Low formal education leads to violence

CNI News

14 June 2025

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that acts of violence were committed by those with lower formal education and poor cognitive and thinking skills.

He made the remarks while meeting with education staff and children studying in Pyin Oo Lwin on June 11, 2025.

"If we look at the instability and violence that is happening in our country, we will find that they are happening more in areas with poor education. Due to poor literacy and poor cognitive ability, acts of violence are being committed, which is affecting the socio-economic lives of the region and the locals," he said.

Therefore, teachers should not only teach the children academically, but also teach them the knowledge and ideas that will enable them to distinguish between good and bad, and between cause and effect, he said.  

“According to the statistics collected, there is still a great need to improve the country’s education, with about 50 percent of the population being low in education." said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The Ministry of Education announced on June 3, 2025, that for the 2025-26 academic year, there are over 4 million primary school enrollments (4,146,251 students), over 1 million middle school enrollments (1,344,236 students), and over 600,000 high school enrollments (628,773 students), for a total enrollment of over 6 million (6,119,260 students). 

Myanmar has a population of over 54 million, and that there are over 20 million school-age youth, but only over 6 million youths were enrolled in school, which is worrisome for the future, pointed out military and political analysts.

Currently, due to the ongoing fighting and regional instability throughout Myanmar, the rule of law is weak, and the ability to open schools is also weak. 

The Myanmar Tatmadaw ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) government on February 1, 2021, and declared a state of emergency, claiming that the NLD was attempting to form a government without resolving the 2020 general election voter list dispute. And then, the battles began.

Currently, the NUG/CRPH which have been made up of some NLD leaders and members of Hluttaw, the PDFs and LPDFs including some EAOs are carrying out armed attacks to overthrow the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SAC.

SAC changes the electoral law to the form it wants

CNI News

14 June 2025

The SAC will continue to change the electoral law until it is the form they want for the elections to be held in December 2025, U Myo Kyaw of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) told CNI News. 

The SAC chairman has told the people of Myanmar and the international community that the election will be held in December 2025. 

U Myo Kyaw said that holding such an election is just because the SAC wants the international community.to recognize the SAC's legitimacy.

“The Election Commission is formed by people they like. They issue regulations. They issue a law on party registration. But they have changed that law many times during their current rule. They have changed it until it is the way they want it. In other words, they are very unethical to loosen or tighten the law until they can have the upper hand. They only think about how they can have the upperhand and how they can have an exit. They don't look at the face of the country or the face of the people. They will hold elections because they want the legitimacy recognized by the international community." he said.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) told CNI News that elections will be held in 267 townships in Myanmar, and that the elections will be held in phases. 

It is reported that elections will be held in all regions and states in accordance with the priority plan except for the areas where there are restrictions due to geographical conditions,

While the SAC Chairman was meeting with political parties

In addition, the UEC said that the elections will be held under two systems: the first past the post (FPTP) system which was previously used and the proportional representation (PR) system.

Details will be announced once the relevant Hluttaw election laws and regulations are enacted, according to the UEC. 

It is known that SAC officials and the Election Commission previously met with political parties to discuss the law, but later there have been no such meetings.

Therefore, before the election law and regulations are announced, political parties should be invited and given a brief explanation, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News.

“I heard that the election law and regulations are ready. In the past, the UEC used to invite political parties to meet and discuss. If they are about to issue the law, they should invite political parties and roughly explain the law to the parties. As they have said they will hold a dignified election, I don’t think it will be so bad. Ethnic issues are very important in political processes. I believe that political issues can be resolved politically only when representatives of ethnic groups are in Hluttaw" he said.

The UEC said that the voting machine will be used in the upcoming elections that will be held by the SAC and that it is working to obtain a national certification for the quality and standards of the voting machine in accordance with the Myanmar Standards Law (2014).

CNI News

13 June 2025

Projects to be implemented in Myanmar should not be suspended whenever there is a change of government, the National Democratic Force Party(NDF) Vice Chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News. 

Myanmar governments have been known to cancel, suspend, and renegotiate projects that were previously implemented by previous governments in developing international cooperation projects. Foreign investors disliked this move, and a lack of trust developed, leading them to avoid investing.

U Htet Aung Kyaw said that a government would be held  accountable for the projects implemented by the previous government, and that the previous government could not be said to be unrelated to the next government.

While seeing the Myitsone Project

“Normally, a government is responsible for everything that successive governments have done. You can’t say that the previous government borrowed money and the next government doesn’t have anything to do with it. This is a matter of international affairs. The two governments will have to coordinate their work even though they get on well with each other, but the next government will have to be responsible for what the previous government did. This is a matter of common sense.

In Myanmar, during the reign of Senior General Than Shwe, an agreement was signed with the Chinese government to jointly implement the Myitsone Project to distribute electricity to Myanmar.

Then, when the government of U Thein Sein, who was elected in the 2010 general election, came to power, protests erupted demanding the Myitsone project be halted, and an order was issued to temporarily halt the Myitsone project.”he said.

Similarly, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's government came to power after the 2015 general election, the Myitsone project was not able to resume, and when the current Myanmar military overthrew the NLD government and declared a state of emergency, the Myitsone project was not able to resume and was suspended.

While seeing the Thilwa Project

Regarding projects, whether they are projects that have been linked to governments and signed MoUs or projects that have been implemented in the country, if they are not completed, the next government will review them to see if they are in line with the policies they have set, businessman U Aung Pyae Sone told CNI News.

"We need to work on principles, not on members of the previous government, and if we put aside our egos and only look after the good of the country, there is no reason for such projects to stop. We don't need to do the projects that the previous government did during our time. If we prioritize our ego, thinking that if we continue it, it will earn the previous government a good name, the country will suffer more than it will benefit. There will be an election soon. If a government comes to power, it needs to forget the idea that it might not continue what the previous military government, the previous NLD government, and the previous government did. We need to go with the idea that we will make this better. Otherwise, if we think that what the previous government did doesn't need to be done by the next government, and we only get such leaders, we the people will be in trouble." he said.

In Myanmar, foreign investment and projects often stop during periods of government change following elections, and during periods when the military overthrows an elected government and takes power.

CNI Article

By- Chit Min Tun

12 June 2025

Article 3 of the 2008 Constitution, entitled "The Fundamental Principles of the State," stipulates that the State is where multi-National races collectively reside.

We need to examine how the meaning of ethnicity is defined. As far as we can see, ethnic groups are defined as the people who originally lived in a region (or territory) (or country) before the colonial era or other migrations.

Ethnic groups are people who have historically lived in a territory (or country) (or region) for many years and have their own history, culture, territory, language and literature, and traditions. Race is defined by skin color, physical characteristics, culture, and nationality. 

For example: Chinese, Indian, Burmese, American, In this way, an ethnic group in a country can claim the right to own territory, a race has very little right to claim the right to own territory. (For example, Shan/Kachin/Kayah/Mon/Karen/Chin/Rakhine/Burman can claim secession/statehood based on their right to own land, while Chinese, Indians, Muslims, and Gorkhas do not have the right to own territory, and if they do, they may be severely suppressed.)

However, the definition of ethnic is both very subtle and broad, so it is necessary to exactly clarify the definition of ethnic in Myanmar because Myanmar is said to be made up of eight major ethnic groups( namely Kachin, Kayah, Mon, Burmese, Rakhine, Shan, Karen, and Chin) and other over 100 ethnic groups, totaling 135 ethnic groups:

If that is the case, then all 135 ethnic groups should have equal rights, and no one group should have more rights. There is still another issue that needs to be clarified in Myanmar. 

That is the question of whether the Bamar are ethnicity or nationality. Although it is generally understood that the Bamar are considered ethnic, why do Bamar people refer to non-Bamar people as ethnic when they speak/discuss with other ethnic groups?

Similarly, when non-Burmans talk/discuss with Burmans, why don't they refer to the Bamar as an ethnic group? Non-Bamars have accused the Bamar of practicing Chauvinism while the Bamar have also accused non-Bamars of discriminating against and excluding them, even though the Bamar do not practice Chauvinism.

However, Myanmar is a country where multi-ethnic groups live and were established by bringing together all these ethnic groups, so everyone should be equal. However, because of the rulers of the country and the provisions of the 2008 Constitution, divisions and disunity are taking place among the ethnic groups.

For example, Article 450 of the 2008 Constitution stipulates that Burmese is the official language, and Article 22 (a) stipulates that the state will help develop the language, literature, art, and culture of ethnic groups. According to these two provisions, which one is the Myanmarsar language and which nationality is the Bamar? Since the Myanmar language and literature are the language and literature of the Bamar people, is Myanmar called Bamar? is Myanmar language the Bamar's language?

Then, in relation to the provision of Article 22 (a), does it mean that Myanmar (or Bamar) is not an ethnic group? Does Myanmar (or Bamar) exist above ethnic groups including Shan/Karen/Mon/Rakhine/Kachin/Chin/Kayah?  Was the country of Myanmar today founded by a single ethnic group, the Myanmar (or Bamar)?

“Since Myanmar is a Union State, it is necessary to ensure that the official language and literature established by the State are mastered nationwide,” said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a meeting with leaders of the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) on May 25, 2025.

Similarly, efforts are being made to end the civil war that has raged for over 70 years in Myanmar and the national-level political dialogues under the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) were held by the non-Bamar ethnic groups, but  Bamar ethnic group did not participate in the dialogues.

Why do the Bamar ethnic group hold the national level political dialogues? No one clearly explains why. In the singing, acting, writing, and musical instrument playing competition that are often held in Myanmar, competitions are conducted with Bamar songs, Bamar dance and Bamar traditional orchestra. But there are no such competitions for other ethnic groups.

In this case, I think it is necessary to consider whether the accusations made by non-Burman ethnic groups that the Burman people are practicing Chauvinism are true or false. Finally, if we are to build a democratic, federal Union in Myanmar, I think it is important to have a clear definition of Myanmar (or Bamar) and ethnic groups.

Otherwise, just as the Soviet Union collapsed due to confusion between democracy and federalism, Myanmar should be aware that the confusion between the definition of Myanmar (or Bamar) and ethnicity could lead to the subsequent collapse of the country following a civil war.

CNI News

11 June 2025

The upcoming elections in Myanmar are an exit for the people rather than for the SAC, the Karen People's Party (KPP) chairperson Daw Nant Khin Aye Oo told CNI News. 

The people were sandwiched between battles of the two sides and got into trouble as hostages and only when a government emerged after elections were held, could the country exit from the crisis, so elections were an exit for the people, she said.

" Some people says that elections are the exit for the SAC, but as for us, elections are the exit for the people because the people are sandwiched between the battles of the two sides and are getting into trouble as hostages. Only when a government emerges after elections are held, could the country exit from the crisis. A free forum will be held by the end of this month, where how to rebuild the country and how to make the elections peaceful will be discussed." said Daw Nant Khin Aye Oo.

While the SAC chairman was meeting with political parties

There was no dispute that elections were not exit for the people, but they were for the SAC, U Kyi Myint, a political commentator told CNI News.

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that elections in Myanmar will be held in phases, in December 2025 and January 2026.

Then, armed groups and democracy activists said that the SAC was looking for a way out of the political crisis by holding elections, so the elections that SAC was going to hold must be sabotaged without fail.

While seeing political parties

However, political parties registered with the Union Election Commission (UEC) of the SAC have pointed out that the upcoming election is not an exit for the SAC but an exit for the people, and that they need to be aware that if there is no election, they will have to live under the emergency provisions of the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

The people of Myanmar are currently facing disasters such as war, earthquakes, floods, storms, and diseases, as well as social, economic, health, political, and educational declines.

CNI News

11 June 2025

The military conflict breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA depended on China, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), Sai Htay Aung told CNI News. 

He said that China is behind all the jade mining in the Hpakant region, and that if China did not encourage the illegal jade market, Myanmar's political issues could be half-settled.

" It's sorrowful that two Myanmar armed groups are fighting against each other. China has huge economic interests there. Whether or not China will escalate the Hpakant military conflict is entirely up to it. The value of jade produced in Hpakant was 66 billion kyats in Myanmar in 2023. But its value was 21 billion US dollars in China. The jade was not legally exported to China, but through armed groups. We must be careful that China is behind all the jade mining. If China is a good neighboring country, it should connect with the central government to buy the Myanmar jade. If the black market was not encouraged, the Myanmar political issues could be half-settled." said Sai Htay Aung.

While seeing jade mining in the Hpakant region

The Myanmar Tatmadaw is trying to regain the places that it has lost control of in the Hpakant region, and local media reported that a Myanmar Tatmadaw column entered Hpakant town in late May and reinforced its forces. And then, battles are taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA near Hpakant.

The KIA has been launching military operations to capture towns since March 2024, and is also waging battles in the border areas of Sagaing Region and Shan State.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw would wage battles on a large scale because  Hpakant is an economically important region, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs analyst, told CNI News.

"The Myanmar Tatmadaw will fight in a big way. But it won't be easy for the Myanmar Tatmadaw. But it is able to defend for long in Bhamo because it has more weapons. So, the battles in Hpakant can take as long as those in Bhamo." she said.

Military and political observers point out that the Burmese military's offensive on Hpakant is not because of its military importance like Bhamo, but because of its natural resources.

The KIA has been waging a battle to capture Bhamo since December 4, 2024, and has not yet captured it, but it has occupied the entire region east of the Ayeyarwady River. 

Local media outlets are also reporting that natural resource extraction is currently worsening in townships in Kachin State.

CNI News

11 June 2025

There are pressures on the AA that has three townships only left in Rakhine State, in waging battles to take over towns, military and political observers told CNI News. 

The AA, which has occupied 14 of the 17 townships in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State, is under pressure because it still has other tasks to do, including maintaining and administering the townships it has seized, U Myo Kyaw of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) told CNI News.

“The AA is still in its infancy in the revolution. So at this time, many of their young people and middle-aged people are trying hard. They can work. They can take over their territories. This is the dream of the Rakhine people that they have dreamed of for over 200 years. The ULA/AA was able to reach up to this level in so short a time. But they had to pay a lot for that as well. Their comrades and people were killed. Daily pressures are on the AA to maintain the territories. Moreover, the AA is responsible for administration, judiciary, healthcare, education and so on in these territories. And there are India's Kaladan River Project and China's Kyaukphyu SEZ and Sino-pipeline in the territories where the AA hasn't captured. The pressures are on the AA for them as well." he said.

While seeing a crossroads in Rakhine State

The AA was waging battles to take over towns on a limited basis, said in a warning preventing Rakhine people trying to evacuate their homes on May 20. Except for Sittwe, Manaung and Kyaukphyu in southern Rakhine State,  The AA has controlled 15 towns including Paletwa.

Currently, the AA is launching an offensive against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Kyaukphyu where China's projects are located.

The AA is waging battles to take over towns on a limited basis and it may be because of China's pressure or because of its difficulties as well, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-Myanmar affairs analyst, told CNI News. 

While seeing Paletwa Town

"Capturing towns is easy. But holding them is difficult. That's why the AA is considering these, I think. Moreover, a town that is captured by the AA can be bombed. The AA wants to have good relations with China. In the statements released by the AA, it will protect China's investments. China's pressure may be on the AA. And it may have other difficulties to wage battles as well." she said.

Military and political analysts point out that the AA may be under pressure from China and India due to the presence of India's Kaladan River projects in Rakhine State. 

The Arakan Army (AA) has announced that it has banned men and women eligible for military service under the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP) from leaving Rakhine State.

Under the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP), women aged 18 to 25 and men aged 18 to 45 are prohibited from travelling outside Rakhine State. The Myanmar Tatmadaw has been using the 'four cuts' strategy in the towns, Rakhine State since November, 2023 when battles resumed in Rakhine State

CNI News

10 June 2025

China's Belt and Road Initiative is an opportunity for Myanmar, said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

He made the above remarks at the Diamond Jubilee Ceremony of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Myanmar and China held at the Mingalar Thiri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on June 8, 2025.

“Myanmar is located in an important geographical location where China’s Belt and Road Initiative and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor projects are being implemented. I believe that the rapid implementation of these projects will create many opportunities for the two peoples to achieve sustainable prosperity and development together. I am grateful to China for its support and encouragement in the peace process, national reunification, and development processes, as well as for its support and donations during the earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

China has now become a world leader, and has provided substantial assistance regarding the Myanmar border issue. Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan  Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.

While the 75th anniversary celebration of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations was being held

“Senior General Min Aung Hlaing had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Xi Jinping at the invitation of Russia to attend the Victory Day parade. I think they discussed in detail that China would accept and cooperate with Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore, the Myanmar-China friendship has many important and common interests. To achieve development, China's participation and Myanmar's society, Myanmar's position, China's position, the five principles of bilateral peaceful coexistence, these are important in diplomacy. That's why Mr. Xi Jinping said that the  kinship friendship, economic and political paths such as the BRI, security measures, cultural measures, and development measures. Myanmar also deeply supports China's global initiatives. I would say that the GTI and GSI are also similar. The relationship will become closer," he said.

President Xi also said that the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations was an opportunity to promote cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

Currently, the implementation of China's Silk Road project in northern Shan State is being delayed due to fighting between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Northern Alliance (MNDAA-TNLA-AA).

Therefore, China is intervening to negotiate a ceasefire between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the MNDAA-AA-TNLA. 

The MNDAA-TNLA-AA control the main China-Myanmar border trade route, including Theinni, Kutkai, Thibaw, Kyaukme, Naungcho, the 105-mile trade zone, and the Chin Shwe Haw border gate in northern Shan State.

CNI News

10 June 2025

The Ta’ang Political Consultative Committee (TPCC) announced on June 9, 2025, the formation of the Ta’ang Land Council (TLC) to govern the territories captured and controlled by the TNLA after fighting against the  Myanmar Tatmadaw during Operation 1027. 

The political summit of the Ta’ang Political Consultative Committee (TPCC), which includes the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Ta’ang National Party (TNP), and Ta’ang CSOs, was held from June 1 to 3, 2025.

Then, they accepted and approved the “Ta’ang State Revolutionary Government Plan” drafted by the Ta’ang State Constitutional Drafting Committee (TSCDC) and decided to form the “Ta’ang Land Council” as the highest political authority in the Ta’ang State during the revolutionary period. According to the plan, the TPCC, which was formed on March 24, 2021, has been transformed into the TLC to oversee and lead the executive, legislative, and judicial pillars of the Ta'ang State, the TPCC announced.

While seeing the announcement of the formation of the Ta'ang Land Council

Therefore, the Ta’ang State Council (TLC) had been made up of  General Tar Aik Bone (TNLA Chairman), Lwe Moe Kham, Tar Aye Maung, General Tar Khu Lan (TNLA Vice Chairman-2), Ta Aung Pe, Tar Kyaw Tun, Lwe Moe Hlaing, Lwe Poe Kame' Chaing, and Captain Lwe Ye (TNLA), the TPCC announced.

The TLC will make every effort to establish a Ta’ang People’s Government by 2025 as soon as possible, based on the territories captured by the TNLA and its allies in Operation 1027, with the leaders of the three groups and appropriate representatives of the people, said in the statement.

The TNLA launched Operation 1027 on 27 October 2023, with the AA, MNDAA, KNDF, PLA, PDFs, MDY-PDF, BNRA, and DPLA in northern Shan State and Mandalay Region.

During Operation 1027, the TNLA was able to control of the townships of Nansang, Man Tong, Namtu, Nam Kham, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Nawng Cho, Mong Ngor, Mogok, Momeik, Mabein, and Thibaw.