In Yangon, a People’s Defense Force (PDF) training graduate named Wai Yan Zaw, also known as Phoe Cho, who had contacted the military council to surrender, has been arrested and sent for interrogation by military forces. This incident demonstrates how the military council, despite publicly inviting PDF members to surrender, continues to carry out arrests and torture in practice. Wai Yan Zaw, who resided in Zeyar 4 Street, 10th Ward, South Okkalapa Township, left for PDF training in May 2024. While serving as a PDF member, he consulted with his mother and contacted the military council to surrender.
Although he returned to Yangon on July 8 and reported to authorities, the military arrived at his residence the following day on July 9 with military vehicles and arrested him. According to military sources, he is currently being interrogated at the Special Branch office in Shwepyitha Township. Due to such incidents, sources warn that PDF members should be cautious of the military council’s surrender invitations. The military council continues to present a welcoming facade for PDF members to surrender, but in reality, those who make contact are subjected to arrest, torture, and interrogation, as revealed by internal military sources.
This case clearly illustrates the military council’s deceptive practices, showing how they breach trust and treat those who come forward to surrender with brutality. The incident serves as a clear example of the military council’s dishonest policy toward PDF members who consider surrendering. Despite their public announcements welcoming surrenders, the military council’s actions demonstrate their true intentions through systematic arrest and interrogation of those who attempt to surrender. This pattern of behavior reveals the significant gap between the military council’s public statements and their actual treatment of those who respond to their surrender appeals.
