CNI News

20 December 2023

Extremist exiled politicians in collaboration with some EAOs that don't want the peace are taking support of some foreign countries and fighting against the Tatmadaw to disintegrate the sovereignty of the country and the national solidarity, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Defense Services and the chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above at the Cadet Course No. 24 graduation ceremony of the Tatmadaw Medical University that was held on 18th December 2023.

" Extremist exiled politicians are working together with some ethnic armed groups that don't want peace and carrying out terrorist attacks, taking supports of some foreign countries in order to disintegrate the sovereignty of the country and national solidarity." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. When they did so, they were irrationally and purposefully fighting against the non-military health sector, he added.

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) which have been declared terrorist organizations by the law have persuaded, pressured and threatened to the physicians, nurses and health staff to stop the state's health care system from operating, said the chairman of the SAC.

As the terrorist attacks, bombing attacks and damage to the health sector have emerged only after the Tatmadaw toppled down the civilian government, the Tatmadaw also is responsible, pointed out political commentators.

At present, armed conflicts are widely taking place in Myanmar and there are over one million IDPs. 

Moreover,tens of thousands of houses and buildings were set on fire and destroyed.

CNI News

19 December 2023

Labor wages have been designated on 9th December to raise from 2 to 16 bahts in Thailand starting from 1st January 2024, The Bangkok Post reported. 

Because the amount of wage that was raised was quite small, the Thai Prime Minister held a meeting with the tripartite committee on setting the minimum wage on 11th December. 

But anything confirmed has not released yet, according to the people who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers.

However, labor wages more probably will be raised from 2 to 16 bahts and rather than not raising wage at all, raising the wages like that will be supportive a bit to the workers, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

Migrant workers

" In fact, the amount that is raised is not supportive a lot to the workers. But rather than raising nothing, raising by 16 bahts is supportive a bit. The cabinet meeting finally might confirm to raise from 2 to 16 bahts depending the provinces. The cabinet will have to make a decision. I'm not sure what will happen." he said.

According the currently designated rate, labor wages are raised from 354 to 361 bahts in Chon Buri Province where Myanmar workers are working, and from 335 to 345 bahts in Kanchanaburi Province, and from 332 to 345 bahts.in Tak Province.

However, there are still many workers who have not been fully paid at the rate that was previously raised, Ko Thargyi, a person helping migrant workers, told CNI News.

" In Thailand, wages are not uniformly paid. One province is different from another in paying wages. 300 bahts is set as a daily wages in Mae Sot. In other places, 320, 323 and 333 bahts are designated differently, according to the law. But in 80 percent of some places, 220 to 250 bahts only is paid. The factories that pay wages in accordance with the law are very few. Without solving these problems, the announcement that will raise wages has no effect on the majority of the Myanmar workers.” he said.

Migrant workers in Thailand

Although Thai PM said that the minimum wages should be around 400 bahts, the committee responded that the current rates were decided based on the proposals by the province sub-committees and it would be necessary to ask the province sub-committees to re-arrange if the rates were changed and it would take about two to three months.

Of the 46 manufacturing industries in Thailand, 50 percent are using manual workers and the majority of industries are seafood and garment industries.

If what the prime minister was implemented, the number of labors must be reduced and the productivity probably would decline, pointed out the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)
So, if there was no further change about wages until the end of 2023, labor wages would be raised from 2 to 16 bahts, depending on the provinces.

CNI News

19 December 2023

The people should be careful when travelling in Yangon where explosions often takes place, U Thet Zaw, a businessman, told CNI News. 

Most people were facing with crises and it was necessary not to hurt the people because of explosions, he said.

" The people should be careful. Especially, I want the people not to hold unknown things. If possible, report the officials concerned. At at a time like this when the people are poorer, if you open curiously to know what is inside something, it may explode. If a poor person was injured due to an explosion, he will spend money to receive treatment. He'll wait some time to recover. He must have a lot of responsibilities for his family. So, we don't want to encourage explosions like that. In any case, I don't want anything to hurt the people's livelihoods." said U Thet Zaw to CNI News.

While seeing somewhere in Yangon

Revolutionary forces have released a statement urging the people not to pick up or hold things that have nothing to do with them. Two civilians were injured when they  picked up and tested a Bluetooth speaker that was attached to mines on 15th and 16th December.

If the people went out, they'd better take care and they should exchange news and information, Mai Oke Khine, a Palaung politician, told CNI News.

" The people should take care of themselves when travelling at a time like this. And before travelling, they should inquire some news. And they should go out only after informing of one another. If you find something doubtful, you need to be careful." he said.

At present, there are killings and exploding mines in the cities including Yangon and Mandalay, and some civilians are injured or killed.

CNI News

19 December 2023

As India has fixed the price of its onion when exporting not to sell at the price below 800 rupees per ton, the price of Myanmar onion also has increased, according to onion traders. 

Because India is the country that is exporting most to Bangladesh and ASEAN countries, its fixation of the price made the Myanmar onion increase, said the traders. 

Because the price of Indian onion has increased, the countries that buy onion have bought Myanmar onion more.

Myanmar onion prices will remain high until March 2024 because of India's price fixation, U Aung Myint, an onion trader from the Myingyan onion wholesale center, told CNI News.

" India has fixed its free on board (FOB) price of its onion not to sell at the price below 800 rupees per ton. And then, the prices have become higher there. So, if Myanmar can sell at the lower price than India, buyers will buy all the Myanmar onion. As India's FOB price is about 4,800 kyats per viss, the price will be between 5,500 and 6,000 kyats in the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand due to transportation charges. Unless India lowers the price, the price of onion will never decline." said U Aung Myint.

Trucks carrying onions

Over 100,000 visses (360,000 lb) are entering the Myingyan onion wholesale center each day and the amount of onion bought to export is almost the same as that of entrance reportedly. However, it is difficult to export through China-Myanmar border trade, Myanmar Thailand border trade and Rakhine-Bangladesh border trade.

Exporters have to be shipping by sea and due to high cost, the prices of onion are declining a bit. Moreover, the quality also was declining because of suffering the bad weather, U Kyaw Thaung, an onion trader from Myingyan, told CNI News.

" Myanmar onion can be sold at the price above 4,000 kyats per viss in a normal situation. If India sell at 4,800, we can also sell at that price. But the transportation charges have been higher. Without the ability to use normal routes, because we have to use other routes, transportation charges have been higher. So, traders can't buy at a higher price. Now Myanmar onions are declining in qualiuty due to bad weather. In fact, the onion with a good quality like Myitthar can be paid at 4,000. Now we can't use Myawady border trade. We have to use other routes. Myanmar onions are being bought by the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. Bangladesh also buying Myanmar onions at the FOB price at Yangon Port, I think." he said.

The demand for onion in the domestic market is on the rise and old summer onion prices are between 3,200 and 3,400 kyats per viss at the Myingyan and Pakokku wholesale centers and new rain onion prices are between 2,300 and 2,700 kyats per viss reportedly.

Myanmar onions are being exported to Thailand, Vietnam, Lao, Malaysia and Bangladesh. Moreover, the Philippines is buying Myanmar onion with G to G system.

CNI News
17 December 2023

Plans are being made to lend 400,000 kyats per acre to farmers who own 10 acres and above as a short term loan, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation.

The MRF had a coordination meeting with those in charge from the Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank, the Myanmar Economic Bank, the KBZ Bank, the A Bank, the AYA Bank and the UAB Bank and loans will be issued to farmers with form (7) guarantee reportedly.

Not only the farmers who own 10 acres and above, the farmers who own under 10 acres should also be lent, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" If the farmers who own 10 acres and above are lent, it doesn't kind of care the farmers with a few acres. Among the five points of protection of farmers' rights and promotion of interests, the final point is to give priority to the farmers with a few acres. In fact, the farmers with a few acres are largely lack of capital because they find it difficult to make ends meet. If possible, it would be better if they were lent." he said.

the Myanmar Rice Federation 

It was the first time that MRF had planned to lend the farmers and the loan amount would be supportive to the farmers, said farmers. Because summer paddy is being grown in some regions, only if the loans are issued before January, will it be convenient for the farmers, suggested the farmers.

The loan is only for the development of agricultural production in the areas where summer paddy is grown in Ayeyarwady, Bago, Yangon, Mandalay Regions and Naypyidaw Council area.

However, Sagaing Region and Rakhine State are not included in the places that the loan will be issued. It was probably because of instabilities in those regions, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

While seeing farmers

" The farmers in the regions supposed stabler in comparison with other regions are lent, I think. Although around Shwebo area is grown paddy, armed conflicts are severely taking place. Moreover, the number of people who grow paddy has declined. And banks don't seem to accept to lend the farmers in those regions because they have to take a lot of risk. Because the battles are breaking out in Rakhine State, the banks seem to have decided not to lend the farmers in the state." said Ko Zaw Min Naing.

The MRF and the banks had a negotiation meeting to lend for 100,000 acres as the pilot project.

Because the farmers are finding it to buy fuel at present, the MRF is planning to enable the farmers to buy fuel and fertilizer sufficiently at lower prices reportedly.

CNI News
17 December 2023

In spite of having to exchange 50 percent of the export earnings to Myanmar kyats at the price designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar in the past, only 35 percent must be exchanged at present.

So, the export sector will improve, said traders.

Relaxation of export policy like that would make the export sector better, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.

" It's better. 65 percent of the export earnings is spent for import and 35 percent must be exchanged to Myanmar kyats. There will be further relaxations. But the government hasn't announced it officially. Exports will be able to be exported more." he said.

While seeing trucks loaded with watermelons heading to China

Exporters of rice, bean and corn have been currently allowed to import fuel by the Ministry of Commerce. In the same way, exporters of rubber have been allowed to import necessary products and fertilizer reportedly.

Exporters have earned more and more profits after the export policy was relaxed, an official from the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, told CNI News.

" Exports will increase a bit and so will rice. Because more foreign currency is earned, exporters have increased a bit. Our reserve supply of rice has dwindled a bit.
When the new rice comes out, they give priority to export because they earn more export earnings. At the same time, domestic rice prices have gone up a bit." he said.

Because the policy relating to export earnings has been relaxed, the prices of bean, pea, rice and corn have gone up a little in the domestic market, said farmers. However, due to rising transportation costs, ‌only a little profit has been earned and there were various prices depending on region, Ko Min Khaing, a corn farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

While preparations are being made to export rice

" The current price is about 1,100 kyats per viss and the price of corn has increased by 10 to 15 kyats per viss (one viss=3.6 pound). Transportation charges also increase due to rising fuel prices. So, it doesn't make any difference to farmers up to now. The freight cost depends on the distance. The cost of transportation is from 30 to 100 kyats per viss." said Ko Min Khaing.

In recognition of entrepreneurs who are making efforts to improve exports, they have been allowed to import to an extent, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Local exporters are working to export local products to foreign markets on time and due to the ongoing armed conflicts on the border trade route, they are making preparations to export goods by sea.

CNI News
16 December 2023

The Hnownbu and the Tron I Byuhar Hills are strategically important to the security and economy of Myanmar, said political and military analysts.

The Arakan Army (AA) stated that it captured the Tron I Byuhar Hill on 4th December, and Hnownbu Byuhar Hill on 10th december, military bases of the Tatmadaw.

The bases are located in Paletwa Township, Chin State and they are on a strategic path that can trade with India and Bangladesh. The Tatmadaw had strongly built those bases and the AA might have lost to an extent, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) told CNI News.

" The AA might have paid a lot in order to capture the Tron I and Hnownbu bases. It looks like many lives have been paid. It was also reported that a military strategist from the Tatmadaw. The bases can also become big killing fields. It is very dangerous to the AA. It is necessary to negotiate at a time like this. Senior officials will have to think about it." he said.

Paletwa Town

The importance of the two bases is that they are the places to control the Kaladan Project of Myanmar and India. Because of its ability to capture these bases, the AA was able to control the project, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" These bases have controlled the Kaladan River Project. The AA has already captured these bases, so it has been able to control the project. In order to implement India's eastern leaning policy, the two bases are important. Now that the AA has captured the bases, the military council has nothing to carry out the projects with India." he said.

However, because the Tatmadaw will launch a counter offensive to recapture the bases, it will be difficult for the AA to control the bases for long, said military analysts.

While seein Tron I Village along the Kaladan River

" The military bases that the AA has captured are the places that can control the border areas with India and Bangladesh including Kaladan and Paletwa. In other words, the bases have controlled all the roads going to northern India. But later, negotiation might be needed for the AA. If the Three Brotherhood Alliance negotiation with the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State was convenient for the AA and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a bilateral agreement relating Paletwa region containing border areas with India and Bangladesh might arise." said Dr.Aye Maung.

The battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA resumed on 13th November. And then the battles spread to Paletwa Township, Chin State.

At present, the battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Sittwe, Kyauk Phyu, Ranbye, Myebon, Taung Goat, Thandwe, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnagyun Townships in Rakhine State as well as in Paletwa Township, Chin State.

CNI News

16 December 2023

Revolutionary forces would go until they reach the goal, combining Spring Revolution with the Operation-1027 that was being waged by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, TNLA and AA), U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

The National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) of the State Administration Council held talks with the Three Brotherhood Alliance in Kunming, China through the Chinese mediation to stop battles a few days ago.

Three Brotherhood Alliance stated on 12th December that it would carry out in cooperation with the entire people until they reach the common goal. According to the statement released by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, they had kept their promise that they would take part in the Spring Revolution to the end, U Than Soe Naing told CNI News.

While showing that Chin Shwe Hao town has been controlled by the MNDAA

" The Three Brotherhood Alliance will combine their operation-1027 with the Spring Revolution and because they have confirmed again that they will take part in attempts to eradicate the military dictatorship until they reach the goal. So, we have understood that the public has nothing to worry about the rumors and news that emerged. It's an effective step politically." he said.

The battles have been breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State since the Operation-1027 was launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance on 27th October.

The Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA) and the Mandalay People's Defense Force (MDY-PDF) also have participated in the Operation-1027.  

While seeing comrades from the BPLA

However, if the Tatmadaw used its reserve forces, the Three Brotherhood Alliance's troops would retreat, Dr.Aung Myo, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" They must say that it is a common goal because the TNLA and the AA had to attack the Tatmadaw in Theinni, Naunghkio and Lashio to cut the path so that the MNDAA could capture Chin Shwe Haw and Kunlong. When the MNDAA achieves his goal, it cannot say that it will no longer participate. It must say so ethically. In fact, the Tatmadaw has not yet used strategic reserve forces. I don't know why. If the Tatmadaw use them, the Three Brotherhood Alliance will retreat." said Dr.Aung Myo.

Due to the Three Brotherhood Alliance's operation, the battles have been breaking out severely since 27th October and there are heavy weapons fire and airstrikes.

CNI News
16 December 2023

when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) started raiding Tarlawgyi Village, Myitkyina Township, Kachin State, where Shanni nationalities live on 5:00 a.m on 15th December, it was fighting against the Lisu Militia.

While the KIA has raided the village, it was fighting, using Shanni people as human shield without letting them leave the village, the Shanni Nationalities Unity Association (SNUA) stated.

And then, the Tatmadaw from Myitkyina also was fighting against the KIA with heavy weapons and airstrikes, and heavy weapon rounds were falling and exploding near the village, said in the statement.

The KIA force

" The KIA, Lisu militia and the military council taking part in the armed conflict need to pay respect to the international humanitarian law (IHL) and the international human rights law (IHRL), and we demand the KIA, Lisu militia and the military council not to fight, using Shanni people as human shield, deploying in the buildings where Shanni people live, schools, hospitals and religious buildings, and not to attack these places as military targets and to let the Shanni people leave for safety " said in the statement.

Tarlawgyi is a historical village where the Shanni people have lived for generations and it is a village that has repeatedly been forcibly recruited by the KIA as well. There is much concern that there will be incidents of human rights violations during the current armed conflict and all the situations will be monitored and recorded, said the SNUA on 15th December.

According the 2014 census-taking, there were 3,410 men and 3,469 women in Tarlawgyi Village.