Sixteen military conscripts who were forcibly recruited by the military junta have surrendered in an area administered by the Karen National Union (KNU) in Kyaukkyi Township, Bago Region, according to a statement released by the KNU Central Committee.
The KNU said that on June 15, eleven conscripted soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion No. 53, based in Paukkhaung, surrendered to Battalion 3 of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO).
Similarly, on June 9, five conscripted soldiers from Infantry Battalion No. 595, based in Kawthoung, also surrendered to KNDO Battalion 3.
According to the KNU, all 16 soldiers had been forcibly conscripted and later deployed to frontline areas.
The KNU also urged other individuals who were forcibly recruited into military service to leave the military junta’s forces and surrender to nearby revolutionary organizations.
