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CNI News
19 September 2024
It is necessary for Myanmar's PE (Passport for Education) holders in Thailand who are attending short-term courses with Non-ED visa to have other documents to have other documents, Myanmar people in Thailand told CNI News.
The Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok stated that it would not provide service to the Myanmar people who were attending short-term courses with Non-ED visa for the renewal of PE starting from 16th September.
Refusal to renew the passport means to ask those with the passport expired to go home; so the Myanmar people whose passports still were valid should do to have other documents that are issued by the Thai authorities, U Aung Kyaw, from the Labor Right Foundation (LBR) told CNI News.
" The reason why the PE is not extended is the Myanmar government want the PE holders to come back to Myanmar. If the embassy doesn't extend the PE, all the PE holders will be illegal. And then they all will find difficulties. The Thai Ministry of Labor promised that residence and work permits would be issued to all undocumented people under the Thai government led by former Thai PM Srettha. But it didn't go ahead because Thai politics changed recently. A new PM came to power. If the subject regarding migrant workers was discussed at the Cabinet meeting, a certain document would be issued to them, which migrant workers are hoping." he said.
Myanmar migrants who are waiting in front of the Myanmar Embassy
In the past, renewal of PE was conducted within one day in the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok and the Myanmar Consulate in Chianmai.
But because there has been a sharp increase in the number of Myanmar students who are attending courses in a virtual format after getting Non-ED visa, the embassy will not provide service to extend the PE, said in the statement released by the embassy.
Refusal to renew the PE passport may be because some of the PE holders might be those who go against the SAC, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.
" They must choose one or another. If those who are OK to go home, go home. Otherwise, as illegal residents, work in a job regarding the university. Otherwise, when they have to apply as recruits, will they do? The military government will tighten step by step. If you haven't made any preparations, you will get into trouble." he said.
There are many Myanmar citizens holding PE, who are staying in Thailand with Non-ED visa reportedly.
Although those who are attending short term courses are refused to renew their PE, students who are long-term courses and studying in primary and secondary education are regularly allowed to renew.
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CNI News
19 September 2024
Questions are emerging in relation to how NCA signatory EAOs are helping flood-hit people.
The 7 NCA signatory EAOs are supporting rice to flood victims and collaborating with other organizations, Patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.
"We are helping flood victims on a small scale. We distribute rice to flood victims depending on getting it. We are helping flood victims in territories within reach together with donors. And we are collaborating with the Pa-O National Organization (PNO/PNA) in the Special Region-6 that contains six townships in helping flood victims." he said.
Typhoon Yagi which entered Vietnam on 7th September was blowing at a rate of 130 miles per hour and the typhoon pushed rain clouds over Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar after which it was raining, breaking record, said Vice Chairman of the SAC.
While houses were being sunk during the flood
Except for Kachin, Rakhine States and Tanintharyi Region, all the rest states and regions were flooded, and according to the figures collected up to 16th September, 200,000 people were flood victims.
226 people were killed and 77 people were lost, reported the SAC.
Their troops were carrying out rescue tasks for flood victims and town cleaning tasks, Captain Saw Zaw Min from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) told CNI News.
" We were carrying out rescue tasks for flood victims when flood took place on 12th, 13th and 14th September Moreover, we conducted reconstruction tasks for three days continually such as removing mud and cleaning ruins. Any one wasn't killed, but properties were all damaged. But it's not as much damages as other states and regions." he said.
While the DKBA and departmental staff are jointly cleaning damages left due to flood
7 EAO Alliance is made up of the PNLO, the DKBA, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council.
In Myanmar, because of Typhoon Yagi, it was continuously raining heavily and the water levels of rivers and creeks were so high that 56 townships from Naypyidaw Council Territory, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Bago Regions, Kayah, Shan, Mon and Karen States were flooded.
So, 2,116 houses were damaged and 158,373 houses were sunk. The government opened 438 rescue camps and had to move 42,858 households and 163,780 people.
According to the figures collected until 4:00 pm on 16th September, 226 people were killed and 77 people were lost. Moreover, 117 offices and departmental buildings, 1040 schools, 386 religious buildings, some roads and bridges, lamp posts and telecommunication towers were destroyed, reported the SAC.
Moreover, 128,344 animals were dead and 643,081 cultivated acres were sunk.
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CNI News
18 September 2024
Vice chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win said to make flood victims get the donations and consumer goods justly and fairly.
He said the above at meeting (2/2024) of the national management committee on natural disasters on 16th September, 2024.
It would be necessary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to release the notifications so as not to make the people worry.
Moreover, management organizations from Regions and States must carry out to make flood victims get purified drinking water and healthy diets, he added.
And then, responsible organizations needed to collaborate to make government offices and schools open as soon as possible in the flood-hit area, he said.
While seeing a flood-hit situation
"Donations and materials that were donated by well-wisher people must be systematically managed to make flood victims get justly and fairly. The State is sending five basic foods that are healthy and drinking water to temporary rescue camps for natural disaster victims including some temporary rescue camps where donors couldn't reach." said Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win.
South Korea would support 13 billion dollars for Myanmar flood victims, stated the South Korea Embassy to Myanmar on 16th September.
The Kanbawza Bank would donate 10 billion kyats for the flood victims, it stated on 16th September. In the same way, the Ayeyarwady Bank would donate 10 billion kyats as well. Moreover, artists, philanthropists and the rich are also donating to the flood victims.
While seeing the statement on flood-hit situation released by the SAC
In Myanmar, because of Typhoon Yagi, it was continuously raining heavily and the water levels of rivers and creeks were so high that 56 townships from Naypyidaw Council Territory, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Bago Regions, Kayah, Shan, Mon and Karen States were flooded. So, 2,116 houses were damaged and 158,373 houses were sunk.
The government opened 438 rescue camps and had to move 42,858 households and 163,780 people.
According to the figures collected until 4:00 pm on 16th September, 226 people were killed and 77 people were lost. Moreover, 117 offices and departmental buildings, 1040 schools, 386 religious buildings, some roads and bridges, lamp posts and telecommunication towers were destroyed, reported the SAC.
Moreover, 128,344 animals were dead and 643,081 cultivated acres were sunk.
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CNI News
18 September 2024
Floods took place throughout the country due to Typhoon Yagi and 226 people were killed and 643,081 cultivated acres were sunk, reported the State Administration Council (SAC).
Due to the typhoon, it was continuously raining after which water levels of rivers and creeks were so high that 56 townships from the Naypyidaw Council Territory, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Bago Regions, Kayah, Shan and Karen States were flooded.
So, 2,116 houses were damaged and 156, 373 houses were sunk. The government opened 438 rescue camps and 42, 858 households and 163,780 people were moved.
According to the figure collected until 4:00 pm on 16th September, 226 people were killed and 77 people were lost. In the same way, 117 offices and department buildings, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings, some roads and bridges, lamp posts and telecommunication towers were damaged, reported the SAC.
Moreover, 128, 344 animals such as cow, goat and pig were killed as well as 643, 081 cultivated acres were sunk.
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CNI News
18 September 2024
Due to floods all over the country after it was raining heavily, the paddy yield this year could decline by million baskets, farmers told CNI News.
When the rainfed paddy was grown in the previous month for this year, due to flood in many parts, many paddy fields were destroyed.
When the time to reap the paddy was drawing very near at present, as floods took place in a big way, it could impact on the rice market, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.
While a flood was taking place
" Because of flood, it could impact on the price of rice. But there is nothing to worry for the food of the country. Summer rice will be grown. But this year the paddy yield can decline by million baskets. So, it could impact on the price of rice, but not extremely." he said.
Farmers whose farms were flooded could face a lot of losses and farmers whose farms were not flooded are convenient. Moreover, flood could reach Bago and Ayeyarwady Regions reportedly.
Although paddy is grown in southern Shan State, as this region was flooded, demand in rice could be high, reviewed agricultural and economic advisors.
Moreover, it was not clear whether the local reserve rice is sufficient or not, they pointed out. If plantations that were flooded were fixed and rainfed rice were grown, cultivation would not be able to be conducted in time, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.
While Kalaw Town was being flooded
" It's been a long time since paddy was grown. When the paddy was flooded, mud and sand covered the pddy. It's hard to make the paddy go on living. If you re-plant after fixing the land, it will take at least one or two months. And then, if it doesn't rain anymore, you'll find it difficult to get water." he said.
More floods were taking place because there were no trees that can keep soil. So, it was not easy for farmers to protect the situation in advance, said agricultural and economic advisors.
So, trees must be grown again to better the natural environment, they advised.
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CNI News
17 September 2024
EAOs have changed their ways of thinking as time goes by, Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of the 7 EAO Alliance, told CNI News.
EAOs' way of thinking was to build a federal union and while the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement was drafted, although the way of thinking was to build a federal union, they have had new ways of thinking, he said.
" When almost all the EAOs drafted the NCA together, their negotiated agreement was to build a federal union. But as time goes by, some more ways of thinking have emerged. Since the NCA started in 2013-14, it's been a long time. It's no wonder that some more ways of thinking have emerged. Effect emerged from cause which we must accept. It's the reality." said Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt.
All the ethnic groups in Myanmar should establish the country after finding an answer for the political problem for the sake of the union, he said.
The 7 EAO allies would start administering in the territories they had seized control of with the self-determinization ruling system, said General Yawd Serk, chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) at the meeting held in March, 2024.
If it took long without finding an answer during armed conflicts, ways of thinking would change, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the policy steering committee of the ANP, told CNI News.
" Armed groups are fighting for their ambitions because they think that the political problem can't be solved with the political means. And then when it takes for a long time, when one side isn't able to defeat the other decisively, based on the reality, their ways thinking can change. I wonder if they might want to sit at the political rountable. It might be in 2025 and beyond 2025, I think." he said.
The Arakan Army (AA) has said that it will build at least a confederation status while the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has told its people to get ready to build a country if needed.
In the same way, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has said that EAOs could consider more than a federal union in 2025.
At present, battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and some EAOs/revolutionary forces in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Karen States, Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Regions.
While the Myanmar Tatmadaw becomes weak after Myanmar is in a political crisis, EAOs have changed way of thinking from building a federal democratic union to building confederation states and are fighting for it.
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CNI News
17 September 2024
Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), went to flood-hit places inside Bagan region and the Naypyidaw Council Territory on 15th September and told officials concerned to speed up reconstruction tasks.
He went and looked at the situations of the roads, bridges, small dams, agricultural and livestock industries that were damaged by the flood and instructed officials concerned to carry out reconstruction tasks as soon as possible.
And then, he went to Bagan region and looked at pagodas and stupas that were ruined by the flood and instructed officials concerned to speed up maintenance tasks.
After was raining cats and dogs due to the Yagi storm in Myanmar, 34 townships were flooded and there are over 200,000 flood-victims.
So, the SAC has opened 187 rescue camps to help flood-hit victims, and 59413 households and 236649 people were moved.
At present, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is exercising close supervision to minimize damage and loss in the flood-hit regions as well as to carry out recue tasks as soon as possible.
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CNI News
17 September 2024
While the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) is complying with the Nationwide Ceasefire agreement and striving for the interests of the people, the current chairman of the PNLO doesn't use the collective leadership policy but his own policy, abusing the policy, said Col. Khun Okkar.
The current chairman of the PNLO, Col. Khun Thurein is ruling the organization with his own policy and breaking the NCA.
Moreover, he is fighting against the Pa-O National Organization (PNO/PNA) and the State Administration Council (SAC).
So, damages and losses of towns and villages, and an increase in the number of IDPs could be obviously seen, stated Col. Khun Okkar on 10th September.
Col.Khun Thurein
So, he had made a decision to resign from the PNLO offshoot led by Khun Thurein for good because as a patron of the PNLO/PNLA, he was unavoidably responsible, stated Col. Khun Okkar. He would have nothing to do with the PNLO offshoot in future, reported Col. Khun Okkar.
He would continue to carry out for the national politics after resigning from the PNLO offshoot, said Col. Khun Okkar. The PPLO led by Col.
Khun Okkar who seceded from the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) and elements led by Col. Khun Thurein who seceded from the SNPLO re-organized and established the PNLO with small other Pa-O forces at a national conference held somewhere on the Thai-Myanmar border in 2009.
And then, the PNLO/PNLA re-entered the Pa-O region 2012 and it collaborated with the PNO/PNA in carrying out the Pa-O national political tasks until the end of 2023; Col. Khun Okkar, Khun Myint Tun and Col. Khun Thurein took responsibility as rotating chairmen of the PNLO from 2009 to 2023, said the statement released on 10th September 2024 by Col. Khun Okkar.
While seeing the 7 EAO Alliance and the NSPNC
The PNLO signed the bilateral ceasefire agreement at the state level and the union level under the government led by President U Thein Sein. Moreover, it signed the NCA on 15th October 2015.
And then, as a representative of the PNLO, Col. Khun Okkar took part in the 7 EAO Alliance and is holding peace talks with the Myanmar Tatmadaw.
So, the PNLO led by Col. Khun Thurein has stopped participating in the NCA since it started military conflict with the Myanmar Tatmadaw on 21st January 2024; so it has not sent its representatives to both the 7 EAO Alliance and the NCA signatory PNLO, said in a statement released on 13th September 2024.
The only decision of five leaders represents the PNLO from that day on and they are three chairmen, a general secretary and a member of the Central Executive Committee, stated the PNLO led by Col. Khun Thurein.
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14 September 2024
Because it was continuously raining heavily, wards in low lying land in Maukme Town has been flooded, the people in the wards are needing help, said locals.
Low lying places in Zaydan Ward, Kon Kyaing, Mwedaw, Taung Myo Wards have been flooded since 12th September and around 1,000 people in those places have been flood victims and they are desperately in need of help.
Because of the floods, seven cows were killed and the bridge connecting Seesone Ward with Taung Myo Ward drifted.
While Maukme Town in southern Shan State is being flooded (Num Hpa Leng)
Moreover, telecommunication and electricity have been cut out; there were some landslides and big trees collapsed and they have blocked the roads; paddy fields were also flooded, said locals.
Floods are currently taking place in southern Shan State, eastern Shan State, Mon, Karen States, Mandalay, Magway Regions and Naypyidaw, and the flood victims in those places are in need of help.