MYANMAR – Nikkei Asia news agency reported on June 2 that the Burmese army, which is already underpowered, is trying hard to face the revolutionary forces.
Nikkei Asia stated the citing research of Mr.Ye Myo Hein, an expert on Myanmar issue, that about 13,000 soldiers have died in the fighting and about 8,000 soldier have fled and defected to the side of revolutionary people since the coup and the army led by General Min Aung Hlaing has lost a total of 21,000 troops.
He also said that the Burmese army cannot effectively recruit new soldiers to replace the lost forces, and now the total ground, navy and air forces is only about 150,000.
Anthony Davis, a Myanmar affairs analyst based in Bangkok, said, “The strength of the Myanmar army in the coup is completely different from previous estimates and the current total strength is between 100,000 and 120,000 only,” Nikkei Asia reported.
The Military Council has not officially disclosed the casualty figures.