CNI News

2 July 2024

Because there had been a sharp increase in the number of people who went abroad, the shortage of farm workers was getting worse, the people who are doing business of agricultural industry told CNI News. 

Although the shortage of farm workers was since before; youths wanted to earn a lot of income by going abroad to work rather than working on farms, U Aung Thein Hla, a farmer, told CNI News.

"Farm workers are now scarcer. When we were young, those who works on the farm were youths and middle-aged men. But now men at the about 60 years of age can be found on the farms. Most of the people who went abroad found it difficult for their livelihood.
 Moreover, even children of farm owners are not interested in working on the farms and then they also went abroad as well. Some people who went abroad are convenient, but others, not." he said.

In reaping the paddy, because of higher price of fuel, when the workers are hired to harvest, due to the shortage of workers, there were a lot of wastage of paddy, he added.

Because of low wages and hard work on the farms since before, youths and young men were not interested in the work. So, the shortage of workers has been taking place.

While paddy is being transplanted

Moreover, among industries facing labor shortages, agricultural industry is facing the worst situation. As a result of labor shortage, productivity has declined, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

" We are facing labor shortage - both white collars and blue collars. The agricultural sector has faced labor shortage since before. But at present, it's facing the worst situation. It's necessary to find a solution why the labor shortage is taking place. Is it because the policy has been tightened? Policy makers need to make a decision to tackle the problem." he said.

While there has been labor shortage, because battles are breaking out in some regions and states, agricultural industry is being mainly conducted in Ayeyarwady, Bago Regions and around Naypyidaw reportedly.

Moreover, because of higher prices of fuel and inputs as well as difficult transportation in some regions, commodity prices are also going up.

CNI News

2 July 2024

Some IDPs from Loikaw couldn't still go home because of the battles that broke out in Loikaw, a Loikaw IDP told CNI News.

Residents could live in some parts of Loikaw City and it was unlikely for some residents to go home because their houses were burnt down or destroyed, he added.

"I haven't gone back to Loikaw for seven months. I can't go home because my house was burnt down. Some residents can go home because their houses were not destroyed. I have no plan to go back up to now. I'll consider to go home one day when everyone can live peacefully." said a Loikaw IDP.

While seeing the KNDF Force

After Karenni revolutionary forces launched Operation-1111 on 11th November 2023, battles severely broke out in Loikaw and residents of the city had to flee to safety.

The operation contains the Karenni Army (KA), the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), the Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF), the Demoso People's Defense Force (DMO-PDF), the Loikaw People's Defense Force (Loikaw-PDF), the Mobye People's Defense Force, the Battalion-1006 of Pekon People's Defense Force and southern Shan State People's Defense Force.

And then those who avoided battles fled to southern Shan State and some IDPs had gone back home reportedly. 

In order that administrative mechanisms could be functioned again in Loikaw, the State Administration Council (SAC) has instructed its staff to come back to the city in August. 

Moreover, the SAC has instructed the Taunggyi-Loikaw passenger bus lines to resume their operation starting from 1st July, 2024 reportedly.

While the Kayah State Government is checking for the security of Loikaw City and has carried out for the resettlement

" I don't go back home because we can't get in touch with the other side (people in Loikaw) by phone. So, I don't know whether the situation there is good or not." said a Loikaw IDP.

Either of the two sides has not be able to capture Loikaw City up to now and battles are breaking out every so often, according to locals. Nearly 40,000 residents of Loikaw had to move to Pinlaung, Sesai, Nyaung Shwe and Taunggyi in southern Shan State.

The SAC stated on 15th June, 2024 that things had been back to normal in Loikaw and arrangements were being made to resettle IDPs. However, some residents are finding it difficult to go home because they are worried for their security.

CNI News

2 July 2024

With the intention of causing economic chaos, rice traders, owners of rice mills, rice shops and shopping centers who were raising the prices of rice excessively in the domestic rice market were attested and taken action against, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on the night of 30th June, 2024.

As it was reported that the prices of rice were being sold at exorbitant prices, security organizations checked 102 rice warehouses, 25 rice mills, seven shops, 58 rice and paddy entrepreneurs in Regions and States including Naypyidaw whether they were selling rice at reasonable prices that were monthly announced by the Myanmar Rice Federation. 

After that, 27 rice and paddy entrepreneurs who sold rice at the price 10 percent more than that designated, and 24 rice and paddy entrepreneurs, at the price 11 to 20 percent more and seven rice entrepreneurs, at the prices 31 to 70 percent more were found.

Fine and additional taxes will be collected from 24 rice entrepreneurs who sold rice at 11 to 30 percent more than the set price. 

The seven rice entrepreneurs who sold rice at 31 to 70 percent more that the set price would be taken action against under the Section-5 of the 2012 Important Goods and Services Act, stated the SAC.

The seven entrepreneurs are director of the Global Myanmar Trading U Lin Ko Ko Naing, owner of Yadanabon Rice Mill U Kyaw Zaw Lin, owner of Kanbawza rice trading business U Myint Swe, director of Theingi Rice Mill and Brokers' Sales Center U Lin Htut Naing, in charge of Sein Ngar Bwint Rice Shop U Thein Oo, owner of Thitsarshin Rice and Edible Oil Trading U Aung Tin and in charge of Thant Rice Shop U Win Zaw.

In the same way, 53 shopping centers and stores that sold ready-packaged rice bags of various weights at the higher prices than those monthly designated by the MRF were checked by the security organizations which found that a store sold the bags of rice at the price 20 percent higher than that designated, 30 shopping centers and stores that sold at 21 to 50 percent higher than that designated and 22 shopping centers that sold at 51 to 70 percent higher than that designated, announced the SAC.

Moreover, some shopping centers and stores unnecessarily added expenses for promotional activities and company employees to the selling prices, said in the statement.

So, 30 shopping centers and stores that sold rice at the price 21 to 50 percent higher than that designated would be fined and collected additional taxes. However, four responsible persons from 22 shopping centers that sold rice at the price 51 to 70 percent higher than that designated would be taken action against under the 2012 Important Goods and Service Act, stated the SAC.

The four persons are director of One Stop Mart U Myo Thant, the CEO of City Mart Holding U Phyo Min Kyaw, Managing Director of Sein Gay Har Trading U Maung Maung Win, and director of Aeon Orange Mr.Kasamatsu Hiroshi.

The SAC would continue to take action against those who sell rice at the prices higher than reasonable ones and the people could complain to the authorities if they found those who raised the price and sold rice, reported the SAC.

CNI News

1 July 2024

Myanmar Ex-President U Thein Sein was invited by the Chinese government to attend 70th anniversary celebration of the approval of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that was held on 28th June. 

U Thein Sein went to China on a Tatmadaw (Air) special plane and attended the ceremony.

Chinese media reported photos of U Thein Sein and Xi Jinping shaking hands at the event.

The Bandung Conference that was held in Bandung City, Indonesia in 1955 was attended by the leaders of 29 countries from Asia and Africa and they approved the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that were agreed by China, India and Myanmar.

While it was difficult to find a solution to the widening political conflict in Myanmar, emergence of U Thein Sein's visit to China might bring effects, reviewed political analysts.

CNI News

29 June 2024

When Myanmar citizens who have been waiting to go back to Myanmar with CI (certificate of identity) are arrested, if they can show complete documents to officials concerned, they will be released, Myanmar people living in Malaysia told CNI News. 

A Myanmar citizen or an alien who will go back to the native country - when he was arrested, if he can show complete documents including an unexpired passport or a CI sheet issued by his embassy, an air ticket, a sheet stating that a fine has been paid at the Malaysian immigration department and exit pass that allows to leave Malaysia, he will be exempt from being arrested.

If a foreigner who would go back home has an unexpired passport or a CI sheet and hadn't paid a fine, he would not be exempt from being arrested, Ko Thet, chairman of the Lovely Hearts Philanthropic Youths Blood Donors Organization, told CNI News.

" A Myanmar citizen who have drawn the CI from the Myanmar Embassy and then fingerprinted at the Malaysian Immigration Department will be exempt from being arrested. If you have only CI alone, you won't be exempt from being arrested. You have been allowed to stay in Malaysia for two weeks after you have fingerprinted at the Malaysian Immigration Department. If you don't have a passport, you have to go to the Myanmar Embassy and draw your CI after showing your national verification card and list of the members of household. Only if you have the CI sheet, can you fingerprint at the Malaysian Immigration Department." he said.

While a foreigner who wanted to go home with CI was fingerprinting at the Malaysian Immigration Department

If you have paid a fine, you will have 14 days to go home. If you don't go home within 14 days, you will be arrested. In the past, the Malaysian government allowed undocumented foreigners who wanted to go home with CI after fining about 3,000 Ringgits.

However, this year those who want to go home must pay 500 Ringgits for a fine and 100 Ringgits for exit pass, stated the Myanmar Embassy.

" Overstayers had no jobs. They didn't have enough money to go home. In the past, if they went home, it would cost them about 5,000 Ringgits. So, they couldn't go home. But now they can go home. The Malaysian government doesn't want overstayers to be in Malaysia anymore. When CI sheets were given in the past, the Malaysian authorities didn't arrest overstayers. But even when CI sheets are given, are there arrests because there are so many overstayers in Malaysia." said Ko Par who stays in Malaysia, told CNI News.

There are about 600,000 undocumented foreigners in Malaysia and going back to native countries with CI has been allowed from 1st March to December.

At the start of the program for going back to native country with CI, although there were many people who wanted to go home, now there has been a sharp decrease in the number of the people who want to go home. 

So, the Malaysian authorities are threatening overstayers or illegal residents by arresting.

CNI News
June 28, 2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing and discussing if former president U Thein Sein's visit to China had an impact on the Myanmar political conflict.

Former U Thein Sein's visit to China came when the battles resumed in northern Shan State and his visit might impact on the Haigen Agreement between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood alliance (TNLA-AA-MNDAA) to an extent, said some people.

U Thein Sein's visit was kind of searching for the relation path again, Col.Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, told CNI News.

“When U Thein Sein goes to China to attend a conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that were laid down at the Bangung Conference, he might discuss other issues with the Chinese leaders. In my opinion, agreements cannot be reached in one go. But building the relation path again, it's searching for a way to make things stable kind of." he said.

The Bandung Conference that was held in Bandung City, Indonesia in April, 1955 was attended by the leaders of 29 countries from Asia and Africa and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence agreed by China, India and Myanmar was approved by the leaders.

he 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence was attended by former President U Thein Sein, U Thant Kyaw, chairman of Strategy and International Study Institute, U Tin Oo, chairman of the Myanmar - China Friendship Association, and Daw Than Than Nu, chairperson of the U Nu-Daw Mya Yi Foundation.

During the visit, U Thein Sein and party could discuss domestic peace, politics and the China-Myanmar border trade, some people reviewed. 

U Thein Sein's attendance at the event was not related to resurgence of battles in northern Shan State and the Haigen Agreement arose by reason of domestic conflict, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence mutual includes non-interference in each other's internal affairs and the military council likes the principles. When China invited U Thein Sein, he went there. But the Haigen meeting arose because of the military and political conflicts occuring within Myanmar. Moreover, U Thein Sein didn't go there on behalf of the government. The time when U Thein Sein went to China coincides with the time when the battles resumed in northern Shan State after the Haigen Agreement was broken." said U Than Soe Naing.

While the battles were severely breaking out in northern Shan State in the end of last year, because of China's mediation, the Haigen Agreement was reached between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance (TNLA-MNDAA-AA) to cease fire.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA accused each other that the Haigen Agreement was violated after which the battles resumed on 25th June.

CNI News

28 June 2024

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar citizens who hold fake documents in the neighboring countries, those who assist in labor matters told CNI News. 

Although those who held fake documents could escape from arrests when they travel normally, because systematical checks were conducted when authorities arrested with an Operaci plan, they could be taken action against with two offences - illegal entrance and holding fake documents, Ko Thet, chairman of the Lovely Heart Philanthropic Youths Blood Donors Association, told CNI News.

If the places where authorities would come to arrest were known in advance, those who have held fake documents in those places should throw away their fake documents and be arrested, compatriots warned one another.

" when there are arrests, most Myanmar citizens announce through Facebook. We, philanthropic associations, also announce that. If the immigration officials come and arrest, throw fake documents away and be arrested. They might show these fake documents to the policemen around the places where they stay. Just a few Myanmar citizens were arrested with the offence of holding fake documents. Most of them were arrested with the offence of overstaying. As an overstayer, if you have held a false card, you can be arrested with two offences." he said.

Among those who have held fake documents, some have held them on purpose and others are holding them because they were cheated that fake documents were genuine reportedly.

While the Thai authorities have detained undocumented foreigners

When visa stamp numbers on the passports of six Myanmar people who tried to enter Malaysia illegally were checked with computer technology a few days ago, they were found to be imitation and they were arrested by the immigration officers in Narathiwat District, Thailand.

Although there were people who sneaked in, holding fake documents since before, now there has been an increase in the number of people who have held fake documents, said the people who help in the labor issues in Thailand.

If one illegally entered, he would be punished for one offence, and if he held fake documents, he would be punished for two offences, Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the  Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

“There are people who have been in jail with possession of fake passport books, when you get the passport, you hve to think whether you went to the offices of the government in person or not. One entered illegally and then when he was checked, if he was found to have held fake documents, he will be punished for two offences. There are fine and imprisonment. If you were arrested with fake documents, you probably will be imprisoned." he said.

Although there has been a sharp increase in the number of people who illegally enter Thailand, there are just a few arrests reportedly. However, the people who sneaked into Malaysia through Thailand are arrested more reportedly.

CNI News

28 June 2024

The government should carry out to control the high price of rice and to stabilize the price of rice by purchasing reserve rice and selling it, pointed out farmers and traders.

The government could carry out to stabilize the price of rice by purchasing rainfed rice in October and November and summer rice in April as reserve rice and selling them in July and September when rice is scarce, said farmers and rice traders.

Purchasing reserve rice and selling it to the public could prevent traders from buying rice at the price that reduce less than reasonable one from farmers and protect the public from the higher price, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

While seeing bags of rice

" As reserve rice, the government should buy rice from farmers in October and November when the paddy appears abundantly and then, in April. After that, the reserve rice will be sold to the public at the time when rice is rare. If so, traders can't buy rice by reducing the price. It can control the higher price as well. It can protect both the producers and the consumers." he said.

Because domestic rice consumption is about 800,000 tons each month, the government could control the price of rice by purchasing about 600,000 tons of rice as the reserve rice, he added.

Moreover, it was necessary to know the time when the reserve rice would have to be sold and it was necessary to include the people who sympathize and understand the grassroots in the reserve rice procurement committee, a rice trader told CNI News.

While seeing a rice warehouse

" Only those who buy the reserve rice should not determine the time of sale. Rather than rice traders and people from rice and paddy associations are dominating, the people who sympathize and understand the grassroots should be included in the reserve rice procurement committee." he said.

The reserve rice procurement committee had been formed since the government led by U Thein Sein. However, the program was used only for the people from the areas affected by natural disasters reportedly. However, there have been no more purchases of the national reserve rice since 2021 when political changes started.

Purchasing reserve rice was needed not only for the people from the areas affected by natural disasters but also for controlling higher price of rice, pointed out some people.

CNI News

28 June 2024

Battles are severely breaking out in Kyaukme Township and some residents of the town are trapped, said locals. 

The battles have been breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) since 25th June. 

The people from some wards of the town are being trapped in the battles, and phone lines and electricity have been out of order, a resident of Kyaukme told CNI News.

" We can't go out. Many residents of the town have to stay at home. We don't know where to go because we are hearing the sounds of gunshots and heavy weapons around our environment. Shops and stores have been closed. We can't buy anything. Because we can't go there, we don't know whether the prices are going up or down." he said.

While seeing the streets of Kyaukme Town without traffic and the people who are trapped in the battle

At present, the TNLA and joint forces have captured hospitals and departments in Kyaukme and they are attacking the Light Infantry Battalion - 501 and 502 of the Myanmar Tatmadaw reportedly.

As the battles have become severe, some residents of the town were trying to displace while others were saying that they would never leave the town, a resident of the town told CNI News.

While seeing the TNLA Force(Frontier Myanmar) 

" Residents of the town don't have any income. They have to save and spend on food and drink every day. You can't receive medical treatment at the hospital because the TNLA has captured the hospital already. Some want to displace while others don't. Even if you want to leave the town, exits have been closed. Those who don't want to leave the town don't know where to go." he said.

Requests would be made to both organizations to enable local residents to flee to safety, he added. The battles broke out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA joint forces in Kyaukme, Thibaw, Naung Cho, Mogok and Madaya in northern Shan State on 25th June and locals had to flee to safety.