November 1, 2024
Two new recruits from the No. 2, 300-Bed Military Hospital in Ann Township, Rakhine State, reportedly defected to the Arakan Army (AA) on October 31. Both soldiers, carrying their weapons, managed to evade the Myanmar military forces and sought refuge with the AA, according to a spokesperson from the AA.
The soldiers, identified as Yin Htwe and Min Thukaw, allegedly defected around 1:30 p.m., taking two MA-1 rifles and additional ammunition. Yin Htwe, aged 30, and originally from Okpho Township in Bago Region, reportedly attended basic military training at No. 5 Basic Military Training Camp in Yae Ni, Bago. He joined the military in May and was later assigned to the military hospital in Ann Township, where he has been stationed since.
Similarly, Min Thukaw, aged 27 and also from Okpho, completed the same training before joining the army on May 14. He, too, was stationed at the 300-Bed Military Hospital. Both soldiers were reportedly conscripted under pressure, with their mobile phones confiscated and ordered to join the military despite their civilian backgrounds, which involved work as motorbike taxi drivers in Okpho Township.
AA sources claim that these defections are part of a larger trend, with many new recruits deserting due to poor conditions. Defectors have described incidents where army officials threatened deserters with gunfire, allegedly leading to minor injuries for both Yin Htwe and Min Thukaw as they attempted to escape. Additionally, reports indicate that soldiers have not received meals for the past three days, further motivating their decision to leave.
