Three soldiers who deserted from the Military Junta’s No. 19 Operations Command based in Ye Township, Mon State, have been detained and are currently under investigation by the Ye Blue force, according to local sources.
The defectors, who recently completed military training, entered Ye Blue-controlled territory on July 18 and were apprehended without any armed confrontation, a Ye Blue leader said.
“We’re currently conducting an investigation and will proceed based on their personal wishes. We can’t just release them. If they genuinely don’t want to return [to the junta], we will consider options, possibly treating them as prisoners of war. Since they were not captured on the battlefield, we can handle the matter accordingly,” said the leader.
The three soldiers have been identified as: Mg Wai Yan Aung (Military Serial No. 7, PS-136374), from East Si Village, Kalay Township, Sagaing Region, Pyae Phone San (Military Serial No. 7, PS-136375), from the same village and township, Mg Aung Soe Min (Military Serial No. 6, PS-130839), originally from Thaya Aye Ward, Mawlamyine, Mon State.
According to a Ye Blue social media post, the three had been forcibly conscripted after being deported from Thailand for illegally crossing the border.
They reportedly fled from their unit on July 6 and went missing for several days before reaching Ye Blue territory on July 18, where they were detained.
“At the time of arrest, there were no complications. But since this area is frequently crossed by junta forces, it wasn’t easy to relocate them safely,” said a Ye Blue official.
The defectors claimed that the junta continues to forcibly conscript civilians and send them to the frontlines. Those who escape are actively pursued using both ground forces and drones. If caught, they are redeployed to the battlefield.
Similar desertions are also occurring among junta police. According to a June report by the People’s Goal Organization, over 120 junta police personnel defected to resistance groups across the country during the month.
