A newly trained soldier from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 228 under the military council in Myothit Township, Magway Region, has defected to Battalion 2 in Tamu District, according to revolutionary sources. The soldier, identified as Nay Win Htun (aka) Ko Paing, who was stationed in Min Tha village, joined the revolutionary forces on July 11 without bringing any weapons.
Nay Win Htun was one of many civilians forced into military service through the military council’s coercive one-person-per-household conscription system. Shortly after completing his basic military training in Batch 1, he made the decision to defect to the revolutionary forces. Since he arrived without weapons, the revolutionary forces have committed to ensuring his safety and security during his transition.
According to Battalion 2 in Tamu District, while there are established monetary rewards for those who defect with weapons, they also provide safe passage and relocation assistance to those who surrender without arms. The revolutionary forces have extended an open invitation to all remaining new recruits and others under the military council’s command to recognize the truth of the situation and join the people’s side as soon as possible.
