Two military servicemen and one police officer who defected from military columns and camps in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, were each awarded 5 million kyats after surrendering with weapons, according to Ko Ah Ku, head of the Monywa Township Public Security Force (PLF). During May and June, the defectors from military camps and patrolling columns in Monywa brought with them one MA1 rifle, one G3 rifle, and one MA13 rifle when they surrendered to the resistance forces.
Among those who surrendered, two chose to serve with the revolutionary forces and were assigned duties within the resistance group, while the third person, who wished neither to join the revolution nor remain with the military council, was helped to return to his family. The defectors were identified as Nay Myo Oo, who was forcibly recruited in Yangon, Ko Nyi Nyi, who was forcibly recruited in northern Shan State, and Police Officer Chit Moe Thu from Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region.
The military council reportedly threatens its personnel that they will be killed if they defect to the PDF (People’s Defense Force). However, the Monywa Township Public Security Force warmly welcomes all defectors, whether they bring weapons or not. Currently, about 20 people have defected without weapons, with some now serving in revolutionary duties while others have been assisted in returning to their families. The resistance group continues to assist and extract defectors regardless of their location or whether they possess weapons, maintaining an open-door policy for those who sincerely wish to leave the military council’s forces and seek refuge with the people.
