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CNI News
13 September 2023
After the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association (MEODA) issue a statement to sell palm oil at a price of earning 10 percent profit at most from the designated reference price, palm oil cannot be bought at the stores in the quarters reportedly from Yangon residents.
Although MOEDA is selling palm oil around a person 50 ticals at a price of about 4,000 kyats per viss in some townships including Yangon and Naypyidaw, some shops are selling a person 20 ticals only at a price of 5,000 kyats per viss. Most of the shops don't have palm oil, said Ma Khaing Lwin, a housewife in Yangon, to CNI News.
" Trucks come and drop palm oil off at the shops. The shops sell palm oil a person 20 ticals only at a price of 5,000 kyats per viss. I find it difficult to cook because I don't have edible oil. The other day because I didn't have edible oil, I was not able to fry the roselle leaves." said Ma Khaing Lwin.
MEODA is making arrangements to enable palm oil to be sold at the price of taking net two percent profit at most at the wholesale market and at the price of taking net 10 percent profit at most at the retail market, said in the statement.
While weighing and selling edible oils
Because the statement was released like that, the shops don't sell palm oil as a demonstration. Rather than designation of the palm oil price, only if every shop in quarters can sell the amount the people need at a low price, the problem of palm oil that cannot be bought can be solved, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, to CNI News.
" Shop owners can't sell at that price. So, they say they have no palm oil. Rather than designating the price, only if the system that shops can actually sell in pristine condition can be built, it will be convenient. You don't have to sell at 4,000 kyats per viss. If you can sell at 6,000 kyats per viss the amount that the people want, the problem will be solved." he said.
Because domestic palm oil stocks are low, the demand in the market is being shared by quotas. Rather than granting palm oil import licenses to some companies, if those who have foreign currencies were allowed to freely import palm oil, commodity scarcity and price increase would be controlled, said an economic analyst to CNI News.
"We need to teach policy makers economic ideologies. If the supply increase, the price will automatically fall. At present, companies have been controlled by licenses and permits to import palm oil. If you announce every one who has foreign currencies can freely import palm oil, the price will fall at once. It might affect the dollar market in the short term. But The problem of insufficient palm oil and the problem hidden by those who speculate on palm oil can be solved in the short term," he said.
when palm oil is transported from Yangon Region to other regions and states, there are checks on the way and some shops don't sell buyers from other regions and states.
Although MOEDA is selling at a low price, it is not convenient for workers and the old because buyers have to wait in line for long to buy palm oil. Moreover, as members from some families wait in line to buy and sell palm oil, it is not convenient for those who really need, said the people.
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CNI News
12 September 2023
Formation of the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) is an encouraging situation for the Burmese ethnic region, said U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News.
BNRA was formed on 9th September to arise a true federal democratic union that can grant equal rights for all ethnic people, a political policy that is based on freedom, justice, equal rights and peace, that Bo Nagar announced.
" It is necessary to form a Burmese national army for the Burmese ethnic region like other ethnic armed organizations. We have had a view to form an army like that. But we are not sure whether Bo Nagar's army contain all the forces in the Burmese region or not. It is said that the BNRA contains a total of 13 organizations. Of the 13 organizations, 11 have been formed as a brigade that we have heard. Because an armed force has arisen for the Burmese ethnic region, we generally welcome that. If possible, it will be better if all organizations can participate. But the other two groups will carry out relating to the National Unity Government (NUG). So, emergence of this force is an encouraging situation for the Burmese ethnic region, I think." said U Than Soe Naing.
BNRA forces
The BNRA will be active based in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway Regions and 18 battalions have been prepared reportedly.
At present, there are still organizations that have not been able to join under the control of the NUG and the BNRA was formed after organizing the scattering groups, said Bo Nagar, chairman of the BNRA.
" We have formed the BNRA after the scattering groups. We don't form a separatist organization. It is not for our own interest. We have already discussed with the ministries concerned. The minister, the president and me discussed through the zoom meeting. We have systematically established the chain of command with the organizations that joined the BNRA after which we will formed the BNRA as a regular army and a standard army with the help of EAOs. We discussed and promised to carry out in collaboration with the NUG's ministry of defense." said Bo Nagar.
the Bamr People's Liberation Army
Whether the BNRA will carry out for the sake of Burmese ethnicity alone or for the sake of the whole country, that must be watched and if it performs for the whole country, whether it can receive support from other ethnic people or not is questionable, said political analysts.
As the organizations representing Burmese that have arisen with the Spring Revolution, there are the BNRA and the Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA) and there are other locally based armed organizations by the hundred reportedly.
There are discussions and reviews among the political community that the NUG needs to organize different revolutionary forces.
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CNI News
11 September 2023
Regionally-based federalism is the most suitable for Myanmar, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).
He said the above while he was meeting with local militia leaders in northern Shan State on 10th September, 2023.
" In the implementation of democratic system and federal governance, there are ethnically-based federalism and regionally-based federalism. Most of the countries in the world apply regionally based federalism. The federalism based on region is the most appropriate for Myanmar." he said.
Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with militia leaders on 10th September, 2023
After that, when the peace talks are held, ethnic armed organizations tend to demand for the sake of their ethnics and EAOs are weak in demanding for the sake of their regions. Organizations must not be ones representing a group of people, but they need to be ones representing a region, added chairman of the SAC. And he said that the Tatmadaw would carry out the peace processes, standing firmly on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
According to the 2008 Constitution, Myanmar is made up of seven regions, seven states, five self-administered zones and one self-administered division. So, the current federalism is based on region and ethnicity and if a regionally based federalism was built, it would be necessary to amend the 2008 constitution.
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CNI News
11 September 2023
The tourism season of Myanmar will start on 1st October, 2023 and as many skillful workers have gone abroad, a shortage of professional tour guides is a challenge for the tourism industry, according to tourism operators.
A shortage of skilled staff can be replenished with new workers after they are provided training courses by remaining skilled staff. But, the scarcity of tour guides and interpreter guides like this is challenging the future tourism industry, said U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Myanmar Hotelier Association (Bagan Zone), to CNI News.
" Many staff from our tourism industry have gone abroad. If tourists come again, we need to provide training courses to new staff. Key professional staff, guides, managers and receptionists resigned. This is a challenge for the tourism industry. If the tourism industry regularly operates again, many more new staff must be trained with skilled staff. We did so in the past as well. It is not a big challenge. But we find it a bit difficult to get professional tour guides such as ones who can speak French, German and Italian because many of them also have gone abroad. And we lost many guides during the Covid-19 pandemic. And many guides have grown very old. These are challenges for the future of the tourism industry. But we have to try to get over them." said U Zaw Weik.
Some foreign tourists who come to Bagan
Not every hotel can be open at present, travel operators and hoteliers tend to employ staff depending on the number of tourists who enter. The current number of staff could provide service to the number of tourists who will enter, U Aung Aye Han, deputy director general of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism, told CNI News.
" Many staff have gone abroad. Some staff were left here. There is no hundred percent employment at hotels. Maybe there are 60 or 70 percent that are convenient to operate. So, a shortage of labor force is not a problem up to now. Hotels have made preparations. Hotels have minimum requirements. They have employed staff that are needed minimum. So, if they need any more staff, they will need a few staff. Tourists might enter anymore. Hotels can provide service properly." said U Aung Aye Han.
As Chinese and Indian tourists have been granted visas on arrival and there are direct flights between Myanmar and Russia, more tourists might enter Myanmar.
So, some tourism industries are making preparations and the owners of the hotels that have been closed are reportedly preparing to re-open.
However, some tourism industries are finding it difficult to re-open due to a shortage of skilled workers and instabilities reportedly.
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CNI News
11 September 2023
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) arrested 1,207 Chinese citizens who committed online scams in the territory controlled by the Wa Self-Administered Division in Shan State and extradited to China reportedly. The extradition was conducted from 6th to 7th September.
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CNI News
11 September 2023
China will not accept the National Unity Government that is close to the western countries, said Dr. Aung Myo, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News.
There are disagreements among the revolutionary organizations without any unities among the revolutionary forces, he said.
" By considering the problem in Pale, NUG/PDF won't beat this war. China won't allow the NUG to beat the war. I'd like to tell a point that nobody knows. China doesn't accept it. Most of the people these days don't know how the Patriotic Liberation Army (PLA), a rebel organization active in Myanmar from 1962 to 1974, badly ended. All PLA forces were disarmed by the Karen National Union (KNU). High-ranking people of the PLA were killed. The people who were personally friendly to them were released. Bo Let Ya, who took part in the PLA as a leader, who was a flagship leader of the 30 Comrades and who was the first defense minister of Myanmar, was killed by KNU. So, in the end, will KNU dominate? Will Bamar PDFs with more manpower dominate the KNU? In the end, they will fight against each other that we can guess." said Dr. Aung Myo.
Some PDFs
China's Investments in Myanmar are Kyauk Phyu Deep Sea Port, gas and oil pipeline, special economic zones and other investments. Because there are a lot of Chinese investments in Myanmar, China would deal with the State Administration Council (SAC) that has taken power currently, said U Htet Myet, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News.
" In general, the problem is that the NUG is right-wing. Western countries are in more harmony with right-wingers. If you ask if the NUG get in touch with left-wingers, Vietnam, for example, will have no relation with the NUG. The NUG and Russia are the opposite. China also will be the same as Russia. But because China is a bit skillful in diplomacy, it knows how to behave or speak. It's hard to say what it is if we can't practically see. China has invested a lot in Myanmar. So, China will mainly deal with the government that has taken power. It will be difficult for China to deal obviously with the rebel government, I think." said U Htet Myet.
the NUG and US representatives
After the Tatmadaw took power on 1st February, 2021, democratic elements have been waging an armed revolution with protesting against the Tatmadaw. And then, armed conflicts have been breaking out across the country and peace, economy, education, health and social affairs of the country are being damaged.
Because the NUG that is striving to topple down the Tatmadaw is close to the western countries including US, China will not probably accept the NUG for the sake of its national security and self-interest protection, pointed out some people.
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CNI News
9 September 2023
Domestic gold price is gradually falling and now in the second week of September, the pure gold price has fallen 200,000 kyats per tical (1 tical=16 grams).
So, gold sellers have outnumbered gold buyers, according to the Yangon gold market.
Because the international gold prices tend to fall down during the period from September to December, domestic gold price also has declined and can decline anymore, said U Myo Myint, chairman of the Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA), to CNI News.
" Gold sellers have increased. When the gold price went up in the past, a lot of people buy gold at the same time. Now when the gold price is falling, a lot of people sell their gold at the same time. The period from September to December is the season that gold price falls. When everyone makes annual accounts in December, the transactions are reduced. Those who have to sell gold, they sell all gold. It is a custom of the whole world. Gold sellers outnumber gold buyers. So, the gold price can fall anymore." said U Myo Myint.
Some goldware
The current domestic gold price was 3.76 million kyats per tical on 5th September and reduced to 3.66 million kyats per tical on 6th September. The price reduced to 3.45 million kyats per tical on 8th September again.
Gold price was almost 4.00 million kyats per tical and the current price is just a bit over 3.00 million kyats per tical. The price may fall until 3.3 million kyats, said Ko Ne Lin Khant, a gold market analyst, to CNI News.
" The price can reduce to 3.3 million kyats. But it is less likely to reach under 3.3 million kyats. If the price is too low, how much will gold shops sell and how much will they buy back? For the time being, gold sellers outnumber gold buyers. There are the people who try to make gold price high or low at present. We don't like that sort of thing. We like regular trading." he said.
Although the gold price falling is good, there are gold traders and gold entrepreneurs who are waiting to make speculations, taking advantage of gold price falling. So, it is necessary to regulate not to make gold price higher again, said gold market analysts.
Because the price of gold affects other commodity prices, gold trading should be performed carefully, pointed out gold market analysts
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CNI News
9 September 2023
Reviews and discussions are underway among the political community whether the way the three ASEAN countries including the rotating chairman of the ASEAN will take responsibility to handle the Myanmar issue can work or not.
There was an agreement at the ASEAN summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia to enable the current rotating chairman and the two former chairmen to handle the Myanmar issue in a new method.
The style that will be used now creates a condition that can continue to handle from the way ASEAN chairman is currently handling the Myanmar issue, said U Thar Tun Hla, chairman of the Arakan National Party (ANP), to CNI News.
" ASEAN chairmanship changes once a year. So, in order to enable the way Indonesia is currently handling the Myanmar issue to continue, this method is used, I think. We'll have to wait and see how effective it will be." said U Thar Tun Hla.
People protesting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw
Due to the political landscapes that changed after 1st February, 2021, Myanmar is facing with crises.
Although ASEAN countries agreed to five-points consensus to solve these political crises, they have not been able to implement the consensus. So, after changing its handling style, ASEAN decided to allow three ASEAN countries to handle the Myanmar issue reportedly.
ASEAN is trying to solve the Myanmar issue in their own way, said Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), to CNI News.
Security forces are arresting protesters
" They (ASEAN members) are trying to solve the problem in their own way. According to our experience, we haven't seen any improvement in the reality during the past over two years. There might be different opinions on this." said Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt.
To solve the Myanmar issue, Cambodia, Indonesia and Lao will take responsibility until the end of 2023 and Indonesia, Lao and Malaysia, in 2024 reportedly.
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CNI News
9 September 2023
Because Myanmar's agricultural industry is unstable in the market, fatigue and agricultural failure, many Myanmar people have changed workplace, going abroad for work after leaving farmlands, which cause the problem of farm labor shortage.
Although Myanmar agricultural sector has been changed from manual farming to mechanized farming system, Myanmar farmers are using only farm labors because they are not able to widely use necessary mechanic equipment.
The consequence of the problem of farm labor shortage is not obvious for the time being, but in the long run, it can threaten domestic food security, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, to CNI News.
" Due to the shortage of labor, farmers can't clear the weed very well, feed the fertilizer and transplant paddy. So, they are unable to cultivate fully. According to the current political situation, youths are more interested in better job opportunities and well-paid jobs. The production of agricultural sector will decrease. And then, the amount of export will decline. And then foreign income will be less. In the end, it can threaten the domestic food security." said Ko Zaw Min Naing.
Moreover, the price of agricultural machinery is so high that farmers cannot buy them. If they buy the machineries by instalment, it is not easy like before, according to farmers. And service businesses that rent out the agricultural equipment are almost none.
Those who are transplanting paddy
So, the government should support the farmers with agricultural machineries, pointed out farmers. Due to the scarcity of labors, he was hiring labors only after providing them with their necessities, said U Aung Kyaw Mya, a farmer from Rakhine State, to CNI News.
" Farm labors want to work in the nearby farms. They worked eight hours a day in the past. But now they work seven hours a day. Agricultural machines are so high that we can't buy them in cash. It will be more convenient if the government can perform to enable the farmers to use the machines smoothly." said U Aung Kyaw Mya.
The relevant departments should find the answer to both the problem of labor shortage and the reason why the farm labors deserted the farmlands, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, to CNI News.
" In some foreign countries, for example, even in Thailand, AI technology is being used such as spreading pesticide and herbicide on the plantations. If they are worked manually, it is very dangerous to man. We still need humans. There are some parts that human will do. But if we have enough machines, because the demand for labor is no longer so great, we will be able to promote the production." said Ko Zaw Min Naing.
After the political change, many Myanmar youths have changed to well-paid workplaces, including going abroad for work after deserting farmlands reportedly.
Due to not only the labor shortage but also being unable to cultivate because of instabilities, the paddy yield declined last year. So, the people are suffering from very high prices of rice at present.