CNI News

30 July 2024

Although the Myanmar Embassy has stated that Myanmar government employees who have already arrived in Thailand could apply for the cancellation of the blacklist, it was necessary to announce how the arrangements have been made for them, those working on the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

Because those who wanted to apply would have to apply at the Myanmar Embassy only, it was difficult for them. 

However, most of the employees would not apply for the cancellation of the blacklist, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

" There are many people who don't know whether they are blacklisted or not. It's difficult for those who have already arrived in distant townships because they have to go to the embassy to apply. It depends on the perception of the majority. And it also depends on their role in the anti-government activities. But I don't think the majority will apply. Moreover, it depends on what arrangements have been made in order to make the applicants convenient." he said.

According to the statement released by the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, government employees are applying for the cancellation of the blacklist. 

While seeing those who urge to join in the CDM

Those who want to apply have to write a letter that has described the reason why they deserted their workplaces and together with the letter, they have to submit their photos taken during the past six months, addresses, passports and national verification cards as well as other documents they want to add in person or through post office.

Because the Myanmar authorities did not match words with work, former Myanmar government employees in Thailand didn't believe in asking them to apply, U Aung Kyaw from  the Labor Rights Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

" I consider this to be a trick. I find the former government employees don't believe it because the Myanmar authorities never match words with work. The Myanmar government tries to reduce international pressure, I think. Most former government employees here in Thailand are youths. In 1988, youths were cheated. But as new generation knows the current global events every minute, no one believes it." he said.

In the following of political changes in 2021, so many Myanmar people including CDM government employees fled to Thailand.

Most of those who fled made evidence cards issued by the Thai government and are working in Thailand.

CNI News

30 July 2024

The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) stated that it would protect the stability of southern Shan State and the lives and properties of the public, working hand in hand with the public. 

Because the Shan State people were suffering loss of their homes, properties and lives as well as injuries, displacing, hardships of children, women, older people due to battles in northern Shan State, it was sorry for the people, said in the announcement of the second quarter meeting of the RCSS held on 29th July.

According to the manpower of the revolutionary forces in northern Shan State, the revolutionary forces could enter southern Shan State, but they might have no military objective in southern Shan State, Col-Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

" According to the manpower of the revolutionary forces, they might enter southern Shan State. Kokang and Palaung groups that are fighting against the Tatmadaw as well as Kokang, Wa, and the SSPP groups from northern Shan State - we don't know what their long-term strategy here in southern Shan State is. But, the SSPP forces come to Mongpun and Loilem every so often. They possibly could enter southern Shan State. But they don't seem to have a great military objective. The Wa group pays more attention to the east side of the Salween River. So, I think, places around Hopong and Taunggyi are non-combat zones at the moment." he said.

Some townships in southern Shan State are stable as non-combat zones at present. However, some revolutionary forces from the Karenni region come to southern Shan State and fight against the Tatmadaw, Col-Khun Okkar added.

While seeing the RCSS force

In the eastern and middle parts that can be said combat-zones, there are the Myanmar Tatmadaw, the RCSS, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO/PNA) and the Pa-O Militia of the Kaungkhe region. 

The RCSS doesn't get on well with the SSPP. But the SSPP is an ally of the rest groups including the PNO/PNA. 

Even if the SSPP came down to southern Shan State, they could use the channel on the east side of the Salween River. 

“Southern part is safe at present except for some Karenni elements who come and fight against the Tatmadaw and its allies. Taking advantage of this situation, the RCSS said it would protect the stability of southern Shan State." he said.

If the RCSS closely cooperate with both the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the PNO/PNA, southern Shan State could be stable, he added. Although CNI News tried to contact information officers of the RCSS by phone about it, it has not been able to get in touch with them.

During more than three years after the Tatmadaw took power, due to the outbreak of fighting all over the country, the economic decline, the increase in human rights violations, and the weak law enforcement, the people are facing so many social problems and difficulties, stated the RCSS.

Organizations concerned should meet and discuss to cease fire and to resolve through dialogue for the establishment of a federal democratic union, urged the RCSS.

CNI News

29 July 2024

The Wa forces entered and stationed themselves in Lashio and controlled some places while the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

MNDAA was waging battles to occupy Lashio City and the Northeastern Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Lashio, northern Shan State, said individuals close to the Wa forces. 

The Wa forces entered Lashio City on the night of 27th July and had occupied important places of the city, three sources close to both the State Administration Council (SAC) and the Wa forces, told CNI News.

Although CNI News phoned U Nyi Yan, liaison officer of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Lashio Regarding the entry of "W" force into Lashio city, it still could not.

The Wa forces entered Lashio according to the permission from Naypyidaw and they still didn't know about the agreement in detail, said the sources.

The MNDAA and joint forces are severely launching an offensive to the Northeastern Command and has already seized control of some places in Lashio. 

However, China is putting pressure on the MNDAA and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to stop operations and has cut out internet connection, electricity and closed border gates within the territories that have been controlled by the MNDAA and the TNLA.

The Chinese government informed TNLA and MNDAA of three things. According to these notices, the MNDAA and the TNLA could stop fire after the end of July and thy were fighting to seize as many territories as they could, said a person close to the northern allies.

The TNLA and the MNDAA allowed the Wa forces to control Hopang and Pan Lon during Operation-1027 first part that was launched on 27th October, 2023.

Moreover, during the second part of Operation-1027 that has been waging since 25th June, 2024, Naypyidaw allowed the Wa force to control Tangyan Township. Moreover, Naypyidaw allowed the Wa force to enter and control Lashio on 27th July.

CNI News

27 July 2024

If overseas employment agencies failed to send personal information of workers who were sent abroad between April, 2023 and December, 2023, the agencies
would be suspended and be fined, announced the Directorate of Labor. 

The agencies that have not sent the list of personal information of workers up to now must send to the directorate before 26th July and if they failed, they would be taken action against, warned the directorate.

" Because it's a ministry that goes under the management of the minister, action might or might not be taken against. If the situation is getting worse, action might be taken against. The notification has been released. Any agency hasn't been taken action . The charts have been sent to agencies. Agencies must fill the charts and send them to the directorate. The agencies that fail to send will be taken action against, said in the e-mail sent by the directorate." said U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Agency.

While workers are making preparations to work abroad

According to the figure latest released by the directorate, the number of agencies that failed to send personal information of workers is over 200. Because the Ministry of Labor has tightened overseas employment agencies more, the agencies are facing a crisis.

Due to an age limit on men who will work abroad,there has been a lack of employment opportunities for the agencies, an official from an overseas employment agency told CNI News.

" The problem for agencies is that their business is not convenient now because of an age limit. Moreover, demand letters have been scarce. Malaysia has suspended calling recruits from foreign countries. Offering jobs from Thailand had decreased by about 70 percent. At present, those who leave for Japan are the most." he said.

There are currently over 500 licensed overseas employment agencies and they are reportedly sending nearly 20,000 workers abroad. The ministry is reportedly monitoring whether workers abroad transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families or not and putting pressure on agencies to make workers abroad transfer money.

CNI News

27 July 2024

Employees who are currently serving the State and retired government servants enjoying pension have been allowed to enjoy a monthly grant - 30,000 Kyats, stated on 26th July the Ministry of Planning and Finance.

Every government servant has been allowed to enjoy a monthly grant-30,000 Kyats plus current salaries since October 2023. Again, more 30,000 Kyats will be given to them as a monthly grant starting from August, 2024, said in the statement. 

Moreover, every retired government servant will be allowed to enjoy a monthly grant-30,000 Kyats from August, 2024, said in the statement.

CNI News

27 July 2024

Most party members of the Arakan National Party (ANP) are no longer willing to register as a political party again, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the Policy Steering Committee of the ANP, told CNI News. 

Because the ANP's party registration application was not in accordance with the Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Act, the application had been rejected, the Union Election Commission stated on 1st July, 2024.

" After saying that our party got entangled with Section-7, the UEC has rejected us. As a political party, we had already done the things to be done in accord with the law. But as we believe that the State doesn't want our party to exist as a political party anymore, we'll go on standing carefully in Myanmar politics. The members of the party have considered acting according to the law. But most of us don't want to register as a political party anymore." said U Tun Aung Kyaw from the ANP to CNI News.

While seeing the ANP party

Laws and Bylaws on Re-Registration of Political Parties were released on 31st January 2023 by the UEC which asked political parties to register. 

And then, most political parties including the ANP registered and over a year later, the UEC refused the ANP's application to be registered after saying the party got entangled with Section-7.

The organizations that support directly or indirectly an organization that has been declared an illegal association, or an armed organization that goes against the State, or organizations or individuals designated by the state as committing terrorist acts are not allowed to apply for registration, said in the Section-7 of the Political Parties Registration Law.

They would never abandon the belief that political problems must be solved through political means and if they could participate as a political party sometime in the future, they would, added U Tun Aung Kyaw.

While seeing two leaders of the AA

" We are a political party based on our state and our Rakhine nationality. We carried out honestly in accordance with the law for the national interests to solve the political problem through political means. We'll never abandon the belief that the political problem will be solved by the political means. So, when good opportunities arise in the future, we will participate in politics for the interests of the union." he said.

The ANP is a powerful Rakhine political party and it won in the general elections with most seats. At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Arakan (AA) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Rakhine State.

Former members of the Hluttaw from the ANP joined the AA and because some top leaders of the ANP are family members of the AA leaders, the UEC possibly refused to register the ANP, said political analysts.

CNI News

27 July 2024

Garment and other industries in Myanmar are losing skilled workers, business people and those helping in the labor affairs told CNI News. 

Many skilled workers left the country to work in foreign countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and China through legal or illegal channels because they got low wages and they demanded to raise their wages, but in vain.

So, entrepreneurs were facing a skilled labor shortage, Ma Myo Myo Aye, who was helping in the labor affairs, told CNI News.

While seeing the garment industry

" Employment is not rare. But skilled laborers don't do low-wage jobs. They feel their skills and wages do not match. So, they resigned from their jobs. Those who remained in the workplaces are unskilled laborers. Entrepreneurs can't keep skilled laborers for long because they can't raise wages. Skilled laborers demanded employers to raise wages. But because their demands were met, most of them go abroad." he said.

Although ordinary workers could be trained within a short time to become skilled workers for some industries, it was not easy to do so for other industries, said businessmen.

Entrepreneurs were different from one another in tackling skilled workers. Some entrepreneurs can manage so as not to make skilled workers resign, U Ne Lin, a restaurant entrepreneur, told CNI News.

While seeing a KFC fried chicken shop

" If a skilled worker leaves my restaurant, I train another worker. We don't have to train them for long for some things. We need to train workers for four or six months for technological things. Technological industries would suffer more if their skilled workers left. Because many skilled workers have gone abroad, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of skilled workers within the country." he said.

Because many people from many parts of the country moved to Yangon as IDPs, more new workers have arrived in the factories and workshops. So, although labor shortages do not occur, most of the migrants are reportedly not skilled workers.

CNI News

26 July  2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing how the military situation is going in northern Shan State where battles are severely breaking out. 

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) reported that it had captured the Northeastern Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Lashio City, northern Shan State at 4:00 am on 25th July.

However, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council, denied the report. 

" It's not correct. Because the insurgents have infiltrated into the suburbs of Lashio, the Tatmadaw troops are chasing and fighting against them." he said. 

At present, there are reportedly heavy weapon firing, air strike and attacks between the two sides within Lashio City.

While seeing the Myanmar Tatmadaw

Although the MNDAA has announced that it would cease fire until the end of July, battles would continue to be breaking out, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" Due to China's pressure, it's been limited for the MNDAA to attack Lashio in full force. But the fighting between the MNDAA troops surrounding Lashio and the Myanmar Army, as well as between the TNL forces in NawngHkio and the Myanmar Army will continue. The battles in Myanmar might be more severe." he said.

The battles broke out again between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State on 25th June and the battles are breaking out between the two sides in Lashio, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Mogok, Madaya and Sintku.

The fighting has been quiet for 3 days in Kyaukme where battles have severely broken out; There are shootings with heavy weapons and 90 percent residents of Kyaukme have fled to safety, a resident of Kyaukme told CNI News.

While seeing the MNDAA force

" Battles haven't broken out for three days in Kyaukme. There are shootings with heavy weapons from the 501 and 592 battalions outside the town. There were no battles inside the town until yesterday (24th July). I still don't know the situation this morning (25th July)." he said.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has reported that the TNLA and joint forces have captured Nawnghkio, Sintku and Mogok towns during the second wave of Operation-1027. However, the SAC hasn't reported anything about that.

China is putting great pressure on the MNDAA and the TNLA to stop fighting. If the TNLA and the MNDAA didn't stop fighting, China would provide effective weapons assistance to the Myanmar Army and leaders of the TNLA and the MNDAA would be taken action against. 

So, the battles might stop at the end of July and the TNLA and the MNDAA might be fighting to get more territories as much as they could, said a person close to the northern ally group.

CNI News

26 July 2024

The former Chairperson of the Karen National Union (KNU) Naw Zipporah Sein passed away somewhere on the Thai-Myanmar border, according to those close to her. 

Naw Zipporah Sein was daughter of former Chairman of the KNU Tamalabaw and she was born in Karen State in 1955.

While seeing Naw Zipporah Sein (Irrawaddy)

She worked as a school teacher until 1995 and served as the general secretary of the Karen Women Union that helps the Karen women refugees from 1988 to 2008.

She was elected as Vice Chairperson of the KNU in 2012 and took part in the peace process. She was known as a hardliner within the KNU and was obviously quite suspicious of the Myanmar Tatmadaw, said the people who participated in the peace process.