Two new recruits from Infantry Battalion 557, based in Auk Kyin village in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region, have defected to the people’s resistance forces with two firearms. The soldiers defected on June 19 while performing sentry duty between Ban La Moot village and Panap Ngay village, making contact with and surrendering to the Tanintharyi Township People’s Defense Force (PDF).
The defecting soldiers were graduates from training batches 1 and 9 at the No. 1 Kyaw Phyu Military Training School in Yangon Region. They brought with them two MA-3 rifles, nine ammunition magazines, 240 rounds of ammunition, and one set of body armor. After completing two and a half months of initial training at the military school, they underwent an additional two weeks of refresher training at Division 13 in Bokpyin Township, Tanintharyi Region. They were then transferred to Unit 103 in Myeik before finally being stationed at Infantry Battalion 557 in Auk Kyin village, Tanintharyi Township.
A spokesperson from the People’s Defense Force stated that they are arranging to provide each defector with a reward of 20 million kyats. The spokesperson also emphasized that there are resistance forces present in various regions where forcibly recruited soldiers are stationed, and encouraged those who wish to defect to make contact through whatever means possible, assuring them of a welcome reception. The PDF has issued an open invitation to military personnel and police force members who wish to stand with the people, including those forcibly conscripted under the military council’s service orders, to contact the Tanintharyi Township People’s Defense Force or allied revolutionary forces in their nearest location to arrange their defection.
