A new military recruit from an army camp located along the Payekon-Natthankin road in Kyauktaga Township, Bago Region, has defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) with a firearm, according to an official from Battalion 2, P2-3702 of Bago District. The soldier defected on April 9th during his guard duty, bringing weapons and ammunition with him. The incident represents another case of forced recruitment by the military council turning against their oppressors.
The defecting soldier was from training batch 7 at the Gyobyu Training School in Taikkyi Township. He had been forcibly recruited as a porter after being late returning from a local bar. When defecting, he brought with him an MA-1 rifle, three magazines, and 105 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. After reaching the PDF safely, he was awarded an honorarium of one million kyats (approximately 1,000,000 MMK) and transported to a secure location. This defection highlights the ongoing issue of forced recruitment by the military council and the resistance against such practices.
The battalion official noted that their area of control is close to the military camps along the Payekon-Natthankin and Kyaukkyi routes, making it accessible for those who wish to escape forced military service. He emphasized that those who have been forcibly recruited can contact the battalion either directly or through their family members using social media platforms. The official specifically advised that escaping with weapons is the best approach for those planning to defect, demonstrating the continued erosion of the military council’s control over its forced recruits and the growing strength of resistance forces in the region.
