A soldier from the military outpost in Ywar Thit village, Yedashe Township, Bago Region has defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) with weapons and ammunition, according to an official from the No. 2 Operation Command, Naypyidaw Military Division, Sittaung River Valley (Yedashe) Operations. Private Minn Hein Kyaw escaped from the outpost around 5 AM on June 7th, carrying an MA-1 rifle, three magazines, and one hundred and twelve rounds of ammunition.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Private Minn Hein Kyaw carefully approached the area where PDF forces were conducting guard duty. While under surveillance by PDF members, he removed his rifle magazine and entered the guard post. The PDF forces then secured his weapons and accepted his defection. The soldier had deliberately planned his escape and surrender to the resistance forces, demonstrating his intention to switch sides.
Private Minn Hein Kyaw was not a conscripted soldier but rather a regular army member from the 906th Combat Engineering Battalion based in Inntakaw town, with approximately six years of service in the military. His defection reflects growing dissatisfaction and declining morale within military ranks. The incident represents a significant case of a career soldier choosing to leave the military with his weapons to join the resistance movement, highlighting the ongoing internal challenges faced by the military forces in maintaining troop loyalty during the current conflict.
