CNI News

1 November 2024

Almost all the hotel rooms in Taunggyi, Kalaw and Nyaung Shwe have been fully booked for the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing traditional balloon festival, a flagship one of Shan State, according to the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. 

The festival will be held from 9th to 15th November and for the time being, 80 percent of all the hotel rooms have been fully booked, Director of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism of Shan State, U Htin Aung Naing told CNI News.

" To the best of my knowledge, almost all the hotel rooms in Kalaw and Taunggyi have been fully booked. Hotel rooms are still a bit left in Inlay to lodge. Generally speaking, 80 percent of hotel rooms have been fully booked. Residents of Taunggyi and the people from around the city are crazy about the balloon festival. So, they will come to the festival, I hope. Moreover, I expect people from Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw will come to the festival because Taunggyi, Kalaw and Inlay regions are stable." he said.

During the festival, seven to nine balloons will be let off each day and over 60 at night and toy balloons in the daytime reportedly. 

While the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Balloon Festival was being held

Although the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Balloon Festival was held in 2023, those who came and visited the festival decreased. 

Because the festival will be held when there are no territorial stabilities and the commodity price is rising, criticisms have emerged.

" It's hard to say. local tourists who have decided to go to the festival will go there. Although Inlay is in a bad situation, some people will go there. Kalaw is trying to recover as well. But some people will go there. This year, the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is not held, which is good. There was a flood disaster there. Although festivities are held like this, the people are not really happy because of the current situation." said U Thet Lwin Toe, a tourism service entrepreneur, to CNI News.

47 hotels in Taunggyi and 72 hotels in Kalaw have been all opened and among 110 hotels in Nyaung Shwe, 56 have been closed down.

All the hotel rooms of some hotels reportedly have been booked since 26th October for the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Balloon Festival.

CNI News

31 October 2024

After the US imposed economic sanctions on the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB), and the Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB), it might impose sanctions on the Myanmar Economic Bank (MEB). 

However, because the MEB doesn't serve foreign currency transfer, trade and investments as much as the two banks sanctioned do, if the MEB was sanctioned, there would be nothing worse, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" The MICB provides service to commercial investment while MFTB, to foreign trade. They have foreign transition currency. The MEB has no foreign currency transition. But it might have. But to the best of my knowledge, it doesn't have. So, there is no reason the MEB won't be hurt as much as the two other banks. There is nothing worse." he said.

While seeing the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank

In order to limit the flow of foreign currencies into the hands of the SAC, the US imposed sanctions on the MFTB and the MICB.

Payment and tax payment regarding local garment industry, airlines, tourism industry, investment industry, trade have been linked with the MICB and the MFTB.

If the MEB was sanctioned, it would be difficult to transfer state-owned finance. So, the trip of the SAC chairman might intend to avoid these difficulties and contain the issues of local stabilities, an economic commentator told CNI News.

While seeing a port where trading activities are being carried out

" If the MEB was sanctioned, it would be very difficult for the financial transaction of the government. At any rate, the government has to set a foothold to avoid it. The government has to sell reserve foreign currencies for fuel oil, edible oil and medicine. The amount of reserve foreign currency seems to decrease. The SAC chairman might go and negotiate with China about loans and grants." he said.

The MEB, a state-owned commerce and development bank, is providing service to commerce, banking industry, other financial services and local and abroad banking services with its 335 branches.

CNI News

31 October 2024

The Central Bank of Myanmar has been selling foreign currencies since April for importers and exporters and since it has already sold one billion dollars up to now, questions have emerged whether it can cure the economic problem. 

Although dollars have been sold like this, prices within the country are still rising and it has not impct on the businesses yet while the people are still facing hardships, said businessmen.

Whether the dollars the Central Bank sold arrived in the businesses or not should be inspected, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

While seeing the headquarters of the Central Bank

" Which ones are important? It must be considered with trade. For the time being, import licenses have been issued. Why? How much is it important? If there is a control like this, it will be good. In fact, foreign currencies are not needed within the country. But importers need them. There are also intentions why foreign products have to be imported in order to export Myanmar products. Semi-products, raw materials and community goods are imported. On the other hand, there is a system if you import how much percentage, how much dollars will be sold to you. But selling dollars now is separate. I want the authorities to inspect whether the dollars sold have arrived in the businesses or not. Next, there's something to think about. Up to how much dollars can be sold and how long will they be sold?" he said.

After the foreign exchange rates were skyrocketed, the Central Bank penetrated dollars into the foreign currency market. 

While seeing a fuel oil station

Doing so resolved the fuel oil problem a bit. But it was necessary to sell dollars for long, Ko Nay Khant, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" Now the fuel oil problem has been solved quite a bit because dollars are being continuously sold by the Central Bank. But it sells dollars little by little. Whether they can be sold any more or not might depend on receiving loans from China. Although selling dollars is good, how long will dollars be sold? The political problem doesn't seem to be finished. Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is to go to China in November. It is hoped that China will provide all-round  assistance to Myanmar. A change will emerge. Selling dollars from the Central Bank is good. But the price of dollar is rising a bit." he said.

Because the Central Bank has been sold dollars, the price of dollar has been stable within the country and its price is just around 4,600 kyats per dollar.

CNI News

31 October 2024

It was difficult to buy fuel oil in Muse and not only did customers not get the amount of fuel oil what they want, it was also being sold on a limited basis, officials from philanthropic associations in Muse, told CNI News. 

The prices of fuel oil have been higher than before and fuel oil was being sold for 50,000 kyats each vehicle while other products are also going up and consumer goods have been scarce, they said. 

" You can buy fuel oil. But it is sold little by little because Muse is a town that is controlled by the government so that fuel oil cannot be carried to the territories controlled by EAOs. There is fuel oil, but it is sold only on a limited basis. People are so worried that they are very keen on buying it. People come and go to the Chinese side, but goods from the Chinese side cannot be carried through the border. The list of people from the Myanmar side, who will go to China to work must be submitted to the Chinese police station. If the police station permits, they can enter the Chinese side." said the Kanlet philanthropic association.

While seeing some motorcars running in Muse (AFP)

While almost the border gates have been closed down due to battles, exporting Chinese products to Myanmar through the Myla gate, the only one that is still open has been closed down by China. At present, the price of Chinese yuan is 6,000 kyats per yuan in Muse and the prices of consumer goods are designated with only Chinese yuan.

Because China has suddenly closed down the border gates with Myanmar, trucks that were stranded on the Chinese side and the prices became higher, an official from the Beautiful Heart philanthropic association, told CNI News.

While seeing the entrance to Muse

" The trucks that entered and left China and Myanmar have been trapped on the Chinese side. At present, as products and goods are not imported or exported kind of, construction industries are short of materials and workers have been jobless. Members of the basic class get into trouble. Even the prices of snacks become higher. All the prices have risen." he said.

However, people are as usual allowed to enter or leave and a lot of Myanmar workers reportedly have arrived already in the garment factories on the Chinese side. 

If China had closed down its border gates with Myanmar for a long time, local people would be hurt more, pointed out the philanthropic associations in Muse.

CNI News

30 October 2024

Because the MNDAA is facing not only a variety of pressures but also airstrikes, whether it might lose control of Lashio is being asked by military and political analysts. 

The MNDAA captured Lashio during the second wave of Operation-1027 and is trying to build urban administration.

And then, the Myanmar Tatmadaw is putting pressure on the MNDAA by carrying out airstrikes to Lashio so that the MNDAA can't establish administration as well as to make the MNDAA retreat from Lashio. In the same way, the Chinese government also is putting pressure on the MNDAA to retreat from Lashio.

It was less likely that the MNDAA would relinquish Lashio without reaching a political agreement, chairman of the PNLO NCA/S, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.

" In my opinion, the MNDAA won't give up without holding a discussion. Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will go to China on 7th, 8th on 9th November. When he come back, he will take an answer with him, I think. if the MNDAA, the TNLA and the AA want the SAC to stop bombing, they need to talk with the SAC. They might forsake towns only if a political agreement is reached because they had to try hard to capture the towns. For the time being, they won't let go of the towns under the cuurent pressure, I think." he said.

While seeing leaders from the UWSA and the MNDAA

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will go to China and he might come ba.ck with a result after meeting with the leaders of the Chinese government, said military and political analysts. 

Chinese Special Envoy Deng Xijun met with the delegation of the United Wa State Army led by vice chairman Zhao Kau An on 27th August 2024 and asked about the situations regarding battles in northern Shan State and the Naypyidaw government.

Although China has closed down the border gates with the MNDAA, as the MNDAA was taking resources such as rice, oil, medicine, weapons, and so on, it could continue to wage battles, so the UWSA must block and inspect so that any resources could not arrive in the hands of the MNDAA, said Deng Xijun during the meeting.

China didn't want that the Myanmar Tatmadaw would collapse; China wouldn't accept at all that the NUG/PDFs close to western countries would win, said Deng Xijun.

China was putting pressure on the MNDAA, the TNLA, UWSA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw to sit at the political roundtable, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar-China affairs commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Mr. Deng Xijun

" The military council asked to give Lashio and Theinni back. It said it would attend the meeting only after it got them. When China told the MNDAA about it, the MNDAA replied to China that it would not give the towns to the military council. But the MNDAA had to give in what it could. It's not easy for the MNDAA and the TNLA. The China's strategy is to make Myanmar peaceful ASAP. So, it is putting pressure on the MNDAA, the TNLA, the UWSA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw to sit at the political roundtable." she said.

As long as the Kokang troops didn't retreat from Lashio, China wouldn't lift the sanctions on the MNDAA; on top of that, China would continue to take more severe actions against the MNDAA, said Deng Xijun.

Although China is putting pressure on the TNLA and the MNDAA to stop battles and the MNDAA to retreat from Lashio, in cooperation with the PDFs, they are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region.

CNI News

30 October 2024

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) showed its military strength by patrolling in Mohnyin with several hundreds of its troops, said locals. The SNA showed its military strength, making its columns march on 28th October 2024.

The SNA was formed in July, 1989 and is a Shanni armed group that is trying to establish Shanni State after gathering Tamu District, Homalin District, Khamti District, Katha District, Banmauk District, Mawlike District and Kalay District in Sagaing Region as well as Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District, Mogaung District, Bhamo District, Karmine and Inndawgyi region in Kachin State.

The SNA is being active in Tamu, Phaungbyin, Khamti, Homalin, Mawlike, Pinlebu, Katha, Banmauk, Indian border, Hpakant, Karmine, Mohnyin, Mogaung and alomg the railway. 

And then, the SNA is making attempts to protect Shanni people and the civilians living in Sagaing Region and Kachin State from being bullied by local armed groups as well as to establish a federal democratic union.

CNI News

30 October 2024

Reserve foreign currencies and gold stored in the Central Bank of Myanmar should not be sold more than necessity with a view to making the prices of foreign currencies and gold fall, pointed out economic commentators. 

Instead of solving for a short term by selling reserve foreign currencies and gold, the root cause must be found out and solved; as long as it could not be solved like this, one problem or another would be emerging, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" I had said there was a question: up to what time reserve foreign currencies and gold would be sold. In the demand and supply of foreign currency, the supply is weak, which is main problem. If the main problem cannot be solved, consequence problems will be existing. To be able to solve the root cause depends on our political and economic structures. I had said it was essential to change ways of thinking about the whole structure. As long as the root cause cannot be solved, consequence problems will emerge." he said.

The trip of the SAC chairman to China in November might have anything to do with financial cases and they have never found any countries that have progressed because of China. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were examples, pointed out economic commentators. 

Although the trip could impact on Myanmar, it was necessary to carry out to make sure that Myanmar would not be like those countries, they said. 

Bar of gold, and dollar

If reserve gold and foreign currencies were sold recklessly, it would be difficult for a new government that would come to power through the 2025 election, an economic commentator told CNI News.

" The Central Bank of Myanmar very often sells foreign currencies. It never sold foreign currencies like this and the bank is selling reserve gold as well, which must be taken in account. Frankly speaking, a general election will be held next year. Without considering for the sake of the government that will come to power through the election, the bank will use reserve gold and foreign currencies as it like kind of because the prices of gold and foreign currencies have fallen and been stable." he said.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC will go to China in November in order to receive help and support from China and he might borrow some loans from China, presumed economic commentators.

In negotiating and discussing so as to receive help and support from China, China might demand some things for its interests; as China wants to implement the One Belt One Road Project, it might demand Myanmar to implement the project, they made comments.

CNI News

29 October 2024

As the Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA) has notified that it will wage battles against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in the upcountry, military and political analysts are asking questions about what could happen there. 

27th October was the first anniversary of Operation-1027; their Spring Revolution forces progressed a lot under the leadership of the Three Brotherhood Alliance; they would never forget that gratitude, wrote Maung Saung Kha, leader of the BPLA, on his Facebook page on 27th October 2024.

" One thing I want to let the people know is that the BPLA will set foot in the upcountry and carry out military operations. I hope the people in the upcountry will welcome us." he said. 

While seeing No.6 military training graduation of the BPLA

If battles were waged in the upcountry, worse consequences could emerge, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

" If Operation-1027 was analyzed, the PDFs from the upcountry attacked from many places. If a big battle takes a long time, the PDFs will suffer the most. Which forces will they cooperate with? There's something to think about. Even for the time being, they are suffering the most. If they will wage battles anymore, they will face worse consequences." he said.

If the military operations were waged with wrong objectives anymore, the PDFs would act like damaging their regions kind of, pointed out political analysts.

The military operations would enter the Shan-Man military operation and Sagaing Region and the BPLA would mainly take part in the operations, and it was believed that they would receive manpower and weapons from the Three Brotherhood Alliance, U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Maung Saung Kha, leader of the BPLA and Baw Kyaw Hae, Deputy C in C of the KNU

" As the BPLA cooperated with the MNDAA and the TNLA in the military operations, the BPLA troops will mainly enter and carry out the Shan-Man military operation and Sagaing Region. This is a really necessary situation to become. They had formed a military division in cooperation with the MNDAA to support the Shan-Man operation. And as the BPLA had cooperated with the TNLA, I believe the BPLA can receive manpower and weapons from the Three Brotherhood Alliance." he said.

If military operations were waged in the upcountry, the BPLA troops and PDFs could consider defending the Myanmar Tatmadaw's airstrikes and offensives rather than defending the lives and properties of the people from the upcountry, pointed out political analysts.

If the BPLA carried out military operations in the upcountry, human death and house damages could increase there; regional trade and agricultural industries could be damaged as well, pointed out military analysts. 

While seeing the BPLA troops

Under the leadership of Maung Saung Kha, the BPLA was formed with the help and support from the AA and the KNU on 17th April 2021.

In cooperation with the KNU and the AA, the BPLA took military experiences from the battles in Karen and Rakhine States as well as those in northern Shan State in cooperation with the three northern allies (MNDAA,TNLA,AA).

At present, the BPLA has currently made allies with the AA, the KNU, the Karenni Army (KA), the MNDAA, the NUG, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the TNLA, the SAF, and the People's Revolution Union (Magway).The BPLA bases on the territories controlled by the KNU and the MNDAA and carries out military operations fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

29 October 2024

After the announcement that trade of gold is that of an important commodity, planning to designate the reference price could grow the black market, pointed out gold market analysts.

After designating gold as an important commodity, restricting, forbidding, supervising the gold market and price might be conducted. 

Moreover, gold traders and entrepreneurs could be taken action against and arrested. However, it wouldn't be effective, Ko Nay Khant, a gold market analyst, told CNI News.

While seeing a bar of Academy gold

" Gold was designated as an important commodity in the past as well. But this time, a committee has become an extra. It is the committee on designating price of gold. Another organization has arisen besides the Yangon Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA). In the past whey they designated gold as an important commodity, gold entrepreneurs were inspected and arrested for a short time. This time as well, they'll seem to do so. For the time being, shop owners and traders are all quiet. They will be quiet for a couple of weeks. It won't be effective. The black market could be bigger." he said.

The committee on designating reference price of metal (gold) is holding online after which the approved reference price will be issued.

Although the government was controlling and restricting the prices of gold and dollar to make the prices of foodstuffs fall, the commodity price didn't fall and it could cure the inflation just in the short term, a businessman told CNI News.

While seeing a gold shop

" Gold must not be controlled but commodity mainly. The government controls money and gold only, but it doesn't impact on the commodity price. It's mainly necessary to impact on the foodstuffs. If not so, there's no point. If the prices of gold and dollar go up, prices of other things rise as well, but even though the prices of gold and dollar fell, the prices of other things didn't fall. But it just could reduce the inflation for a while." he said.

There is not a situation in which gold and dollar markets cannot be controlled because of conflicts taking place within the country; while controlling the gold and dollar markets, scarcity of commodity and higher prices are taking place. 

Moreover, the current price of pure gold is 65 lakh kyats per tical and it is less likely to fall down less than 60 lakh kyats, pointed out gold market analysts.