A spokesperson from the Peacock Messenger Special Task Force has confirmed that nine newly recruited soldiers who were forcibly conscripted by the military council have defected to the people’s side with five weapons in the Maw Taung area along the Thai-Myanmar border in Tanintharyi Region. These new recruits were reportedly forced into military service and sent to the frontlines. They chose to escape to the public side as they no longer wished to serve under the military council’s command.
The defection occurred during battles near Thein Khon village along the Myeik-Maw Taung Asia Highway in July. The soldiers brought with them four MA1 rifles, one MA-11 rifle, and 15 ammunition magazines along with additional ammunition. The KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Commander honored each defector with a reward of 3 million kyats. Officials confirmed that the defectors are being kept safe and will be transported to liberated areas according to their wishes.
Representatives from the Peacock Messenger Special Task Force have encouraged all service members currently under the military council to contact and seek refuge with the public side as soon as possible, assuring that defectors will be safely received and protected. It has been reported that the military council continues to forcibly recruit civilians, requiring them to attend military training and deploying them to frontline positions.
