Private Zin Ko Ko, who recently defected from Infantry Battalion 404 based in Yayphyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, has revealed that military officers ordered the destruction and burning of civilian villages in the area. The 16-year-old former sixth-grade student from Ayeyarwady Region was initially working as a porter carrying rice when he was forcibly recruited by the military after being captured on the road due to his family’s financial difficulties. He was compelled to serve in Infantry Battalion 404 in Yayphyu Township before defecting to revolutionary forces on August 25 with weapons and ammunition.
According to Zin Ko Ko’s testimony, while serving in Infantry Battalion 404, he participated in military operations in Yayphyu Township from August 12 to 25, during which the military systematically burned houses in Uttu Village, Sawhpya Village, and Moeshwekon Village daily. The military’s arson attacks resulted in the destruction of 51 houses, with total damages estimated at 70-80 buildings, including both brick and wooden structures. He detailed how the military would enter villages and loot civilian properties, including rice, cooking oil, clothing, footwear, and other personal belongings. The soldier revealed that these actions were carried out under direct orders from superior officers who commanded the complete destruction of villages in retaliation for resistance activities.
The defected soldier also disclosed that many serving soldiers within the military wish to defect, expressing remorse at having to burn civilian homes and villages while being fed by the same civilians. He extended a message to his fellow trainees, encouraging them to join the revolution. Currently, while the military continues operations in Yayphyu Township, they are suffering significant losses due to resistance forces’ defensive actions. Despite these setbacks, the military persists in destroying villages and looting civilian properties, according to local residents. The systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and theft of civilian property continues to be a regular occurrence during military operations in the area.
