CNI News

16 October 2023

The beginning of domestic avocado season this year is showing great potential to become a better market than last year and the price is going up, according to avocado farmers. Avocados were sold 2,500 to 4,000 kyats per kilo last year.

However, this year, the floor price has been up to 5,000 kyats. Moreover, the floor price of Hass type avocados has been estimated to get from 6,000 to 10,000 kyats. 

The reason why the price is that high is because of foreign demand in increase and rising foreign exchange rate, said Ko Kyaw Soe Min, secretary of Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association (MAPEA), to CNI News.

" In fact, Hass season has not started. But other types have started. For example, Amara is sold 5,000 kyats per kilo at wholesale price. The retail price is 8,000 kyats. Burkania is sold at 4,000 kyats per kilo. At present, growers benefit from the price. Hass type avocado that is exported abroad has not started. The floor price is opened at 4,000 kyats per kilo, the price at which all avocados will be bought. But it hasn't been bought. The price has been opened. Hass will stary in November. We have estimated its floor price between 6,000 and 10,000 kyats. The price is higher than last year. We started opening at 2,500 kyats per kilo last year. Avocados were being sold at 4,000 kyats for long and later reached 6,000 kyats. The first thing is the exchange rate. When we sell avocado to Thailand, because the exchange rate goes up, we can sell at higher price. The second thing is demand. The price depends on these two things. If avocado farmers sell early, the price will decline. However as those who sell the whole avocado farm get higher price, it's not bad." said Ko Kyaw Soe Min.

Myanmar Hass Type of Avocado

Although the price of avocado is high, growers need to control the quality and not to sell urgently and if not so, it could affect the price, pointed out avocado exporters.

Although the price is high this year, because of export earning policy, it is not convenient for traders to export and in spite of getting orders, they could export some countries only, said an avocado exporter from Shan State, to CNI News. 

Myanmar Avocados

" 50-50 export earning policy is not convenient for us. We are receiving orders continuously. India, Thailand and China are interested in buying Myanmar avocado. Even though they want to see avocado farms here for themselves at present, it's not been convenient for us." he said.

According to export earning policy of the government, 50 percent of export revenue must be exchanged at the rate of 2,100 kyats per US dollar that is designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar and the remaining 50 percent, at the rate of 2,920 kyats per US dollar. This policy makes traders get less profit, said traders.

CNI News

16 October 2023

Salary income tax of overseas Myanmar workers will be collected in two ways, according to the Internal Revenue Department. As the first way, without deducting the reliefs allowed under the Income Tax Act, 2 percent can be paid.

As the second way, After deducting the reliefs allowed under the Income Tax Act, tax rates can be calculated on the basis of income strata and the tax can pe paid. There are disagreements about the income tax among the overseas Myanmar workers and many of them are transferring money through Hundi system.  He still doesn't know how the government will collect the tax, said Hmwar Michael who is living in Malaysia, to CNI News.

"There are many places here where you can transfer money. The tax can be collected when the money are officially transferred through a bank. Most of the workers here don't transfer money through a bank. Largely, they transfer through money changers. So, the tax can't be collected. But when they renew their passports, the tax can be collected." said Hmwar Michael.

Although Myanmar workers are making pieces of evidence that both of countries ask, because the government did not provide suitable service for the workers, he wouldn't pay the tax, said Ko Moe Lay, who is working in Thailand, to CNI News.

Overseas Myanmar Workers

" Myanmar government hasn't helped us anything. When we change a CI book overseas, the government has designated 3 to 5 hundred bahts, but we have to pay 4 to 7 thousand bahts. It is the same as in Myanmar Embassy. The embassy says we have to pay 1,200 to 1,3000 bahts for a book to be changed. But it costs us 2,000 to 3,000 bahts because of officers and brokers. If the government help the workers effectively, we, the people won't hesitant to pay the tax." he said.

Because Myanmar Embassy helps Myanmar citizens just a little in comparison with other countries' embassies, overseas Myanmar workers don't want to transfer 25 percent of basic salary and they have no wish to pay the tax reportedly.

"Myanmar embassy tends to help Myanmar workers in the incidents that are noticed by the public such as the types of shooting cases in a Bangkok shopping mall and in car accidents in which MoU workers are included. But the embassy is far from helping in the cases such as the workers lost their jobs daily and MoU workers don't get full salaries and employers have taken the documents." said Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization to CNI News.

In relation to salary income tax, the money that is to pay the tax can be calculted on the website of the Internal Revenue Department. For example, a Myanmar worker who is working in Thailand - if he gets 10,000 bahts a month, he must pay about 400 bahts as income tax if it is calculated at two percent of tax rate.

After deducting the reliefs allowed, if a worker pay the income tax at the tax rate depending on income strata, 10 lakh kyats for a parent, 10 lakh kyats for a spouse, 5 lakh kyats for a child and the money for social security fee have been designated. 

So, the tax that is to be paid will be different from one another depending on individual income

CNI News

16 October 2023

Some commodities have been restricted at the Rakhine-Bangladesh border trade relating to export and as they must be traded at the Sittwe border only, there is hardly any trade now, said traders in Maungdaw. 

Aqua products - various kinds of fish from fresh and saltwater and agricultural products - rice, broken rice, various pea and bean, sesame, onion and so on must be trades at the Sittwe border trade only starting from 4th September, the government restricted. Traders in Maungdaw don't export a lot of other products and the situation must be watched in the coming open season, said U San Thein, vice chairman of the Maungdaw border trade association, to CNI News.

" Because the restriction has been conducted, traders have to export the goods from the convenient places. There are no restricted products here in Maungdaw and they haven't been able to export other products. It is drawing near thee open season. We have to go on trading based on open season." he said.

While loading bags of onions onto a truck at the Sittwe border trade camp

So, there is hardly any trade at the Maungdaw border trade and the trade is almost stopping, said traders.

Because the goods ordered from Bangladesh must be exported from the Sittwe border trade, traders in Maungdaw are finding it difficult. 

Some traders whose license period have not expired could export.

As Rakhine-Bangladesh trade depends on the orders from Bangladesh, at present, exporting goods from the Sittwe border trade is just in the normal position, said U Tin Aung Oo, Rakhine State Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to CNI News.

Cargo workers at the Maungdaw border trade camp

" At present, we can regularly export, but it depend on the orders from Bangladesh.  The export has not increased a lot. When the open season comes in the end of this month, we will export more, I think." he said.

Although it was not difficult to export other products from the Sittwe border trade, when the aqua products were exported through Sittwe, because it took long to cross the sea, the quality of aqua products declined and the price also declined, said traders.

So, traders and fish entrepreneurs are requesting to allow then to export through both Maungdaw and Sittwe border trade camps.

The export value from the two border trade camps was 8.77 million US dollars from April to September in the 2023-24 fiscal year. 

Goods were exported for 1.42 million US dollars from Maungdaw and import value was 0.004 million US dollars. And Sittwe exported goods for 0.518 million US dollars, according to the Rakhine State Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

CNI News

13 October 2023

As Malaysian authorities are checking by surprise and arresting illegal foreign workers, Myanmar embassy has warned its citizens to take passports and necessary documents with them. 
Myanmar people need to take care of their steps for the time being and when they have to go unavoidably, they are asked to carry the evidence in order to show them when there are checks.

" Currently, as Malaysians are putting so much pressure on their government relating to foreigners through social media such as Facebook or Tiktok, their government is also conducting checks and arrests. In Malaysia, authorities tend to check motorcycles and cars first. It's finished. For the time being, the customs department is checking illegal shops. The immigration department will start checking in about December. But the places that have been complained is being checked." said Hmwar Michael who is living in Malaysia, to CNI News.

Three entertainment centers that had been opened illegally were arrested by Malaysian immigration department and police on 16 September 2023 and 92 so-called Myanmar people were arrested reportedly.

" Authorities are currently checking licenses and illegal goods of the shops. At present, if you are arrested, you can't negotiate at all or you can't give money like in the past. You'll be sentenced to 7 month imprisonment or you must pay 100,000 ringgits as a fine at a court." he added.

While foreigners were being arrested in Malaysia

Although there were a lot of arrests in Malaysia after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, because Myanmar embassy did not release any warning statements, Myanmar people in Malaysia were taken aback by this warning statement. 
However, the embassy should find ways that could help Myanmar people in Malaysia instead of releasing the statement like that, said U Nyi Nyi Lwin, director general of the Center for Arakan Refugees, to CNI News.

" If you apply for a new passport, you'll have wait from three months to one year to get it. So, most of Myanmar people here have no documents. And if you register at the UNHCR for protection and care, you'll have to wait about one year. There is nothing that is served quickly. There are one hundred thousand above Myanmar workers here. 70 percent of them have no documents. That the embassy has released a statement like this is right. But rather than the statement, Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should find ways that can help Myanmar citizens. How can they do to issue passports quickly? To the best of my knowledge,if a Bangladeshi applies for a passport today at the Bangladeshi embassy, he will get the passport tomorrow. But he needs to have necessary facts." said U Nyi Nyi Lwin.

Myanmar illegal workers should apply for Rekalibrasi permit that allows illegal foreign workers to officially work if convenient, urged Myanmar embassy.

Although the program will be served until 30th December, it probably will be extended and arrests will increase when it is drawing near to the period designated, said Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.

CNI News

13 October 2023

The 8th Anniversary Celebration of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will be attended by the seven NCA signatories, said Nan Yin Yin Soe, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team that is made up of the NCA signatory EAOs, to CNI News. 

EAOs that will attend the event are discussing about peace with the State Administration Council (SAC), she added.

" 7 NCA signatory EAOs will attend the 8th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA and they are the Arakan Liberation (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and they are also discussing about peace with the military council." she said to CNI News.

While The NCA was being signed on 15 October 2023

The 8th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA will be held on 15 October 2023 and not only NCA signatory EAOs but also NCA non-signatory EAOs have been invited to attend the event, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.

The 8th anniversary celebration of the NCA would be able to find a solution for peace, said Nan Yin Yin Soe. It was difficult to believe that the peace would arise from that event, said Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party (MUP), to CNI News.

While NSPNC and 7 NCA signatories were discussing

" it's difficult to believe that peace will come out from the 8th anniversary celebration. We have heard that discussions are underway. Based on the result from the discussion, we can say if it is possible. We can't say based on the event alone." he said.

Only if the involvement of the Tatmadaw in politics could be ended, would they be able to meet and discuss, said in the statement released by the NCA signatories - the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF) and the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) on 12 October 2023.

The NCA was signed by the KNU, CNF, ABSDF, RCSS, DKBA, KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, ALP and PNLO on 15 October 2015. After that, NMSP and LDU signed the NCA on 12 February 2018.

CNI News

13 October  2023

The agencies that fail to submit the list of workers who are sent abroad will be taken action against, the Ministry of Labor has announced. 

Agencies must submit the list of workers who are sent abroad with the names of countries within the first five days of every month and the agencies that fail to submit will be suspended temporarily and if they failed to submit for the second time, their licenses would be lifted reportedly.

“This is good practice. If they don't comply with that, then this business won't be convenient for them. They aren't interested in the business. what they have to do is just to send e-mail.  Because the department had to know there are people who have not been sent abroad for 4 to 7 months when the agencies didn't submit the list, the department had to announce. Private media are also reporting it's because the department didn't take action. So, the department has issued the statement. The agencies that don't submit the list possibly haven't sent the workers abroad." said Myat Hayman Lin, managing director of the Pwint Phu Aung Overseas Employment Agency.

Myanmar workers who will go abroad

The agencies have to inform the department of the list of workers who are sent abroad by e-mail or letter. 

If they have no workers to send, they need to let. the department know reportedly. Moreover, Safe Migration have stated that there are 81 agencies that have not submitted the list for September. 

The agencies that have held the licenses for overseas employment agencies must carry out compulsorily in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Labor, said U Win Myint, managing director of the Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, to CNI News.

" The department has asked the list of workers who are sent abroad for about three months. Some agencies don't give the list. Perhaps they haven't given or they don't know. If you have taken the license, you must do that. I can't say for sure if some agencies might not have staff. Now there have been up to about 470 agencies." said U Win Myint.

Myanmar workers

As calling jobs from Thailand and Malaysia has reduced at present, the workers need to wait patiently and if they wanted to go abroad urgently, they probably would be cheated, suggested some overseas employment agencies.

There were 484 overseas employment agencies in September 2023 and of them, 10 were suspended temporarily. So, there are 474 licensed agencies now, according to the Ministry of Labor.

CNI News

13 October 2023

Armed organizations should weigh to minimize the public casualty, said Lway Chee Sangar, spokesperson of the Ta'ang Women Organization (TWO), to CNI News. 

Fighting should be avoided in urban areas and villages where the people are living and the organizations should have known that the public causality can arise if the battles break out in these places, she added.

" Fighting or other military operations should not be conducted near towns or cities and villages. The organizations should consider or study how much battles can harm the public in advance. Considering this in advance can reduce the public causality a bit, I think." she said.

Because of the political landscapes that arose after 1 February 2021, armed conflicts have been breaking out across the country. 

IDPs who arrived in Shinletwa, Paletwa Township because of the battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA in 2017

Due to these conflicts, people were killed and houses were set on fire and hospitals, schools and religious buildings were damaged and people had to be displaced.

Any armed organization needed to carry out so as not to raise civilian casualty, said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam, a Kachin politician, to CNI News. 

" It depends on both the military council and revolutionary organization. Many villages of our Kachin people were all damaged and set on fire. Armed organization and revolution are unavoidable. If the organizations want to be o?one with the public, they need to avoid fighting near towns and villages. Otherwise, after the hatred grows, these images will remain for generations to come. How should it be done? How should it be avoided? It depends on the Tatmadaw. No matter what organization killed or set fire, we don't like doing these things. So, I'd like to tell them to avoid doing these things." said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam.

According to the latest UN figures as of October 2, 2023, there are nearly 2 million IDPs across the country, the UNOCHA stated on 12 October 2023. 

1.7 million people had to be displaced because of conflicts and insecurities that have appeared after the civilian government was toppled down by the Tatmadaw on 1 February 2021, said in the statement.

CNI News

12 October 2023

Although some sugar mills opened the price of sugar cane with 110,000 kyats per ton last month,  at present, the price has been increased up to 120,000 kyats per ton. 

Ngwe Yi Palei Sugar Mill and Mai Rel Sugar Mill have said that they will buy sugar cane at 120,000 kyats per ton.

Because the current sugar price is going up, sugar cane price has risen and the price can rise any more until the sugar cane cutting season, said U Win Htay, vice chairman of the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association, to CNI News.

“The two mills that paid 110,000 kyats per ton in the past have raised the price now. The price might rise anymore. In comparison with the current sugar price, there is a situation that can raise the price anymore. The farmers are saying even the price of 130,000 kyats per ton doesn't make them earn a lot of profit. But according to our calculation, this rate is not too bad for farmers. The price could rise anymore." said U Win Htay.

The price of 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is the one the sugar mills will buy the sugar cane that has arrived in the mills. In the same way, sugar mills in Sagaing Region will pay the price that sugar mills in Shan State pay, said sugar cane farmers in Sagaing Region.

Sugar cane sticks

Although the price of 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is suitable for the farmers, according to the current sugar price, the farmers should get more than 120,000 kyats and the farmers have expected to get at least 130,000 kyats, said U Maung Swe, a sugar cane farmer from Sagaing Region, to CNI News. 

Because 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is the price that the farmers will have to send to the factory, the farmers get only about 100,000 kyats for a ton of sugar cane reportedly.

" Wemar sugar mill in our region will surely pay the price of 120,000 kuyats as Ngwe Yi Palei does. It did pay last year as Ngwe Yi Palei. The farmers are saying that they should get at least 130,000 kyats per ton in comparison with the current sugar price. In fact, they want to get 135,000 kyats." he said.

 Because the price of sugarcane was high in the last sugarcane season, the farmers expanded sugarcane cultivation.

In the same way, the current price of sugarcane is beneficial to the farmers, the cultivation will increase 20 percent in the coming sugarcane season, estimated the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association.

Sugarcane is mainly grown in Shan State, Sagaing, Magway and Bago Regions and sugar mills have also expanded and opened reportedly.

CNI News

12 October 2023

Former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and former Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe were sentenced to life imprisonment that equals to 20 years because they committed high treason, violation of the military rules and corruptions, the State Administration Council (SAC) stated. 

Former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun served as the member of the SAC, chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission, chairman of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee and chairman of the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods.

While he was serving the above duties, he committed high treason because he carried out against the prior processes and objectives laid down by the State by procuring personal profit against the State policies on foreign exchange, important commodity and other economic affairs.

Although the government sold US dollars at a reference price to import palm oil from abroad for the amount designated, he failed to take action against those who were selling palm oil at a higher price than the reference rate and took part in selling like that. 

Moreover, he abused power by receiving bribes from companies, and committed holding foreign currencies illegally, breaking the military rules and participating in civilian business activities after which he was charged with relevant law sections and he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court, the SAC stated on 10 October 2023.

In the same way, former Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe served as the joint secretary of the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods. 

While he was serving the duty, he procured personal profit against the State economic policy and he committed high treason in collaboration with former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun by carrying out deviating from the State policies on foreign exchange, important commodity and other economic affairs and also committed abusing power by allowing businessmen to exchange foreign currencies with Myanmar kyat.

Moreover, he received foreign currencies and Myanmar kyat from businessmen as bribes and he illegally acted as a liaison between former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and businessmen. 

Besides he committed holding foreign currencies illegally, breaking the military rules and taking part in civilian business activities. So, he was charged with relevant law sections and sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court, the SAC stated.