A corporal from the Air Defense Unit in Wundwin Township, Mandalay Region, and two new recruits from Infantry Battalion 253 have defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Tada-U Township with weapons and ammunition. On March 13, Corporal Aung Moe from Air Defense Unit 2027 in Wundwin Township contacted the People’s Defense Force of Tada-U Township, under Military Region 1 of the National Unity Government in Kyaukse District, and defected with one MA1 rifle, 162 rounds of ammunition, two bombs, one landmine, 10 G3 rounds, and three MA1 magazines.
Additionally, two new recruits, Kyaw Aung and Byar Gyi, from Infantry Battalion 253 based in Saling Township, escaped from the military council forces and defected to the Tada-U Township People’s Defense Force. The defecting corporal was awarded 2.5 million kyats as an honorarium, while each of the two soldiers received 250,000 kyats. Soldier Kyaw Aung was forced into porter service in June 2024 while returning from work, and soldier Byar Gyi was similarly conscripted in May 2024 during his morning commute to work.
The three defecting soldiers were warmly welcomed by the Tada-U Township People’s Defense Force and were transported to liberated areas according to their wishes. A PDF official urged remaining soldiers within the military council to switch sides to the people as soon as possible, warning that those who commit war crimes against civilians under the pretext of following orders will face legal consequences, along with those who issued such orders. The official emphasized that taking action to defect and seek refuge with the people is more valuable than claiming to act under orders without personal conviction.
