Eleven newly recruited soldiers from the military council forces operating in Chin State have defected to the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Force, bringing with them eight firearms. According to a representative from the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Force, these soldiers, who were originally from Battalions 8, 391, and 59, had completed training courses 6, 7, 8, and 4 before their defection on June 30. The defectors were all victims of forced recruitment by the military council, highlighting the ongoing practice of coercive military conscription.
The weapons and ammunition brought by the defecting soldiers included six MA-1 rifles, two MA-3 rifles, fifteen ammunition magazines, and 562 rounds of ammunition. This defection event represents a significant blow to the military council’s forces and demonstrates the growing internal resistance against forced military service. The defectors’ decision to join the resistance forces with their weapons intact provides evidence of the deteriorating situation within the military council’s ranks and their increasingly problematic recruitment practices.
The Kalay Urban Guerrilla Force representative has issued an appeal for public financial support to provide incentives for the defecting soldiers, while also warning young people about the military council’s intensified forced recruitment campaigns. The representative encouraged youth to remain vigilant and, where possible, to relocate to liberated areas where they can contribute to the revolution. This incident underscores the continuing struggle against the military council’s oppressive practices and the growing momentum of resistance forces in Chin State and throughout Myanmar.
