They come in their ones and twos – Myanmar junta soldiers changing sides or fleeing from the horrors of supporting an illegal military regime.
This week it was announced that two more servicemen put down their arms and joined Myanmar’s resistance movement.
Captain Mote Thone of the Military junta Air Force and Thiha Naing, a soldier from an Air Defense Battalion, joined the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), according to a statement of the People’s Goal Group released on 3 March.
Their defection happened in February when they came with their MA-3 rifles. They are currently in a liberated area with the help of the People's Goal Group.
According to a group member, there are likely to be many good Military Council members who do not like the unjust repression of the terrorist military council and have high levels of ideology and want to serve the people and love the truth, and also want to see the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) as a professional army loved by the people.
“Therefore, we urge all Military Council members that we need to protect our dignity and our future as good soldiers. We also urge all the soldiers to think about the dignity and future of our generation and please get out from under the military dictatorship in time to stand up for the truth with all people,” he said.
The resistance has developed support mechanisms for defectors. The People's Target Team provided assistance to another former soldier, Sergeant Naung Yoe, who has been on the side of the people since April 2021 and has been in hiding. He is now in a liberated area and will soon be introduced to the public.
There is a growing trend of officers and soldiers leaving the military dictatorship who do not like the unjust repression of the military junta and wish to escape.
There are images and information on deserters or CDM soldiers posted at the bases of the Military Council battalions and all soldiers have been warned not to communicate with them.
Former Sergeant Zeya from the Air force said images and posters of CDM soldiers are posted in military barracks with the message not to contact these deserters.
It is estimated that hundreds of deserters fled the Military Council in the first two months of this year. Air Force deserters may number more than 100 over the last 12 months.
According to the People's Goal Group, there are three Air Force officers who have sided with the people. Jade Boss, who has been doing CDM work since early last year, Captain Zay Thu Aung, who joined the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in February to do CDM work and Captain Mote Thone, vetted and released by the People's Goal Group this week.
