CNI News

25 April 2024

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)/ the People's Defense Force joint troops waged battles against the Tatmadaw to capture Myawaddy, Karen State and were able to launch an offensive until when only the No.275 Infantry of the Tatmadaw remained. 

The troops from the No.275 Infantry had to retreat until the No.2 Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and had to defend and fight back against the joint forces.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw sent the 44th Division as reinforcements  and re-launched an offensive so as to regain control of Myawaddy.

So, battles broke out severely in Myawaddy and the KNLA/PDF joint forces had to retreat and then, No.275 Infantry and No. 44 Division connected and were able to regain control of Myawaddy.

While a military official from the No.44 Division that came to support the No.275 Infantry as reinforcements

" Now revolutionary forces have retreated already. The Tatmadaw has regained control of Myawaddy. Some forces sent by the Tatmadaw as reinforcements have arrived in Myawaddy. They are doing security patrols in the town. But I'm not sure what time battles will break out again." said a resident of Myawaddy.

The national flag, which had been taken down at the No.275 Infantry deployed as the city guard, was hoisted again, which the Tatmadaw stated after it regained control of the city.

Because the negotiations between the two sides have been completed, the Thai government is sending back the IDPs from Myawaddy to their native town.

CNI News

24 April 2024

The Wage Committee summitted a letter mentioning that it was necessary to raise the minimum wage for migrant workers including Myanmar citizens to 400 bahts a day on 17th April and it was signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labor.

The Thai authorities might implement the wage increase plan in two months and the sub-committee has been assigned to review the minimum wage and after studying kinds of businesses in each state, the minimum wage would be raised to 400 bahts reportedly.

" Wages and salaries of the employees from the tourism industry were raised separately. It's not convenient. They have planned to raise the minimum wage until 400 bahts a day. In fact, activists and those who carry out for the labor affairs demanded to raise the minimum wage. Employers argued that they could raise at a reasonable situation." said U Min Oo, In charge of labor affairs from the FED to CNI News.

An aquatic product manufacturing workplace in Thailand

The minimum wage of the employees working in the hotel and tourism industries was raised to 400 bahts starting from 13th April depending on the region of the districts concerned.

Logistics, seafood and export industries would be studied in two months and the board meeting would be held reportedly.

If the minimum wage was raised to 400 bahts, it would be more convenient for workers, Ko Moe Lay who is working in Thailand, told CNI News.

" I'm glad if they raise the minimum wage to 400 bahts. At present, we earn 360 or 363 bahts. We can have a meal at 40 bahts." he said.

While migrant workers were being tested for the Covid-19 during the Covid-19 pandemic

However, workers at the workplaces in the Thai-Myanmar border areas haven't earned the minimum wage designated up to now.

The Federation of Thai Trade Unions, the Raks Thai Foundation and the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) demanded the Thai government on the International Labor Day last year to raise the minimum wage to 715 bahts.

There are 77 districts in Thailand and workers in some districts earn more wages. The workers in Chonburi, Rayong and Phukhet Districts that are economically important earn 361 bahts a day and 345 bahts in Kanchanaburi and Tak.

CNI News

24 April 2024

Some townships in Rakhine and Chin States might face commodity shortages because India had closed the Mizoram border gate, locals told CNI News. 

The Mizoram border gate is connected to the roads going to Mizoram State, India and Paletwa Township, Chin State, Myanmar.

India has closed the border cross travel since 18th April due to the election, including the Mizoram border gate. It was not clear when the border post would be re-opened, said locals of Paletwa Township.

Because of the battles breaking out in Rakhine State, goods from the mainland cannot be carried to Rakhine State. So, locals from Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Ponnagyun Townships were using commodities from India. But now, because the border post has been closed, those townships might find it difficult, U Aung Din, a resident of Paletwa, told CNI News.

While seeing the Mizoram border gate

" People from Kyauktaw cannot carry goods from Sittwe and Ann by road or waterways. So, they had to buy and use goods coming from India including rice, edible oil and salt. But now because India has closed the Mizoram border gate, people from Paletwa, Chin State and Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Ponnagyun Townships in Rakhine State get into trouble." he said.

India has indefinitely forbidden its citizen so as not to export basic foodstuffs and fuel that were being daily exported since 16th April.

Prices have been rising in Paletwa that had to depend on the Indian commodities since the date of closure of Mizoram Border Gate and the entry of goods has stopped, Ko Kyaw Khin, a resident of Paletwa, told CNI News.

While seeing somewhere downtown Paletwa

" A bag of cement was paid 55,000 kyats recently. But now it's paid 70,000 kyats. Even so, the cement can't enter anymore. But sometimes, some people smuggled goods at night. If they were caught, they were arrested. You have to eat what you have. Otherwise, you have to eat food for pigs like the people in Ann do. If you have nothing to eat anymore, you will have to die of hunger." he said.

Because of change of policy relating to the India-Myanmar border affairs, the Tamu-Moreh border post also has been closed.

CNI News

24 April 2024

Commodity price and currency value must be stabilized within Myanmar, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, at the union cabinet meeting held on 22nd April, 2024.

The State was making efforts to ensure that there were stability, peace and rule of law within the country and that the prices of foodstuffs and basic consumer goods were reasonable and that the currency value of the country was strengthen, he said.

The country had already had good soil and water and human resources. However, the country had some difficulties because it had been sanctioned economically; trade routes had been closed; stabilities had been damaged and the flow of goods had been delayed or closed, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

" If these difficulties could be overcome, trade would improve and the country's economy would improve. As a result, currency values of Myanmar could also rise. As a country, its currency value needs to be stable at a reasonable rate." he added.

Although Myanmar was conducting border trade with China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh, but now because of battles, almost all the border trades have been suspended.

In the same way, there has been an international economic sanction on Myanmar and  it has been blocked to access foreign currency.

So, commodity prices have become higher and higher and at the same time, the value of the Myanmar kyat is also falling.

CNI News

23 April 2024

Ann Township is facing a foodstuff shortage including rice because the Arakan Army (AA) has closed the Ann-Padan Road, according to locals. 

Moreover, the Myanmar Tatmadaw closed the roads going to other townships in Rakhine State because the battles are breaking out within Rakhine State.

After that, the Ann-Padan Road connecting Minbu and Ann Townships had been closed by the AA. 

So, rice was not able to enter Ann Township. Ann locals were depending on rice and foodstuffs coming from other townships and they were not able to store rice in advance. So, Ann Township was facing a rice shortage at present, U Maung Thein, a rice trader from Ann Township told CNI News.

While rice was being sold to residents of Ann on the basis of quota

" Rice doesn't enter Ann from Minbu. Because other roads have been closed, the people from Ann are starving. Before the Ann-Padan Road was closed, a trader could carry 50 bags of rice. There were five or six traders. They sold rice to locals. But now all the roads have been closed, rice is no more. Those who can buy one or two bags of rice have enough rice for one month. Those who can buy one or two bushels have no rice." he said.

Due to shortage of rice, some local are eating dried rice and broken rice that was used as food for pigs.

Other people are eating other crops instead. The prices of rice has been skyrocketing in Ann Township and the price of a bag of coarse rice that was paid 70,000 kyats in the past has been 200,000 kyats now.

While seeing a rice shop in Ann

Although he tried to deliver rice from Minbu to Ann, there was no truck driver, antonymous rice trader told CNI News.
 " Truck drivers don't dare to go because they are afraid of losing their trucks and goods if something bad happens on the way." he said.

At present, in Ann, the price of a bag of coarse rice is 200,000 kyats, the price of edible oil is 30,000 kyats per viss and the price of fuel is about 20,000 per litre reportedly. 

Although there is no battle in Ann, but areas outside the town and there are also explosions of artillery shells according to locals.

CNI News

23 April 2024

Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Friendship Bridge has been closed indefinitely, an official from the immigration department in Myawaddy told CNI News. 

Because of the closure, border pass and passport holders were not allowed to use the bridge and it was not clear when the bridge would be re-open, he added.

" I still don't know when the bridge will re-open. The bridge has been closed for the time being. 7 and 14 day border pass holders have been suspended and so have passport holders. The Myanmar side has suspended." he said to CNI News.

The Myanmar side has closed the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Bridge since 21st April and the Thai side has opened regularly, according to the Thai media. However, the Thai authorities allow passport holders only to enter the Myanmar side reportedly.

Rumor has that the reason why the bridge had been closed was because the department had been short of necessary papers. However, it has not been exactly known. Some people consider it might be for the safety of government employees at the border post.

Hundreds of local residents are trying to flee to the Thai side because the battles are severely breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces near and around the Thai-Myanmar No.2 Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy, Karen State.

View in front of the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Friendship Bridge

Because an official channel had been closed, there might be a sharp increase in the number of people who would enter the Thai side illegally and brokers could exploit the situation, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED, told CIN News.

"Most of the people who fled for the time being are because of battles. Among those who fled might be migrant workers who will work in Thailand. But the Thai army and all the local organizations are watching carefully along the border. They will accept those who entered as refugees. They are making a list of the people who entered the Thai side. Brokers will take advantage of the situation including human trafficking, I think." he said.

Because of severe battles between the Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces, the number of Myanmar people who crossed Thaung Yin River and the bridges were about 3,000 reportedly.

Moreover, The Thai PM was to go to Mae Sot to know the situations including the arrival of Myanmar people to Mae Sot by the thousand as IDPs because of the battles breaking out in Myawaddy, according the Thai media.

CNI News

23 April 2024

It had started administrative reform that comes from the bottom with democratic equal rights and self-determination, which the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) stated on 22nd April, 2024. 

General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS, met local people within the territory that the RCSS has seized control of and the recruits learning military skills and explained to them about the intention of his trip.

" The Restoration Council of Shan State has started carrying out for the regional stability, federal democratic equal rights, self-determination and administrative reform that comes from the bottom. In doing so, the RCSS is inviting those who want to participate, including other ethnic groups and the Tatmadaw." said in a statement released by the RCSS.  

The youths who were to serve in the Shan State Army and were learning military skills for many reasons needed to realize their national duties and the values towards Shan State and the native community. Moreover, they needed to learn basic military skills until they could protect themselves and their own community, said in the statement.

The RCSS had shown that it was able to secure territories after political peace talks without human deaths or without houses to be burned and damaged. 

While military trainees of the RCSS

Moreover, it had shown it it could start its administrative mechanisms in its territories without a gunshot, Col.Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

"It's clear. The RCSS has educated the armed and fighting people indirectly. The northern allies fought and gained the territories and so did Karenni. Many people were killed. Many houses were burned. The KNU (Karen National Union) also has to be fighting and so do other regions. But the RCSS seems to boast that it has got three districts including Linkhe, Mong Pan and Mong Ping without opening fire. There are no armed conflicts in its territory. Its territories have been mentioned at the top of the statement." he said.

Releasing a statement like that had prevented other EAOs that would enter the administrative area of the RCSS, pointed out Col.Khun Okka.

General Yawd Serk met about 6,000 recruits attending basic military traing course and local people from 33 villages, said in the statement.

The RCSS is an EAO that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and its headquarters is located in Loi Tai Leng. It has been active basically in Linkhe, Mong Pan, Mong Hsu, Loilem, Panlon, Kholan, Lecha, Mong Kung, Tangyan, Mongyai and Thibaw reportedly.

CNI News

12 April 2024

Border pass certificates will be issued to those who have held Unique Identification (UID) Number Card aka citizen verification smart card only starting from 1st May, 2024 and after the people made UID cards in their townships, if they enter a neighboring country through the border gate, it would be easier for them, philanthropic associations told CNI News.

Those who would apply for temporary border pass (TBP) and border pass (BP) would need to bring their original citizen verification cards together with their UID card and TBPs and BPs would issued to the UID card holders only starting from 1st May, 2024, stated the Department of Electronic Registration, the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower.

Although the UID cards could be applied in the townships concerned, if the UID cards were applied in the border regions, it could take longer. If the people applied for the UID in their townships, it could be easier, an official from the Beautiful Heart Philanthropic Association, told CNI News.

While seeing the Myanmar Immigration Department

" If you apply for UID in your native township, it is easier. If you apply in the border regions, it can take you longer. The number of people who enter and exit is almost a thousand on average each day. Many Myanmar people have to come back after they entered neighboring countries. Overstayers are sent back. Nearly 100 Myanmar people are sent back each day." he said.

Because TBPs and BPs will be issued to UID holders starting from 1st May, 2024, there may be an increase in the number of the people who enter and come back in April, which people review.

In the situation like that, the role of brokers would go on existing, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Thai-based FED told CNI News.

" It will be convenient for you if you apply for the UID in your township. For example, how will you apply in Myawady where there is no government department anymore. Most of brokers will take advantage of any situation or any issue. They exploit ignorant workers or workers would be. Saying they will do on behalf of workers, they'll ask workers for money. Things like that may happen." he said.

While Myanmar people are waiting in line at the border trade gate

Moreover, UID numbers have been issued since 22nd April and passports would be issued to those who have necessary certificates only, the government stated.

At present, personal and biographical information of the people over the age of 10 are collected by an electronic system and registered after which UID cards with 10 digits are being issued.

The Electronic Registration System Department of the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower has stated that those who want to apply for the UID cards have to to bring citizen verification cards or officially issued certificates.

CNI News

12 April 2024

Domestic price of corn is likely to rise a bit in the wake of the Thingyan festival, which traders are reviewing. According to the Thailand's demand of corn, Thailand possibly could purchase Myanmar corn more after the Thingyan period, said corn traders.

Because the price of corn probably could rise in the near future, corn farmers and traders within the country should not sell too much corn in one go so that supply and demand would be balanced and a profitable price would reach, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.

" Thailand has raised the price of corn gradually since a few days ago. Approximately, the price of corn could go up if the Thai side bought Myanmar corn more in the wake of the Thingyan period. In the situation like this, corn farmers and traders within the country should buy corn little by little at a time so that the price will reach a profitable one that we want." he said.

Although people have guesstimated that the price of corm could rise in the wake of the Thingyan period, it would not be convenient for corn traders to buy corn to store, said traders.

While seeing Myanmar corn

A situation in which it is difficult to estimate up and down of the price of corn has arisen and as one could make a loss if one buy corn in advance to store. So, traders are buying and selling corn at a market price, Ko Sai Kham, a corn trader from Tachileik, told CNI News.

" In the previous years, we had paid brokers' sales centers in advance to buy corn. When the price went up, we carried corn to Tachileik. But now we can't do like that. The price Thailand paid declined. Although we thought that the price would go up, it declined. And then we made a loss. So, we do not dare to buy corn in advance. That's why, we buy corn at the market price and we sell it at the market price. Although it's difficult to predict the ups and downs of the price, it would be better if the price went up." he said.

Traders have been allowed to export corn to Thailand with tax exemption from 1st February to 31st August 2024. The price of corn could go up in July and August, 2024 and there would be ups and downs at intervals before July, said traders.

The expansion of corn cultivation in Thailand has increased this year and it is difficult to export corn because of territorial instabilities. Moreover, traders and farmers are waiting for the time when the price of corn will go up. So, there will probably be a lot of corn left within the country, according to corn traders.