Two soldiers from Infantry Battalion 224 of the military council have defected to the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 4 Battalion 11 during a battle near Theinkone village in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region. The defection occurred on May 9 during ongoing clashes near Theinkone village along the Maw Taung border trade route. The defectors, comprising a corporal and a private from Infantry Battalion 224 based in Bokpyin, brought their weapons with them when they surrendered to the Special Cobra Column under KNLA Battalion 11.
The two defecting soldiers brought with them two MA-1 rifles, nine ammunition magazines, and 328 rounds of ammunition, as confirmed by the commander of KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters. As a result of their defection with weapons, they will be awarded additional honorary compensation. According to the testimonies of the defectors, there are many more soldiers within the military council forces who wish to escape, and they revealed that the military council has been using new recruits as expendable forces in deadly battles. The defectors also disclosed that soldiers in the military council’s forces are often placed in impossible situations during battles, unable to advance or retreat.
The battalion commander stated that based on the current situation where military council soldiers are trapped between advancing and retreating, they expect to see more defections in the coming period. The defectors are currently under the protection of the Special Cobra Column of KNU Brigade 4, where they are receiving necessary assistance. Their defection with complete weapons and ammunition represents a significant development in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the growing instability within the military council’s forces and the increasing number of soldiers seeking to escape from forced military service.
