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CNI News
1 September 2023
The people in Myanmar are facing with high commodity prices at present and rice and edible oil are needed to be sold in every store at a price that the grassroots can afford, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst, to CNI News.
At present, rice and edible oil traders associations are going around and selling rice and edible oil at a price that is about 50 percent less than the market price. When going around and selling by car like that, the price is so cheap that so many people are waiting in line to buy rice and edible oil. Selling like that was wrong, said U Thet Zaw.
" I went to South Oklapa yesterday. I saw a long line of people who are queuing there. As I went with a Japanese, he asked me what they were doing. I had to explain to him. Because the prices of rice and edible oil are very high in our country, they were waiting in line to buy rice and edible oil that are being sold at a low price, that I told him. The queuing system has not died out as yet. The system is wrong. As a matter of fact, you can buy rice and edible oil in every store at the same price. The rice is cheaper at a big shop of theirs. That shouldn't be. If we act like a straw fire, the country will be in trouble. The price needs to be sustained for long. We don't encourage one or two-day work. It is important for the price to go down." he said.
Ministry of Commerce is selling rice to the people in Yangon at a low price
42 rice shops in 17 townships in Yangon City are selling Aemahta coarse rice at 2,500 kyats per pyi (one pyi = 4.375 lb), stated the Myanmar Rice Federation.
Bayint Naung Wholesale Center, Nyaung Bin Lay Market and edible oil shops would sell edible oil of 1.7 million tons at a wholesale price, according to the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association.
Rather than coming and selling edible oil, if it can be bought in every store, it would be more convenient, said Ma Yadi, a housewife, CNI News.
" It would be the best if we could buy edible oil in every store at a reasonable price. These days there is no more middle class. There are upper class and basic class.." she said.
The market price of edible palm oil is about 9,200 kyats and Shwe Bo Pawsan rice is 120,000 kyats per bag, and Ayeyarwady Pawsan or Kyar Pyan rice, 100,000 kyats per bag.
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CNI News
1 September 2023
Battles between the Tatmadaw and TNLA (the Ta,ang National Liberation Army) broke out in Kutkai Township and several civilians were killed as well reportedly.
Battles broke out at three places in Kutkai Township and Muse Township and the Tatmadaw opened fire with heavy weapons and attacked using warplanes reportedly.
TNLA forces shot into Nam Fekka Village in Kutkai Township by heavy weapons, which killed a young woman.
Moreover, three men and a woman were wounded as well because of the shooting by these weapons, stated the State Administration Council on 30th August.
A member of the PSLF/TNLA force
Although CNI tried to contact the information officer of the TNLA by phone to ask about the civilian death, it was not able to contact him.
“The civilians who were wounded due to the battle that broke out in Kutkai Township arrived at Kutkai and all the patients felt better, said U Kham Nyunt, vice chairman of the Ta,ang Literature and Culture Committee, to” CNI News.
Due to the battle between the Tatmadaw and TNLA that broke out near Sallant Village in Muse Township on 29th August, two civilians were wounded and eight houses were destroyed reportedly.
He heard that the battle broke out in Muse Township, but he did not know about it on detail, said an office manager of TNLA in Muse Township, to CNI News.
Soldiers of the Tatmadaw
A battle between the Tatmadaw and the TNLA started breaking out in Nant Kham Township on 2nd August and currently battles are breaking out in Nant Kham, Muse and Kutkai Townships.
TNLA is a Palaung ethnic armed organization that is being active in Nant Kham, Muse, Kutkai, Thibaw (Hsipaw), Lashio, Kyaukme, Nant Sam, Namtu in northern Shan State and Mogok Township in Mandalay Region.
It is an organization that is discussing and negotiating with the government for the Preliminary Armistice Agreement.
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CNI News
August 31, 2023
A civilian government could appear before 2026, said Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party to CNI News.
It is still necessary to watch under what situation a general election could be held and there is a situation in which the election could be held, he said." I believe that a general election will be held. But we are still watching under what situation a general election could be held. We have expected that a civilian government could appear in abut 2026 and a general election could be held in 2025." he said.
Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing came and cast ballots in the 2020 general election
The final goal of the State Administration Council was to hold a general election and must carry out to ensure the people to cast ballots safely, which Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the SAC's 22nd news conference held on 22nd August, 2023." Everybody's rights to vote must not be lost.There must be a proper election. We aim to make this election happen. We'll serve to enable most of the people to participate safely. When the people cast ballots,they must be free fromm fear. We'll carry out to make the election fair and proper. After that, we'll hand over power (to the winning party)." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.
On the other hand, as the government wouldn't be ready to take the rotating ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 because of its domestic issues, it will take the chairmanship in 2027, which was reported by media. So,there are reviews among the political community whether a civilian government will appear before 2026 or not.
While the votes are being counted
The State Administration Council doesn't seem to be ready to take the ASEAN chairmanship, sai U Kwan Kayaung Aung Kham, a Kachin politician to CNI News." They don't seem to take the rotating chairmanship. So, they seemed to tell that they wouldn't take the chairmanship in 2026. Myanmar didn't take the chairmanship under U Than Shwe as well. Now, they don't seem to take the chairmanship in 2026. So, they seemed to tell that they would take the chairmanship only after 2026." he said.
The SAC that has taken power have said that it would hand over power to the winning party after holding a general election.
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CNI News
August 31, 2023
The issuance of new rice export licenses will be temporarily suspended starting from the end of August for 45 days to control rising domestic rice prices, said Myanmar Rice Federation. It can help stabilize domestic rice prices to an extent, said an official from the Myanmar Rice Federation, to CNI News.
"Old licenses are allowed to export. New export licenses won't be issued. It seems to control rising domestic rice prices. Domestic rice prices will fall down a little. The main price increase is domestically consumed rice, not the rice that will be exported to foreign countries." he said.
A rice warehouse
Although restriction of the rice export licenses can reduce the rice prices, it is necessary to re-allow rice exports when the rice appears in abundance, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association to CNI News. " Domestic rice prices will fall down to an extent if exports abroad are temporarily suspended. The price of a bag of rice could be 10,000 to 15,000 kyats less. When the rice appear in abundance, it is necessary to re-allow exports abroad. If rice export remained closed, it would hurt farmers. Suspension should be 45 days at most for the sakes of farmers and consumers" said U Thein Aung.
Although the State Administration Council is performing to reduce the rice prices in various ways, the prices don't fall down. The price of coarse rice is more than 60,000 kyats a bag (105 lb) and fine rice, one lakh to 1.5 lakh kyats.
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CNI News
August 30, 2023
Passport renewal for Myanmar citizens in South Korea will be temporarilysuspended starting from 1st September, 2023 and the day that renewal can beapplied will be announced soon, stated the Myanmar Embassy in South Koreaon 28th August, 2023. The suspension like this was because the machine that
issues passports needed maintenance.
It would be okay for Myanmar citizens whose passports are going to expire if they could explain to South Korean immigration officers pretty well when they apply for visa renewal, said Ko Khant Ne Kyi, officer in charge from the supporting center for migrant workers, to CNI News.
" You must be able to explain to the South Korean immigration officersthat Myanmar Embassy has temporarily suspended the passport renewal. After
that, they will renew your visa. Because South Korea is a democraticcountry, if your explanation is reasonable, exceptionally they will review,
which is included in their constitution. According to the law, you can'trenew your visa if your passport expires. However, as a humanitarian act,they are renewing visas of some people even after their passports haveexpired. There are people who have renewed their visas even three timesalthough their passports had expired for six months each time." he said.
Burmese workers arriving at an airport in Korea
But according to the statement, those who had applied for passport renewalbefore would be issued on the dates designated. Moreover, G-1 visas have
been issued to some citizens including ones from Myanmar and Ukraine as ahumanitarian act. But if a person travels with a G-1 visa, he must have a
passport that is still 6 months valid and when Myanmar citizens who havegot G-1 visas renew their passports, they don't tend to show these visa
books reportedly.
Because the foods that have been forbidden are often found from Myanmarworkers who enter South Korea at the airports, the bags of Myanmar citizens
are checked for longer, stated the labor office of the embassy in Seoul.Forbidden items were seized and their owners had to pay the fine and
passports were recorded. Moreover, Those who took forbidden items with themwere found every week and those arrested would be denied entry, said in the statement.
Betel leaf discovered by Burmese at the airport
" We need to widely inform of the people about that. May be it's becauseour citizens outnumber other citizens who enter South Korea. While 10 other
citizens enters, we, 100, enter the South Korea. About one or two monthsago, a Myanmar citizen was caught with narcotic drug. if possible, don't
take foods with you. There are many restaurants here. You want to eat whatyou like here in South Korea." said Ko Khant Ne Kyi.
There are about 50,000 Myanmar people who are working with EPS system inSouth Korea and those who are studying and doing business there as well
reportedly. That's why Myanmar Embassy has raised the fine for passportloss or damage from 75 to 105 US dollars in July when passports are appliedfor new ones.
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CNI News
August 30, 2023
Embassies of the countries that oppose the State Administration Council will probably be closed, said U Htet Myet, a Myanmar political analyst to CNI News. The SAC informed the East Timor ambassador to leave the country on 1st September, 2023 at the latest a few days ago because the East Timor government officials met with the National Unity Government.
"Every country tends to cancel diplomatic relation with the countries that oppose them. East Timor has decidedly told that it wouldn't join the ASEAN unless the problem in Myanmar can be solved. It doesn't recognize the SAC and the ASEAN. But it recognizes the NUG only. At the same time, the SAC has to be fighting against with the NUG. It goes without saying that the SAC has closed the embassy of the East Timor or expelled the ambassador." he said.
The NUG Foreign Minister, Daw Zin Mar Aung and U Lin Thant, representative for the Czech Republic attending the 9th swearing-in ceremony of the new East Timor government held on 1st Jul.y, 2023
The (9th) swearing-in ceremony of the new East Timor government held on 1st July, 2023 were attended by Daw Zin Mar Aung, the NUG's Foreign Minister and U Lin Thant, the NUG's representative for the Czech Republic. The ASEAN would not think about East Timor's admission application to join the ASEAN as long as Myanmar's problems cannot be solved, said U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political analyst to CNI News.
"The East Timor had to fight severely against the dominance of the Indonesian army and got its independence. It has recognized the NUG that is facing with the same situation it experienced. As the SAC was not pleased with the East Timor's behavior, it has cut the diplomatic relation with the East Timor. The ASEAN wouldn't be able to think about the East Timor's admission to join the ASEAN as long as the SAC is not ousted. The application will probably be suspended for six months or one year. The East Timor seems to know that in advance." he said.
East Timor's position as a good friend would always be remembered deeply in the hearts of the NUG and the people of Myanmar, stated the NUG on 28th August, 2023.
There are competitions between the SAC and the NUG in administration, legislation, judiciary and diplomatic affairs.
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CNI News
August 29, 2023
Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok has released a statement that officials will carry out for MoU renewal with one stop service in Myawady and Kawthaung so that Myanmar MoU workers in Thailand don't have to go back to Yangon like before.
The renewal in those towns applies only Myanmar MoU workers whose passports are two years and above valid, said in the statement. The statement was too late because many workers had registered and applied for work permit card after cancelling MoU process as it would take them long if they went back to Yangon to renew MoU, those who perform migrant workers affairs told CNI News.
" Helping Myanmar migrant workers like this is good. There will be no problem for the workers who can directly meet their agencies without too much expense. But workers who came through other brokers can find it difficult. Those who will come to Myawady and Kawthaung and renew _ (1) what they must do first, (2) what they must do secondly (3) what they must do thirdly, which are needed to be released systematically. As a worker, If about 450 or 500 bahts cost hime, he can afford when he has to come to Myawady or Kawthaung. But when a worker through agency was called, if he was asked 2,000 to 3,000 bahts, it won't be convenient." said Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization.
Myanmar workers
As the process that could make workers re-enter the workplace in a few days would start soon with one stop service, to let HR managers and officials know was needed and the day when the process would start and process details would be stated again, said in the statement. As many MoU workers have had other evidence documents, they will not renew MoU after going back to Myanmar, those who carry out migrant workers affairs review.
" Of the MoU workers, this plan means workers with four year term MoU. It doesn't apply to 6 year term MoU workers. If the workers have to renew MoU at the border, during one month, living will cost a lot. Most of the workers might not choose this route. To tell you relating to the workers from factories, their employers and managers have connected with brokers and agencies. The workers are in a situation that they have to pay the price that is asked from there. It is possible if the employers pay for their workers." said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from FED.
Some Myanmar MoU workers whose passports are only one year valid are staying and working in Thailand without returning to Myanmar reportedly. When a person applies for a new passport, the fine for loss or damage must be paid 3,650 bahts, stated Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok on 31st July.
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CNI News
August 28, 2023
The rainfed paddy rice yield in Yangon Region, Bago Region, Ayeyarwady Region and Mon State this year may increase by 20 baskets per acre and in 10 million acres, paddy rice may increase by tens of millions of tons, according to the farmer development association. Inputs - fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide and so on were cheaper than previous year and because the price of paddy rice is one third higher, most farmers used a lot of inputs. So, the yield of paddy rice has increased, said U Thein Aung, the Farmers Development Association, to CNI News.
" The yield of paddy rice will increase by 20 or 25 baskets per acre because farmers take care of their paddy rice. They are still feeding the paddy rice with fertilizer. The fertilizer decreases by one third than last year, but the price of paddy rice is one third higher. In any case, the yield of paddy rice will increase by 20 or 25 basket per acre in average in lower Myanmar - Bago, Ayeyarwady, Yangon Regions, Mon and Kayin States. In a total 10 million acres, the yield will increase by tens of millions of tons this year."
Some paddy rice
Because the prices of inputs went up in the previous year and farmers were not able to use inputs sufficiently, the yield of paddy rice decreased reportedly. Most of the farmers in Ayeyarwady Regions have grown paddy rice on all their farmlands without exclusion, so the yield would increase than last year, said U Aye Naing, a farmer from Bogalay Township, to CNI News.
" Because the price of paddy rice is high, farmers take care of cultivation. They didn't exclude any area of farmland. The yield of paddy rice will increase. We got 700 baskets of paddy rice from 15 acres last year. The yield will increase that we have expected." he said.
While saving rice
Moreover, rainfed paddy rice were grown again in Rakhine State where paddy rice was destroyed due to flood this year. As 75 percent of the area on which paddy rice is grown is higher ground, the yield may increase in Rakhine State as well, said U Maung Thein Hla, secretary of the Mrauk U Township Danyawady Farmers Federation, CNI News.
Although farmers have expected that the yield of paddy rice will increase, because the price of paddy rice tends to decline when the rainfed rice appear in abundance, it necessary so as not to be the price that can hurt farmers, said farmers, so that they will be able to grow summer paddy rice that can make the yield increase.
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CNI News
29 August 2023
A Shanni woman, owner of a restaurant in Lonkhin Village, Hpakant Township was abducted by KIA/PDF joint forces on 25th August, said locals.
There has been no contact with the woman until 28th August reportedly.
The woman who was abducted was Daw Shwe Yi, a Shanni woman and the owner of Thadar Moe Restaurant and four KIA/PDF joint forces came and abducted her at about 7 p.m., on 23th August,2023, said a person close to her family to CNI News.
" Four KIA/PDF joint forces came and took her away from her home at about 7 p.m. on 25th August on their motorcycles. There has been no contacts with her for the time being. Her family members are inquiring about her. And they are a bit scared." he said.
It is not yet known why the woman was arrested and there have been three people, including the woman that KIA/PDF joint forces arrested in Hpakant Township, he added.
Entrance to Hpakant Town
Although CNI tried to contact and aske KIA's information officer Colonel Nawbu about the arrest, it has not been able to contact with him.
According to the 1947 constitution, Shanni regions - Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District ans Bhamo District were added to Kachin State and Shanni regions - Kalay District, Khamti District, Mawlaik District, Katha District and Tamu District were added to Sagaing Region reportedly.
The Shannis have been demanding for ages to unite these districts and form the Shanni State and Shanni activists are often targeted and killed by KIA/PDFs, an official from the Shan Tribal Affairs Organization told CNI News.
" Bo Tun Yin demanded to form Shanni State and then we have been demanding ceaselessly, which they are not satisfied with. They killed heads of Shanni, chairmen of the Shanni Literature and Culture and Shanni village administers. 706 Shanni people were killed until 31st December, 2022." he said.
Shanni National Conference was being held in February, 2016
KIA/PDF joint forces took away Sayadaw U Gandamar, from Naung Pat Village in Banmauk Township on 4th September, 2022 and killed him. After that, U Than Pe, patron of the Shanni Literature and Culture, who lived in Haungpa Village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State was killedon on 25th June, 2022.
Sai Kyan Aung (b) Sai Se Lai, vice chairman of Banmauk Shanni Youths Network was arrested by KIA/PDF joint forces on 15th June, 2022, but he was released because Shanni civil societies and Shanni political parties demanded to release him.