Four soldiers from junta Battalion (252), serving in Nam Khae Village, in Namhsan Township in Northern Shan State’s Ta'ang (Palaung) Region, deserted from the military on 4 April.

The four fugitives, who had served as soldiers for one year, said they fled because they could not stand the oppression they suffered in the army.

"It's rough in the military force. I was oppressed. They blamed me [for things] for no reason and slapped me on my cheeks. I had no right to say anything. The average salary is 160,000 kyats [$87 USD] [a month] but I just got 100,000 kyats [$54 USD] every month. That's why I talked about it [deserting] with my comrades and we ran. We left our uniforms and weapons in the tent at the outpost”, said one of the fugitive soldiers.

The four deserters were forcibly recruited in different ways and some have said they want to find different jobs with better conditions.

There are only 13 soldiers left at the military junta outpost in Nam Khae Village. In total, including the most recent four deserters, nine soldiers have deserted from the outpost, according to one of the recent deserters.

The four deserters are currently being looked after at a safe place.