A newly recruited soldier named Aung Thu Win, who was forcibly conscripted as a porter in Yangon, has defected to Battalion 37 in Yinmabin District with weapons and ammunition, according to a battalion official. The 23-year-old from Monywa Township was captured in Yangon and forced to undergo military training in Pinlaung before his defection.
On August 24, Aung Thu Win escaped from a military column of approximately 100 troops stationed in Min Taing Pin village, Pale Township. He brought with him 118 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and two MA-1 magazines. After completing his military training, he was deployed to Pale Township, from where he managed to escape and join the revolutionary forces.
Currently, the revolutionary forces are keeping Aung Thu Win in a secure location while conducting necessary security checks. The official from Battalion 37 in Yinmabin District stated that they would continue to welcome other defectors from the military. He emphasized that young people who were forcibly recruited by the military would be safely received and protected if they chose to join the revolution. The battalion maintains a policy of providing security and protection for those who escape from forced military service under the military council.
