Two newly recruited soldiers from Infantry Battalion 517 based in Mong Pan Township, Southern Shan State, have defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Loikaw. According to a representative from Loikaw Local PDF who spoke to Yangon Modern News Agency, the defection occurred on April 19. Private Maung Than Soe Oo and another soldier arrived without weapons and voluntarily surrendered to the local PDF forces.
The two soldiers were among those forcibly recruited under the military council’s Public Military Service Law. They had completed training courses 5 and 6 after being arrested in sudden raids conducted by the military council. The PDF has confirmed that these soldiers were victims of forced recruitment and had no desire to serve in the military. Upon their arrival, the Loikaw Local PDF provided them with safe shelter and assured them of their security.
The Loikaw Local PDF has announced that they warmly welcome all military personnel, officers, and civil servants who wish to defect from the military council. They have emphasized that they will prioritize the safety and personal choices of those who seek refuge with them. The organization has also stated that they will continue to protect and support individuals who escape from the military council’s forced recruitment practices, ensuring their security and respecting their right to make independent decisions about their future.
