Regime detains nearly 2,000 foreigners in cyber scam raids
Regime media reported on Sunday that a total of 1,954 undocumented foreign nationals have been detained at cyber scam centers in Myawaddy Township’s Shwe Kokko and KK Park, located along the Burma-Thailand border in Karen State, in ongoing operations since Nov. 18. Shwe Kokko is 16 miles (25 km) north of Myawaddy and KK Park is 5-24 miles (8-40 km) south of Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko.
The U.N. estimates that at least 120,000 people have been lured into Burma to work in cyber scams. A total of 276 out of 635 buildings have been demolished in KK Park with 119 buildings sealed at Shwe Kokko to prevent their reuse in scam operations, according to the regime, which has seized 3,310 computers, 21,870 mobile phones, 102 Starlink satellite receivers, and 22 routers—all of which have been reportedly destroyed.
The regime also stated on Nov. 30 that a total of 12,945 foreign nationals, who entered Burma illegally have been detained, with 10,029 of them being already repatriated to their home countries via Thailand between Jan. 30 and Nov. 30. The remaining 2,916 foreign nationals are being held by pro-regime forces inside Burma while awaiting transfer to their respective countries.
Seven political prisoners released in Ayeyarwady Region
Residents of Maubin Township in Ayeyarwady Region told DVB that four convicted of violating Section 505-A of the Penal Code, and three others detained on the same charge, were the only political prisoners released from Maubin Prison on Friday, following the amnesty that included 3,085 political prisoners on Nov. 27. Maubin is located 100 miles (160 km) east of the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein.
A resident living close to the prison told DVB on the condition of anonymity that around 1,000 people were being held under Section 505-A, which criminalizes spreading “fake news” and “incitement” against the military, since the 2021 coup. On Nov. 27, a total of 724 political prisoners were released among the 3,085 granted an amnesty by the regime, according to DVB data.
DVB has documented that out of the total 106,810 prisoners released in regime amnesties since Feb. 12, 2021, only 8,882 of them were political prisoners. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) recorded that 30,045 people have been arrested for political reasons since the 2021 coup and 22,704 are still in detention.
Muslims want to reconstruct mosques damaged by earthquake
Members of the Muslim community in Mandalay Region told DVB that the regime administration continues to deny them permits to reconstruct their mosques damaged or destroyed over eight months after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28.
A Mandalay resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that they were denied permits from the Department of Religious Affairs, which is under the regime’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, and the Mandalay City Development Committee. “We still haven’t got permission for reconstruction,” the resident said, adding that he is in contact with the General Administration Department in Mandalay.
The regime in Naypyidaw announced on April 13 that 9,643 religious buildings, including 136 mosques, were either damaged or destroyed by the March 28 earthquake which had its epicenter in Sagaing Region, but devastated neighbouring Mandalay Region, as well as the regions of Magway, Bago, Naypyidaw, and southern Shan State. Read more
News by Region
SAGAING—Four civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured by a gyrocopter attack on Chaungson and Chaungmana villages, in Monywa and Chaung-U townships on Sunday, residents told DVB. Chaung-U is 16 miles (25 km) south of the region’s capital Monywa.
A resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the number of casualties could increase. An unknown number of homes were destroyed. At least 40 people were killed by a paramotor attack in Chaung-U on the full moon day of Thadingyut on Oct. 6.
Residents of Mingin Township told DVB that a physician, who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and refused to work under the military after the 2021 coup, was detained “without any reason” on Sunday. Mingin is located 114 miles (183 km) north of Monywa.
A resident who witnessed the incident told DVB that members of the National Unity Government (NUG) People’s Security Team handcuffed the physician and took her for enquiries. The regime reportedly administers urban areas of Mingin while various resistance forces, including the NUG, are in control of rural areas in the township.
SHAN—Six residents of Pinlaung Township, over 60 years of age who had been displaced from their homes due to fighting since the 2021 coup, died from cold weather exposure in late November, aid workers told DVB. Pinlaung is located 68 miles (109 km) south of the state capital Taunggyi.
Pinlaung has 10 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps hosting over 10,000 who fled their homes due to fighting between regime and resistance forces. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that the temperatures dropped to seven degrees celsius in southern Shan last month.
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