CNI News

8 December 2023

The government needs to solve the US dollar demand crisis as soon as possible to import fuel so that frequent high price of fuel and fuel shortages at fuel stations can be avoided, said economic commentators. 

Although oil tankers have arrived in Thilwa Port, Yangon, it is not convenient for business people in extracting fuel because they are finding it difficult to buy US dollars.

The Ministry of Commerce should issue fuel import permits, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

 " Frankly speaking, some businessmen are making speculations and the ministry needs to issue fuel import permits. Now fuel tankers are at Thilwa Port. But the fuel can't take out from oil tankers. Business people are looking for US dollars so that fuel can take out. There is a shortage of fuel. I wonder how the government will help. The government had helped. But it was not effective. Middle men took advantage. A problem arose for the government The problem is that who will be commissioned by the government. But if the government cannot manage the problem, the fuel price probably will be 4,000 to 5,000 kyats per litre. If so, how can we go on? Our country has to subscribe to both edible oil and fuel. The government must plan to solve the problem ASAP or the country will reach crisis point." he said.

People waiting to buy fuel

The government sold dollars at 2,100 kyats per dollar to importers to import fuel and made them distribute at the price designated in the past. But at present, the government will sell dollars for diesel to be imported only.

If businessmen had to buy dollars at the market price to import gasoline, the price would rise sharply, said businessmen.

Rather than the prices were going up, it was more important to make the prices stable, U Thiha Paing, founder of the Via Logistics and Supply Chain, told CNI News. 

" There is an economic theory in our economic world. That prices are going up is no problem. At any rate, those who can buy will buy. If you need something, you'll buy it. But price volatility is the problem. If the prices are volatile, you can't do anything. Now the dollar price is in chaos. You can't guess whether the price will go up or decline. So, sellers don't know whether they should sell or not. When the prices are stable, you can sell like others. It is necessary to make the prices stable. when a price are going up, remaining prices will go up including salary." he said.

Those who are waiting to carry fuel from Thilwa Port

Because there are some inconvenience in taking gasoline out at Thilwa Port, fuel stations in regions and states including Yangon are selling gasoline at a limited amount and some fuel stations have been closed.

Due to the current fuel crisis, the fuel prices are going up daily and the Octane price which was 2,100 kyats per litter in November has risen to 2,500 kyats per liter just now. 

Fuel shortage crisis needs to be resolved within a few days or due to transportation delay, commodities probably will run out soon.

CNI News
7 December 2023

Deserters and those who are absent without leave (AWOLs) were pardoned not because the Tatmadaw needed strength, Dr.Aung Myo, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

Because some deserters and absentees contacted and proposed that they wanted to serve their duties again, soldiers that applied period designated would be accepted at the nearby battalions and those who committed small offenses would be pardoned, the State Administration Council stated on 3rd December.

" The Tatmadaw did form battalions and brigades without full strength at the border areas. It formed a lot to cause inflation. If the troops scattering in many places were gathered, the Tatmadaw can fight against all the enemies. But for the time being, those who re-enter have to be welcome. In fact, accepting deserters and AWOLs is not because the Tatmadaw needs manpower." said Dr.Aung Myo to CNI News.

While the Arakan Army has captured Tron I Byuha Hill of the Tatmadaw

A military court can sentence a death sentence or seven years in prison to a soldier who commits deserting or makes effort to desert under the 1959 Tatmadaw Act.37. In the same way, soldiers who commit French leave or overstay than period of leave without a sound reason can be punished three years in prison under the Tatmadaw Act.38.

Because currently the Tatmadaw needs anymore of military strength, it will recruit in any way, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" The Tatmadaw will recruit by all means. It will have a plan to recruit the people and government staff by force. But former old soldiers who have no jobs join the army again. They have been deployed in the town guards. Younger former soldiers will be sent to the frontline. Deserters have no jobs outside the army. They don't dare to join the public. To tell you frankly, they have been shirkers since before. The army has known that they will re-enter." he said.  
The battles are breaking between the Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDF joint forces in Kayin, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin States, Sagaing and Magway Regions.

There are casualties from the two sides and most locals in the armed conflict zones are fleeing to safety.

CNI News
7 December 2023

Of the countries where Myanmar workers go and work, in some countries production has declined due to instabilities across the world.

So, Myanmar workers are facing with difficulties reportedly. In Malaysia, which is suffering from a manufacturing and economic downturn, workers can no longer be paid overtime.

Moreover, with a much denser population than usual, employment has been scarce and the number of labors has been reduced, U Barbu Gyi, helping Myanmar people in Malaysia, told CNI News.

" Difficulties are increasing. Employment and wages have declined because Malaysia had agreed with Bangladesh to hire a lot of Bangladeshi workers. These workers entering Malaysia everyday. Some large factories in Malaysia are obviously reducing Myanmar workers. Only legal workers have been employed." he said.

While seeing Myanmar workers at a construction site

Although production has not declined in South Korea, hourly wages, which increase once a year, will be cut in half by 2024 than in the past, Ko Khant Nay Kyi, in charge of the Migrant Workers Assistance Center in Busan, told CNI News.

" In the coming year, the target letter has come out to hire around 160,000 migrant workers. Although about 50,000 migrant workers were hired each year, because about 150,000 migrant workers will be hired, the employment has not been scarce. In 2023, hourly wages were 9,620 won and in 2022, 9,160 won. But in 2024, hourly wages are just 9,680 won. So, over 100 wons only will increase. There were years when 200 to 1,000 wons increased in the past." said Ko Khant Nay Kyi.

Those who came to work in South Korea with new E73 visa that arose after the Covid-19 pandemic - their rights were violated reportedly. The people who came with these visas don't need to take a language proficiency test and to be be fluent in the language.

Two workers at a factory in South Korea

They were taken with direct link between agency and company and most of them  have to work in the shipyard industry reportedly.

Although South Korea and Japan are regularly being called, Malaysia and Thailand have reduced calling Myanmar workers, according to overseas employment agencies.

" Depending on the global economic decline, both Thailand and Malaysia have reduced labor recruitment. The Malaysian government doesn't issue new labor permits." said U Win Myint, managing director of the Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, to CNI News.

Despite the scarcity of jobs and other difficulties in some countries, the number of Myanmar workers who want to go abroad for work has not declined reportedly.

While some Myanmar workers are waiting to go abroad through legal channels, others are going abroad through illegal channels every day.

CNI News

6 December 2023

Traditional food sale and cherry blossom festival will be held in Loimwe region, Kengtung Township of eastern Shan State, according to the Directorate of Hotel and Tourism of Shan State. 

Cherry blossom festival has been held in Loimwe where there are several hundreds of cherry trees when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom as a preserve of cherry trees since 2022.

Not only the cherry blossom festival this year, traditional food sale festival of ethnic groups in Kengtung region would be held, U Htin Aung Naing, director of the Directorate of Hotel and Tourism of Shan State, told CNI News.

" We have planned to hold two festivals in Kengtung that can be said as the capital of eastern Shan State. One is Cherry Blossom Festival and the other is traditional ethnic food sale festival. The food sale festival will be held from 26th to 28th December. During this festival, 13 ethnic groups living in Kengtung region will come and sell 88 kinds of their traditional foods. Cherry blossom festival will be held in the second or third week of December. It's hard to say exactly because the festival will be held when all cherry blossoms are in full bloom." he said.

people who come and study the cherry blossom festival

Several hundreds of cherry were grown in Loimwe region in the colonial era. Moreover, cherry trees were grown by the hundred anymore in 1990s. Cherries have been by the thousand in the region just now reportedly. 

According to the directorate of hotel and tourism, the cherry blossom festival will probably be held in third week of December or in the first week of January 2024.

Some tourism companies from Thailand have been invited to the cherry blossom festival. Because a lot of tourists came to the festival last year, lots of tourists will come to the festival this year, which he has expected, said U Htin Aung Naing.

" The number of guests who came to the festival that was first held in 2022 was about 40,000. And then, about 75,000 guests came to the festival that was secondly held in 2023. 

cherry trees 

Eastern Shan State is near to Thailand. It takes you about three hours if you go to Kengtung from Tachileik by car. We have expected the tourists from the Thai side. It is convenient for local tourists from Yangon, Mandalay and other regions to come to Kengtung by flight. You can come from Naypyidaw by flight as well." he said.

Locals are worried because some guests tend to break the branches of cherry trees. Cherry blossom festival is held so as to educate people in order to prevent from damaging cherry trees because the branches of cherry trees are broken when the cherry blossoms are in bloom reportedly.

CNI News

6 December 2023

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), said at the meeting held on 4th December that the union must not be completely disintegrated. 

The union system based on democracy and federalism that the SAC is implementing has already contained all the points that armed groups are demanding and if the our three main national causes: non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity, perpetuation of national sovereignty were affected, regions and locals concerned would suffer the bad consequences, he said.

" The Union system based on democracy and federalism that we are implementing has already contained all the points that armed groups are demanding and the Union must not be disintegrated. We are carrying out the our three main national causes: non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity, perpetuation of national sovereignty as a national duty. The nation has been built by the constitution based on the our three main national causes. Since it is well-established, it will not be affected at all. If the terrorists harmed these our three main causes, locals only would suffer the resulting consequences." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Some ethnic people holding Myanmar national flag

Because the houses and buildings in Loikaw were damaged due to the battles breaking out inside Loikaw, it had been very hard to reconstruct them and local people had to be innocent victims, he said. Armed conflicts are taking place across the country due to political changes after 1st February 2021.

It was up to authority organizations not to disintegrate the Union, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party) told CNI News. 

" It will be the best if the Union was not disintegrated. But armed groups are not trying to disintegrate the Union. Some EAOs are fighting for their regions and for their nationalities. They have not said that they would build separate countries after separating from the Union. Everyone wants the Union not to be disintegrated. But it's mainly up to the governments not to disintegrate the Union." he said.

While seeing the KNDF force fighting against the Tatmadaw in Loikaw City, Kayah State

The emergence of ethnic armed organizations was not because they wanted to disintegrate the Union but because EAOs wanted quality, right to self-determination and  self-governing rights, he said.

The battles are currently breaking out between the Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDF joint forces in Karen, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin States, Sagaing and Magway Regions.

CNI News

6 December 2023

If the armed groups go on being abysmally foolish, local people only suffer the consequences, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above at the meeting of the SAC's union government held on 4th December 2023. 

" The people in Rakhine region often suffer from natural disasters and the government had to carry out relief and rehabilitation activities. Moreover, the region experienced the Bengali uprising as well. Again, the Arakan Army (AA) is committing armed terrorist acts in Mrauk U, Kyauktaw, Paletwa Townships. Only the locals will feel the negative effects of the conflict." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Local people were feeling the bad consequences of the current armed conflicts again and in spite of the fact that regional development activities should be carried out, roads and bridges are being repaired as a result of armed conflicts, he said.

While the IDPs were being seen

" Battles broke out in Loikaw region due to the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and when the situations were stable again, the had to carry out constructional activities with their hard-earned money. But now many houses and buildings in Loikaw City were damaged due to terrorist acts by the KNPP groups and it's been very difficult to carry out rehabilitation activities. If the armed groups go on being abysmally foolish, local people only will suffer the bad consequences. So, it will be necessary to solve the problem by political means without committing foolish acts anymore to sympathize with the  people, innocent victims." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. 

adding that the armed groups needed to act for the benefit of their regions and the country and because the union system based on democracy and federalism that the government was implementing contained all the points they were demanding, the union must not be disintegrated.

While seeing the MNDAA-AA-TNLA joint forces

Battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces (KIA, AA, KNU, MNDAA, TNLA, ABSDF, PDF, BPLA, KNDF and so) in northern Shan State, Kayin State (Kawkareik Township), Kayah State (Loikaw), Chin State (Indian border), Sagaing Region and Kachin State. 

So, Myanmar border trade with China, Bangladesh and Thailand has suspended and millions of dollars in trade value are being lost.

Especially, the people in armed conflict zones are suffering from rising commodity prices and they are finding it difficult to buy necessary commodities, medicines and foodstuff when they need. Moreover, there is a shortage of fuel in most regions reportedly.

CNI News

5 December 2023

When Myanmar citizens renew their passports, it takes them about three weeks and when they apply for a new passport, it takes them about five months, those helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia told CNI News. 

QR code system is used to make an appointment in applying for a passport and although people found it difficult because they did not get appointments in the past, now they can get the QR code within one week, Hmwar Michael, a person helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia, told CNI News.

" Currently, it takes three weeks at most those who want to renew their passports to get an appointment. The renewal is finished within one day. Those who want to apply for new passports have to wait about five months. You can get the QR code within one week. You can make an appointment only after you got the QR code. After getting the QR code, you have to wait from two weeks to three weeks. It is easy. If you register your passport number through your email, you will receive the QR code. And then, you'll find an appointment on your email." he said.

The Malaysian Government

Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur changed to making appointments with QR code starting from 4th September. Myanmar nationals who cannot apply online skillfully will have to pay brokers between 800 and 1,800 ringgits (300,000 to 800,000 kyats) reportedly.

Ricarlibraci permit application period will expire by the end of December. So, if new passports were issued quickly, it would be convenient for Myanmar workers, suggested the people helping Myanmar people in Malaysia.

Myanmar workers who have arrived in Malaysia

" Because Malaysian citizens themselves identify legal workers and illegal workers in Malaysia, government organizations concerned must take action. There are many Myanmar workers who want to renew passports and apply for new passports before the permit is closed. It will be convenient for them if the embassy provides service as soon as possible." said U Barbu Gyi, a person helping Myanmar people in Malaysia to CNI News.

The number of foreign workers in Malaysia has increased more than before the Covid-19 pandemic. So, more and more arrests may be possible by the end of this year than previous years, the people helping Myanmar citizens told.

CNI News

5 December 2023

The battles breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine and Chin States could continue, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) told CNI News. 

The nationalism of the Rakhine people came to the forefront after the AA troops entered Rakhine state, he said.

" Nationalism of Rakhine people has become active after the AA troops arrived in Rakhine State because they had to be suffering from poverty and hardship for many years. They don't want to live like that anymore. In the meantime, when the AA also stood up before the people and started fighting for the people, the people are heartily satisfied with it as well. They want the AA to win clearly. It is the demand of the public for their suffering. We agree with the people's request." said U Myo Kyaw.

Battles resumed between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Rakhine State on 13th November 2023. Moreover, the battles are breaking out in Paletwa Township as well. 

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun

The battles were taking place between the two sides and the AA captured some police stations, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the Tatmadaw.

" The battles are taking place in some places of Rakhine State. The AA has captured some police stations. They have waged operations by firing on towns and villages for no reason. The AA group that has never done anything good has said that it is trying for the liberation of Rakhine State and for the Rakhine people. But we need to seriously think about whether it is right." he said.

Maungdaw Township, where there is no fighting at present, is also short of goods and the people there are finding it difficult to get food, a resident of Maungdaw, told CNI News.

While the IDPs in Rakhine State are being seen

" The goods are completely out of stock. Those who have something to eat can eat. Those who have nothing to eat can't eat. The people haven't been able to go anywhere because the roads have been closed since 13th November. That's why it happened. If we have to go on like this, we will have to eat only rice without anything edible. But the people in some places can't find even rice." he said.

The battles between the two sides are currently breaking out in Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, Ponnagyun Townships, Rakhine State as well as in Paletwa Township, Chin State.

Moreover, in collaboration with other EAOs, the AA is fighting against the Tatmadaw in Sagaing Region and in northern Shan State.

CNI News

5 December 2023

with the armed conflicts taking place in Myanmar, because the border trade routes are interrupted and the border trade has stopped, commodity prices may rise and goods may become scarce, businesspeople and traders. 

Almost trade routes with China, Thailand and Bangladesh have stopped due to the current battles in Myanmar. Myanmar is 80 percent dependent on border trade for its economy and foreign currency earnings.

The scarcity of imported goods and domestic commodity prices increases may arise in the long run because the border trade has currently stopped, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" Myanmar's economy depends on trade. There is nothing in the manufacturing industry in Myanmar. When the border trade has stopped, about 80 percent of the country will be affected, I guess. Because the government can't sell fuel, the fuel price has risen 300 kyats per litre. If we have to go on like this in the long run, the country will find it difficult, I guess. First, commodity prices will go up. Second, goods will be scarce. In the trade amount of Myanmar, the border trade is 80 percent and the remaining 20 percent is trade by sea. So, the country's economy will probably be affected badly." said U Thet Zaw.

However, there are some border trades in Kachin State, eastern Shan State and Tanintharyi Region.

While the cars were stuck due to battles

Because of very few border trade, imported goods cannot enter Myanmar and the commodity prices may rise in the long run. 

Moreover, because the inflow of foreign currencies may be reduced, foreign exchange control and restrictions may also occur, pointed out businessmen.

Due to not being able to do  border trade in northern Shan State, although the government has stated that any border trade gates can be used, exporters are finding it difficult because of regional instabilities, delay on the way and high transportation charges reportedly. 

The people suffer more than the government due to border trade suspension, U Thiha Paing, founder of the Via Logistics and Supply Chain, told CNI News.

While seeing a truck

" Those who are doing business of supply chain network and mainly connected with the flow of goods suffer more. The people suffer more than the government. The government is a corporation. In other words, it is the biggest company in the country. It's doing business as well. It has its own escape. If there's a trouble, the people suffer 90 percent of the trouble. But the government suffers only 10 percent. The government provide service only in trade. It's not directly responsible. If the government have vehicles and do the marketing, it will have a problem, like under the socialist government in the past. Because there are many businesses in the public hands, the people get into trouble." he said.

Due to territorial instabilities, local products cannot be exported abroad, other regions and states. So, some commodities are going up. Especially, the people in the armed conflict zones are finding it more difficult. 

So, it was necessary to allow the trucks to pass for the border trade, pointed out economic commentators and business people.