A police lance corporal from Waingmaw Township Police Station in Kachin State has defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Monywa Township, as confirmed by a PDF official. On July 21, the lance corporal made contact with Monywa Township PDF and Township 3 PDF and defected without weapons. Since the defector had no involvement in war crimes, he was allowed to proceed according to his wishes.
Additionally, Private Saw Chit (aka) Chit San Maung from Infantry Battalion 356 based in Loikaw Township, Karenni State, defected to KNDF Battalion 14 on July 17, bringing with him one AK-47 rifle, two ammunition magazines, 172 rounds of ammunition, five hand grenades, and a mobile phone. The KNDF forces provided him with appropriate rewards and are keeping him safely under their protection.
In Tanintharyi Region, Private Nyein Chan (age 27) from Infantry Battalion 280 based in Palaw Township also defected to the Palaw Township People’s Defense Force on July 12, bringing with him one MA-1 rifle, one ammunition magazine, one hand grenade, and 27 rounds of ammunition. He is originally from Shwetaung Township and graduated from military training batch 8. According to the Palaw PDF information officer, he had been forcibly recruited as a porter while traveling to Mawlamyine for work.
In the Myeik-Dawei District, three soldiers from Infantry Battalions 267 and 103 defected to the KNU Myeik-Dawei District with their weapons and ammunition on July 19 and 20, as announced by the KNU. Revolutionary forces have confirmed that such defections from military council forces continue to occur across the country.
