Two soldiers who were forcibly recruited through porter recruitment from Hlaing Tharyar Township in Yangon Region and Myit Sone Township in Mandalay Region have defected to the People’s Defense Force in Homalin Township. The two soldiers defected on June 25th, with one being a graduate from Training Batch 10 at Gyogon No. 1 Advanced Training School in Yangon, and the other from Taunggyi Kyaingtong No. 3 People’s Military Training School.
The soldier from Hlaing Tharyar Township was serving in Infantry Battalion 389 and was forcibly recruited through the ward administration office. The soldier from Myit Sone Township was serving in Shwebo Infantry Battalion 42 and was forcibly taken as a porter while eating at his home. Despite being illiterate, he was forced to sign documents and conscripted into military service. Neither of the defectors brought weapons with them, and they are being well-cared for by the Homalin Township People’s Defense Force.
The military council has been conducting monthly military training courses since April 2024, forcibly recruiting young people across Myanmar through porter recruitment drives. Currently, they have reached Training Batch 15. These forced recruitments have severely impacted civilians’ security and freedom, as the military council continues its campaign of forced conscription throughout the country. The practice of forcing civilians into military service through porter recruitment has become a systematic method used by the military council to maintain its forces, despite widespread resistance and condemnation from the public.
