Join National Unity Government, Over 8,000 Soldiers And Police Defect From Myanmar Military Regime

Myanmar military regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - More than 2,000 soldiers and 6,000 police officers have now joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), against the Myanmar military regime that staged the February 1 coup, according to a group that helps defectors.

The Pyi Thu Yin Khwin, or People's Hug, said they expect that number to continue to grow in the coming months, and that defections are weighing on the regime's armed forces.

"We have seen so many people within the military start to lose faith in the military council, after their repeated political and diplomatic failures before the international community," said Captain Lin Htet Aung, a military defector and founding member of the group. December 2nd.

"Therefore, it is safe to expect more military officers to join our movement," he added.

Those who have left the Tatmadaw (Myanmar army regime) include at least 10 army majors, as well as hundreds of lieutenants and captains, added Captain Lin, who helps army defectors make contact with the underground National Unity Government (NUG).

Not only that, but Captain Lin also said some defectors would take up arms against the Myanmar military regime. Pyi Thu Yin Khwin has formed a committee under the NUG to help defectors secure accommodation and provide them with security.

Illustration of Myanmar military regime troops. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

On Monday, the committee held a virtual conference attended by acting NUG President Duwa Lashi La, as well as Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than and other NUG leaders. An organization called Pyi Thu Sitthar, or People's Army, was also present.

There are also a number of soldiers assisting the CDM from within the military by sending intelligence, said Lin Htet Aung. In addition, there is more than 100 'watermelon' in the Myanmar military, so called because they are considered green on the outside and red on the inside, green representing the military, and red representing revolution.

"There is a small organization within the army that sends us information about the military administration system and military actions," said Captain Lin Htet Aung.

He added that it was important to keep an eye on defectors because there were also people in the CDM movement who sent intelligence to the military.

The defections, along with the heavy toll inflicted on soldiers by resistance fighters, are likely to upset the sense of unity within the military, said Lin Htet Aung. Because the departing army created an unequal division of labor, with the junta's administrative power weakening.

The military has suffered exorbitant casualties compared to resistance fighters, so much so that it has had to use heavy guns and helicopters against fighters armed with basic weapons, sometimes little more than rifles.

Myanmar military illustration. (Twitter/@MyatWutYeeAung1)

The military has not commented publicly on defections from its ranks. Meanwhile, Yee Mon, the defense minister of the NUG, urged the junta soldiers to stop serving the generals and side with the people whose taxes paid their salaries.

To note, resistance forces in Karenni and Chin have offered cash rewards to soldiers and police who defected.

Estimates of the number of troops in Myanmar's military range from 250,000 to 400,000 across the army, navy, and air force. As for the police, there were an estimated 90,000 police officers across the country before the defections began.

There are signs that the junta is feeling pressure from victims and defections in some areas. In Katha Township, the military has tried to hire retired soldiers to act as reinforcements, according to a retired soldier based in the area.

Brigadier General Phyo Thant, commander of Northwest Command in Monywa Township in Sagaing Region, held a meeting with retired soldiers in the township on October 5.

To note, there are about 10,000 retired military officers and two million retired soldiers of other ranks in Myanmar, according to August 2017 data from the Myanmar Army Retired website.