Twenty junta soldiers and police in resistance strongholds have defected with their arms and ammunition since August, amid ongoing fighting between Myanmar regime troops and resistance forces.
The defections occurred in Karen, Kayah (Karenni), Chin and Shan states and Bago, Tanintharyi and Sagaing regions.
A junta military captain who defected in July last year said troops are deserting after suffering heavy casualties and increased seizures of regime military camps around the country by revolutionary forces. This year, cash rewards from resistance groups have lured more soldiers to defect with their weapons, he added.
He predicted junta desertions would continue as resistance forces made inroads against the regime.
“If they don’t defect, there is only one way for them [junta troops] to die. I think there may be more defections if the resistance continues to threaten junta soldiers and seize their camps,” the captain told The Irrawaddy.
Territory controlled by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) saw the largest number of junta defections over the past two months.
In August, three junta soldiers including a lance corporal deserted to the KNLA along with their weapons and ammunition. The KNLA is an armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), which is fighting the regime alongside anti-regime resistance forces.
On Sept. 4, a soldier from Light Infantry Battalion 32 base in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township, Karen State surrendered to KNLA Battalion 17, bringing his weapon and bullets.
On Sept. 6, two soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 556 based in Wawlay Town, Karen State surrendered to KNLA Brigade 6, according to the KNU.
On Sept. 8, the KNLA gave refuge to another junta soldier, who defected along with his .338 sniper rifle and ammunition.
The KNU granted cash rewards to all the defectors.
In Chin State, two regime police officers and two junta soldiers, a corporal and a lance corporal, defected to resistance forces last month in Matupi and Tedim townships.
In Kayah State, a soldier from Light Infantry Battalion 530 defected in early September, according to the KNLA.
In Shan State, three junta soldiers defected to the Pekon People’s Defense Force in the third week of September.
In Bago Region, a police officer from Zee Kone station joined the Civil Disobedience Movement in early September, according to the Yoma GBK People’s Defense Force. Meanwhile, two soldiers from Bago’s Shwegyin Township defected to KNU Brigade 3 on September 11.
In Tanintharyi Region, the local People’s Defense Force said a regime soldier from Light Infantry Battalion 561 defected with his weapon and ammunition on September 3.
In Sagaing Region, a police officer at Chinese mining firm Wanbao in Salingyi Township joined the resistance along with his weapon, according to local reports.
A total of 3,235 junta soldiers and 10,536 police have deserted since the February 2021 coup, according to the civilian National Unity Government. The NUG said the defectors included a lieutenant colonel and numerous officers.
