CNI News

26 February 2024

In the change of visa application to the online system for Myanmar people who are applying for Thai visa, brokers would be involved, overseas employment agencies and those who are carrying out for the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News. 

The Thai Embassy in Myanmar abolished the system of queuing up in front of the embassy in person to get an appointment and would accept only applying through online starting from 22nd February, 2024, it stated.

Because most Myanmar youths know how to use the online system skilfully, Although they can find it easy to apply for visa, brokers will be unavoidably required to participate, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

"Brokers can work with an embassy staff member to get you on the list quickly. In the past, an agency got twenty visas as a quota. Agencies and the embassy have been in contact since before. They can get visas quickly. So, they can get service charges. Moreover, those who can't get to the agencies have to apply through a broker, they have to pay more or they might be cheated." he said.

The system of queuing up in front of the embassy in person to get an appointment has been abolished to facilitate the applicants, to reduce the number of so many people applying at the same time and to ensure the security of office processes, said in the statement by the Thai Embassy.

Thai Embassy in Yangon

Although the Embassy has already worked at the rate of 200 tokens per day for 30 days starting from 22nd February, it would accept until 400 tokens for applying in advance.

Although The change to online system was good, it would be necessary to wait a little, U Myat Thu, general secretary of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF), told CNI News.

"There were so many people in line on that day. Those in line reached from the Thai Embassy to the Malaysian Embassy. Changing to an online system is more convenient compared to having to line up disfigured. You have to wait a bit. If you can't apply online, you might need a broker. But some people want to rely on brokers. So, they have to pay the brokers. Although you pay money, it's still not so bad if the broker does it right." he said.

Myanmar people who will leave for Thailand have obviously increased since early February and because so many people had to wait in line to apply for visas in front of the Thai Embassy in Myanmar, visa application changed to the token system on 14th February and 400 people were given tokens each day.

After that, visa application was changed again to the system of giving token appointment through online and when applying for visa, name, phone number, email address, passport number and type of visa must be filled up.

CNI News
24 February 2024

Those who live in Maesot, Tak District, Thailand must submit the list of foreigners who come and stay in their rented places to the immigration department, immigration authorities stated on 22nd February 2024.

'Landlords or landladies or accommodation tenants must submit the list of guests who come and stay in their rented places for the national security, peace and stability to the immigration department,' said in the statement. Accommodation tenants including hotel managers must submit the list of foreign guests who come and put up in their rented places within 24 hours, said in the order.

If tenants did not submitted the list of foreigner guests who put up in their rented places, they would be fined 10,000 bahts, said in the statement.

While seeing the statement by the immigration authority in Tak District

Most of Most of the democracy activists who are revolutionizing the Tatmadaw live in Maesot.

Moreover, people fleeing their homes to avoid fighting and those who sneaked into the town to work as migrant workers are staying in Maesot.

There have been many people trying to flee to Thailand in order to avoid military service after the People's Military Service Law was approved and signed by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council in Myanmar on 10th February, 2024
After that.

Thai PM Srettha expressed that those who came to Thailand legally would be welcomed and those who sneaked into Thailand would be taken action against.

Moreover, immigration authorities from Tak District ordered landlords, tenants and hotel managers to submit the list of foreigner guests who came and stayed in their rented places to the immigration department.

CNI News
24 February 2024

Although Bangladesh offered to buy 1.5 tons of rice from Myanmar, Myanmar was unable to export it, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).

Regarding the export of 1.5 million tons of rice from Myanmar to Bangladesh, Vice President of the Vietnam - Malaysia Business Association and Myanmar Ambassador to Malaysia discussed reportedly.

However, Myanmar has not been able to export the rice to Bangladesh because the it has been unable to negotiate price while domestic rice prices are going up and the price of buying from Bangladesh is low, U Nay Lin Zin, general secretary of the Myanmar Rice Millers Association (MRMA), told CNI News.

" For the time being, it has been cancelled. We haven't sold the rice to Bangladesh. We haven't been able to negotiate with that country. We are selling rice to other countries. We have a few crises regarding export and local market." he said.

While preparation is being made to export rice

Although the rice export to Bangladesh was started by sea since 2022, Myanmar has not been able to export rice to that country in this fiscal year reportedly. However, there are regular exports to other countries, according to the MRF.

Traders did not export rice to Bangladesh because the prices of rice within Myanmar were rising although Bangladesh offered to buy rice from Myanmar, an official from the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, told CNI News.

" There was a plan to sell rice to Bangladesh in the past, but when the domestic prices of rice went up, we made a decision to suspend selling rice to Bangladesh temporarily. We have sold rice to that country twice. It was convenient to sell. We exported rice by sea." he said.
due to the change in export earnings policy, profits for traders are less than before reportedly. Although export earnings gained from the export of rice and broken rice, is allowed to be spent to import fuel and edible oil, because they must be sold only at the price designated by the government, traders don't import any more, reportedly.

65 percent of export earnings are allowed to convert at the market price and 36 percent must be sold at the price designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar, according to the policy that have been changed.

CNI News
24 February 2024

It would make an effort to establish a public government based on public will, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) announced on 22nd February, 2024.

However, the statement did not mention exactly whether it meant a public government that would rule only Ta'ang (Palaung) people or one that would rule the entire country by attempting to overthrow the Tatmadaw.

" The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) will administer to further improve in the issues of security, rule of law, education, health and social development in areas where the TNLA Army is based including the seven towns that have been controlled by the TNLA in the Operation-1027 and will make an effort to establish a public government that is based on the public will." said in the statement.

Moreover, together with all ethnic people in the Ta'ang region, it would protect against the forced recruitment, tax collection and interference in the public management by other ethnic groups and it would lead to achieve the political goals of the people as soon as possible, the TNLA stated.

While seeing the statement by the TNLA

The TNLA, together with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army(MNDAA), the Arakan Army(AA), the Bamar People Liberation Army(BPLA), the People's Liberation Army(PLA), the Burma National Revolutionary Army(BNRA) and the Mandalay People's Defense Force (PDF-Mandalay), launched the Operation-1027 in northern Shan State on 27th October 2023.

After that, the TNLA was able to seize the control of Kutkai, Namkham, Mai Ngor, Nansang, Mang Ton and Namtu Towns after fighting against the Tatmadaw. However, Ta'ang (Palaung) people are being recruited by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the MNDAA.

At present, there is a territorial dispute between the KIA and the TNLA in Kutkai Township and a military tension is breaking out between them.

In the same way, the TNLA also has a territorial dispute with SSPP in Namkham Township and a military tension is taking place between them. There is a military tension between them.

CNI News
24 February 2024

After some top leaders of the New Mon State Party resigned from the party, people are keeping a close watch on where the party is headed.

Some leaders of the NMSP broke away from the party and built an offshoot called the New Mon State Party (anti-dictatorship) and stated that they would join with anti-Tatmadaw forces in the fight against the State Administration Council.

 Although the leaders of the NMSP made efforts to get their national rights through the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement(NCA), because they did not get them, Mon youths of the party broke away, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" Leadership of the NMSP has tried for the interests of their nationalities for about three decades. But they are facing a situation where they can't get their rights and at the same time, when the movements of the Spring Revolution intensify among other ethnic groups, young people of the party have broken away. This is a natural situation as well." he said.

While seeing Naing Banyar Lal, vice leader of the breakaway NMSP (one with glasses) while the NMSP was discussing with the SAC

The Central Executive Committee of the NMSM announced on 14th February, 2024 that it would try to reunite with the NMSP (Anti-Military Dictatorship).

The SAC was in contact with the leaders of the NMSP and the party leaders had nothing to do with the secession and the NMSO would go on with the NCA, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the SAC.

The statement released by the offshoot of the NMSP saying it would join with the revolutionary forces was hailed by most Mon youths, a Mon youth told CNI News.

While the NMSP was signing the NCA

"Most Mon youths are optimistic about it. The timing also happened. The State Administration Council (SAC) has approved the People's Military Service Law. It turned out to be a good situation for the opposing organizations. Most people probably have a lot to do with them. The NMSP that goes with the NCA reviews most youths will join the revolutionary forces. In practice, youths are joining." he said.

The Breakaway New Mon State Party stated that although the NMSP discussed with the Tatmadaw three times, expected results were not achieved at all after it made an effort to find a political answer to political problems in accordance with the NCA.

The NMSP is a Mon ethnic armed organization that signed the NCA on 13th February 2018.
Some military analysts are considering that it is also possible to pretend that the New Mon State Party is splitting into two factions in order to remedy the fact that the party is being criticized for not fighting against the Tatmadaw.

CNI News

23 February 2024

All the ethnic people who are suppressed and are searching for the revolutionary path would be accepted and welcome, the Shan State Progressive Party(SSPP)/ Shan State Army (SSA) stated as of 20th February, 2024. 

Pieces of news describing all the ethnic people are currently facing more oppression by military dictators are reported are heard everyday; in accordance with the law of revolution, if there is oppression, there will be revolution and all the ethnic people are searching for the revolutionary path which the SSPP/SSA has heard, the SSPP/SSA stated.

"If the oppressed people of all ethnicities who are searching for the revolutionary path will follow the objective, policy, rules and regulation of the SSPP/SSA, any race or religion will always be accepted and welcomed. However, the SSPP/SSA did not state exactly which organization the military dictator was.”SSPP/SSA said.

The statement released by the SSPP/SSA

After saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute that took place in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and has taken the State power. So, democratic elements are making efforts to topple the Tatmadaw.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), the Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA), the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched the Operation-1027 on 27th October, 2023 after which urban and rural areas were damaged and many civilians were wounded and killed.

After that, the TNLA seized control of Namkham and Kutkai towns and carried out restrictions on the freedom of peoples such as Shan and Kachin. 

While the leaders of the SSPP/SSA were holding a meeting

So, the TNLA is being denounced. Moreover, the TNLA and the SSPP/SSA have a territorial dispute and military tension.

In the same way, the MNDAA doesn't allow any ethnic armed groups including the KIA and the SSPP to go through the territories that it has captured after fighting against the Tatmadaw. Moreover, it is restricting on ethnic Burmans coming to work.

CNI News

23 February 2024

The cultivation area may decrease in the next corn planting season because the profits are low from corn, according to corn farmers. As the local corn price depends on the ups and downs of the global corn price, local corn price is falling.

Because the price of corn at the port of Yangon is only 1,100 kyats per viss, farmers get only 900 to 1,000 kyats per viss, said farmers. As it will be convenient for farmers to get 1,200 kyats per viss, farmers might grow other crops in the corn growing season. So, corn cultivation.

So, corn cultivation could be reduced by about one third, Ko Min Khaing, a corn farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News. 

While seeing a corn wholesale center (Xinhua)

"If the corn price is not good this year, corn cultivation acres could be reduced a lot. Farmers don't make a profit because the inputs are expensive. So, farmers will grow other crops instead. In any case, farmers can make a proper profit only when they can sell their corn at 1,200 to 1,250 kyats per viss. Corn cultivation may be reduced by about one third in Ayeyarwady Region."he said.

The cost for an acre of corn cultivation was over 10 lakh kyats and the money returned is only nearly 20 lakhs. So, that amount of money could not cover the wages and inputs that were invested and the cost for replanting, said farmers.

Corn farmers in northern Shan State found it difficult to reap the corn due to the battles this year and because of difficult transportation, they had to sell the corn at a lower price reportedly. 

While seeing a corn wholesale center (Xinhua)

Because farmers may lose due to the current drop in corn prices, in the coming corn planting season, corn cultivation could be reduced by half, U Kyaw Moe, secretary of the Northern Shan State Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News. 

" In my opinion, corn cultivation could be reduced by 40 or 50 percent. They will grow corn in the end because they have no alternative but to grow corn. The corn cultivation will surely be reduced by half.”he said.

Green peas and green gram could be grown instead of corn in the coming corn growing season reportedly. Corn is grown most in northern and southern Shan State, and Ayeyarwady Region. 

Corn is grown a little in the western part of Bago Region, Naypyidaw, Mandalay Region, Magway Region and Kachin State.

CNI News

23 February 2024

The National Unity Government (NUG) should approach the Thai Government politically and humanitarianly for Myanmar youths who will flee to Thailand because the People's Military Service Law has been approved in Myanmar, the people who are helping workers told CNI News. 

Many youths are making efforts to leave for Thailand because they don't want to perform the military service.

In the situation like that, when Myanmar youths get to Thailand, security, job opportunities and other issues that they might encounter should be highlighted by the NUG to make Thailand and the international community know them, U Moe Kyaw, associate general secretary of Yaung Gyi Oo Labors Organization, told CNI News.

While seeing the NUG

" Myanmar youths are trying to leave for Thailand because they don't want to perform the military service. But because they are still young, those young people may lose opportunities to continue their education. How will Thailand receive them not to lose those opportunities. They are being called new arrival. What is Thai attitude towards new arrivals? The NUG should politically approach Thailand and the international community in order that they can provide humanitarian aids to the youths and the NUG will have to try to reach a state where the youths can live and work in line with human dignity, I'd like to tell it." he said.

However, Thai PM said a few days ago that Myanmar citizens who will enter Thailand illegally would be taken action against and those who would come legally would be welcome. 

Possibility or impossibility to discuss with Thailand regarding migrant Myanmar people who would soon arrive in Thailand depended on the NUG's activity, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers pointed out.

While the Thai authorities are arresting and inspecting Myanmar citizens

If the NUG could help and protect Myanmar migrants, it would be good beyond measure, Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" First, battles are breaking out in Myanmar. So, people are going to safe places. Next, the case that Myanmar citizens in the foreign countries must transfer 25 percent of their salaries to Myanmar. And then, a problem that a mandatory military service law has been approved has arisen in Myanmar. There are problems in various ways. It is a concern for the local public. Consider these as long-term projects for the people and if they can find ways to benefit the people, it will be better." he said.

There are many Myanmar people entering Thailand illegally at present and there are also daily arrests reportedly. Moreover, several hundreds of Myanmar people are waiting in line at the Thai Embassy to get visas and visa applications have increased significantly, according to the statements by the Thai Embassy.

CNI News

23 February 2024

Politicians still could not solve the national problem at present, Dr.Nyo Nyo Thin, chairperson of the Yangon Watch Group, told CNI News. 

The current situation was one in which politicians could not mediate the organizations involved in the conflict and attempts to mediate were being criticized, she said.  

"Political leaders who are standing in the middle can't persuade any side. As soon as they tell one side, they are accused of being supporting another side. They are attacked. Their lives are threatened. They are worried about the security of their families. For the time being, politicians haven't been able to solve the problem for the future of the country. Most of the people who are Buddhists, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha, need to believe something only after investigating for themselves without believing what others say. The public should not believe what organizations say without verification." she said to CNI News.

Saying that the NLD party was trying to form a government without solving the vote list dispute that took place in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and it has taken the State power after declaring the state of emergency.

the Bamar People's Liberation Party

After that, democratic elements waged an armed resistance and armed conflicts are taking place across the country. Due to the conflicts, the country is facing crises in politics, economy, health, education and so on.

 All the stakeholders involved in the conflict should meet and discuss and the people are getting into trouble a lot, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party) told CNI News.

"The public is also facing many problems. If a battle broke out, the people from the place where the battle broke out would be killed. We want both sides including EAOs, PDFs and the Tatmadaw to end or reduce all the battles. Attacking the military camps is not much of a problem. But attacking towns and villages is making the public suffer. In any case, we want the battles to be reduced. We want both sides to meet and discuss to reduce the battles." he said.

the Chin National Front (CNF)

Due to armed conflict that started on 1st February, 2021, the people are facing livelihood difficulties, transportation disruptions, territorial insecurity and monetary inflation.

Although the international community including some EAOs, some political parties and the ASEAN is trying to solve the problems, it has not been able to be resolved.