Indonesia will reconsider its visa exemption policy for citizens of Southeast Asian countries after many foreigners were arrested for being involved in online gambling and fraud, according to a statement from the country's immigration officials.
Last week, Indonesian authorities arrested more than 500 people in 2 separate raids targeting an online gambling ring in Jakarta and a fraud organization in Batam, Riau Islands province in the east.
Those arrested include citizens of some Southeast Asian countries, countries currently exempted from visas to enter Indonesia for 30 days. Some Chinese citizens were also arrested, although China is not subject to visa exemption.
The head of Indonesia's immigration agency, Hendarsam Marantoko, said these illegal activities are causing "serious concern".
Mr. Hendarsam Marantoko emphasized that cases of foreigners participating in illegal activities, including people from visa-exempt countries, are posing a requirement to re-evaluate current policies.
Investigators discovered that many people related to the online gambling center in Jakarta had entered with visa-free entry or applied for a stay right when arriving in Indonesia.
In recent weeks, the Indonesian immigration agency has implemented more than 6,700 administrative measures, including more than 2,000 cases of deportation and cancellation of residence permits.
Meanwhile, Thailand is also reviewing its visa system to deal with the situation of criminals impersonating tourists.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaeow said that one of the measures being considered is to shorten the visa exemption period for tourists from 93 countries, from 60 days to 30 days.
According to Mr. Sihasak, Thailand is not targeting any specific country but is focusing on handling activities that may cause problems for this country. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to submit the plan to the cabinet next week for consideration and approval.
