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MYANMAR – In addition to huge casualties in battle, the junta council is also suffering from cases of deserters, with over 500 soldiers up to the rank of 2IC defecting in the past five months, said Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than of the National Unity Government (NUG) at the August 22 cabinet meeting.
He said that the junta army, collapsing on all sides, now even had to resort to forming reserve battalions out of their non CDM staffs.
“There are now over 50 soldiers that deserted the junta army just in August and the data for the four months from April to July revealed that there were nearly 500 deserters including a 2IC of major rank in that period. This is just the number of defectors that contacted us and there could still be those who didn’t reach out to us,” said the Union Prime Minister.
Mr. Mahn Win Khaing Than added that he wanted to relay the message that the victory of the Spring Revolution that was fought on the hard work of the people is now close.
The spokesperson for NUG Ministry of Defence, Mr. Mg Mg Swe had also said that the junta army is suffering a huge loss of strength as there are countless casualties as well as deserters in battles.
Karen National Union (KNU) spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee had also informed that junta soldiers can still defect to the side of the people now but also warned that the time window for defectors is narrowing.