Two soldiers defect to KNLA along with weapons

Myawaddy, 12 August

Two soldiers from a military unit under Division 44 joined the combined force of the KNLA and handed over their heavy weapons and small arms to the KNLA on 8 August.

This military unit launched an offensive to regain the Lat Khat Taung hill camp in Myawaddy, Karen State.

Deputy Sergeant Zaw Myo Khaing and private Aung Myo Zaw from Light Infantry Battalion 118 under Division 44 said they joined the KNLA to fight against the dictatorship until the end of the revolution because they disliked the oppressive system of the military council.

The defectors handed over to the KNLA one 60 mm Commando Mortar, five 60 mm mortar shells, one MA-2 rifle, five boxes of ammunition, and 150 MA-2 bullets.

The commander of the Cobra column, Lieutenant Dar Baw, awarded 50,000 baht each to the two defectors.

On July 20, the KNLA joint forces of Brigade 6 raided the Lat Khat Taugn hill camp of the junta army in the area of the KNU Brigade 6 near the strategic town of Myawaddy, and captured the camp on 21 July while the regime forces retreated with heavy casualties.

The KNLA seized a large amount of weapons and ammunition from the camp during the Lat Khat Taung battle.

 The military council sentenced the battalion commander and deputy battalion commander of Light Infantry Battalion 2 to prison for disobedience after they retreated without receiving an order during the conflict, said the commander of Cobra column, Lieutenant Dar Baw.

The junta army has strengthened its weapons and forces in order to retake the strategically important Lat Khat Taung hill camp near Myawaddy.

Since July 24, more than 100 men from Light Infantry Battalions 2 and 118 have launched offensives under the orders of the commander of the 44^th Division.

News-Than Lwin Times

Photo-KNU