The National Unity Government’s Defense Minister U Ye Mon has revealed that Brigadier General Aung Thet Oo, Commander of Division 77, and other military prisoners who surrendered during the battle for Indaw city in Sagaing Region have expressed remorse for the military’s unlawful actions and pledged to contribute to the Spring Revolution to the best of their abilities. This announcement was made during U Ye Mon’s speech commemorating the fourth anniversary of the People’s Defense Force.
The battle for Indaw was a historic engagement for the People’s Defense Force that lasted over eight months. When including the preparation and planning phases, the entire operation spanned approximately one year. The captured Division 77 Commander and military prisoners not only expressed regret for the military’s illegal actions but also committed to supporting the revolution in whatever way possible. Defense Minister U Ye Mon urged remaining military officers and soldiers to defect as soon as possible.
Brigadier General Aung Thet Oo, a graduate of the Defense Services Academy Intake 42, had only assumed command of Division 77 in early 2024. His background reveals that during the 2021 military coup, he served as Colonel and Strategic Operations Commander No. 1 of Yangon Regional Military Command, where he ordered troops to shoot at civilian protesters in Yangon. He was subsequently transferred to serve as Strategic Operations Commander of the Coastal Region Command’s Kawthaung District until November 2023, after which he was promoted to commander of Division 77. The capture of such a high-ranking military officer during the Indaw battle represents a significant achievement for the resistance forces and demonstrates the growing strength of the People’s Defense Force in their fight against the military regime.
