Two new military recruits from Infantry Battalion 440 in Daik-U Township, Bago Region, have defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) Strategic Command 27 and Division 1 with two firearms and ammunition, as confirmed by Ko Aye Min Htun, the commander in charge. The incident, which occurred on June 8, involved two soldiers who had been forcibly recruited into the military through conscription practices.
The defecting recruits, who originated from Magway Region and Yangon Region respectively, were graduates of military training batches 3/2024 and 8/2024. One of them was forcibly conscripted while shopping at a market, while the other was taken from his home during the night. The People’s Defense Force has announced that they will present honorary monetary awards to the two defecting soldiers. The defectors made contact with the PDF through civilian networks before their successful defection.
Additionally, two more new recruits, Zay Zay Aung and Nyi Nyi Thet from Light Infantry Battalion 299 in Ye Township, Mon State, have also defected to the Ye Guerrilla Force, Dawn Column 2. They brought with them one MA-1 rifle, four ammunition magazines, and 123 rounds of ammunition. These defections reflect the ongoing impact of the military’s forced recruitment practices and oppression of civilians, leading soldiers to abandon their posts and join resistance forces. The defectors had received their training at different military facilities, with one trained at Bayhtoo and the other at Gyobyu, before being assigned to their respective battalions.
