Two soldiers who were forcibly conscripted by the military have defected to the resistance forces with weapons in Bago Region’s Thayarwaddy District, as confirmed by Battalion No. 1 of Thayarwaddy District. The defectors, identified as Naing Wai Lin and Yaza Min, are from Ayeyarwady Region’s Yeikgyi and Kyonepyaw townships. They were originally conscripted under the military council’s forced military service law and had been compelled to serve against their will.
The defection occurred on May 19 when they were stationed with a military column in Pyinpon Pyusawthi village. Initially, they had been assigned to internal security and welfare duties within their base, but were later deployed with a combat column to Nattalin Township’s Pyinpon village. Their decision to defect was triggered by being forced to participate in burning civilian homes and arresting and torturing innocent civilians, which led to their moral deterioration and eventual decision to escape from the military.
The defecting soldiers brought with them two MA-1 rifles, one hand grenade, one communication radio, and six ammunition magazines. They have expressed their commitment to join the revolutionary forces and continue fighting until the complete elimination of the military dictatorship system. This instance of defection by forcibly conscripted soldiers serves as a testament to the human rights violations and oppression perpetrated by the military council, highlighting the ongoing crisis within Myanmar’s military forces and the growing resistance against the authoritarian regime.
