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One private from No.66 Division defects to the KNDF

May 20th, 2022

A 26-year-old private from Division-66 of the military council defected to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) B-16 along with one MA-1 gun, one bullet box and 71 bullets, according to an official of the KNDF B-16.

He left the division on May 16th and defected to the KNDF B-17 on May 17th.

“The soldier who joins the Civil Disobedience Movement is from Division-66. He is a private. He was mainly responsible for the security of the military convoy. They (soldiers) had to move from Demawso to Bawlakhae. They experienced a lot of clashes along the road. They were stationed at Htarlae for more than one month. They moved to Matsalaung hilltop outpost and stayed there for two days. He defected when they went outside to collect water. The main reason why he defected is oppression. He joined the army around three months ago. The CMD soldier is U Thet Soe Paing is from Myeik of Tanintharyi Region. He defected from the army due to the tortures inside the army,” the official added.

“I had a plan to defect from the Tatmadaw when I completed the training course. But I was sent to the frontline. The officer beat and tortured me in the frontline. The officer punished me when the vehicles were destroyed in the attack,” U Thet Soe Paing added.

The KNDF B-16 asked for his personal information and handed him over to the People’s Embrace. He is a first CDM soldier who defected to the KNDF B-16.

“We invite CDM soldiers to defect to us. We warmly welcome the defectors. We treat the defectors well and enable them to enjoy the suitable rights,” an official of the KNDF B-16 said.

There are frequent fighting between the military council troops and a combined force of the KNDF B-16 and the Karenni Army (KA), at Matsalaung hilltop outpost in Bawlakahe Township. The military suffered casualties as the KNDF B-16 and the KA frequently ambushed the military convoys heading to Bawlakhae.

Maw Oo Myar (Kantarawaddy Times)

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