CNI News
23 March 2024

Farmers have wanted more agricultural loans for the rainfed paddy season to come than the amount loaned last year. Although a farmer was lent for 10 acres at the rate of 1.5 lakh kyats per acre last year, because the cost this year has been higher, they needed more loans, said farmers.

The farmers who have less than 10 acres should be lent at the rate of three lakh kyats per acre and those who have more than 10 acres should be lent for all the acres they have at the regular rate in the rainfed paddy season to come, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" In the previous years, a farmer was lent at the rate of 1.5 lakh kyats per acre and at most for 10 acres only. But now because the costs have been higher, if possible, I want the government to lend three lakh kyats per acre. As usual if the government lend for the 10 acres only, it should lend three lakh kyats per acre. Otherwise, farmers who have less than 10 acres should be lent three lakh kyats per acre and those who have more than 10 acres should be lent for all the acres they have at the rate of 1.5 kyats per acre." he said.

140 billion kyats have been intended to lend farmers for seven lakh acres of rainfed paddy in the rainfed paddy season to come, according the agricultural department.

Inputs that are 200,000 kyats worth for an acre will be supplied for 700,000 acres of rainfed paddy. However, there are still a lot of rainfed paddy acres left because there are over 15 million acres, pointed out farmers.

 Because some regions where rainfed paddy is grown such as Rakhine, Mon, Karen States, Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Regions are not stable, it may be difficult to lend farmers loans, a farmer told CNI News.

" There are about 17 million acres of rainfed paddy in our country or at least 15 million. According to their list, there are 17 million. So, the government need to lend any more of loans. There are 3.7 million acres in our region, Ayeyarwady alone. There may be 4 to 6 million in Bago Region as well. There are over 7 million acres already in both regions. But there is no stability in Rakhine, Mon, Karen States, Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Regions. It is stable only in Ayeyarwady and western part of Bago Region for the time being. It might be dangerous to issue loans in the unstable regions." he said.

The government should carry out systematically to make farmers choose fertilizer what they like as well as to lend every farmer who need a loan, said farmers.

CNI News
23 March 2024

When buying highway bus tickets, not only national registration cards, recommendation letters are also required, according some highway bus lines.

Although NRCs only were required when buying highway bus tickets in the past, recommendation letters from ward administrators and police stations are required now, an official from a highway bus line, told CNI News.

"If the passenger is from Mandalay, he'll need his NRC only. If he's not from Mandalay, he'll go on business, he'll need letter relating to the job, recommendation letters from the police station and ward administrator. If he's not related to business, he'll need recommendation letter and his NRC." he said.

Some bus lines need NRCs and recommendation letter from the ward administration or the police station and others, letters from both the ward administrator and the police station. Moreover, some bus lines ask the addresses where passengers will stay, according to some highway bus lines.

While seeing highway bus ticket sales departments and passengers

NRCs and recommendation letters are needed by the passengers because the checkpoints on the way have released and the bus tickets cannot be sold reportedly.

Although some bus lines sell the tickets to the NRC 11/ (Rakhine) holders if they have all requirements, other bus lines have been ordered not to sell the tickets to the Rakhine NRC holders, a bus line from the Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Terminal, told CNI News.

" Our bus line asks recommendation letters from the ward administrator and the police station, and the address where they will stay. We don't know what other bus lines ask. We have been ordered not to sell the tickets to the Rakhine NRC holders as an oral order." he said.

When the Rakhine NRC holders inquire about buying the ticket, they are asked the reasons why they will go there reportedly.

While seeing highway bus ticket sales departments and passengers

If a problem emerged after selling tickets to Rakhine NRC holders, the bus line concerned would be taken action against, an official from a highway bus line, told CNI News.

" We have to sell the tickets only if the passengers have recommendation letters. That is right. If a problem emerged after a bus line sold tickets to the Rakhine NRC holders, the bus line will be closed that we have heard. But we have not officially directed." he said.

According to the 2022 list, there are 115 Yangon-based bus lines and 314 buses at the Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Terminal, and there are 66 Yangon-based bus lines and 157 buses at the Dagon Ayer Highway Bus Terminal.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Chin Shwe Haw border gate in northern Shan State that was captured by the Three Brotherhood Alliance during their Operation-1027 has been jointly opened by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Chinese government after their negotiation, according to Kokang local residents.

Chin Shwe Haw border gate was reopened on 11th March 2024 and Kokang locals only are allowed to enter and exit; as trade, products from China are being mainly imported and China is importing sugarcane from Myanmar, Ko Phyo Aung, a Laukkai resident, told CNI News.

" Chin Shwe Haw border gate has been jointly reopened by the MNDAA and Chinese government after their negotiation. As trade, goods produced in China are imported for use in Kokang region. Kokang region exports sugarcane alone to China. Locals and those with border pass books are allowed to enter and exit. New books have not been issued as yet." he said.

While the MNDAA has stationed at the Chin Shwe Haw border trade gate

Chin Shwe Haw border trade gate was reopened for people in and people out, and trade after discussion between the State Administration Council (SAC) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in Cunming, China from 19th February to 3rd March reportedly.

However, Myanmar government has not opened officially the Chin Shwe Haw border gate, said an official from the Border Camps Coordination Command Sub-department, told CNI News.

" Myanmar government officially hasn't opened the Chin Shwe Haw border gate." he said. 

Although the Chin Shwe Haw border gate has been opened at present, because it was difficult to go to other towns from Lashio, there was not in a situation in which trade could be conducted, said traders.

While seeing the Chin Shwe Haw border trade gate

Moreover, only Kokang locals have been allowed to enter and exit kind of, Ko Phyo Aung, a Laukkai resident, told CNI News.

During the Operation-1027, the MNDAA captured Chin Shwe Haw, Kyukote, Theinni, Mongko, Laukkai, Konkyan and Phaungsai regions and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) captured 105 Mile trade zone, Namkham, Nangsang, Mantong, Mai Ngor, Mong Long, Namtu and Kutkai.

After that, at the Chinese mediation, the SAC and the Three Brotherhood Alliance agreed to ceasefire in northern Shan State starting from 11th January, 2024.

The news came out that reopening of border trade zones and tax matters were discussed at the fourth discussion between the SAC and the Three Brotherhood Alliance from 1st to 3rd March, 2024.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Children of undocumented workers including Myanmar ones might be refused to accept enrollment at the government schools in some townships, Thailand, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

Although every child in Thailand has the right to learn at the government schools , some schools did refuse to accept enrollment. So, there still may be schools like that, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED, told CNI News.

" There might be a problem. That is, a child who is about to go to school needs to know a little Thai. If he doesn't know Thai at all, they find it difficult. In addition to the Thai Ministry of Education, there are teachers and parents as well. If they demanded not to accept the children like that, there would be problems. Moreover, it won't be convenient if a child who will go to school is about 10 years old. Thai parents are worried about their children. Older children like that might be refused." he said.

The Thai Basic Education Commission and Thai Ministry of Education released directions for the Thai government schools to accept undocumented children a few days ago.

Among the directions, there was something special about undocumented children, said U Min Oo.

While seeing migrant children attending school

"Undocumented children who attend school - when they are finished with high school education, some campuses of universities or colleges don't allow undocumented people to travel or pass except highly qualified children. In the directions last released, children who are related to education will be allowed. It can be said to be unusual." he said to CNI News.

In Thailand, every child whether they are documented or undocumented has the right to learn at the governments from Primary to 9th Standard. The policy was approved in 2005. In addition to undocumented children, if a child has no Thai birth certificate, he or she can be sent to school with the administrator of the region where they live.

However, when undocumented Myanmar children are enrolled at the THai government schools, because of older age, a large number of students and language barrier, they are often refused. The statement released by the Thai Ministry of Education was too late, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" The problem is that after the coup d'etat in Myanmar, a lot of Myanmar people entered Thailand. Many children came with them. When these children are enrolled at school, the school buildings can't hold all students. It's a problem as well. Many schools accept. But when the statement was released, all the children had been enrolled already. Enrollment in Thailand is in February." he said.

In Thailand, children aged 6 to 12 are at the primary level; ones aged 13 to 15 for intermediate level and ones aged 16 to 18 are designated as high school level.

At present, the number of children of migrant Myanmar people learning at schools in Thailand is nearly 500,000 reportedly.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing where the information of an alliance by seven NCA signatories is leading to.

After the plenary meeting of the seven NCA signatories held in Chiangmai, Thailand on 18th March, 2024, the 7 EAO Alliance has been formed, the alliance stated. 

Their alliance was mainly to discuss peace and political affairs, although they would cooperate in security, they wouldn't in military, Col.Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-o National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

"The main purpose is to discuss peace and politics. Military affairs isn't included in the priority. But we will cooperate in the security matters. The main purpose is to make peace process and political talks appear. We will continue in the same way that our PPST (Peace Process Steering Team) did in the NCA." he said.

Among the seven groups of the alliance, the PNLO that is fighting against the Tatmadaw did not participate fully and took part in the alliance as an associate group, he added. Members of the alliance would start governing in their controlled territories with a governing system of the self-determination, said General Yawd Serk, chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State.

While seeing General Yawd Serk and General Saw Mutu Say Phoe

The formation and action were overdue, U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam, a Kachin politician, told CNI News.

"In my opinion, this is overdue. In early time of 2021 after the coup d'état, if they carried out ceaselessly and seriously to build a federal union, the current situation wouldn't happen like this. It's not so easy, I think. The People's Defense Force (PDF) and other EAOs might not accept what the military council is doing now. I wonder it might not easy in the long run." he said.

When some EAOs have started administrative processes after they had seized control of territories, their NCA signatories would have to start an administrative system based on self-determination, said Col.Khun Okka.

" When some EAOs that seized control of territories have started administration in their controlled territories, our NCA signatories also are developing regional administrative systems. I'm just saying it by policy. If we implement, we'll need to negotiate because some territories are overlapped each other. We'll need preparations any more, I think." he said.

General Yawd Serk has taken responsibility as the leader of the 7 EAO Alliance and Naing Aung Min, as seconder leader.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Although the corn produced in Myanmar is allowed to export to Thailand with tax exemption, while the maritime trade is depended, due to difficulties in the shipping section, some companies have stopped buying corn reportedly.

10 percent of the corn export was exported through maritime trade in the past. Currently, 25 percent of corn export are being exported through border trade and the rest, by maritime trade. 

Due to long waiting time for shipping, corn was piling up in warehouses and ports, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.

Trucks loaded with bags of corn

" Some companies have suspended buying corn. The companies are giving priority to shipping corn. So, they have suspended buying corn temporarily. The corn is piling up in warehouses and at port. But, there are companies that are buying corn as well. When loading corn on a ship, it takes 10 days or more. At that time, another ship is waiting. We are finding it difficult like that." he said.

Although the ships that enter Myanmar are 30,000 tons in weight only, there are difficulties such as the tides fluctuation, laborer demand, other products and no clearance of the port.

Although it usually takes about two days for the corn to be loaded onto the ship, it takes until 10 ten days currently because of difficult policies, said traders.

Although corn export to Thailand with tax exemption has started, because of the decline in world corn prices, difficult transportation and export policy, the cost has been high and corn traders are making a loss without getting the price offered by Thailand. 

While the corn is being loaded onto the ship

So, corn purchases are delayed.

The price of corn at the port was just 1,050 kyats per viss and farmers got 800 kyats per viss, Ko Min Khaing, a corn farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

"e is falling. The price in Yangon is 1,040 kyats per viss. Last year, the price was 1,200 kyats per viss at least in Yangon. It is related to the government's policy. If the policy is relaxed a little, the corn price will go up." he said.

At present Myanmar corn is being exported to Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei through maritime trade and traders are trying to export to China reportedly.

However, among rice, bean, corn and other crops which are being exported, the price of corn is the lowest. So, corn traders wanted the government to relax the export earnings policy so that corn traders could export without making a loss and farmers also could sell their corn at a higher price, said corn traders.

CNI News
21 March 2024

Muslims who live in Buthidaung Township protested against the Arakan Army (AA) on 19th March 2024. At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA.

The AA has already captured Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U, Myebon and Ranbye Townships and is launching offensives to Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.

On the other hand, video files that the Tatmadaw is giving military training to Muslims in Rakhine State are coming out.

Community conflicts tend to break out in Rakhine State and lots of Muslim refugees have fled to Bangladesh.

CNI News

21 March 2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing and discussing what kind of state leaders of the United Wa State Party/the United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) are demanding.

The leaders of the UWSP/UWSA tend to demand elected governments including leaders of the Tatmadaw to designate the Wa Self-administered Division as the Wa State.

The UWSA has recently won the confederation status and it possibly has demanded a type of state superior to the state provided by the 2008 Constitution, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.

While seeing Pankham (Pangsang) City, headquarters of the UWSA

" According to the 2008 Constitution, Wa is a special region. But Wa has demanded a state. In fact, Wa has won the confederate status. It has its sovereignty. The people from other states and regions can't enter the Wa region if the Wa authorities don't allow it. So, a kind of state that it has demanded will surely be superior to the current states' status that have been provided by the 2008 Constitution." he said.

Request to establish the Wa region as an autonomous national state by the UWSP/UWSA was agreed by policy, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the press conference held on 1st June, 2022. 

However, according to the multi-party democratic system, the matter would be discussed only after the Hluttaw was formed through a general election reportedly.

According to the 2008 Constitution, Hopang, Mongmao,  Panwai, Namphan, Metman and Pangsang Townships in Shan State were divided into two districts and have been designated as the Wa Self-Administered Division.

If the UWSA wanted the state status, it could get the status of a state provided by the 2008 Constitution, Administrative, judiciary and legislative powers are controlled by the central government. Because the UWSA is currently practising three powers, it is beyond the 2008 Constitution.

While seeing Pankham (Pangsang) City, headquarters of the UWSA

So, there is something questionable about what kind of state the UWSA is demanding and how to solve a situation in which a state superior to the one that has been provided  by the 2008 Constitution has not been allowed.

Because of rights such as national equal rights and self-determination, armed conflicts emerged and problems relating to the constitution needed to be solved, Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.

" Armed conflicts have emerged due to the lack of national autonomy and equal rights. If all the stakeholders understand the problems. are related to the constitution, they can overcome the idea of having to dogmatically grip the 2008 constitution. In order to overcome this, if we found a political exit, the form that the union will be formed will be superior to the 2008 Constitution. If the union was formed only after the rights were changed, we would be able to find an answer that can solve armed conflicts, I think." he said.

After the Three Brotherhood Alliance (AA, TNLA and MNDAA) attacked and captured Hopang and Panglon in January, 2024, the UWSA seized control of these towns.

CNI News

21 March 2024

The People's Party (PP) demanded the authorities to take action against those who took advantage of the conscription law and were carrying out beyond the law, the party stated on 19th March, 2024. 

The People's Military Service Law came into force starting from 10th February 2024, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing signed the law and stated it. After that, concerns, running away to evade and corruption arose among the people.

"Private factory and workshop workers have understood that the temporary exemption from military service applies only to employees of state departments and are running away. So, it is difficult to make the industries go on operating." the PP stated.

While seeing the statement released by the People's Party

According to the Section.7 (b) of the People's Military Service Law, ward or village tract peace and development council must send the list of those who have reached the age of military service on 31st December to the township team summoning recruits for the people's military service law in accordance with the designation on 13th January which has been enacted, the PP stated.

So, according to the original law, ward or village tract administration is to make lists and send only and has no rights to cancel the people from the list including selecting and approving, said in the statement.

So, the State Administration Council (SAC) needed to exactly release the uniform bylaws and directions for the whole country to make the public easily understand so as to reduce the public concern regarding the application of the People's Military Service Law, the PP stated.

At present, ward or village administrators are collecting lists and forcing those in list to cast lots. Moreover, those who want to evade military service have to pay some money reportedly.