Three new soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 251 under Military Division 101 in Pakokku, Magway Region, have defected to the Burma Revolution Rangers on June 24, refusing to continue serving under the violent military council. The defectors, identified as Ko Hla Myint Tun, Chan Pyae Aung, and Nyein Thu Aung, had completed three months of training at No. 1 Basic Military Training School (Bayhtoo) and were graduates of Training Batch 11.
Investigation into the background of these defectors revealed that two were originally from Monywa city and one from Mandalay. All three had been forcibly recruited into military service after being arrested while going about their daily work. They were compelled to undergo military training against their will. The Burma Revolution Rangers’ Information and Communication Officer noted that since the defectors did not bring weapons or ammunition with them during their defection, they were not eligible for the usual monetary rewards offered to those who defect with military equipment.
Currently, the two soldiers from Monywa have been successfully reunited with their families, while arrangements are being made to connect the soldier from Mandalay with his family. The Burma Revolution Rangers have extended an open invitation to all serving members of the military council’s forces, police personnel, and Pyu Saw Htee members to defect to revolutionary forces with their weapons and ammunition. This invitation emphasizes the opportunity to escape the life-threatening conditions under the military council and live freely with their families, rather than continuing to risk their lives serving the regime that oppresses its own people.
