Two soldiers from Infantry Battalion 224 of the military council have defected to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) with their weapons during a battle in Theinkone village, Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region, as confirmed by the KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters Commander. The defectors, consisting of a corporal and a private, surrendered to the KNLA Battalion 11’s Cobra Column Special Force during the fighting that occurred on May 9 along the Mawtaung border trade route in Theinkone village, Tanintharyi Township.
The defecting soldiers brought with them two MA-1 rifles, nine ammunition magazines, and 328 rounds of ammunition. Due to their surrender with complete weapons, they will be awarded special recognition payments. According to the statements from the defectors, there are many more soldiers within the military council forces who wish to escape. The KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters Commander noted that the military council is using new recruits as cannon fodder in battles, placing them in situations where they can neither advance nor retreat. As a result, it is expected that more soldiers will likely defect in the near future.
Reports indicate that military council troops operating in the Tanintharyi region have been committing acts of violence and torture against local civilians, forcing recruitment into military service, and confiscating food supplies and property from local residents. Consequently, many civilians have been forced to flee to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to local sources. The ongoing military operations have created a humanitarian crisis in the region, with local communities facing severe hardships and displacement due to the military council’s actions.
