A new recruit from Infantry Battalion 439, based in Kyaukkyi town in Bago Region, has defected to the revolution with his weapon, according to an official from the Spring Warriors Column. The soldier, Ko Aung San Myint, contacted the Spring Warriors Column on August 13 expressing his desire to defect. Column commander Mike Gyi led the operation to extract him safely. This marks another significant defection from the military council’s forces to the resistance movement.
Ko Aung San Myint brought with him one MA-7 rifle and three ammunition magazines when he defected. According to the Spring Warriors Column official, he had originally been working at a timber rafting operation in Kanti when he was forcibly conscripted by military council troops as a porter. He was subsequently sent to military training and recruited as a new soldier. Ko Aung San Myint was from Training Batch 8 at the Ba Htoo Training School in Taunggyi. The Spring Warriors Column awarded him a honorarium of one million kyats for his defection. The official emphasized that they continue to welcome all military council troops who wish to side with the people.
Meanwhile, in Mindat town of Chin State, local civilians have made a second submission of weapons and ammunition that had been hidden by military council soldiers who fled during urban warfare operations, according to an announcement from the Chin Defence Force – Mindat. The surrendered arsenal included one MA4 rifle, one MA3 rifle, one MA1 rifle, five 40mm grenades, and other military equipment and accessories. The civilians turned these weapons in to the Chief of Staff’s office and received monetary rewards for their actions. This demonstrates the ongoing cooperation between civilians and resistance forces in recovering military equipment abandoned by retreating military council troops. The Spring Warriors Column continues to emphasize that they welcome all military council personnel who wish to defect and join the people’s side in the revolution.
