A defected soldier named Nay Thu Ra Myoe has revealed that the Myanmar military is engaging in superstitious practices by attaching Buddhist prayer texts and pieces of traditional women’s clothing (htamein) to their weapons, claiming these measures are necessary to counter what they describe as ‘black magic’ tactics by the Arakan Army (AA). The soldier, who completed the 10th batch of military training at Division 99 and was stationed at the Air Defense Camp in Nat Yay Kan Kone, Ngape Township, Magway Region, defected to the AA in late July.
According to his testimony, military senior officers have been spreading propaganda among their troops, claiming that the AA uses supernatural methods in their warfare. They alleged that the AA feeds human and fish flesh to fallen soldiers to reanimate them for combat. In response to these supposed threats, soldiers are ordered to attach Buddhist prayer texts to their small arms and hand grenades, and tie pieces of traditional women’s longyi to both small arms and artillery shells before firing them. These practices reflect the military’s attempt to counter what they claim are mystical warfare tactics employed by the AA.
The defector also revealed that while many soldiers within the military wish to defect, they are hesitant due to extensive misinformation spread by superior officers about the AA’s treatment of defectors. Military commanders have been spreading false narratives claiming that the AA executes defectors after interrogation, forcing them to dig their own graves before beating them to death with bamboo poles. However, Nay Thu Ra Myoe emphasized that these claims are entirely false, based on his first-hand experience after defection. He stated that the AA treats defectors humanely, contrary to the military’s propaganda, and encouraged other soldiers still serving in the military to consider defecting, assuring them that the AA’s actual treatment of defectors is completely different from what military leaders claim.
