9 July 2026 – Four State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military soldiers, including one corporal, defected without weapons to Battalion No. 3 of Mawlaik District under Military Region No. 1 in Paungbyin township, Mawlaik District, Sagaing Region.
According to a statement released by the battalion yesterday, the four soldiers surrendered on 4 and 5 July after leaving SSPC military positions in Paungbyin township.
The battalion said that three of the defectors were newly conscripted soldiers who had been forcibly recruited under the SSPC military’s mandatory military service law, while the fourth was a corporal.
The defectors said they decided to leave the SSPC military due to abuse and oppression by senior officers, as well as restrictions on communicating with their families and relatives.
Battalion No. 3 said it is providing the four defectors with care and assistance, including helping them reunite with their families and supporting them in securing employment.
Military tensions remain high in Mawlaik and Paungbyin townships, where clashes continue between SSPC military forces and People’s Defense Force (PDF) units. Local sources said the SSPC military has intensified repeated airstrikes after suffering battlefield setbacks in the area. – Reporting by Daniel
