A new soldier named Phyo Min San from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 7 in Kalaw, Shan State, has defected to the Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) with a firearm. The incident occurred on September 9th, when the new recruit contacted the DPLA and surrendered himself along with his weapon and ammunition. The 25-year-old soldier had originally been conscripted into the military through a lottery system.
After arriving at the military in Pyin Oo Lwin, Phyo Min San underwent three months of training at No. 3 Basic Military Training School in Kyaingtong. He was then assigned as a private to LIB 7 under Division 55 in Kalaw before his defection. Currently, the military is forcibly recruiting new soldiers under the mandatory military service law, conducting forced porter service, and implementing compulsory military service. Reports indicate widespread coercion and involuntary recruitment practices.
The military is deploying newly recruited soldiers to frontline positions, particularly in intense offensive operations against areas controlled by revolutionary forces. According to an official from the Danu People’s Liberation Front’s Information Department, arrangements are being made to provide a monetary reward to the defecting soldier. The official also noted that while many conscripted soldiers have attempted to escape, some have successfully fled while others have been recaptured. This defection highlights the ongoing issues within the military’s recruitment practices and the growing resistance among forced recruits, who are increasingly choosing to abandon their posts despite the risks involved.
