A defected soldier named Nan Lin Thu has revealed that numerous military council troops were killed during the battle in Nyaung Kyoe, Pantaung Township, Bago Region, due to friendly fire from the military council’s air force. According to his account, the combination of erroneous bombing by military aircraft and attacks by the Arakan Army (AA) resulted in the deaths of more than 120 military council soldiers, with the remaining troops dispersing and fleeing from their positions.
Nan Lin Thu, a new recruit, was forcibly conscripted on September 18, 2024, when he was captured as a porter by military council forces in Kyeepinkaut Township’s Yayban Seinyoegyi village. He was taken to the 6th Light Infantry Division and subsequently sent to the No. 4 Military Training School in Wekali, Thanzayat Township, where he completed the 6th batch of military training. After training, he was deployed to the Natthankin frontline outpost in Kyaukgyi Township, Bago Region, before being transferred to the Nyaung Kyoe outpost.
On March 16, Nan Lin Thu surrendered without weapons to the Underground Guerrilla Force-Oatpo of Battalion 3802, Division 4, in Thayarwady District. He expressed his intention to join the revolutionary forces and fight against the military council. According to his testimony, the casualties from the military council’s air force’s friendly fire during the Nyaung Kyoe battle exceeded those caused by the AA’s attacks. A PDF official from Thayarwady District reported that Nan Lin Thu had previously attempted to escape from the Natthankin frontline but was unsuccessful due to minefields. Later, when ordered to go to Rakhine State, he attempted to escape while restocking ammunition at the Taungoo base but was recaptured at the Minaing Chaung checkpoint in Thayarwady. He was detained at the Pyay military base, later released, and sent back to Nyaung Kyoe.
The Underground Guerrilla Force-Oatpo of Battalion 3802, Division 4, in Thayarwady District has issued a statement encouraging all military council soldiers, including those forcibly conscripted as porters, to defect as soon as possible. The statement promises appropriate rewards for those who surrender to revolutionary forces with their weapons. This development highlights the ongoing internal challenges faced by the military council forces and the growing momentum of defections to the revolutionary movement.
