Two soldiers serving in Naung Cho Township, Northern Shan State, have defected from their military posts, as confirmed by a representative from the Kyaukme District Special Strike Force. The soldiers, from Battalion 10, escaped from their frontline outpost duty at Teim Pye Gyi area on June 10th and made contact with the Kyaukme District Special Strike Force to request acceptance of their defection. The decision to defect came after witnessing various human rights violations within the military ranks.
According to the defectors’ testimonies, they could no longer tolerate the military’s practices, including widespread drug use within the ranks, training that encouraged the looting of civilian properties, and the sanctioning of sexual violence against women. The soldiers claimed they had brought weapons with them during their escape but had to hide some along the way due to difficult terrain and travel conditions. Officials stated that they cannot yet confirm whether weapons were actually brought, as they haven’t been recovered from the reported hiding locations.
The Kyaukme District Special Strike Force is currently providing shelter and protection to the two defected soldiers while working to reconnect them with their families. They also reported receiving numerous other contact attempts from military personnel seeking to defect, though current circumstances make it challenging to accommodate all requests. Officials noted that there has been a gradual increase in military defections as more soldiers become disillusioned with the military’s brutal actions against civilians. The Special Strike Force continues to maintain communication channels for potential defectors while ensuring the safety and well-being of those who have already crossed over to the civilian side.
