Three new recruits from Training Batch 5 of the Aung Zeya Column in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, have defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) with a firearm, as confirmed by a PDF official. The incident occurred on March 30, when the new soldiers brought one firearm, 390 rounds of ammunition, and 6 ammunition magazines before surrendering to Strategy 31 of the PDF.
Among the defectors, the one who brought the weapon was rewarded with 3 million kyats, while the other two received 500,000 kyats each. The soldiers came from Nyaung Toe Gyi, Amarapura, and Yangon, and all had been forcibly conscripted into military service. The young man from Nyaung Toe Gyi was deceived with false job promises, the one from Yangon was forcibly taken as a porter while returning from work, and the recruit from Amarapura was tricked with false claims about winning a lottery.
According to the defectors’ testimonies, there is discrimination between new and old soldiers within the military, with new recruits being forced into frontline positions as cannon fodder during battles. During quiet periods, new recruits are exclusively tasked with transporting rations and ammunition. The PDF official stated that since these soldiers were forcibly recruited rather than volunteering, they escaped when the opportunity arose. The PDF representative added that they would continue to warmly welcome other soldiers who choose to defect from the military.
