Traditional clothes and suits were the choices of the vice presidential candidates in the second debate : Indonesia

Jakarta - Three vice presidential candidates appeared in different attire in the second debate for the 2024 Election which took place at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCCC) Convention Hall, Friday evening.

At around 19.00 WIB, one by one the presidential candidates (capres) and their vice presidential candidates (cawapres) entered the debate area, starting with cawapres number 1 Muhaimin Iskandar with presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, then followed by cawapres number 2 Gibran Rakabuming Raka with presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto, and vice presidential candidate number 3 Mahfud Md with presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo.

Muhaimin Iskandar, in the same vein as Anies Baswedan, wore a black suit, with a cap and no tie. On the jackets they wore, the acronym AMIN was embedded, which comes from the names of the two candidates.

Muhaimin Iskandar and Anies Baswedan's choice of clothing was the same as what they wore at the first debate which took place on 12 December.

Furthermore, vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto wore light blue shirts, relatively the same as those they wore at the first debate a few weeks ago.

Gibran rolled up his sleeves to around his elbows, while Prabowo left his sleeves up to his wrists.

Meanwhile, Mahfud Md and Ganjar Pranowo appeared different from before. Mahfud Md wore traditional Madurese clothing known as Pesa'an clothing, while Ganjar chose clothing such as traditional clothing from the Rote Tribe, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with a woven hat.

They came with the clothing choices from the previous debate, namely white shirts with graffiti accents and doodles .

The Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) appointed three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates participating in the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election (Pilpres) on Monday 13 December 2023. The results of the serial number drawing a day later determined Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar serial number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka serial number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md serial number 3.

After the first debate between presidential candidates on Tuesday (12/12), the KPU held a second debate involving three vice presidential candidates on Friday (22/12) in Jakarta.

The theme of the second debate includes people's economy, digital economy, finance, investment, taxes, trade, APBN and APBD management, infrastructure and cities.

Why are Chinese money laundering gangs growing in North Shan region?

2023, UWSA's 'W' force will arrest Chinese nationals who are involved in online fraud gangs in the 'W' Autonomous Region. While being transferred across the border to China on September 7th.

Citizen Journalist "Wa" and Kokang authorities' statement. According to the statements of the Military Council and the Chinese Security Department, over three months from early September 2023 to December 15, 2023, more than 40,000 Chinese nationals associated with online money laundering gangs were arrested and deported from the Northern Shan region.

According to the military council's December 15 announcement, from October 31, 2023 to December 15, 2023, 12,048 Chinese citizens associated with online money laundering gangs in the Northern Shan region were arrested and deported. Most of the Chinese nationals who were sent back later are from the Kokang region, and these arrests have been made in the "Wa" region since the beginning of September.

On September 6th and 7th, the UWSA "Wa" unit arrested more than a thousand Chinese nationals associated with online money fraud gangs in the "Wa" area and immediately transferred them to the Chinese police through the border.

"Both China and Myanmar are responsible for the growth of online money laundering gangs"

China's Ministry of Public Security announced on November 21 that it had taken over 31,000 Chinese nationals linked to online fraud gangs in northern Myanmar. Among them, those who orchestrate money laundering gangs from behind, 63 main recruiters and 1,531 Chinese fugitives are said to be involved.

According to these reports, an average of more than 40,000 Chinese nationals have been arrested and deported in connection with online money laundering gangs from early September to mid-December.

U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst who has lived on the China-Myanmar border for a long time, said that these tens of thousands of Chinese nationals are able to commit crimes in Burmese territory because of self-serving bribery of local authorities under the Military Council.

"The self-interest of local authority officials at various levels of the military council in relation to these operations is particularly evident. Under such conditions, they grow widely. These things cannot be controlled, and when the Chinese side takes action, they must not destroy their relationship with China. In order to maintain his support and encouragement, the Military Council pretended to take action against the money laundering gangs later."

Dr. Aung Myo, a political analyst, told RFA that the inability to suppress online fraud in the border region is a natural thing, so officials do not need to worry too much.

"Especially the socio-economic life of the countries, It is also related to systems. Because of this, the national governments will not always disappear, but will appear for the rest of their lives. Suppress it, I think this is the law of nature, and I would like to say that all the authorities should not feel too much."

In Lauk Kai, Kokang Region, there is the Military Council's Regional Command Headquarters (DAK), under which the No. 125th Infantry Regiment (Khon Khoo); No. (127) Infantry Regiment (Gongko-Komlong); No. (128) Infantry Regiment (Pasin Kyaw); No. (129) Infantry Regiment (Chin Shwe Hall), No. (239) Infantry Battalion (Na Li-Lok Kai); No. (312) Infantry Regiment (Quantong); The No. (322) Infantry Battalion (Lok Kai) is based in several battalions.

In addition to these regimental forces, the General Office of the Military Council, There are also immigration offices. Under these circumstances, RFA called General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the Military Council, to find out why so many Chinese nationals were able to enter the Kokang region and operate online money laundering gangs, but he did not pick up the phone.

On December 5th, General Zaw Min Tun said through the media of the Military Council that he does not accept work that harms the interests of neighboring countries by using Myanmar's territory.

"The stability and peace of the border region, rule of law I would like to say that the People's Republic of China and Myanmar are cooperating closely for security. The policy we have on our neighbors is our territory, Work that will harm the interests of neighboring countries by using Myanmar's territory. We have made it clear that we absolutely do not accept activities that harm the security of neighboring countries."

Arrested in North Shan region recently, Among those who were issued arrest warrants are Myi Shouk Chan, Former parliamentarians of the Strong Development Party, such as Pa Sotcham and U Maung Maung (b) Lyokinchee, Kokang militia leaders, Border Guard Supervisory Committee officials and leading businessmen are participating.

RFA tried to contact the officials of the Kokang regional leadership team regarding this matter by phone, but could not be contacted.

Tens of thousands of Chinese nationals live illegally in Myanmar territory along the China-Myanmar border. China-based political analyst Dr. Hla Kyaw Zao said that both China and Myanmar are responsible for the growth of online fraud gangs in a few years.

"Everyone has a responsibility. China will not be able to control its borders very well with its control policies. I think there are leaks in some places. They come out of those holes. As for Burma, don't say anything. There is no law. If you get money, you do it. I think that's why I'm entering. So, as it is illegal, I think that these cases are increasing every time they want to increase. That's why they go to China a lot. So that's why. All are responsible. Not just one person."

RFA emailed the Chinese embassy in Yangon to inquire why tens of thousands of Chinese nationals are able to cross the border and enter Myanmar for so long, and what action will be taken against those arrested and returned, but there was no reply.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the December 8th Mekong-Lanchang Conference that he will work closely with the Mekong countries to crack down on online money laundering and Myanmar's instability across borders.

In this situation, he settled in Tachile Township in eastern Shan State and engaged in online sex (Sex Chat). On December 18, China's Ministry of Public Security announced that Sun, the leader of an extortion group, had been arrested from Myanmar and handed over to China.

Despite continuous arrests of online money-laundering gangs in North Shan region "Wa" and Kokang region, locals have often contacted RFA that online money-laundering gangs led by Chinese nationals are still growing uncontrollably in the Myawati Shwekukko area, which is controlled by the Karen armed group DKBA and Tachileik on the Thai-Myanmar border.