The suspects were detained at an office building in the Indonesian capital after police investigations linked the group to an online gambling enterprise that had allegedly operated for the past two months, officials said at a press conference.

According to Wira Satya Triputra, director of the Indonesian police force’s crime investigation unit, those arrested included 228 Vietnamese nationals, 57 Chinese citizens, 13 people from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, five from Thailand and three from Cambodia.

Wira said 275 of the detainees were being investigated under Indonesia’s criminal code provisions on gambling, which carry a maximum prison sentence of nine years. He added that most of the suspects were aware they had entered Indonesia to participate in online gambling activities primarily targeting customers outside the country.

Online gambling is prohibited in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, where authorities have stepped up enforcement efforts against digital gambling platforms and cross-border criminal syndicates amid concerns over financial fraud and illicit online operations.The arrests marked the second major enforcement operation involving foreign nationals in two days.

On Friday, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 210 foreigners on Batam island in Riau Islands province over allegations they were involved in online investment scams operating from an apartment complex near Singapore.

Interpol Indonesia official Untung Widyatmoko said there had been a recent shift in regional online gambling operations from Cambodian cities into Indonesia, reflecting changing enforcement patterns across Southeast Asia.

The latest raids underscore growing regional concern over organized cybercrime networks that have increasingly used Southeast Asian countries as operational hubs for online gambling, fraud and investment scams targeting international victims.

In a statement, the office of Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said government troops had defeated what it described as “terrorist insurgent groups” along the route connecting Mandalay with Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state located near China’s border.

The military said operations to secure the corridor lasted more than 15 months and involved 322 engagements ranging from small clashes to major battles.“The operations lasted for over one year and three months,” the statement said, adding that the bodies of 138 rebel fighters had been recovered.

The military acknowledged casualties among its own troops but did not provide figures.Myanmar has remained engulfed in conflict since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 2021 coup, triggering nationwide resistance from pro-democracy militias and ethnic armed organizations.

A coordinated rebel offensive launched in late 2023 had initially pushed military forces back across large areas of northern Myanmar and threatened territory closer to Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city and a key commercial center.

Analysts have said some ethnic armed groups operating near the Chinese border previously benefited from tacit Chinese support aimed at preserving Beijing’s influence in the frontier region. However, China later pressed several rebel factions into ceasefire arrangements amid concerns that escalating instability could disrupt cross-border trade and investment.

In recent months, two of the three ethnic minority armies that spearheaded the offensive agreed to China-mediated truces, leaving allied pro-democracy fighters increasingly isolated and under pressure from military counteroffensives.

The recapture claim comes as Myanmar’s military-backed administration seeks to project greater political stability following elections earlier this year that delivered victory to parties aligned with the junta.Last month, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing formally assumed the presidency in a transition that democracy groups and international observers criticized as an attempt to legitimize continued military rule.

The government has also intensified efforts to deepen economic ties with China, including reviving stalled infrastructure and energy projects linked to Beijing’s regional investment strategy.The military said the reopening of the Mandalay-Myitkyina corridor would improve regional commerce and facilitate smoother trade flows with China.

The pardon was announced during clemency measures marking the Full Moon Day of Kason, observed as Buddha’s Birthday and Demise, with state media reporting that 1,519 prisoners, including 11 foreigners, were granted amnesty and sentences for remaining convicted inmates were reduced by one-sixth.

Two legal officials familiar with the matter said the measure would further reduce Suu Kyi’s sentence by one-sixth, though they did not specify the exact number of years remaining. Based on previous sentence reductions, the 80-year-old is expected to still have more than 13 years left to serve.

The amnesty is the second in two weeks, following an earlier pardon on April 17 in which more than 4,500 prisoners were released and prison terms under 40 years were cut by one-sixth.

It was not immediately clear how many political prisoners detained for opposing military rule were included in Thursday’s latest clemency.Suu Kyi was arrested on Feb. 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government, ending a decade of partial civilian rule and triggering nationwide protests that later evolved into a prolonged armed conflict.

She was originally sentenced to 33 years in prison in late 2022 on multiple charges ranging from corruption to election-related offenses, cases widely criticized by her supporters and international rights groups as politically motivated and designed to legitimize the army’s takeover while blocking her return to public life.

Her sentence was first reduced to 27 years in August 2023 and was cut again by more than four years during the April 17 amnesty.She is believed to be serving her sentence at an undisclosed location in Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s capital, under tightly controlled conditions.

There were reports last week that she could be moved to house arrest as part of the latest clemency measures, but authorities have not confirmed such a transfer.Information about her health remains limited. Reports in recent years have suggested declining health, including low blood pressure, dizziness and heart-related concerns, though these accounts have not been independently verified.

Her legal team has not been permitted to meet her in person since December 2022.The military government is now led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who was sworn in as president on April 10 following an election widely criticized by opponents as neither free nor fair and designed to preserve military control.

In his inauguration speech, Min Aung Hlaing said his administration would grant amnesties aimed at promoting social reconciliation, justice and peace.According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people have been detained in Myanmar since the coup, while the conflict that followed has killed thousands.

Before her latest imprisonment, Suu Kyi had already spent nearly 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2010 for opposing military rule, a struggle that made her an international symbol of democratic resistance and earned her the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, military coup, prison sentence, prisoner amnesty, Min Aung Hlaing, Naypyitaw, Nobel Peace Prize, Buddhist holiday, Full Moon Day of Kason, political prisoners, military rule, civil war, democracy movement, house arrest, Myanmar election, junta government, human rights, political detention, Southeast Asia, state media, prison clemency

One year after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on 28 March 2025, humanitarian agencies report a continued focus on addressing the psychological impact on children affected by both natural disaster and pre-existing conflict-driven displacement.

The earthquake caused widespread disruption across multiple regions, including parts of Shan State, where communities around Inle Lake in Nyaungshwe Township experienced structural damage to homes and shelters. Many families who had already been displaced due to ongoing conflict were forced to endure additional instability following the tremors and subsequent aftershocks.

Tun Myar, a 16-year-old displaced from Loikaw, was living with relatives under a monastery structure at the time of the earthquake. She reported that the building began to sway during the tremors, prompting her to flee outside before losing consciousness. Following the incident, she described experiencing persistent fear and emotional distress, consistent with patterns observed among other children in the affected communities.

According to field accounts, many families avoided returning indoors in the immediate aftermath due to concerns about structural collapse during aftershocks. Temporary arrangements, including makeshift tarpaulin shelters, became common. Nighttime conditions were reported to be particularly difficult, as minor environmental sounds often triggered panic responses among children who associated them with renewed seismic activity.

Local observations indicate that the earthquake compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities among displaced populations. Tun Myar, who had previously experienced family separation and loss, reported that the disaster intensified existing psychological strain. She described withdrawing socially, experiencing sleep disruption, and showing signs of prolonged anxiety.

Similar behavioral patterns have been noted among other children in the area, particularly those with prior exposure to conflict and displacement.Caregivers in affected communities have attempted to support children through informal coping mechanisms, including communal gatherings and recreational activities.

However, humanitarian agencies report that many parents lack the resources or guidance to address sustained psychological distress, highlighting the need for structured intervention.In response, UNICEF and its local partners have implemented child protection programmes across southern Shan State, focusing on psychosocial support and the establishment of child-friendly spaces.

These interventions are designed to provide structured environments where children can engage in supervised activities, interact with peers, and gradually re-establish a sense of routine.At designated safe spaces in Nyaungshwe Township, children participate in organized activities such as drawing, games, and group exercises facilitated by trained staff and youth volunteers.

Field reports indicate that these sessions aim to reduce anxiety and promote social reintegration, particularly for children who have become withdrawn following the earthquake.Tun Myar reported that participation in these activities contributed to a measurable change in her behavior. She stated that she gradually regained confidence and now takes on a leadership role in group sessions, assisting facilitators and encouraging younger participants.

Her experience reflects a broader trend identified by programme coordinators, who note that peer engagement and structured interaction can support recovery in post-disaster contexts.Another case documented in the same community involves Pan Lay Pyay, aged 13, who resides with her mother in temporary shelter conditions beneath a monastery structure.

The earthquake further weakened their already fragile living environment, increasing economic and social pressures on the household. Her mother, Daw Hla Hla Aye, reported difficulties in securing daily-wage employment and meeting education-related expenses.Despite these constraints, she observed that participation in child-focused programmes had a positive effect on her daughter’s well-being. She indicated that visible improvements in her child’s mood and engagement provided reassurance regarding her ability to continue education under challenging circumstances.

According to programme data, the interventions extend beyond recreational activities to include case management services, parenting sessions, and awareness initiatives addressing child protection risks. Mental health and psychosocial support components are integrated into these services, reflecting a broader shift toward comprehensive recovery strategies in humanitarian response.

One year after the earthquake, aid agencies report that the combined effects of natural disasters and ongoing conflict continue to shape living conditions in affected areas. In southern Shan State, recovery efforts are further complicated by additional environmental events, including flooding, which have prolonged displacement for many families.Officials involved in the response indicate that child-friendly spaces remain a central component of ongoing support efforts.

These facilities are intended not only to address immediate psychological needs but also to contribute to longer-term resilience by fostering social cohesion and restoring a degree of normalcy in disrupted environments.Humanitarian partners attribute the continuation of these programmes to financial and logistical support from international donors, although specific funding levels were not detailed.

The emphasis on sustained engagement reflects recognition that recovery from trauma, particularly among children, requires extended intervention beyond the initial emergency phase.Field observations suggest that participation in structured activities has enabled some children to re-engage with peers and rebuild confidence following the earthquake.

Programme facilitators report that consistent attendance and active involvement are indicators of gradual improvement, although outcomes vary depending on individual circumstances and prior exposure to stress.Tun Myar’s transition from a withdrawn participant to a group leader illustrates the potential impact of targeted interventions when sustained over time.

She expressed an intention to complete her education and pursue a career in medicine, indicating a shift toward future-oriented thinking following her involvement in the programme.While immediate physical risks associated with the earthquake have subsided, humanitarian assessments emphasize that psychological recovery remains ongoing.

The persistence of displacement, combined with economic uncertainty and prior conflict exposure, continues to influence the pace and extent of recovery among affected populations.

Suu Kyi, 80, had been serving a 27-year sentence on multiple charges including incitement, corruption, election fraud and violations of state secrets laws, which her supporters say were politically motivated following the military takeover. It remains unclear whether she will be permitted to serve the remainder of her sentence under house arrest, according to her legal representative.

The sentence reduction comes as President Min Aung Hlaing approved an amnesty for 4,335 prisoners, state media reported. The move coincides with Thingyan, during which pardons are commonly granted, alongside annual Independence Day clemency measures.

A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the scope of the amnesty or Suu Kyi’s status. The announcement also included provisions commuting death sentences to life imprisonment, according to official statements.

Myanmar has been in political turmoil since Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup in 2021 that ousted Suu Kyi’s elected government, triggering widespread unrest and international condemnation. He was sworn in as president earlier this month following elections widely criticised by international observers as lacking credibility.

The latest reduction marks the third amnesty initiative in six months, reflecting a pattern of periodic clemency announcements by the military authorities amid ongoing domestic instability.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, told reporters in Singapore that while crude prices had fallen below $100 per barrel following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement, jet fuel costs were likely to remain elevated due to constraints on refining output.

“If it were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East,” Walsh said, adding that the region is critical to global supply of refined products beyond aviation fuel.

The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil trade, has been heavily disrupted during the recent conflict, squeezing fuel availability and driving up costs across the aviation sector.

Airlines in Asia have responded by cutting flights, carrying additional fuel from origin airports and adding refueling stops, measures that have increased operational costs for carriers already dealing with a sharp rise in jet fuel prices.

The impact has been most acute in import-dependent markets such as Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan, where supply constraints have tightened further after China and Thailand halted jet fuel exports and South Korea capped shipments at previous levels.

Walsh said a resumption of crude flows could encourage exporters such as China and South Korea to restart shipments of refined products, easing pressure on the market over time.

However, he noted that higher refinery margins, known as crack spreads, would be needed to incentivize increased jet fuel production.

“There is capacity available once we get the crude oil flowing, but it’ll take a little bit of time,” Walsh said.

The 69-year-old secured the presidency following a parliamentary vote broadcast live from Naypyitaw, where lawmakers aligned with the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party and constitutionally mandated military appointees ensured a decisive outcome.

His elevation follows elections held in December and January that delivered a sweeping victory to the military-backed party, polls widely criticized by Western governments and opposition groups as lacking credibility and designed to entrench military rule under a civilian façade.

Min Aung Hlaing, who has led Myanmar’s armed forces since 2011, recently oversaw a leadership reshuffle within the military, appointing loyalist Ye Win Oo as commander-in-chief after being nominated for the presidency earlier this week. Analysts view the transition as a calculated move to retain influence over both civilian and military institutions while seeking greater international legitimacy.

The general seized power in the February 2021 coup, detaining Suu Kyi and other senior leaders, an event that triggered mass protests and evolved into an entrenched civil war involving pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups.

Despite the formal political transition, fighting continues across multiple regions. This week, anti-junta factions, including elements linked to Suu Kyi’s political movement and ethnic militias, announced the formation of a broader alliance aimed at dismantling military rule and establishing a federal democratic system.

Analysts say the consolidation of power under Min Aung Hlaing could lead to intensified military operations against resistance forces, while also prompting regional actors to reassess diplomatic engagement with Myanmar’s leadership amid ongoing instability and economic strain.

The refugees, who arrived at various parts of the province including Bireuen, Pidie and East Aceh, have overwhelmed local facilities, Munawaratul Makhya, a UNHCR official, told Reuters.

“Since their arrival early this morning, we have coordinated with local officials in Pidie region to ensure the refugees are getting their basic needs, since they have been floating for many days on the sea,” the official said.

She said the location where they were being accommodated in Pidie was overflowing with the fresh arrivals and the UNHCR was waiting for the government to provide bigger temporary shelters to house them.

Hundreds of Muslim Rohingya have arrived in Aceh province in recent days, taking the total there to more than a thousand, continuing a migration which has for several years seen Rohingyas escaping from Myanmar to Muslim-majority Bangladesh, or by rickety wooden boats to Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Thailand.

Almost 1 million Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh in what U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi described as “the biggest humanitarian refugee camp in the world”.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said the Southeast Asian country “has no obligation nor capacity to accommodate refugees, let alone to provide a permanent solution”.

Jakarta is not a signatory of the UN refugee convention.

Earlier this week, 43 Myanmar soldiers entered India’s Mizoram state after their military bases were overrun by the rebels. Nearly 40 were sent back by Indian authorities through a different border crossing point a few hundred kms east.

Myanmar’s military has battled ethnic minority and other insurgencies for decades but a 2021 coup has brought unprecedented coordination between anti-military forces that are mounting the biggest challenge to the army in years.

The country’s military rulers have ordered all government staff and those with military experience to prepare to serve in case of emergency, Tin Maung Swe, secretary of an administrative council in the capital, Naypyitaw said on Thursday, after the junta reported “heavy assaults” in several places.

“If necessary, such a unit might be required to go out and serve for natural disasters, and security,” the junta’s council said in an order.

Tin Maung Swe confirmed the order while stressing that the situation in the capital, in central Myanmar, was calm.

“This is the plan to help in the event of an emergency,” he told Reuters.

A parallel government formed by pro-democracy politicians to oppose the military, and allied with some insurgent factions, has launched a “Road to Naypyitaw” campaign which it says is aimed at taking control of the capital.

Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said late on Wednesday the military was facing “heavy assaults from a significant number of armed rebel soldiers” in Shan State in the northeast, Kayah State in the east and Rakhine State in the west.

Zaw Min Tun said some military positions had been evacuated and the insurgents had been using drones to drop hundreds of bombs on military posts.

“We are urgently taking measures to protect against drone bomb attacks effectively,” the junta spokesperson said.

UN Concern

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the 2021 coup, when the military ousted a government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, ending a decade of tentative democratic reform.

The military ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 50 years after seizing power in 1962, insisting it was the only institution capable of holding the diverse country together.

The 2021 coup dashed hopes for reform and triggered a groundswell of opposition that has united pro-democracy activists in towns and cities with ethnic minority forces fighting for self-determination in hinterlands.

Clashes have sent refugees into all of Myanmar’s neighbours, including thousands who fled into India in recent days from fighting in Chin State in the northwest.

Lalmalsawma Hnamte, a state police official in Mizoram’s Vamphai district, where the latest 29 Myanmar soldiers entered India from the Tuibal military base in Chin state, said the soldiers were handed over to the federal paramilitary border guarding force.

Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that New Delhi was “deeply concerned” about the situation along the border.

He reiterated New Delhi’s position, asking for a cessation of violence and resolution of the situation through dialogue.

Western governments have re-imposed sanctions on the Myanmar junta in response to the coup and crackdowns on protests and demanded the release of Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy politicians and activists.

Myanmar’s Southeast Asian neighbours have tried to encourage a peace process but the generals have largely ignored their efforts.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned by the “expansion of conflict in Myanmar” and called for all parties to protect civilians, a spokesperson said.

“The number of displaced people in Myanmar now exceeds two million,” the spokesperson said.

The Arakan Army (AA) rebel group fighting for autonomy in Rakhine State said on Wednesday that dozens of police and military men had surrendered or been captured as its forces advanced.

The junta spokesperson denounced the group saying it was “destroying” Rakhine State.

Separately, a video posted on social media by anti-military forces in Kayah State, and verified by Reuters, showed wounded junta troops surrendering to insurgents, who were seen offering medical help.

(This story has been refiled to fix the word order in paragraph 1

Most of the nearly 5,000 Myanmar nationals who had fled to India to escape intense fighting between the rebels and Myanmar military since early Monday morning had returned home as the situation calmed down, local leaders said.

Rebel forces intend to take control of part of the porous border with India.

Myanmar’s generals are facing their biggest test since they seized power in a 2021 coup after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing some towns and military posts.

The offensive, named by rebels as “Operation 1027” after the date it began, initially made inroads in junta-controlled areas on the border with China in Shan State, where military authorities have lost control of several towns and more than 100 security outposts.

Since then, fighting has spread to two new fronts in the western states of Rakhine and Chin.

While calm had largely returned to the serene valley along the Indo-Myanmar border on Wednesday afternoon, air raid sirens could be heard in India’s Zokhawthar village from the Myanmar side warning residents of potential strikes by the military.

Surrounded by lush green hills, the Chin flag was hoisted on a gate that welcomed visitors to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar at the Zokhawthar border crossing.

India’s paramilitary Assam Rifle and armed rebels on the Myanmar side guarded the two ends of the border bridge over Tiau river, which people crossed freely on Wednesday.

A source in the Chinland Defence Force group said it would guard the border with two other rebel groups – the People’s Defence Force and the Chin National Army. “We will also guard another strategic locations nearby,” he said.

Ramtharnghaka, President of the local Zokhawthar chapter of the civil society group Young Mizo Association, said that most the Myanmar nationals who had crossed over were from nearby towns.

“While some stayed at a community hall, others were taken in by their friends and relatives,” he said, adding that most had now gone back.

Among those fleeing the attacks near Zokhawthar on Monday were 43 Myanmar soldiers who escaped the surprise attack by the rebels and entered India.

The Indian authorities eventually sent most of them back by flying them to another border crossing point a few hundred km east.