CNI News

8 June 2024

Because a democracy could not be established by waging a war, the democracy should be established through a common consent, said U Harn Yawnghwe, director of the Euro-Burma Office. 

U Harn Yawnghwe said the above in an interview broadcast by the DVB on 5th June, 2024.

" Even if the Myanmar Tatmadaw could put down all the groups that go against it, there is no chance of becoming a democratic country. In the same way, even if all the groups that don't like the Myanmar Tatmadaw could defeat it, there is no chance of becoming a democratic country because a democracy cannot be established only after fighting with arms. Democracy is a system that must be built by common consent or agreement by everyone. So, we need to find a political solution." said U Harn Yawnghwe.

While seeing U Thein Sein and U Harn Yawnghwe

However, it was very difficult to hold a political dialogue in order to find a political solution because the public was completely suffering, he pointed out. 

" it's impossible to hold a political dialogue so as to find a political solution at a time like this because the public is suffering from losses when the Tatmadaw is fighting against the public. It's likely only when the fighting stops." he said.

Battles should be stopped in order to be able to build a democratic country in Myanmar; all revolutionary groups should put pressure on the Tatmadaw to bring about a political dialogue; moreover, it was impossible to overcome the Myanmar political crisis without China, he added.

While an anniversary celebration of the NCA was held

U Harn Yawnghwe participated deeply in the peace process under the government led by U Thein Sein that transformed from 2021 and at present, he is helping in the peace process of EAOs.

Currently, the Myanmar Tatmadaw is waging battles against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Arakan Army (AA), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Karen National Union (KNU), the People's Defense Forces (PDFs), the Local People's Defense Forces (LPDFs) and the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and battles are breaking out in many parts of the country.

CNI News

7 June 2024

The Rakhine people would fight to get a status not lower than confederation, Major General Tun Myat Naing, said commander in chief of the Arakan Army (AA) in an interview with the VOA. 

" We, Rakhine people are fighting with a view to getting a political status not lower than confederate. Our position will never change. We'll never ask anyone to get it. If we should fight to get it, we'll have to do so. And then, we'll reconstruct. If we agree with each other with full understanding and generosity, everyone will be able to enjoy peace in the united future." said Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing.

At present, battles are taking place in many parts of Rakhine State between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA. The Myanmar Tatmadaw has to be retreating from its military camps in urban and rural areas while the AA is making preparations to launch an offensive to Sittwe.

While seeing a junction within Rakhine State

The AA took part in Operation-1027 waged on 27th October, 2023 by the three northern allies (TNLA, AA, MNDAA) and in cooperation with the People's Defense Force (PDF) troops and Chin armed groups, the AA is fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Sagaing, Magway Regions and Chin State.

The AA has expressed already that it wants to get a political status like that of the United Wa State Army. On the other hand, it is meeting and discussing with the SAC through the China's mediation to stop battles taking place between the AA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

7 June 2024

How the territorial dispute between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) is under review. 

More and more territorial problems have arisen in northern Shan State after the operation launched on 27th October 2023 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (TNLA, AA, MNDAA) and battles took place. 

EAOs must solve the problem and it was necessary to meet and discuss in a peaceful manner, Dr.Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" It must be solved between ethnic revolutionary organizations and they are solving as able as they can. I think they'll continue to solve." she said.

While seeing the KIA Force

The TNLA demanded the KIA to remove the liaison office that the KIA has opened in Kutkai and to remove the KIA troops deployed at the ONE NINE petrol station owned by U Jiao De Yong and to return the station to the original owner, said in the letter released by the TNLA.

" We were not officially notified about it. I wonder why there were arguments and engagements between the two frontline troops. I don't think the troops were instructed by the headquarters." said Col. Nawbu, information officer of the KIA to CNI News.

There are every so often territorial disputes and engagements between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the TNLA, between the TNLA and the KIA, and between the KIA and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). 

The TNLA would solve the disputes by political means not only with allies but with other EAOs, Lwe Ye Oo, in charge of the News and Information Department of the TNLA, told CNI News.

While seeing the entrance to Kutkai Town

" This matter is resolved by political means with our allies or other EAOs. The dispute in Kutkai Township has been resolved." she said. 

The Three Brotherhood Alliance captured many military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw during Operation-1027 and the Myanmar Tatmadaw lost control of Laukkai, Kon Kyan, Chin Shwe Haw, Paungsai, Kunlong, Hopang, Pang Wa, Theinni, Kutkai, Namkham, Nansang, Mangtong, Namtu and Mong Ngor Towns.

After that, territorial disputes have obviously arisen among the SSPP, the MNDAA, the TNLA and the KIA.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw, the SSPP, the TNLA, the MNDAA, the KIA, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the Arakan Army (AA) and militias are also active in northern Shan State.

CNI News

7 June 2024

More and more Myanmar people are being trafficked to foreign countries such as China, Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai, Tibet, Saudi Arabia than ever before, those who helping the people who are trafficked told CNI News. 

The number of human trafficking cases handled during the three past years was equal to that of trafficking cases was equal to that of all the previous year round. 

Human trafficking was being committed by compatriots and trustees, Ma Myo Myo Aye who is helping those trafficked, told CNI News.

" The people who were trafficked to China and Dubai have increased. Human traffickers are targeting people from rural areas, who don't get exact information. A compatriot, for example, has arrived in Thailand or China. He or she has connected villagers from the entire village with traffickers. If a worker gets 300,000 kyats per month within Myanmar, a Myanmar worker gets five or seven or ten lakh kyats in the country where he or she has arrived. He or she often repeats that. Those who want to go abroad don't think about it on detail. If they go abroad, they go abroad with the feeling that it will be convenient for them." she said.

While Myanmar people are being checked

After recruitment by saying that workers could get jobs in Singapore and Macao countries, those recruited were sent to Dubai, Oman, Tibet and Saudi Arabia as house maids or domestic workers, according to those who are helping the people who were trafficked.

House maids face sexual assaults by landlords in the countries where they arrived and departments concerned hardly took action against culprits, they said.

Most of the people who were trafficked are ethnic people and people from rural areas, Ko Sai Yu Maung who provides assistance to victims of human trafficking, told CNI News.

" Many Myanmar people are also trafficked to China. All the Myanmar girls across the country - if they want to go to China, they don't have to pay for return flight ticket fee. They will be given 70 lakh kyats. For the time being, traffickers give 10 lakh kyats to the girl's family for their livelihood. The rest money will be given to the girl as soon as she gets to China. It's just a type of selling girls. Both Chinese people and Myanmar people are involved in human trafficking. They don't tell the girls what to work in China in advance. The girls must be wives of Chinese men, I heard. They will stay with Chinese men, but it's not clear how long they will take." he said.

While seeing those who will go to China to work

Types of human trafficking that occurred in Myanmar were forced marriage, forced prostitution, forced servitude, child trafficking and being bound by debt. 

In 2018, Surrogacy was found as a new form of human trafficking, stated in an article to mark Anti-Trafficking Day in 2020.

80.32 percent of human trafficking were trafficked to foreign countries and 50 percent of the people who were trafficked were women and children, said former Home Minister U Soe Htut on the Anti-Trafficking Day in 2022.

CNI News

6 June 2024

Rainfed rice cultivation in Ayeyarwady Region might increase from last year reportedly from the Farmers Development Association. 

Because rainfed rice was being grown in 20 townships including Bogale, Dedaye and Mawlamyine Townships where in the past only summer rice was grown, rainfed rice cultivation area could reach until 3,700,000 acres, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" Rainfed rice cultivation area in Ayeyarwady Region may increase from last year because farmers from the places where only summer rice was grown came to grow rainfed rice. Rainfed rice was being grown in 20 townships at least including Bogale, Dedaye and Mawlamyine Townships where in the past only summer rice was grown. So, rainfed cultivation acres probably will reach until 3,700.000, I think." he said.

Farmers in some townships in Ayeyarwady Region have started ploughing to grow rainfed rice. However, farmers from other townships have not been able to plough because the prices of hand held tractors are skyrocketing.

While a farmer was ploughing

So, rainfed rice cultivation might be late in some townships. Rainfed rice cultivation could save about 200,000 kyats because rainfed rice cultivation doesn't need to use a lot of inputs such as fertilizer and pesticide like the summer rice cultivation does, according to farmers.

However, because gold snails that bite and cut paddy were rampant in some townships, it might cost farmers more for pesticide, U Aye Naing, a farmer from Bogale Township, told CNI News.

Although organizations, associations and companies are providing loans for rainfed rice, just a few farmers draw the loans because the prices of last summer rice were good. The price of coarse rice paddy was 20 lakh kyats per 100 basket, and that of fine rice paddy, 28 to 30 lakh kyats.

CNI News

6 June 2024

The Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) was not involved in attempt to arise Byaing Byu Village tragedy, Major Khaing Thurein from the ALP told CNI News. 

A total of 170 troops from Sittwe-based regionla command headquarters and Pakokku-based military dovision (101), soldiers from other battalions, some troops from the ALP and Muslim troops trained by the Myanmar Tatmadaw blocked around Byaing Byu Village and tortured and killed villagers on 29th May, 2024, stated the AA on 2nd June, 2024.

ALP comrades were under the central control and there were exact entry and exit lists as well and the ALP was not involved in the issue, said Major Khaing Thurein, general secretary of the ALP.

While seeing the AA Force

" We know that the Tatmadaw was doing some inspections at Byaing Byu Village. We were not involved in the inspection. The death toll stated by the AA has been exaggerated. Our comrades are under the central control. We have exact entry and exit lists of divisions, battalions, platoons and all troops. We can firmly say that we have nothing to do with this matter. This is just a political exploitation." he said.

The number of people who were unjustly killed in the incidence of Byaing Byu Village reached until 76 from 29th May to 4th June, reported the AA again on 4th June, 2024. The ALP was investigating the incidence without a bias, Major Khaing Thurein told CNI News.

While seeing the ALP Force

" We are carefully making a list relating to casualties in the incidence without a bias. We have a plan to help victims as able as we can. We'll reveal the truth." he said.

Those who ordered to commit a war crime in Byaing Byu Village, those who implemented the order and all participants from divisions and battalions from the Myanmar Tatmadaw in the crime would be revenged violently, said in the statement released by the AA.

CNI News

5 June 2024

Many workers from domestic garment factories are leaving for foreign countries such as China, Thailand, Malaysia and Laos, according to those who are working on labor issues. 

The reason why they are going abroad to work was because their basic salary or daily wages of Myanmar are much lower than those of other countries and some were legally leaving while others, illegally, Ma Myo Myo Aye who is carrying out for labor affairs, told CNI News.
So, some factories were keeping their workers by raising salary and daily wages, she added.

" Some factories are keeping their workers by raising wages and others are calling workers by raising fees for extension date. Some factories pay 6,800 or 7,000 kyats per day and others don't raise daily wages and pay only 4,800 kyats but raise wages by other means. Some workers choose factories which pay more at the end of a month." she said to CNI News.

When factories within the country are calling recruits as there has been an increase in the number of garment factory workers who go abroad, because young women who have arrived in cities to avoid battles apply for jobs in the factories, factories have not experienced bad scarcity of worker reportedly.

Most workers go to the garment factories in China and the garment factories in Ruili on the Chinese side are calling many Myanmar workers reportedly. 

However, although the Chinese garment factories initially said that they would pay 2,000 yuan per month, workers were underpaid in practice, said philanthropic associations in Muse.

While seeing garment factory workers

When entering the Chinese side, because the number of people who enter the Chinese side with temporary border pass (TBP) were so many that the Chinese authorities are checking more strictly, an official from the Beautiful Heart philanthropic association in Muse, told CNI News.

" Those who enter with TBP whose validity is seven days are strictly checked. If the authorities knew that they entered to work, they are not allowed to enter. I heard that jobs are available there. It's convenient for the people who have red books whose validity is one month. There are also many people who were sent back. Some didn't get salaries while others were arrested." he said.

Although many Myanmar workers used to go to Thailand and Malaysia in the past, this year Myanmar workers are going to the Chinese border and Laos reportedly.

Although there were about 700 CMP factories within the country, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, over 100 factories had to suspend, said U Min Min, Deputy Minister for Commerce in 2023.

CNI News

5 June 2024

14 accused persons who were making foreign exchange rates unstable and doing business of illegal foreign currency trading, including brokers were arrested, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on 3rd June.

According to those arrested, 11 manipulators who were carrying out behind the scenes to make the foreign exchange rates unstable were absconding, so the SAC issued an arrest warrants on them.

Those who are running away as fugitives are Ba Nyunt from Perfect Green Money Changer, Wunna Tun from Sunflower Money Changer, Khayan Thongwa Gold Shop and illegal foreign currency sellers - Thet Naung Win, Hla Min, Utsman (b) Jack, Tin Ko Oo (b) John, Than Tun Aung, Ye Ko (b) Wai Min Khaung, Ye Min Aung and brokers - Ei Ei Kyaw (b) Ma War and Tin Kyaw Kyaw (b) Arnold.

14 people who have been arrested would be taken action against in accordance with the law and it was carrying out to arrest the fugitives, reported the SAC.

CNI News

5 June 2024

The people within the country who were illegally selling and buying condos in foreign countries have been arrested, reported the State Administration Council (SAC) on 3rd June, 2024. 

U Aung Kyaw Tun, director and U Min Thu Kyaw, general manager of Minn Thu Company that is located in Pazundaung Township, Yangon Region for illegal selling condo apartments in Thailand and transferring money through illegal hundi system. 

However, because U Min Thu Kyaw ran away, the SAC has issued an arrest warrant for him.

Moreover, U Nay Myo Han, U Min Tun and Daw Myat Myat Mon who illegally bought apartments abroad that were sold by Minn Thu Company and transferred money through bank accounts illegally opened at the banks in Thailand without permission from the Central Bank of Myanmar were also arrested.

Those arrested would be effectively taken action against in accordance with the law, stated the SAC. 

It would continue to investigate and identify sellers of condo apartments abroad through online and buyers to take action against them, stated the SAC.