On March 26, amid ongoing conflicts in Karenni State, one military council soldier and three forcibly recruited new soldiers defected to the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) Battalion 5 with one weapon. The defectors admitted that they were forcibly recruited by the military council and had attempted to escape multiple times during their training period but were unsuccessful and were eventually forced to serve on the frontlines. According to KNDF Battalion 5, these soldiers had been trying to escape since their initial recruitment and training phases.
As the revolution continues, the military council has faced increasing casualties and manpower shortages in battles, leading to more aggressive forced recruitment of civilians as new soldiers. This escalation in forced recruitment has resulted in a growing number of defections, with many conscripted soldiers seeking opportunities to escape and surrender to revolutionary forces. The military council’s practice of forcing civilians into military service has become more prevalent as they struggle to maintain their fighting force amid mounting losses and desertion.
KNDF Battalion 5 has confirmed that the four military council defectors have been transferred to the relevant department and are being kept under secure protection. The resistance group has also extended an invitation to remaining military council personnel to reject the dictatorship and join the people’s side of the revolution. Among the items brought by the defectors was one MA-1 rifle, which has been secured by KNDF forces. The increasing frequency of such defections highlights the growing internal challenges faced by the military council, as more forcibly recruited soldiers choose to abandon their posts and seek protection with revolutionary forces rather than fight against their own people.
