English Edition
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 675
CNI News
2 August 2022
The property sales in Myanmar was brisk and the prices in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay rose by 30 to 50 percent.
Property demand was growing in cities like Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay and real estate prices increased, a senior real estate agent told the CNI.
He said, “ Property prices have risen in hot spots, where many people are moving to. Property prices in such places have risen by at least 30 to 50 percent. Prices of property worth MMK 10 million previously have increased to MMK 15 million at present.”
Buyers in Yangon Region preferred land plots to apartments and condominiums, according to property agents.
Most buyers in Yangon purchased land plots not for reselling but for investment, according to CEO Ko Zeya of Thhiri Yadana Real Estate and General Services.
Scenes in Yangon.
Ko Zeyar told the CNI, “Low-end land plots in South Dagaon, Dagon Seikkan, North Dagon and East Dagon are in demand. Many buyers invested in land. The number of people who buy land for investment is increasing.”
He added that the demand for land plots was higher than that for apartments in the Myanmar real estate market because of the gaps in US$ exchange rates.
He told the CNI, “Buyers purchased apartments but they could not gain profits when their real profits were calculated in US$. Most apartment buyers faced the problem. So, they stopped investing in apartments.”
Property prices in Myanmar were the consequences of rising US$ exchange rates, depreciation of MMK and inflation and the property market was likely to follow the same trend until March next year, according to real estate agents.
People in Myanmar invested in land due to rising US$ exchange rates and difficulty in withdrawing deposits at banks.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 290
CNI News
2 August 2022
Concerning the current political situation, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) released the statement today (July 31) that they will mainly focus on the discussion and will make efforts to find a way to build a federal democratic union.
RCSS held its six-monthly meeting from July 28th to 31st and that statement was published after that.
In that statement, it describes that the review on the six-month business reports presented by the respective departments was made and political scene, military situations, internal and external conditions of the organization were openly discussed and the upcoming procedures had been established grounded on those factors.
RCSS said, “Concerning the current political situation, RCSS will mainly focus on the discussion and meetings, and will try hard to find a way to build a federal democratic union.”
Then, RCSS issued the statement that due to the political instability and weakness in law enforcement in rural areas, cities and villages, the number of robberies becomes on the rise, therefore, they urge that the troops and the public should take collaborative responsibility to protect their communities and cities.
In the same way, it announces in RCSS’s today statement that they will liaise with all the relevant organizations and will make collaborations with them in order to achieve long-lasting peace and build the federal democracy.
RCSS/SSA is Shan armed group that had signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
RCSS also met with SAC’s chairperson Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and discussed about peace and development related matters.
On the other hand, there are some cooperations with the Spring Revolution forces and the attempts to the revolution against military dictatorship.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 338
CNI News
2 August 2022
The Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) told CNI that raising the basic wages of migrant workers including Myanmar in Thailand, from the current specified amount 320 Baht to 492 Baht, is being requested.
In that regard, it is known that MWRN cooperated with Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), the National Labour Union League and the case has been submitted to the Thai Ministry of Labour.
U Bri from MWRN said, “The wage rise to 492 Baht has been demanded, with the intention that it would still be beneficial to the workers, even if only 10 Baht or 20 Baht is increased. In Thailand, as the prices of goods are on the rise, it becomes quite hard to stand with the daily wage of only 325 Baht. In addition to the wages not being excessive, it even becomes insufficient for a living. The reason why I say insufficient is that now it even costs 250 Baht for a kilo of pork and 280 Baht if it is meat only. In the past, the pork price is just around 130-140 Baht per kg. Here in Thailand, the rice price has increased, the oil price also becomes higher and everything regarding goods’ prices has gone up. As the prices surge day by day, it becomes difficult for the livelihood with the current daily wages.”
Although it is set that the basic wage of a worker in Thailand is about 320 Baht per day, there are still some workplaces where the workers cannot get the full pay of 320 Baht. And it is said that in some workplaces, there are also days that they do not have to work when the employers cannot afford to pay the wages to them due to the economic conditions.
Seeing a female worker from a seafood supply chain in Thailand
Ko Lay Nhyin who is working in Thailand said, “a person’s daily wage is 320 Baht, but it is not like we have to work every day, there are also days we do not have work, and that leads to the financial struggles. Besides, the accommodation costs, electricity charges, water costs are expensive. If we, Burmese people are not here in Thailand, it won’t have been easy for them in their works. If it is not 492 Baht, over 400 Baht for example, should be given as the basic daily wage. That is what we want to make a request to Thai authorities.”
Last June, the basic wage to the skilled workers from 16 jobs nationwide in Thailand was increased, but migrant workers including Myanmar did not include in it.
“The basic wage currently set might be enough for a worker’s expenditure, but there is no surplus,” U Bri from MWRN told CNI.
“Most of the migrant workers who come to Thailand have financial difficulties for the families while in their home country. Thus, when they come here, they have their parents, children, relatives who depend on them and they need to send the money, at least 2 lakhs to 3 lakhs per month to them for the sake of their children’s education and family’s livelihoods. So, in that case, it might be convenient for him for the living, but not for his children and family who stand with his income,” he said.
Temporary labor card (BAT-pink card) will be issued to illegal migrant workers working in Thailand starting from August 1 and it is said that workers will be recruited to solve the problem of the demand for labor and the illegal entry of the workers.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 272
CNI News
2 August 2022
U Bri from MWRN told CNI that there was a fraud of over 80,000 Baht (over 4,000,000 MMK) from the Burmese people who are held in custody in Thailand Immigration Detention Centre in the south of Thailand, that person saying that she would help them release with 18,000 Baht (over 900,000 MMK) per person.
“Some of the relatives and acquaintances imprisoned here used to work in the construction site in Thailand. A Thai broker told them that she would make to release them all with 18,000 Baht per person and their parents transferred the money to her from Myanmar, the total amount is 81,000 Baht. That money hadn’t been gotten back yet. The people from the custody called me and asked for help. I have known that broker since a long time ago. She has been like that since before and there are so many people who got tricked by her,” he said.
When they call and ask that broker to give the money back, it is known that she told them to allow her some time until 9th. Those who were detained are the ones who illegally entered Thailand. It is said that they are sent to the repatriation camp only after they have served their prison terms.
A place in the prison where migrant workers are being detained
Besides, it is also known that only those who bribe the Thai authorities with money are added to the repatriation list.
“Now some ask up to 6000-7000 Baht. If they don’t pay, they threatened like they will be imprisoned in the Din Nort Immigration Detention centre for 6 to 7 months and even up to 8 months, like that. And, they asked for the phone numbers of parents in Myanmar, called and told them like if the money is sent today, then 6000 Baht is the deal and if tomorrow, the deal price will be 7000 Baht. So, as parents feel anxious about their children, they borrowed money with every little possession they own and sent the money. Actually, in the legal way, those held in the prison do not need to pay travel expenses. According to Thailand’s law, they can be sent back to the border with the government’s budget,” he said.
It was reported that Thai authorities and interpreters joined hands together to ask for the money from the people who were in prisons, and the travel cost does not even cost 1,000 Baht per person.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 524
CNI News
1 August 2022
Chairman of State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said plans were underway to meet with a delegation of the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army, an ethnic armed group which has not joined recent negotiations, for peace talks soon.
The SAC chairman announced the plan in his speech delivered to the public at the end of 18 months’ term of the SAC on 1st August morning.
The SAC already held negotiations with nine EAOs and the second round of talks was in the pipeline, the SAC chairman said.
The NSPNC of the Tatmadaw and a SSPP delegation hold talks on 31 March, 2022.
He said, “Ten EAOs including seven signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and three non-signatories informed us that they would join peace talks. Now, we have met with nine EAOs and we will hold talks with the remaining EAO soon. Plans are underway to hold the second round of talks with EAOs, which we have already met. During the negotiations, we frankly discussed the implementation of the multi-party democracy system in accordance with the will of the people, building the union based on democracy and federalism, the actual needs for regions and the country and wants and shoulds.”
Tensions between the Tatmadaw and the SSPP were high when the former asked the latter to withdraw three camps in Monghsu Township in Shan State (South) and talks were delayed.
The SAC and the SSPP will hold negotiations in the first week of August, according to diplomatic sources.
However, the reports could not be verified independently since the SSPP did not answer the phone calls for comments.
A map showing the locations of three SSPP camps from which the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw.
The SAC chairman previously said that the year 2022 had been designated as the peace year and efforts would be exerted to end armed conflicts in the entire country.
Then, signatories to the NCA including the Shan State Restoration Council/Shan State Army, the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Arakan Liberation Army, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) and the Pao National Liberation Organization held talks with the SAC.
Non-signatories to the NCA that joined the talks with the SAC included the United Wa State Army and National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla).
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 267
CNI News
1 August 2022
Shanni Youth Network in Hpakant Township issued a statement strongly condemning the beating and abduction of its member Sai Yay Kyaw, who lived in Hongpar Village, Hpakant Township in Mohnyin District by an identified armed group.
Sai Yay Kyaw was fetching his wife in Nantparhoke Village when an armed group in two Pajeros beat and abducted him in the back of a car, according to the statement.
Sai Yay Kyaw is a famous instructor of singing, dances and music for the promotion of Shanni literature and culture as well as a member of the Red Cross Society.
The statement strongly condemned the unlawful abduction of him.
Sai Yay Kyaw and friends.
Frequent abductions, torture and killings of Shanni ethnic members and activists by armed groups amount to violation of human rights and an attempt to instigate ethnic conflicts, the statement says.
The youth network also called for the unidentified armed group to release Sai Yay Kyaw immediately without any harm.
Similarly, an unidentified armed group shot and killed U Than Pe, a patron of Shanni Literature and Culture Committee at his house in Hongpar Village in Hpakant Township on 25th June, 2022.
Vice Chairman of Shanni Youth Network Sai Kyan Aung (a) Sai Sei Lai was arrested by the PDF on 15th June, 2022 but he was released on 24th June after Shanni and Shan civil society groups and Shanni political parties called for his release.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 504
CNI News
1 Augsut 2022
Thai Baht and Japanese Yen saw brisk sales at money exchange counters in Yangon recently.
Most buyers were people preparing to go to work or study abroad.
“More people are buying Thai Baht. People who are preparing to go to Japan are buying Japanese Yen. Most of them are youths who are preparing to go to these countries. The sale of other foreign currencies like the Malay Ringgit is rare because people here are not going to other countries currently. As a retailer, we sell small amounts of Baht between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht to a buyer. The US$ trading is stagnant because no one wants to trade it according to designated prices, said a staff member from Khaing Money Exchange. (The name has been changed.)
When US$ are sold at money exchange counters, it is traded at designated prices of the Central Bank of Myanmar. So, no one sold US$ to money exchange counters.
Although the CBM set the price of US$ at a fixed price, the prices of US$ in the market are unstable and rose to as much as MMK 2,500 per US$ on 29th July.
Myat Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “That is what is happening in the market. If there are sellers of US$ to us at the official exchange rate, we buy and sell the same amount to buyers at the government approved rates. If there is no one who sells US$ to us at the official rate, we explain to buyers thoroughly that there are few people who trade US$ at the official rate. Trading US$ has halted and we have only a little work to do.”
As only a few people sell US$ at money exchange counters recently, the counters have halted their operations due to shortages of US$.
Aye Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “We temporarily halted currency trading due to price instabilities. No one come to us to sell US$ at the official exchange rate. We are allowed to buy US$ only at the official rate. So, people do not come to us to sell their US$.”
Currently, the MMK has depreciated against foreign currencies and prices of foreign currencies like US$, Baht, Yuan are rising against the MMK, pushing commodity prices up in the market.
Furthermore, those who are trying to work abroad are also incurring more costs, according to overseas employment agencies.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 316
CNI News
1 Augsut 2022
After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, resistance forces have rejected the democratic political exits rolled out by the chairman of the SAC, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at the SAC meeting held on 29 July that the SAC carried out tasks in accordance with the constitution and democratic political exits had been rolled out.
Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI, “After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, the public and the opposition against the SAC seemed to categorically decided that there is nothing to negotiate in blood debts as they vowed previously. So, I think that the time has arrived when the political forces are not interested in the political exits and elections rolled out by the SAC.”
An SAC meeting.
The SAC chairman said that the Tatmadaw has to assume state responsibilities in accordance with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy elections.
The SAC chairman said, “The Tatmadaw had to assume state responsibilities in line with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy general election. The Tatmadaw is performing its duties in accordance with the constitution as much as possible while rolling out political exits. Except for instigating instabilities, conferences and meetings of political parties as well as those between them have been permitted and democratic political exits have been offered.”
A conference of the SNLD in progress.
However, the chairman did not elaborate on circumstances in which political parties were allowed to hold meetings and conferences.
The Mon Unity Party held its conference from 18th to 20 March, 2020 while the conference of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy took place on 26th and 27th May.
Myanmar has been in a political crisis and armed conflicts are raging in the entire country, leaving more than one million people displaced, according to the United Nations.
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 379
CNI News
1 August 2022
It is understood that the Tatmadaw had asked the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army to withdraw from their three camps over security concerns, General Secretary Sai Leik of the SNLD told the CNI.
The Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the United Wa State Army and it was possible that the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw camps on the Sanin mountain range, he added.
Sai Leik told the CNI, “ The problem at Mong Hsu and Tangyan is not the one that arose recently. It started in June, when the Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the UWSA, as far as I know. The alliance of the SSPP and the UWSA has controlled Shan State (South) including Panglong area and Phalaing and Mong Pyin to the west of Sanin Mountain, providing easy access to Kyauk Gu, Indaw which is adjacent to Lawksawk, that is too close to security lines of the Tatmadaw. So, it asked the SSPP to withdraw from the three camps in Monghsu. In my opinion, if the SSPP withdraws its troops in the western part of Panglong because it cannot withdraw from the three camps, the issue can be solved.”
The map of locations of the SSPP camps, from which the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw their troops.
The SSPP replied on 22 July that they could not withdraw troops from the three camps.
The most appropriate solution to the political crisis is the complete withdrawal from politics and ceasefire in the entire country and remaining issues can be solved through negotiations, Sai Leik added.
However, Director U Thein Tun Oo of Strategic Studies told the CNI that the Tatmadaw needed to solve security issues first and was likely to respond to regional instabilities.
U Thein Tu Oo said, “Security issues are priorities that the Tatmadaw has focused on. It doesn’t matter whether the SSPP cooperates with the UWSA or not, the main issue is that if the camps threaten the stability and security of the areas, the Tatmadaw is likely to respond to the issue. It is difficult to comment on the relations between the two EAOs because I don’t know the nature of their relations in detail. However, it is more likely that the Tatmadaw is responding to military threats and regional instabilities.”
Tatmadaw and SSPP representatives hold negotiations on 14th July, 2022.
The Tatmadaw sent a letter to SSPP on 4th July to withdraw three SSPP camps active in Loinoi and Manwain in Monghsu Township by 10th June and another letter to do so by 30th June but the SSPP refused the retreat from the areas.
As the situation remained tense, representatives of both sides met for negotiations on 14 July but the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw the camps within seven days. The SSPP has sent a letter, refusing to withdraw its troops.