could be solved with dialogue after reducing the conflicts, said chairman of the SAC in his written speech on the National Day.

The NCA has signed by the RCSS, the LDU, the KNU/KNLA-PC, the DKBA, the PNLO, the KNU, the CNF and the ABSDF. 

However, the KIA, the AA, the TNLA, the MNDAA, the KNPP, that have not signed the NCA as well as the KNU, the CNF and the ABSDF are waging battles against the Myanmar Tatmadaw while the NDAA, the UWSA and the SSPP are staying neutral.

CNI News

3 December  2024

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant for Myanmar military commander-in-chief, Sr. Gen. Min Aung on 27th November, alleging his responsibility for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of the Rohingya committed in Myanmar and in part in Bangladesh between August and December 2017, which could not impact on Myanmar, Myanmar issue analysts told CNI News.

As Myanmar is not a member of the ICC and has not signed, the actions of the ICC would not impact on Myanmar, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategy Studies, U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News.

" No.1, Myanmar is not a member of the ICC and hasn't signed the agreement regarding the ICC. Among the ASEAN countries, Cambodia and Timor-Leste only are the members of the ICC. They also signed the agreement because according to their political history they needed to do so. But the processes of the ICC might not convenient for some countries. The history of Myanmar is a bit complicated. There are a lot of complications on the ground in some countries for which it will be just an embarrassment. As Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, no matter what kinds of actions they are taking outside Myanmar, it won't impact on Myanmar." he said.

While seeing chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan

Myanmar is a member of the ICC and it never recognize the statements released by the ICC; Myanmar is practicing a free, active and non-aligned foreign policy in relation with other countries as well as a peaceful co-existence policy, responded the SAC.

That application for the arrest warrant just could affect the political dignity of the SAC and it couldn't be effect, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs commentator, told CNI News.

" It can't impact on Myanmar. The ICC has released lots of announcements. It can affect the political dignity of Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. But the public is heartened because the ICC prosecutor has requested the arrest warrant for a military dictator who is torturing them as he like. And it's invigorated for the propaganda as well. But it doesn't make any difference. The ICC has released lots of statements. It wasn't able to solve anything effective." she said.

While seeing Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

The request of the ICC prosecutor to arrest warrant for Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC was welcomed, said in the statements released by the National Unity Government (NUG), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Chin National Front (CNF) on 30th November 2024. 

Myanmar is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court. 

The Court has no jurisdiction over acts committed by nationals of non-State Parties on the territory of a non-State Party, unless referred to it by the UN Security Council, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning at the regular press conference on 28th November.