CNI News

22 March 2024

Children of undocumented workers including Myanmar ones might be refused to accept enrollment at the government schools in some townships, Thailand, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

Although every child in Thailand has the right to learn at the government schools , some schools did refuse to accept enrollment. So, there still may be schools like that, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED, told CNI News.

" There might be a problem. That is, a child who is about to go to school needs to know a little Thai. If he doesn't know Thai at all, they find it difficult. In addition to the Thai Ministry of Education, there are teachers and parents as well. If they demanded not to accept the children like that, there would be problems. Moreover, it won't be convenient if a child who will go to school is about 10 years old. Thai parents are worried about their children. Older children like that might be refused." he said.

The Thai Basic Education Commission and Thai Ministry of Education released directions for the Thai government schools to accept undocumented children a few days ago.

Among the directions, there was something special about undocumented children, said U Min Oo.

While seeing migrant children attending school

"Undocumented children who attend school - when they are finished with high school education, some campuses of universities or colleges don't allow undocumented people to travel or pass except highly qualified children. In the directions last released, children who are related to education will be allowed. It can be said to be unusual." he said to CNI News.

In Thailand, every child whether they are documented or undocumented has the right to learn at the governments from Primary to 9th Standard. The policy was approved in 2005. In addition to undocumented children, if a child has no Thai birth certificate, he or she can be sent to school with the administrator of the region where they live.

However, when undocumented Myanmar children are enrolled at the THai government schools, because of older age, a large number of students and language barrier, they are often refused. The statement released by the Thai Ministry of Education was too late, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" The problem is that after the coup d'etat in Myanmar, a lot of Myanmar people entered Thailand. Many children came with them. When these children are enrolled at school, the school buildings can't hold all students. It's a problem as well. Many schools accept. But when the statement was released, all the children had been enrolled already. Enrollment in Thailand is in February." he said.

In Thailand, children aged 6 to 12 are at the primary level; ones aged 13 to 15 for intermediate level and ones aged 16 to 18 are designated as high school level.

At present, the number of children of migrant Myanmar people learning at schools in Thailand is nearly 500,000 reportedly.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing where the information of an alliance by seven NCA signatories is leading to.

After the plenary meeting of the seven NCA signatories held in Chiangmai, Thailand on 18th March, 2024, the 7 EAO Alliance has been formed, the alliance stated. 

Their alliance was mainly to discuss peace and political affairs, although they would cooperate in security, they wouldn't in military, Col.Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-o National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

"The main purpose is to discuss peace and politics. Military affairs isn't included in the priority. But we will cooperate in the security matters. The main purpose is to make peace process and political talks appear. We will continue in the same way that our PPST (Peace Process Steering Team) did in the NCA." he said.

Among the seven groups of the alliance, the PNLO that is fighting against the Tatmadaw did not participate fully and took part in the alliance as an associate group, he added. Members of the alliance would start governing in their controlled territories with a governing system of the self-determination, said General Yawd Serk, chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State.

While seeing General Yawd Serk and General Saw Mutu Say Phoe

The formation and action were overdue, U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam, a Kachin politician, told CNI News.

"In my opinion, this is overdue. In early time of 2021 after the coup d'état, if they carried out ceaselessly and seriously to build a federal union, the current situation wouldn't happen like this. It's not so easy, I think. The People's Defense Force (PDF) and other EAOs might not accept what the military council is doing now. I wonder it might not easy in the long run." he said.

When some EAOs have started administrative processes after they had seized control of territories, their NCA signatories would have to start an administrative system based on self-determination, said Col.Khun Okka.

" When some EAOs that seized control of territories have started administration in their controlled territories, our NCA signatories also are developing regional administrative systems. I'm just saying it by policy. If we implement, we'll need to negotiate because some territories are overlapped each other. We'll need preparations any more, I think." he said.

General Yawd Serk has taken responsibility as the leader of the 7 EAO Alliance and Naing Aung Min, as seconder leader.

CNI News

22 March 2024

Although the corn produced in Myanmar is allowed to export to Thailand with tax exemption, while the maritime trade is depended, due to difficulties in the shipping section, some companies have stopped buying corn reportedly.

10 percent of the corn export was exported through maritime trade in the past. Currently, 25 percent of corn export are being exported through border trade and the rest, by maritime trade. 

Due to long waiting time for shipping, corn was piling up in warehouses and ports, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.

Trucks loaded with bags of corn

" Some companies have suspended buying corn. The companies are giving priority to shipping corn. So, they have suspended buying corn temporarily. The corn is piling up in warehouses and at port. But, there are companies that are buying corn as well. When loading corn on a ship, it takes 10 days or more. At that time, another ship is waiting. We are finding it difficult like that." he said.

Although the ships that enter Myanmar are 30,000 tons in weight only, there are difficulties such as the tides fluctuation, laborer demand, other products and no clearance of the port.

Although it usually takes about two days for the corn to be loaded onto the ship, it takes until 10 ten days currently because of difficult policies, said traders.

Although corn export to Thailand with tax exemption has started, because of the decline in world corn prices, difficult transportation and export policy, the cost has been high and corn traders are making a loss without getting the price offered by Thailand. 

While the corn is being loaded onto the ship

So, corn purchases are delayed.

The price of corn at the port was just 1,050 kyats per viss and farmers got 800 kyats per viss, Ko Min Khaing, a corn farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

"e is falling. The price in Yangon is 1,040 kyats per viss. Last year, the price was 1,200 kyats per viss at least in Yangon. It is related to the government's policy. If the policy is relaxed a little, the corn price will go up." he said.

At present Myanmar corn is being exported to Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei through maritime trade and traders are trying to export to China reportedly.

However, among rice, bean, corn and other crops which are being exported, the price of corn is the lowest. So, corn traders wanted the government to relax the export earnings policy so that corn traders could export without making a loss and farmers also could sell their corn at a higher price, said corn traders.

CNI News
21 March 2024

Muslims who live in Buthidaung Township protested against the Arakan Army (AA) on 19th March 2024. At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the AA.

The AA has already captured Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U, Myebon and Ranbye Townships and is launching offensives to Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.

On the other hand, video files that the Tatmadaw is giving military training to Muslims in Rakhine State are coming out.

Community conflicts tend to break out in Rakhine State and lots of Muslim refugees have fled to Bangladesh.

CNI News

21 March 2024

Political and military analysts are reviewing and discussing what kind of state leaders of the United Wa State Party/the United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) are demanding.

The leaders of the UWSP/UWSA tend to demand elected governments including leaders of the Tatmadaw to designate the Wa Self-administered Division as the Wa State.

The UWSA has recently won the confederation status and it possibly has demanded a type of state superior to the state provided by the 2008 Constitution, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.

While seeing Pankham (Pangsang) City, headquarters of the UWSA

" According to the 2008 Constitution, Wa is a special region. But Wa has demanded a state. In fact, Wa has won the confederate status. It has its sovereignty. The people from other states and regions can't enter the Wa region if the Wa authorities don't allow it. So, a kind of state that it has demanded will surely be superior to the current states' status that have been provided by the 2008 Constitution." he said.

Request to establish the Wa region as an autonomous national state by the UWSP/UWSA was agreed by policy, said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the press conference held on 1st June, 2022. 

However, according to the multi-party democratic system, the matter would be discussed only after the Hluttaw was formed through a general election reportedly.

According to the 2008 Constitution, Hopang, Mongmao,  Panwai, Namphan, Metman and Pangsang Townships in Shan State were divided into two districts and have been designated as the Wa Self-Administered Division.

If the UWSA wanted the state status, it could get the status of a state provided by the 2008 Constitution, Administrative, judiciary and legislative powers are controlled by the central government. Because the UWSA is currently practising three powers, it is beyond the 2008 Constitution.

While seeing Pankham (Pangsang) City, headquarters of the UWSA

So, there is something questionable about what kind of state the UWSA is demanding and how to solve a situation in which a state superior to the one that has been provided  by the 2008 Constitution has not been allowed.

Because of rights such as national equal rights and self-determination, armed conflicts emerged and problems relating to the constitution needed to be solved, Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.

" Armed conflicts have emerged due to the lack of national autonomy and equal rights. If all the stakeholders understand the problems. are related to the constitution, they can overcome the idea of having to dogmatically grip the 2008 constitution. In order to overcome this, if we found a political exit, the form that the union will be formed will be superior to the 2008 Constitution. If the union was formed only after the rights were changed, we would be able to find an answer that can solve armed conflicts, I think." he said.

After the Three Brotherhood Alliance (AA, TNLA and MNDAA) attacked and captured Hopang and Panglon in January, 2024, the UWSA seized control of these towns.

CNI News

21 March 2024

The People's Party (PP) demanded the authorities to take action against those who took advantage of the conscription law and were carrying out beyond the law, the party stated on 19th March, 2024. 

The People's Military Service Law came into force starting from 10th February 2024, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing signed the law and stated it. After that, concerns, running away to evade and corruption arose among the people.

"Private factory and workshop workers have understood that the temporary exemption from military service applies only to employees of state departments and are running away. So, it is difficult to make the industries go on operating." the PP stated.

While seeing the statement released by the People's Party

According to the Section.7 (b) of the People's Military Service Law, ward or village tract peace and development council must send the list of those who have reached the age of military service on 31st December to the township team summoning recruits for the people's military service law in accordance with the designation on 13th January which has been enacted, the PP stated.

So, according to the original law, ward or village tract administration is to make lists and send only and has no rights to cancel the people from the list including selecting and approving, said in the statement.

So, the State Administration Council (SAC) needed to exactly release the uniform bylaws and directions for the whole country to make the public easily understand so as to reduce the public concern regarding the application of the People's Military Service Law, the PP stated.

At present, ward or village administrators are collecting lists and forcing those in list to cast lots. Moreover, those who want to evade military service have to pay some money reportedly.

CNI News

20 March 2024

In making preparations during the Thingyan holiday, the number of people who will travel abroad were more than travelling within the country, U Naung Naung Han from the Myanmar Travel Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News. 

Although travelling within the country during the Thingyan holiday might decrease in comparison with last year, the number of people who will go abroad has increased more than last year, he said.

While seeing Myanmar citizens at the airport

" There might be a little decline in the number of people who will travel within the country because there are still vacant hotel rooms that haven't been booked. Most travelling abroad were short-term visits a few months ago. But during the coming Thingyan holiday, long-term visits such as Buddha Gaya trip that takes one week or tendays are more because the coming Thingyan holiday is longer. And many trips to Europe have been sold. Myanmar people are to go to Vietnam in groups. Travelling abroad will increase a bit this year, I think." said U Naung Naung Han to CNI News.

Most domestic tourists are making arrangements to go abroad because some tourist destinations within the country have not been stable, said travel operators. During the last Thingyan holiday, most domestic tourists went to Ngapali, Chaungtha, Nwe Saung, southern Shan State, Bagan, Mandalay and Kachin State.

However, because some tourist destinations within the country have not been stable and there were transportation difficulties, domestic tourists might be able to go to Chaungtha and Nwe Saung only, U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of Myanmar Voyages International Tourism, told CNI News.

While seeing the beach

" Especially domestic tourists will go to Nwe Saung and Chaungtha. There might not be the people who will go to Ngapali because the cost is too high. At a time like this, if you go to Heho, an air ticket will be paid over 2 lakh kyats. An air ticket to Bagan will be about 2 lakh kyats as well. But there is flight not everyday. So, people largely go to those places by car. Many Myanmar people will go to Thailand and Singapore. People have booked to go to Thailand until April. According to the current situation, young people and middle-aged people have prepared to go to these countries. Air tickets are also expensive." he said.

Many domestic tourists went to Chaungtha, Nwesaung, southern Shan State and Ngapali during the 2023 Thingyan holiday reportedly.

However, according to the current situations, trips to Chaungtha, Nwesaung, Bagan, Mandalay and southern Shan State are being arranged reportedly.

In travelling, rather than travelling with tourism industries, more tourists tend to travel on their own. Moreover, although there were a lot of pilgrimages in the past, there are reportedly only a few pilgrimages left reportedly.

CNI News

20 March 2024

The people are worried about the People's Military Service Law that was approved by the State Administration Council and the political circles are discussing about the remedy for the public concern. 

According the conscription law, ward administrators are collecting the lists of people who will have to serve in the military and summoning people to hold meetings in cities including Yangon and Naypyidaw.

The SAC needed to release exact regulations and directions to make the pubic know, U Ko Ko Gyi, chairman of the People's Party told CNI News.

While seeing the 2008 Constitution

" Every citizen is responsible to protect the country and the conscription law must be accepted. But depending on the situation and time, the public is so worried.". And we find that administration is weak because one place is different from another one. Because today is social media age, every piece of news reaches online. So, the people are running away or avoiding. Mainly, it's necessary to release exact regulations and directions." he said.

If collecting money or extortions occurred by the reason of conscription law, the people could report to the People's Party, he added.

" It's necessary to designate consistent and exact guidelines and directions for every level of administration. Otherwise, on the ground level, it's possible that the people try to evade the law after giving money or some officials are collecting money, which I've heard. So, if there were threats or extortion, we have given our phone numbers so that the people can complain. So, the SAC needs to release the uniform guidelines and directions." he said to CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar Tatmadaw

According the People's Military Service Law, every citizen, man ranged from 18 to 35 and woman ranged from 18 to 27, must serve in the military.

Moreover, all men aged 18-45 and women aged 18-35 experts who lives in a profession such as physician or engineer must be serve in the military.

Moreover, it was necessary to be transparent in implementing the conscription law and it would be more convenient if it was performed with the help of legal experts, Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party (MUP) told CNI News.

" As soon as this law has been approved, it was quite a hit among the public. This law was not enacted by the Hluttaw. Because the military council has enacted the law, it is a little unusual. Before the law was enacted, it must be known to the public in advance. And after the law has been approved, it must be explained thoroughly to the public. And the bylaw is needed to implement the law. Transparency is needed as well. And then, the places where will be complained and will take action against when there's something wrong. It will be more convenient if it is implemented with the help of legal experts among the people," he said.

Detailed bylaw regarding the conscription law has not been released and various rumors are spreading among the people who are worried.

Some authorities are asking for money by reason of the conscription law, said the people living in wards.

CNI News

20 March 2024

The leading team of the 7 EAO Alliance led by General Yawd Serk has been formed in order to implement political process agendas that were laid down at the plenary meeting of the 7 NCA signatories which stated on 18th March 2024.

Of the ten NCA signatories, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) held their plenary meeting in Chiangmai, Thailand from 17th to 18th March, 2024.

And then, the leading team of the 7 EAO Alliance was formed at the meeting and General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS was appointed as the leader of the team and Naing Aung Min, vice chairman of the NMSP, vice leader.

Moreover, Col.Sai Ngin from the RCSS was appointed as general secretary and .Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt from the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, as associate secretary. Members are Naing Aung Ma Ngay, Brig-Gen Saw Sein Win, Kyayakoat, Col.Khaing Kyaw Hlaing, one from the PNLO and U Myo Win. 

While seeing Col.Sai Ngin, Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt and Ma Nan Yin Yin Soe

" As our 7 EAO Alliance, we will continue our efforts until we can build a federal democratic union after discussing and negotiating with relevant elements, solving the current political crisis by political means." the 7 EAO Alliance stated.

Their ultimate goal was to build a federal democratic union that guarantees national equal rights and full self-determination and the expectation is to build a sustainable peace through a democratic transitional process, said in the statement.

The 7 EAO Alliance would carry out creating situations that can reveal public attitudes through all-inclusive dialogue, informing organizations concerned of the responsibility to protect the people, and holding political talks among all stakeholders to produce meaningful results, it stated.

In tackling the current conflict, the alliance will carry out more to develop the landscapes and methods in order to identify the attitudes of the elements who want to find a peaceful solution as well as to inform the organizations that are responsible to protect the people of having a duty to protect the people, said in the statement.