Two soldiers who were forcibly recruited into Division 101 in Pakokku Township, Magway Region, have defected to revolutionary forces with weapons and ammunition, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Burma Revolution Rangers. The defectors were identified as Ko Paing Thu Htun, age 27, and Ko Bo Ye, age 25, who had been forcibly conscripted into Division 101 on February 28.
According to the details of their escape, the two recruits were accompanying a Second Lieutenant to a KTV entertainment venue. Taking advantage of the officer’s intoxicated state, they managed to seize military weapons and ammunition before fleeing. The items they brought included 100 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, two hand grenades, three Myanmar Army ammunition magazines, and one small anti-personnel mine. The escapees successfully made contact with the Burma Revolution Rangers, who then safely evacuated them to a secure location.
The Burma Revolution Rangers have provided the two defectors with shelter and necessary assistance in a secure location, as stated by their spokesperson. This incident of forcibly recruited soldiers defecting to the revolution not only reflects the military council’s difficulties in maintaining troop numbers but also represents a strategic advantage for revolutionary forces. The defection of these soldiers with military equipment demonstrates the growing challenges faced by the military council in maintaining control over their forcibly conscripted personnel.
