Two soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 343 based in Ye Township, Mon State, have defected to the Ye Guerrilla Force (YGF) along with their weapons and ammunition, a YGF official told IMNA.
The two soldiers joined YGF Battalion No. 8001 under Military Strategy (33) on April 4. They brought with them two MA-1 rifles, six magazines, and 230 rounds of ammunition.
According to YGF spokesperson Comrade Saw Khit Thit, the defectors are Private Than Ko Ko (ID No. PS-173997) and Private Bo Bo Kyaw (ID No. PS-176064).
“The latest two were contacted through intelligence efforts. They left their guard post and were picked up by our side,” he said.
The two soldiers were reportedly conscripted into the military under forced recruitment. They had completed military training at Waekali Training School in Thanbyuzayat Township and another training school in Yamethin Township, Mandalay Region.
The YGF has been awarding financial incentives to defectors based on what they bring. Those who defect with a firearm are typically awarded 3 million kyats, those bringing ammunition receive 500,000 kyats, and those without weapons receive around 300,000 kyats per person.
However, due to financial constraints in 2026, the group has not yet been able to provide rewards to recent defectors.
“Normally, we give 3 million kyats to those who defect with weapons. But for the 11 who defected most recently in 2026, we have not been able to pay yet due to funding difficulties. We are trying to provide the rewards within this month,” the spokesperson added.
Since the military coup, a total of 23 soldiers have defected to the YGF, and these individuals are now serving in both combat and logistics roles, according to the group.
Data collected by the People’s Goal organization, which monitors defectors and prisoners of war, shows that between January 2025 and March 2026, a total of 2,992 individuals nationwide either surrendered or were captured by revolutionary forces.
