CNI News

1 Feb 2024

Democracy could not implemented by trying to hold election under the 2008 Constitution, said in the statement jointly released by the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the National Unity Government (NUG). 

The Tatmadaw that has taken power violated the provisions of the 2008 Constitution and so, the constitution had been illegal, said in the statement.

" According the 2008 Constitution, trying to hold election cannot implement democracy. But it legitimizes the coup and allows the Tatmadaw to rule the country for an unlimited period. The Tatmadaw must not be allowed to participate in the future political process. A new constitution of federal and democracy that can be accepted by all the stakeholders is needed for the implementation of self-determinism, national equal rights, democracy, peace and stability." said in the statement.  

While seeing the Defense Minister of the NUG

The state contained to abolish the 2008 Constitution for good, to combat any attempt that revives it and to draft and enact a constitution based on a federal and democratic system. Two general elections were held under the 2008 Constitution and democracy could be implemented, U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party), told CNI News.

" As we were able to implement democracy, from 2010 to 2020, two general elections were held for two governments. The democratic system must be practiced gradually. According to the current situation of Myanmar, some limitations are still needed. Our democracy is still young. There were inconveniences even in the last two elections. We have to change gradually to democracy." he said.

The statement described only their policies and the public would make a decision whether democracy could be implemented under the 2008 Constitution or not, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing the NUG

" They have released their opinion. History will go depending on whom most of the people support. There are two kinds of the public support. One is asking for support by pointing guns at the people and the other is asking for help by holding democratic elections. Depending on the current situation, the public will make a decision." he said.

The State Administration Council has said that the census-taking would be conducted all over the country in 2024 and the State power would be handed over to the winning party after a general election had been held.

CNI News

1 Feb 2024

South Korea has not contacted to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar for 2024, U Nyunt Win, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour, CNI News.

Although Myanmar and South Korea have discussed to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar, there has been no contact from South Korea up to now, he said.

" It's right that we have discussed. They have offered to recruit seasonal workers from Myanmar. But they haven't contacted. If they contact, we will continue in accordance with the rules and procedure. If they don't contact, we can't send the workers." he said.

Myanmar amd South Korea have signed an MoU to send seasonal workers from Myanmar and the Ministry of Labor has allowed to send Myanmar workers to South Korea, Ministrty of Labor told media on 19th December 2023.

He did not want to tell whether it was right or not that Myanmar was not included in the countries from which seasonal workers would be recruited by South Korea, U Kyunt Win told CNI News.

According to South Korean newspapers,  South Korea have agreed to call seasonal workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos. But Myanmar was not included.

Migrant workers who came to South Korea to work as seasonal workers _ their rights have been increasingly violated since last year, Ko Khant Nay Kyi, in charge of the centre for supporting migrant workers, told CNI News.

There are 15 countries that have agreed with South Korea to send workers on E9 (labor hiring system) visas. However, not all the 15 countries have been included in the countries from which seasonal workers must be sent to South Korea. So,  it was too early to say whether Myanmar was included in the countries that must send seasonal workers, he said.

" The companies that send workers abroad want to hear that South Korea is going to call workers so that they can have gathered workers and asked money. Seasonal workers have faced labor rights and human rights violations since last year. This is a testing system only. There were not many problems as families and their relatiuves were called on a small scale." said Ko Khant Nay Kyi.

Myanmar workers who want to work in South Korea have been more interested because the pieces of news related to sending Myanmar seasonal workers to South Korea emerged in the last week of 2023. Seasonal workers have to work for eight months a year.

CNI News

31 January 2024

It would collaborate with friend groups that oppose territorial expansionism and narrow-minded patriotism, the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP/SSA) stated. The SSPP/SSAA held its Annual Plenary Meeting for 2023 of the Central Committee from 20th to 29th January 2024 and released the statement.

The SSPP/SSA opposed dictatorship, chauvinism and expansionism and only when a federal democratic union based on equal rights and self-determinism could be built, would a developed union that could keep abreast with the world be built. Moreover, it would match together with its friends, the SSPP stated on 29th January.

The SSPP has a territorial dispute with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and there is tension between the two sides. 

While seeing the statement released by the SSPP

The TNLA has captured the Tatmadaw's military camps in Namkham Township and made an effort to control the township. However, Namkham Township has been a territory that the SSPP has controlled since before.

There are disputes related to military and administrative territory within Namkham Township between the two sides.

The SSPP would make efforts to protect and maintain regional stability and would carry out for the regional development tasks such as education, agriculture, health, irrigation, road and bridge construction and it would help local people for the improvement of life and food security as able as it could, it stated on 29th January 2024.

CNI News

31 January 2024

A staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State Administration Council attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Laos reportedly. 

The meeting started to be held on 29th January 2024. Myanmar and South China Sea issues would be mainly discussed, said Lao Foreign Minister Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith.

He said that sending a senior staff for the first time by the leaders of the Tatmadaw  who took the State power on 1st February 2021 to attend the ASEAN meeting that was being held in Luang Prabang, a Lao historic city, was a good sign, AP reported.

While seeing Myanmar delegate at the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 29th January 2024

“This time we feel a little bit optimistic that the engagement may work, although we have to admit that the issues that are happening in Myanmar will not resolve overnight,” said Kommasith.

Myanmar has been barred from sending Foreign Minister or a political representative to ASEAN summit talks since the end of 2021.

However, Myanmar sent an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daw Marlar Than Htike, to the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held in Laos, AP reported.

However, the SAC did not report about who was sent as a delegate to the meeting of ASEAN FMs.

CNI News

31 January 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) was not a political government, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC at the meeting of the union government held on 29th January. 

The SAC was a government that was made up mostly of civil servants and free from politics. Moreover, only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions, he said.

" Civil servants have to serve their duties free from party politics and for the interests of the country but not for individuals. So, they need to carry out in accordance with the rules and regulations designated so as not to make weak administration and security incidents emerge. The SAC is free from politics and is not a political government. And the SAC is made up mostly of civil servants and only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While seeing the union government

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

Although the SAC did not represent any political party, it was doing politics, U Than Soe Naing, Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" It is that he has admitted partly. The military council doesn't represent any party. But it's participating in politics. The SAC is trying for the longevity of military dictatorship, holding the 2008 constitution. So, the SAC is not a political party. But it is doing political work. They are working to take census and to hold election. What they said that the SAC is not a political government is nothing short of admitting that it is the military council that came up as a coup government." he said.

While seeing the chief ministers of the states and regions

Myanmar Tatmadaw will have taken power already for three years on 1st February 2024. Saying that the SAC was not a political government was not enough and a government that contained politicians should be formed, U Thet Zaw, a political commentator, told CNI News.

" It's right. If it's a political party, it's not a political government. A political government means an elected government. Only an elected government will become a government that can speak internationally. Only if a government was formed with elected individuals, will international community accept it. Foreign Investments will enter and so will international aids. Sanctions will be lifted. Saying that it's not a political government is not enough. A government that contains real politicians should be formed." he said.

Six months were extended to the state of emergency for the second time at the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council held on 31st July 2023 under the Section 425 of the Constitution and its period will expire on 31st January 2024.

CNI News

31 January 2024

If the rice target alone could be met, the country's economy would improve a lot, said chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the meeting of the union government. 

However, businessmen pointed out that Myanmar should not depend on rice alone because there are many agricultural products in Myanmar.

Foreign currency earned from rice is less than that earned from coffee and oil crops. So, Myanmar should not depend on rice alone, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" In fact, there are many agricultural products that can earn more foreign currency than rice. Only if we export one ton of rice, will we get about 400 dollars. How much can we get even if we export rice by the million tons. It's not a very rich amount of money. There are not many countries that become rice from exporting rice Not many countries get rich from rice exports. Largely, various kinds of products have to be exported. There are products that earn more foreign currency than rice as well. We can earn a lot of foreign currency from exporting coffee, for example. If we can export a lot of coffee, we can earn more foreign currency than rice. In the same way, there are also many oil crops that can earn foreign currency. We should not depend on rice alone, I think." he said.

Farmers grew more rice this year because they received agricultural loans and other aids from the government and relevant businessmen. Moreover, because rice could be sold at a profitable price, farmers made a profit reportedly. 

While bags of rice are being loaded onto a container car

If the markets for agricultural products could be created, cultivation could increase and agricultural products could be exported more, said farmers.

However, if the national income has declined, it would be difficult to maintain by the rice sector alone, U THein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" What is the most important is that it is necessary to link the agricultural products with good, markets. If we could produce three tons of rice and three tons of bean in the previous years, we will be able to produce five to six tons of rice this year, I think. But if the national income has declined, We can't maintain by rice alone. In fact, the income of people working abroad is actually foreign income for this country. But it's necessary to use them systematically." he said.

In comparison with neighboring countries, Myanmar was still weak in technology and businessmen who would invest in rice cultivation were also needed, said farmers.

Vacant or virgin soil should be allowed to be used again for cultivation and inputs such as fuel and fertilizer should be able to be bought easily. 

Moreover, shallow irrigation should be repaired and the government needed to support farmers in buying agricultural machines, said farmers.

CNI News

30 January 2024

The Myanmar-Laos Friendship which has been closed for four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic reopened on 25th January 2024 reportedly. The products from Myanmar could be exported to China and Thailand through the bridge, said traders.

However, if the products from Myanmar were exported to China and Thailand through Laos, the cost would be higher. As the permit for the Myanmar corns which are being exported to China has expired, corn exporters could no longer use the bridge, Ko Sai Kham, a corn trader from Tachileik, told CNI News.

" If you go from the Kenglat Bridge or Friendship Bridge which has reopened now as well, your goods have to be sold to China. During the validity period of the permit, exporters will go from Myla or Kengtung. If you go from Laos, it will cost you more. But because the bridge has reopened, nearby people from the two countries will benefit. Visits or trading local products can be conducted." he said.

Because of the re-opening of the Myanmar-Laos friendship bridge, it can help the tourism industry a lot although there is a little trade between Myanmar and Laos reportedly.

Vehicles passing on the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge

Because the flow of goods between Laos and Myanmar was just a little, it was possible to carry out bilateral communication issues, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" There is a little trade through the bridge between Laos and Myanmar. The bridge had been closed in the past. There may be expectations ahead. It has reopened so as not to cut the bilateral communication for the time being, I think." he said.

Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge has been built to link Xieng Kok in Laos with Kenglat Town, Tachileik District in eastern Shan State, Myanmar, which opened on 20 November 2018. However, the trade through the bridge was suspended after 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic reportedly.

Myanmar-Laos trade value was only 0.411 million dollars in the 2019-2020 fiscal year and there was no import from Laos, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

CNI News

30 January 2024

The problems of Myanmar could be solved only when a federal democratic union could be built, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) stated on 29th January 2024.

It was said in the statement of the annual meeting of the RCSS held in Loi Tai Leng, its headquarters from 26th to 28th January 2024 and it would make an effort to resolve the political problem by meeting and negotiating with relevant organizations, said in the statement.

General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS/SSA

Myanmar is deteriorating in all sectors including politics, economy, peace, social, education, health and so on while armed conflicts are widely taking place within the country due to political changes after 1st February 2021.

Although the statement of the RCSS was right, it was necessary to obtain the opinion of ethnic groups and citizens relating to what kind of federal structure would be built, Mai Ohn Khine, a Palaung politician, told CNI News.

" It's right. The political problem can be solved only when a federal union can be built. I haven't found out the detail of the statement. There are various kinds of federal structure. It will be the best only after obtaining the opinion of ethnic groups and citizens." he said.

While the NCA's 8th anniversary celebration was being held

Moreover, the statement has urged the ASEAN to intervene in order that Myanmar political problem could be solved. Efforts would be made to strengthen the long-term national unity of Shan State and Anti-narcotics, anti-online scams and anti-human trafficking activities would be carried out in its controlled area, said in the statement.

The RCSS/SSA is an ethnic armed organization that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).