CNI News

12 December 2023

While those who were working in Laukkai returned to Lashio due to the battles and high commodity prices, many of them had no contact with their family members and some of them were arrested by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), their family members told CNI News.

Since November, they have come down from Laokkai to return to their hometowns and they have no contact with their family members up to now and some have been arrested to recruit, which a person, her acquaintance, released by the MNDAA told her, Ma Akari, lover of a detainee, told CNI News.

" Many people have been returning from Laukkai up to now since 25th November. They were arrested in Chin Shwe Haw or on the way. I was told that all the ethnic people were arrested. I don't know how my boyfriend was arrested because I have no contact with him. I was told that he came back with a Karen woman. At the first checkpoint, he told the checkers that he was a karen. If you told them that you were a Karen, your phone would not be seized. But at the second checkpoint, both of them were arrested. Among those who were arrested with them were included two brothers. One of brothers was released. He made a contact with me. He was sent back to Chin Shwe Haw at night. They were arrested in Wa State somewhere beyond Namtik. He doesn't recognize the place exactly." she said.

Those who come down to Lashio

There were many people who came to Laukkai from other regions including Bago, Magway, Yangon and Sagaing Regions to work there and due to the current battles breaking out in northern Shan State, they came back to their hometowns through Lashio.

Those who afford came back in cars or on motorcycles while those who couldn't afford returned on foot, said locals.

Although many people came down from Laukkai, because the family members haven't had no contact with them, there are a lot of people who are asking for help through their social network pages, describing their phone numbers.

Those who described their phone numbers on social media were also facing fraudulent requests for money, U Nyan, who has not had contact with his six family members who have come down since 18th November, told CNI News.

" We haven't had contact with my family members since 18th November. A man phoned me yesterday. He said that my family members were at the 125 relif camp. He would send them to Mandalay. But we have to pay him 300,000 kyats each person. I replied him that I needed to consult with other family members because I can't afford that amount. I haven't contacted him. After that, another man phoned me not very long ago. He told me that they have arrested my daughter and granddaughter. If I transferred 300,000 kyats to him, he would release my daughter and granddaughter. But he didn't allow me to talk with my daughter and granddaughter." he said.

Those who come down to Lashio

Several hundred civilians are fleeing to Lashio daily from Laukkai, Chin Shwe Haw, Namtik, Tangyan, Kunlong, Theinni due the current battles breaking out severely in northern Shan State and most of them were from Laukkai, said local philanthropic associations.

" Most of them are coming back from Laukkai. We, philanthropic associations, give them rice packages and a few other necessities. They get into trouble a bit. We can't carry them by car. They have to walk. There is a slight shortage of food and water on the way. When they reach here, we have planned to make them convenient. Those who arrive from Laukkai are not allowed to enter Lashio. The authorities allow them to stay outside Lashio conveniently." said an official from a philanthropic association.

if the residents of Lashio were among the civilians who fled, those who could show evidence that they were Lashio residents would be allowed to enter the city reportedly. 

However, because big battles have not yet taken place in Laukkai, some people have not come back from there. However, they are getting into trouble due to skyrocketing prices reportedly.

CNI News

12 December 2023

Revolutionary forces are restricting speaking Shanni in Sagaing Region and Kachin State, Shan Civil organizations stated dated 9th December 2023. 

The restriction was being conducted and it it was the oppression to die out the Shanni nationalities and it was a war crime as well, Sai Ai Pao, spokesperson of the Shan civil organizations, told CNI News.

" There are locals who ran away and came to the area where phone contact is available. We interviewed them. We surely asked them if it was true because we couldn't believe it. They answered when they spoke Shanni, they were beaten. Frankly speaking, even though Shanni nationalities really exist, that they exist in Banmauk and Pinlebu Townships were not recorded according to the immigration records of the previous successive governments. Again, if the current revolutionary forces restrict speaking Shanni anymore, these nationalities will die out. As a matter of fact, those who restrict speaking language of a race are guilty of genocide, according to global standards. So, we are warning them against their restriction. The world is pointing out the issue of Rohingya as a genocide. In fact, the Shanni nationalities in Sagaing Region and Kachin State also have been restricted like Rohingya." said Sai Ai Pao.

While seeing Homalin PDF

If someone who held a national registration card of Sagaing Region was found to be a Shan nationality at a checkpoint of the revolutionary forces, they would be more inspected. Moreover, if Shan songs were found on their phones, they would be beaten or their movement would be restricted, he said.

Many Shanni youths are serving in the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) while many other Shanni youths are serving in the People's Defense Force (PDF) in Homalin Township as well. He wanted them to coordinate and solve the killing of each other, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tailai (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, told CNI News.

Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA)

" I want to talk about a small incidence about it. A Shanni conference was held in Homalin. Five Shanni people who attended took photos of the conference. When they returned from the conference, they were checked on the way by the PDFs, their photos were found. The PDFs accused them of the supporters of the Tatmadaw, they were beaten to death. The killers are also Shanni people." he said.

Shanni civil organizations have asked the UN, international organizations, China, India, Thailand and ASEAN countries for help in relation to Shanni ethnic people whose human rights are being violated during the current military and political conflicts.

CNI News

12 December 2023

The Chinese government has issued arrest warrants for 10 people including U Bai Suocheng, former head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone and retired Col.Wei San (b) Wei Huarn, former chairman of the supervisory committee of the border guard force-1006 of the zone. 

The Chinese government isuued arrest warrants for U Bai Suocheng, retired Col.Wei San, Bai Yingcang, Bai Yinglan, Wei Rong, Wei Qingsong, Liu Zhengxiang, Liu Jiguang, Liu Zhengmao, Xu Laofa, accusing them of committing telecom and online fraud.

Bai Suocheng, 72, is former chairman of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone and Bai Yingcang is a Chinese natonal registration card holder and the commander of the Kokang SAZ militia and the deputy head of the Department of Economic Planning and Administration.

Bai Yinglan was a Chinese national registration card holder and the chairman of the Xinbaili Group. Wei Huairen aka Col.Wei San was the chairman of the supervisory committee of the BGF-1006 of the Kokang SAZ.

Wei Rong, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the chairperson of the Henry Group and Wei Qingsong, a Chinese national registration card holder, member of the supervisory committee of the BGF-1006 of the Kokang SAZ.

Liu Zhengxiang was a member of the administration committee of the Kokang SAZ and also the chairman of Fulilai Group. Liu Jiguang, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the CEO of the Fulilai Group.

Liu Zhengmao was the general manager of the Fulilai Group and Xu Laofa, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the administer of the Jiazi Village Tract, Sixiang Township, the Kokang SAZ.

CNI News
10 December 2023

The Directorate of Labor has sent a notification to the overseas employment agencies dated 5th December that the agencies would need to exhort expatriate Myanmar workers to remit 25 percent of their salaries to their families in Myanmar.

The agencies must carry out instruction and completion conditions must be submitted together with evidence before 18th December and agencies that don't submit will be taken action against, said in the notification.

Because the phrase "to exhort" is included, there may be threats against Myanmar workers and there may be more difficulties. Moreover, There may be people who will be accepted themselves as illegal workers, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

While seeing the office of the department of immigration

" If the government puts pressure on the agencies, the agencies will put pressure on the workers. And then, the number of illegal workers may increase. The agencies can pressure Myanmar workers in some country such as South Korea and Singapore. But it is less likely to succeed in the counties where most of Myanmar workers are working. It may be difficult for the agencies but more difficult for the workers. The workers might cancel the MoU and choose other methods. Later, the workers may choose illegal channels through brokers." said Ko Naing Aung Aung.

Signing standard contract between the agencies and the workers has been carried out since 1st September. According to the contract, workers working abroad must remit 25 percent of their salaries to their families in Myanmar.

The workers abroad must remit 25 percent at least once a month and at most every three months.

While seeing a glove factory

At present, it has been 3 months, the directorate has pushed the agencies to implement the contract.

" Agencies are different from one another. You have to walk on your own way. It's not difficult to go to Thailand. But it's a bit difficult to go to Malaysia. Agencies must comply with the instructions." said U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.

According to the Ministry of Labor's statement, the number of licensed overseas employment agencies has been 506. But there were about 300 licensed agencies in 2021.

CNI News
10 December 2023

There are reviews among businessmen about whether the purchase and use of electric vehicles (EV) could increase due to the fuel shortage and the high price of fuel currently occurring in Myanmar.

Currently, fuel cannot be bought at some fuel stations and people have to wait in line for long to buy fuel at other fuel stations. Moreover, people can only buy fuel in limited ‌amount and the price has become high as well. So, there are people who are thinking about using EV electric car.

However, due to maintenance, warranty and charging space requirements regarding EV electric car in Myanmar, people won't buy EVs just because they don't have to pay for fuel, U Thiha Paing, founder of the Via Logistics and Supply Chain, told CNI News.

" Not everyone accepts EVs because there are some problems regarding EVs. Corporations tend to start using EVs in other countries. For example, taxi groups start using. They start using EVs in the public transport. But because EVs are sold to the general public, a lot of people haven't bought them yet. People consider things like whether there are enough workshops to fix EVs and how long the warranty will take. People won't decide to buy" an EV car just because they don't have to pay for the fuel." said U Thiha Paing.

While charging an EV

People are not very keen on buying EV cars because there have not been enough charging stations and maintenance facilities.

" Because there are not enough charging stations and maintenance facilities or workshops, people don't dare to buy EV cars. In Vietnam, EVs are produced by the companies and they use EVs as taxis. And then, after studying them, the people gradually buy the EV cars. People won't buy EV cars because of fuel. But EV is the new trend of the world. So, people will use EV cars but not so soon." said U Thiha Paing to CNI News.

However, the prices of EV cars have become high because there have been short of fuel in Yangon since early December.

An EV car that was paid 800 lakh kyats in the past is paid 900 to 1,000 lakh kyats just now, according to the EV car market. The reason why the prices of EV cars have gone high was because there was a short of fuel and sellers are making price speculations as well as the control of the price of US dollar has been lift, said businessmen.

While seeing the Central Bank's statement saying that dollar can be freely traded

" Because there are no alternatives, if you start using an EV car, I have to ask you if there are enough infrastructures. We need a lot of charging stations. If there are not charging stations, EV cars will pile up on the road." said U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

How long the fuel problem will exist has not been known and if it is getting worse, production and transportation will be seriously affected, pointed out businessmen.

Because commodity prices will rise, authorities need to solve the problem as soon as possible, said economists.

CNI News

8 December, 2023

Almost residents of Loikaw fled to safety due to the battles breaking out between the KNDF/PDF joint forces inside the city, Karenni (Kayah) State after the Operation 1111 had been launched, said residents of the city. 

90 percent of the residents have arrived in southern Shan State, supposing that they shouldn't go on staying there, a resident of the city told CNI News.

" There are very few people in Loikaw. They all have fled to southern Shan State. I don't know anything after that. Communication breaks down because internet and phone connection have been interrupted. Electricity has been out of order. 

the KNDF Force

About 90 percent of the residents of Loikaw have already arrived in Aung Ban, Pinlong, Taunggyi, Ayethaya, Nyaung Shwe and so on." he said.

There were around 500,000 people in Kayah State and over 100,000 people lived in Loikaw. For the time being, Residents of Loikaw have displaced due to the battles in the city. 

The battles have been severely breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces since the operation was launched by the KNDF to capture the city and there are air strikes and firing heavy weapons there.

Because many houses and buildings were destroyed due to the battles, it had been very difficult to carry out constructional tasks, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, said on 4th December. 

Most of the residents have fled to safety and there are only the Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces in the city, an official of the Loikaw Social Assistance Association, told CNI News.

the KNDF Force

" The exact situation on the ground is not known. There were approximately 400,000, but 300,000 are no longer there. The remaining people are just around the city but not in the city. I don't know about the city siege battle. I think only the military council soldiers are left around that area and the hospital hill. I don't know about the rest exactly." he said.

Revolutionary forces launched the Operation-1111 on 11th November and attacked the Tatmadaw in Loikaw. 

The battles have been breaking out between the two sides up to now and there are casualties from the two sides reportedly.

CNI News

8 December 2023

The Central Bank of Myanmar stated on 6th December that it has lowered the percentage of export earnings that must be converted into Myanmar kyat from 50 to 35 percent.

CBM determined that 50 percent of export earnings received by exporters from exporting goods must be converted into Myanmar kyat as specified in the Central Bank's Notification No. (15/2023) dated on July 13, 2023 However, according to the Central Bank's Notification No.12/2022, exporters will convert only 35 percent of export earnings into Myanmar kyat instead of 50 percent.

CNI News

8 December 2023

Depending on the exchange rates submitted by the sellers and buyers, foreign currency exchange can be freely performed at the market rate, the Central Bank of Myanmar stated. 

When authorized dealers and banks do transactions in the foreign currency market including Online Trading, the Central Bank of Myanmar will no longer set exchange rates for foreign currencies, said in the statement.

CNI News

8 December 2023

Chinese Foreign Minister Mr.Wang Yi and Myanmar Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister U Than Swe met and discussed the implementation of Kyauk Phyu Deep Water Port in China on 6th December reportedly. 

The two foreign ministers discussed speeding up mutually beneficial cooperative projects between the two countries including the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) such as Kyauk Phyu Deep Seaport, building China-Myanmar railway and cross-border electricity distribution networks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Moreover, both sides discussed closer cooperation between the law enforcement agencies for the maintenance of the security, peace and stability along the China-Myanmar border, total elimination of illegal drugs and human trafficking as well as online scams. 

While meeting between U Than Swe and Wan Yi on 6th December 2023

After that, they discussed cooperation in the media sector to control misinformation that could affect bilateral relations reportedly.

Currently, the battles have been breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State where the Kyauk Phyu Deep Seaport Project is located since 13th November 2023. In the same way, the battles have been taking place between the Tatmadaw and the TNLA, MNDAA, AA, PDF, BPLA, PLA near the Myanmar-China border since 27th October 2023.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) based near the Chinese border is waging battles against the Tatmadaw in Sagaing Region to capture towns and cities. China is behind these battles, which domestic politicians and nationalist groups believe.

And then, anti-Chinese protests erupted in Naypyidaw and Yangon, demanding non-interference in domestic affairs.