CNI News

4 April 2024

Because the Arakan Army (AA) stated on 2nd April tha Ann-Padan road linking Ann township of Rakhine State to Padan village in Ngape township, Magway region in central Myanmar had been indefinitely closed, the people in Ann Town might find it difficult to get enough rice, said locals.

Although Ann locals bought rice from Mrauk U and Kyauktaw in the past, they could not buy rice from these towns anymore because of battles. 

So, they were importing rice from Minbu Town through the Ann-Padan road. At present, if the road has been closed, Ann locals might find it difficult to get rice, U Maung Thein, a rice trader in Ann Township, told CNI News.

While the AA has seized control of Mrauk U

" As usual, we had to be carrying the rice from the Minbu side. Rice is not available from Rakhine State as well. Now the road going to the Minbu Township has been closed, I heard. If we can't really go there, there will be no rice for the people in Ann to eat." he said.

Even though the State Administration Council has closed all the roads and waterways entering Rakhine State starting from 13th November 2023, Ann Township were allowed to carry rice through departments concerned once or twice a week. However, the AA has indefinitely closed the road entering Ann, it has been difficult for Ann locals.

As there are many grassroots in Ann Township, rice sellers and administrators were implementing a limited rice supply system to prevent a shortage of rice, an anonymous administrator told CNI News.

While carrying bags of rice

" There are more workers who live from hand to mouth here in our town. They can't buy rice for one or two months in advance. When they return from work, they tend to buy one pyi of rice (one pyi=4.375 lb). Now, administrators and rice sellers have arranged to sell rice to a household one or two pyis each day." he said.

Rice is not grown in Ann Township and cashew and upland crops only are grown in the township reportedly. Therefore, if the road between Ann and Padan was closed, there would be a high demand for rice and it could be worse in the rainy season due to difficult transportation, said locals.

Moreover, locals are worried that there will be battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA in Ann Township.

CNI News

4 April 2024

In a survey that asked 250 people, when asked if they viewed China as a good neighboring country, 54 percents of respondents said that China was not a good neighboring country, said in a report released by the Institute for Strategy and Policy- Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) on 2nd April 2024. 

The ISP conducted the survey in October and November 2023 and asked 250 individuals from six Myanmar policy communities for 100 questions.

The individuals were from ones from political and economic circles and ones from civil society organizations, experts who are familiar with Chinese politics, economy and international relations, activists and celebrities.

Moreover, EAOs and leaders of the PDFs/LDFs from the regions where Chinese investment projects are located were included in the respondents, the ISP-Myanmar stated.

While seeing the record of the respondents who said that China was interdering in the home affairs of Myanmar

54 percent of respondents said that China was not a good neighboring country and 41 percent, a good neighbor. Regarding the question whether China took the opinion of Myanmar people seriously, 82 percent of the respondents said that China took it seriously and 12 percent said that China thought about getting on well with the power holder.

In the same way, regarding the question whether China wanted Myanmar to become a democracy, 60 percent of respondents said that China wanted Myanmar to become a dictatorship and 26 percent, a democracy.

Moreover, 73 percent of respondents said that China was interfering in the home affairs of Myanmar and 24 percent said that China was not interfering, stated the ISP-Myanmar. The battles are currently breaking out severely between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDFs joint forces in Myanmar.

The Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) jointly launched Operation-1027 in northern Shan State on 27th October 2023 after which the battles broke out severely between the Tatmadaw and these allies.

While seeing the record of respondents who said that China wanted Myanmar to become a dictatorship

During the battles, three northern allies (TNLA,MNDAA,AA) seized control of Laukkai, Konkyan, Chin Shwe Haw, Phaungsai, Kunglong, Theinni, Hopang, Panwar, Kutkai, Namkham, Nangsang, Mantong, Namtu and Mong Ngor Townships and fought against over 100 military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Moreover, the AA launched an offensive against the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State starting from 13th November 2023 and seized control of Mrauk U, Pauktaw, Minbya, Myebon, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw Townships in Rakhine State as well as Paletwa and Samee Townships in Chin State and attacked over 100 military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

In the same way, joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People Defense Force (PDF) are attacking and capturing the military camps of the Tatmadaw in Waingmaw, Sumprabum, Banmaw, Momauk and Lweje Townships.

China is supporting these armed groups behind the battles, pointed out military analysts, but China denied that.

CNI News
3 April 2024

Maj.Shan Kham Aung aka Maj.Shan Aung from the Eastern Naga National Organization/Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENNO/ENDA), a Naga EAO, was shot dead by the security forces of the Tatmadaw at 4:30 p.m. on 2nd April 2024.

While Maj.Shan Aung was asking for money from the motorcars together with a comrade from the ENNO/ENDA near Sone Zee Yar restaurant at the entrance to Lao Ngauk Village between Khamti Township and Lahe Township, security forces came and shot him dead.

“After that, the security forces seized an MA pistol, a bullet box, four 9 mm rounds, a national verification card and 70,000 kyats reportedly. While he was asking drivers for money, the army arrived. If he avoids the soldiers, nothing will happen. When he went head to head, he was shot dead." a person close to the ENDA/ENNO told CNI News.

While seeing the NVC card and a gun of Major Shan Aung

Although CNI News contacted the ENDA/ENNO regarding the death of Major Shan Aung, it has not got in touch with the organization. The name mentioned in the NVC of Major Shan Aung was Shan Kham Aung.

Major Shan Aung beat seven locals from Badoomon Village including a three-year child in Khamti Township, Sagaing Region on 23rd January 2023 after which the ENDA suspended him for six months reportedly.

Major Shan Aung was serving as the commander of the Khamti Column in the ENDA/ENNO and he had served in the NSCN-K as well. Col. Aung Sai, who was dismissed from the NSCN-K, led and founded the ENDA/ENNO with the help of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). At present, the headquarters of the ENDA/ENNO is located in Laiza, Kachin State.

In collaboration with the Naga People's Defense Force (NPDF) and the KIA, the ENDA/ENNO is fighting against the Tatmadaw every so often.

CNI News

3 April 2024

In spite of the fact that the price of baht has become higher, rather than a decrease in buying and renting condominium apartments in Bangkok, there has been an increase than the last two years, those who are doing business of buying, selling and renting, told CNI News. 

Buying and renting of condos have increased during the last three months because there has been an increase in selling condos at present, a person who is doing business of selling, buying and renting in Bangkok, told CNI News.

" Because there has been a sharp increase in selling condos at present, Myanmar people who buy the condos have sharply increased at the same time. They have paid reserve money to buy condos. It's not related to the price of baht. The number of people who will attend school are more. They will buy the condos during Thingyan." he said.

A small model of a condo from a Bangkok condo fair

When Myanmar people buy the condos, just a few of them rent their condos, and Chinese citizens tend to rent their condos after they bought three condo apartments reportedly.

Although Myanmar citizens bought only 20 condo apartments in 2020, there were 54 condo flats they bought in 2019 and 48 in 2018, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of the Government Housing Bank, a Thai State-owned bank.

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar citizens who enter Thailand since 2022 and buying and renting of condos and houses have increased as well, according to the people who are doing business of selling, buying and renting condos.

Bangkok cityscape

" We rent condos starting from 15,000 to 20,000 bahts per month. Those who rent the condos are the parents whose children who will attend school here or those who will receive medical treatment here. Sales start from 2,000 lakh kyats. Myanmar citizens have paid reserve money to buy the condos. Those who can afford buy condos worth more than ten thousand lakh kyats. There are many agents and brokers. There are also people who buy houses." said an official from a condo transaction and rental business to CNI News.

Myanmar citizens bought 349 condo apartments in Thailand in 2022 and they bought 76 condo apartments during the four months from January to April, 2023, said REIC.

In the list of top countries that purchase high value real estates in the cities of Thailand, Myanmar is in third place after China and Russia and it spent 2.25 billion bahts on real estates in 2023.

CNI News

3 April 2024

Lweje-Laying border trade, Myanmar-China border trade has been suspended due to battles breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, truck drivers told CNI News.

Trucks were often stuck on the way along the Banmaw-Lwele road in March during the battles that were breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the KIA-PDF joint forces.

It had not been convenient for trucks to go to Lweje starting from 25th March 2024 and the Chinese side has closed already after which the Lweje border trade has stopped, Ko Aung Zin, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

While the KIA force at the gate of Lweje

" The road to Lweje has been closed. You can't go to Lweje from Banmaw. The cars that have been stuck turned around and came back from the Inbaba Road. There are no cars that go to Lweje, but the cars that came back from Lweje. There isn't any government staff including ones from the customs department anymore." he said.

Because the Lweje border trade has stopped, Over 100 Myanmar trucks have been stuck on the Chinese side, Ko Tun Naing, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

" We haven't been able to do anything for the time being. Some trucks go back to Mandalay. Truck drivers deliver goods back to traders. There are also over 100 trucks that are stuck in China because China has closed the border gate." he said.

The Myanmar side was exporting regionally produced fruits such as tissue banana, watermelon and pumpkin to the Chinese side and importing construction materials, electrical equipment, motorcar spare parts and consumer goods from China.

CNI News

2 April 2024

The New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) would not accept any political discussion based on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), it stated on 1st April, 2024. 

According to the political position of the NMSP-AD, it would not accept any political discussion based on the NCA and would oppose any attempts to animate the 2008 Constitution as well as it would not allow the Tatmadaw to participate in the future politics, said in the statement.

Some top leaders of the NMSP resigned on 14th February 2024 and build the New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) after which it joined the revolutionary elements and has been fighting against the Tatmadaw.

The implementations of the NCA has stopped since 1st February 2021 and the peace talks they were holding were not related to the process of the NCA, Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) told CNI New

While seeing an anniversary celebration of the NCA

" There are certain things that we don't know yet. Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC), the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM)are the mechanisms of the NCA. Frankly speaking, the implementations of the NCA had stopped since 1st February, 2021. Peace talks and dialogues that we are currently holding are not conducted according to the NCA." he said.

According to the political position of the NMSP-AD, it would not accept the distribution of political power between those who have the political privileges; when collaborating with the revolutionary organizations, it would carry out in accordance with the federal standards, said in the statement.

At present, the NMSP-AD in collaboration with revolutionary elements is fighting against the Tatmadaw in Mon, Kayin States and Tanintharyi Region.

CNI News

2 April 2024

Some hotels in Bagan, ancient heritage site, and northern Shan State were sold because there were almost no tourist arrivals, hotel entrepreneurs associations in those regions told CNI News. 

Moreover, hotel industries were making a loss because there were a few tourists who came to and electricity was not regularly available and the number of hotels that were closed had increased than before, they said.

Although some businessmen were interested in buying the hotels that were prepared to be sold, they had not come back yet after they inquired, U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Myanmar Hotelier Association (Bagan Hotel Zone), told CNI News.

"There's not much actual buying and selling yet. There are people who came and inquired. There are people who want to sell. I haven't heard which hotel has been sold already. There are people who want to buy hotels. But the transaction has not been conducted. There are a lot of hotels that have been closed. They can't sustain in the long run. Now it has been over three years already. They were making a loss everyday. You can buy hotels at a lower price at a time like this. Buyers will calculate as well because tourism no longer works." he said.

An aerial view of a high-rise hotel in Lashio

Hotel owners have to sell at the prices lower than the market ones and sellers ask buyers to reduce the price a lot, said regional hotelier associations. 

Because the businesses have not been operated again in northern Shan State where battles broke out, there are hotels that will be sold, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of Northern Shan State Hoteliers Association, told CNI News.

Moreover, there are many businessmen who are watching to buy hotels in Lashio, northern Shan State, he added.

" Some people come here in Lashio to inquire to buy hotels or invest on other businesses. If your hotel is in a good place and your business is good, you can sell it at the price that you want. But there haven't been many transactions yet. There are many people who watch Kashio to buy hotels and other businesses." he said.

The tourism sector has declined since the Covid-19 pandemic and political changes took place in 2021. The sector improved a little in 2022.

 However, in 2023 the battles broke out in many parts of the country, it was difficult to travel, the electricity was not regularly available and hotel room accommodation fees increased. So, there were almost no tourist arrivals.

According to the current situation, it has not been easy to improve the tourism sector of Myanmar, reviewed hotel entrepreneurs.

CNI News

2 April 2024

Because it is not easy to carry goods from other regions to Paletwa, Mindat, Matupi and Samee Townships in southern Chin State, locals have to rely on the goods coming from India, according to Paletwa residents. 

Due to the battles breaking out in Rakhine State at present, it is not convenient to carry the goods from Kyauktaw to Paletwa. So, Paletwa locals have to buy and carry the goods from India, U Kyaw Khin, a Paletwa resident, told CNI News.

" Because we, staffs, can't transfer our money to Paletwa from Yangon, firstly we sent the money to Thailand. And then the money has to be sent to India from Thailand. The money is changed to Myanmar kyats in India and people in Paletwa have to receive Myanmar kyats. The people in southern Chin State have to buy and carry goods from India. Transportation is not good for the time being. We can't transport goods from Kyauktaw. We are depending on the goods from India alone." he said.  

While seeing villages along Kaladan River

Locals from Mindat and Matupi Townships in southern Chin State are relying on the goods from Nagaland and Mizoran States in India. The locals from southern Chin State bouught and consumed the goods coming from Pakokku Townships in the past. However, because of territorial instabilities at present, they have to use Indian goods.

Although Paletwa locals bought and used a small amount of the Indian goods by waterway last year while battles were breaking, at present they have to be using the goods more than before, U Htay Win, a resident of Paletwa, told CNI News.

While seeing villages along Kaladan River

" In the past, because necessary goods entered from Kyauktaw, this route going to the Indian border was not used so much because boats capsized in the past. But as the route going to Kyauktaw is closed, the route going to the border is being used more." he said.

Consumer goods are mainly imported from India, and foodstuff, medicine, rice and edible oil are also imported reportedly. If a person goes to India by waterway, it will cost him 60,000 kyats and if he carries goods, it will cost him 100,000 kyats reportedly.

CNI News

1 April 2024

When a Myanmar citizen went to the Chinese side through the China-Myanmar border to work, because he has to make a lot of evidence documents, it cost him over 10 lakh kyats, philanthropic associations in Muse told CNI News.

He has to make a lot of evidence documents including a certificate that contains QR code to report guest list, labor card, health card and residence card. Moreover, if he is the who will enter with a temporary border pass (TBP), he has to take a pass sheet to go from Kye Gaung to Ruili. So, the average cost is between 1,500 and 2,000 yuans reportedly.

" The cost has been over 10 lakh kyats. A worker who will go and work on the Chinese side has to pay service charges for laborers, charges for medical check up, for TBP. And a red book is to be translated and you have to pay for translation. The Labor office takes 100 yuans for finding a job. And then when he go to the factory, he will have to pay bus fare. Labor offices have been opened by all Myanmar citizens. Because labor brokers know the weak points of compatriots, they ask for money saying many reasons." an official from the Kanlet Ku Nyi philanthropic association, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar people who will go to the Chinese side (RFA)

If a Myanmar worker make documents in person, it takes long to get documents, and if he hire a broker, he can get documents quickly. But the brokerage is until 30 lakh  kyats reportedly. Those who enter the Chines side must mention exactly the places where they will stay and work.

However, the number of people who will enter and work on the Chinese side has increased everyday, an official from the Beautiful Heart philanthropic association, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar people who will go to the Chinese side (RFA)

" As soon as the morning dawns, a lot of Myanmar people arrive in groups in the highway bus terminal of Muse. We don't want them to come. They can't get the jobs at once. Myanmar people are getting into trouble on the Chinses side by the thousand. Many Myanmar people are also arrested. Many Myanmar people are sent back. You can't get a job here with a guarantee." he said.

Although those who enter with TBPs find it difficult to get a job, those entering with a one-year residence permit book are convenient reportedly According to estimates, there are about 500,000 Myanmar people in Ruili, China and the number of workers is much higher than that of jobs.