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 battalion commander of KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters confirmed that the defection occurred during ongoing clashes near Theinkone village along the Maw Taung border trade route on May 9th. The defecting soldiers came from Infantry Battalion 224, which is based in Bokpyin.
The defectors, consisting of one corporal and one private, surrendered to the Cobra Column Special Force 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. According to the statements from the defecting soldiers, there are many others within the military council forces who wish to escape. The military council has been using new recruits as expendable forces in battles, placing them in situations where they can neither advance nor retreat.
The Battalion Commander of KNU Brigade 4 Battalion 11 Headquarters analyzed that based on the information provided by the defectors, the military council is forcing new recruits into deadly combat situations. The defectors revealed that soldiers are placed in impossible tactical positions where they cannot move forward or withdraw. As a result, it is expected that the number of defectors may increase in the coming period. This incident highlights the growing dissatisfaction within the military council’s ranks and the harsh conditions faced by their soldiers, particularly new recruits who are being used as cannon fodder in ongoing conflicts.
