A spokesperson from the People’s Defense Force in Seikphyu Township, Magway Region, has confirmed that six new military recruits have defected to join the people’s side, while one fleeing soldier was captured alive. On February 28, four new recruits from Infantry Battalion 258 in Seikphyu Township – Min Min Htike, Saw Isaac, Htet Ko Naing, and Ye Zaw – contacted the People’s Defense Forces and surrendered their weapons and ammunition before seeking refuge with the public resistance.
The four defecting recruits were individuals who had been forcibly conscripted by the military council while traveling near Sagaing Bridge and other locations. On March 1, two more recruits from Infantry Battalion 256, Kyaw Zaya Win and Pho Kular, also made contact with People’s Defense Forces to defect, surrendering their weapons and ammunition upon arrival. The defectors are now being safely protected by resistance forces.
On February 27, People’s Defense Forces captured Private Kyaw Htwe from Infantry Battalion 256 of the military council’s column that was conducting operations near the border of Seikphyu and Myaing townships. He was captured at Sandbank No. 3 in Seikphyu town. The forces seized one MA1 rifle, three ammunition magazines, and approximately 300 rounds from the captured soldier, who had been forcibly conscripted into military service in November 2023. The People’s Defense Forces continue to welcome defectors while maintaining their stance against the military council’s forced recruitment practices and violence against civilians.
