SHAN STATE – According to news sources, about half of the more than 100 military and police fugitives who were released from Keng Tung Prison with bond to serve the junta army escaped.
More than 100 military and police fugitives were taken out from the prison after signing a bond and placed in a cantonment in Keng Tung Township, and more than 50 of them escaped, a Keng Tung resident said.
They were released from prison in early December and escaped last week, the source said.
“The military and police fugitives from Keng Tung Prison were released after signing the bond. More than 50 of them fled. They were released at the beginning of this month, to be sent to the front lines,” he said.
On December 4, the junta army, which was suffering from the battles with the revolutionary forces, announced that it would release former soldiers who were in prison and put them into the army in order to strengthen its military strength.
During the first week of December, it is reported that over ten thousand lower-ranking soldiers who had been imprisoned by the junta council were recalled to the army within 24 hours.
During the fighting in northern Shan State, hundreds of military council camps were occupied by the revolutionary forces led by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, and hundreds of military council soldiers were killed and many surrendered.