Dozens of Myanmar Regime Troops Surrender to Resistance in Kayah

By The Irrawaddy 27 June 2023

A number of dozen Myanmar regime troops, together with battalion commanders, have surrendered to the civilian Nationwide Unity Authorities (NUG) and anti-regime resistance teams in southeastern Kayah State close to the Thai border within the largest such give up because the common battle in opposition to the junta broke out in 2021.

A battalion commander, his deputy and troops from the regime’s Gentle Infantry Battalion (LIB) 430 guarding Border Milepost No. 13 in Kayah (Karenni) State’s Maese Township on the Myanmar-Thai border surrendered to allied Karenni resistance forces on Friday, in accordance with sources on the resistance facet.

NUG Protection Ministry Secretary U Naing Htoo Aung additionally confirmed the give up of LIB 430 troopers together with the commander and deputy commander.

“That they had notified [us] that they would depart behind their weapons and are available out of their base,” he instructed The Irrawaddy.

He mentioned a regime battalion guarding an outpost in Nangmar Village within the north of Maese additionally surrendered.

Combating has raged in Maese since allied resistance forces carried out simultaneous assaults on junta outposts close to the Thai border and on the Maese police station on June 13.

Among the many resistance forces preventing the regime in Maese are the Karenni Military, Karenni Nationalities Protection Pressure, Karen Nationwide Liberation Military (the armed wing of the Karen Nationwide Union) and Individuals’s Protection Pressure of the shadow NUG. Two Karenni Border Guard Pressure models that have been beforehand below the command of the Myanmar navy switched sides and fought alongside the resistance forces.

The NUG protection secretary refused to say what number of troops surrendered, citing safety issues for individuals who gave themselves up, however mentioned on Tuesday that some regime troopers had notified Kayah resistance teams and brought refuge with them.

“It may very well be known as the biggest give up to this point,” mentioned U Naing Htoo Aung.

Sources from the Karenni resistance mentioned 21 troopers manning the outpost on the Thai-Myanmar Border Milepost No. 13 surrendered on Friday and their weapons have been seized.

Together with these surrendering at different outposts, they advised the entire quantity surrendering may very well be practically 100.

The Irrawaddy has not been in a position to independently confirm the declare.

Following the give up of regime troops at Border Milepost No.13, mixed Karenni resistance forces have taken management of Maese city, in accordance with the Karenni navy central info committee.

Since then, the junta has responded by sending a minimum of 5 columns of troops from Loikaw and Demoso to Maese, however allied Karenni resistance forces have intercepted them in Hpasawng Township, the place round 400 junta troopers are trying to cross the Salween River.

On Sunday, a regime air strike in Hpasawng killed 4 civilians, in accordance with the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) help group.