Six new soldiers from the terrorist military column operating in Chin State have defected with two weapons and joined the resistance, receiving an award of 15 million kyats from the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Project UG group. These new soldiers were from Battalion 391 under Division 77, comprising recruits from training batches 7 and 8. They had escaped from a military column of approximately 500 personnel that had been conducting offensive operations in Chin State since May 18.
The defecting soldiers made contact with the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Project UG group on May 21 and surrendered themselves along with their equipment. They brought with them two MA-3 rifles, five hand grenades, 476 rounds of ammunition, 14 ammunition magazines, and other military supplies. A representative from the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Project UG group confirmed that in recognition of their defection with weapons, they were awarded 15 million kyats and safely transported to liberated territory.
An official from the Kalay Urban Guerrilla Project UG group emphasized that since the military council is forcibly recruiting soldiers and using them as cannon fodder, they encourage military council troops to defect to nearby revolutionary forces whenever possible, preferably bringing weapons and ammunition with them. Currently, new recruits in the military council’s forces are being subjected to forced conscription and are being sent to the frontlines in battles, resulting in numerous casualties. As a result, there has been a gradual increase in the number of new soldiers choosing to defect and join the revolution.
