Three soldiers from Military Council’s 902 camp in Taung Kham village, Naung Cho Township, Shan State, have defected to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) with three firearms, according to an announcement from the PSLF/TNLA Information Department. The defection occurred around 3 PM on March 28, when the soldiers approached TNLA forces carrying their weapons. According to the defectors’ statements, they decided to flee after their commanding officer, a captain, was killed in battle, leaving them without leadership. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges within Military Council forces in the region.
The TNLA has announced that they will provide security and protection for the three defected soldiers. This incident follows a previous humanitarian gesture by the TNLA in October 2024, when they released 191 military family members who were captured during operations against Infantry Battalions 503 and 504 based in Hsipaw. The recent defections are being interpreted by analysts as an indication of declining morale and leadership problems within Military Council forces. The TNLA’s handling of both the recent defectors and previous captives demonstrates their commitment to humanitarian principles, even while engaged in active resistance against the Military Council’s forces in the region.
