Myanmar's Military Defects, This Major Trains Civilians Against The Coup Regime

Major Hein Thaw Oo while training civilians. (handout via Myanmar Now)

JAKARTA - Disillusioned with the continued practice of killing civilians by Myanmar's military regime, Major Hein Thaw Oo chose to defect and quit the military.

Not only that, Thaw Oo then chose to train civilians to fight Myanmar's military regime. Starting Saturday, May 8, he trained civilians with military skills.

The trainees are between 20 and 35 years old from various cities in Myanmar. Although, the exact number of participants and the location of the training is kept secret, for the safety of the trainees.

In addition to teaching recruits to fight, basic training will include first aid on the battlefield, English lessons, and computer and vocational courses.

"We will not accept this blatant and unnecessary killing of innocent civilians. People won't accept it either. Those in this evil army (Myanmar military) will die when the time comes," he said, visiting Myanmar Now on Monday, May 10.

Before defecting, Major Hein Thaw Oo served in the Myanmar military's Light Infantry Division 99 for 20 years. He decided to defect from the Meiktila-based unit at the end of March.

"Fighting with military regime forces can begin at any time, the major added. Nothing can be arranged with combat. Maybe they'll come to you and maybe you'll come to them. It could happen today or tomorrow," he said.

Myanmar's military forces have killed more than 770 people including dozens of children during attacks on protesters and others since February, according to a tally by the Aid Association for Political Prisoners.

One of the recruits on Saturday was a young man who fled Bago after surviving a massacre there last month in which 82 people were killed, according to a local aid group.

After the army took over the neighborhoods of Ponnasu, Hmor Kan and Socialists on April 9, they began kidnapping and indiscriminately torturing young people.

Some residents decided to leave the city to join the armed resistance.

"Those who bully and torture people and dare to kill people. I hope they are also ready to die," said Hein Thaw Oo.

Hein Thaw Oo added that he was willing to join any organization that would work towards a country without a dictatorship, and alliances with several organizations had been formed.

For the record, the National Unity Government, formed by ousted lawmakers, has been negotiating with armed ethnic groups with the aim of forming a federal army to fight the coup regime. On May 5, it was announced the formation of the People's Defense Force.

Announced by shadow Deputy Defense Minister Khin Ma Ma Myo, the national 'People's Defense Force' will serve as a pioneer of the 'Federal Unity Army' of democratic forces, including ethnic minorities.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.