Two newly recruited soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 558 in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region, have defected to the Dawna Column with weapons and ammunition. The defectors, identified as Yan Lin Htun and Nay Thu Aung, were recent graduates from Training Batch 6 at No. 4 Combat Training School in Waygali, as confirmed by Dawna Column-P29902.
The two soldiers entered Strategy 33 territory on May 29, bringing with them one MA3 rifle, one ammunition magazine, and 25 rounds of ammunition. Private Yan Lin Htun was forcibly recruited when he went out at night, while Private Nay Thu Aung was captured and conscripted while returning from dropping off passengers during his work as a taxi driver.
The Commander of Strategy 33 warmly welcomed the defectors and urged remaining soldiers to join the people’s side as soon as possible. The commander further stated that military personnel and police officers who wish to stand with the people, including those who were forcibly recruited by the violent military council, can contact the Dawna Column and allied forces to defect to the revolution. The Dawna Column continues to maintain open channels for military and police personnel seeking to join the people’s resistance movement.
