Two soldiers from Infantry Battalion 224 of the military council have defected to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) with their weapons during a battle near Theinkone village in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region. The commander of KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters confirmed that the defection occurred during fighting near Theinkone village along the Maw Taung border trade route on May 9. The incident took place during ongoing clashes in the area.
The defectors, consisting of one corporal and one private from Infantry Battalion 224 based in Bokpyin, surrendered to the Cobra Column special forces under KNLA Battalion 11. They brought with them two MA-1 rifles, nine ammunition magazines, and 328 rounds of ammunition. Due to their defection with weapons, they will be awarded special recognition payments. The defecting soldiers revealed that many within the military council forces wish to desert, indicating growing dissatisfaction within the ranks.
According to statements from the defectors, the military council is using new recruits as expendable forces in battles, placing them in impossible situations where they can neither advance nor retreat. The Battalion 11 commander assessed that these conditions are likely to lead to more defections in the coming period. The defectors’ testimony provides insight into the deteriorating morale within military council forces, where soldiers are increasingly being forced into what they describe as suicide missions. This pattern of defections with weapons represents a significant challenge to the military council’s ability to maintain control over its forces, particularly in active conflict areas like Tanintharyi Region.
