Military personnel stationed in Sagaing Region’s Kalay Wa town and Sagaing Township have defected to revolutionary forces without weapons. On August 31, a soldier from the security checkpoint at Myittha Bridge in Kalay Wa contacted the Student’s Revolutionary Force (SRF) and defected. The soldier arrived without any weapons or ammunition, voluntarily leaving his post according to an SRF official who confirmed the incident. The defector made contact with SRF members before surrendering himself and is currently being held at their territory base.
Similarly, two new recruits from a military camp stationed between Kyarmin Gyi village and Sartaung village in Sagaing Township also fled without weapons. These soldiers, originally from Ayeyarwady Region with approximately 18 months of service, had received their training in Taunggyi. They stated that they decided to defect because they disapproved of the military’s brutal treatment of civilians. The two defectors were found carrying only two mobile phones and have been transferred to the People’s Defense Force. A representative from PHOENIX (SGG) Phoenix (Sagaing) confirmed that the soldiers had voluntarily enlisted but chose to leave due to their disagreement with the military’s actions against civilians.
Revolutionary forces have announced that they will warmly welcome any soldiers, police officers, or new recruits who wish to defect from the military council. PHOENIX (SGG) Phoenix (Sagaing) has stated that those who no longer wish to serve in the military can contact resistance forces to defect and will be provided with full security. Analysts suggest that these defections indicate declining morale within the military ranks. The resistance groups have emphasized that they maintain an open-door policy for those wanting to leave military service, promising safe passage and protection for defectors. This recent wave of defections, particularly those occurring without weapons, represents a significant development in the ongoing conflict and potentially signals growing dissatisfaction within the military’s lower ranks.
