Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has invited the Military Council forces to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), while the Junta is at the same time attempting to regain control of the territory in Kayah (Karenni) state.
On July 24, Khu Taw Reh S, team leader of the Defector and CDM Supervision Committee of KNPP,urged the Military Council soldiers to join the CDM again, as they have already arranged accommodation and security for the Military Council soldiers who have previously joined the CDM.
"What I want to express is an appeal to those who wish to join CDM to step forward. I want to encourage and assure them that their safety will be protected. Defectors should be aware, that they won't face starvation. It is essential to understand that employment and income opportunities are more or less similar throughout the entire country, as nowhere in Myanmar today offers absolute guarantee of work and steady income. We need to be mindful of this fact," stated Khu Taw Reh S.
After the military coup, a Defector and CDM Supervision Committee was established in mid-2022 to support CDM soldiers, and the KNPP has been arranging reception programs for these soldiers.
A 22-year-old young man who fled from a military camp on the border after serving two years as a soldier under the Military Council and joined CDM in KNPP, shared his daily experiences while in the military.
"When I resided there, I was constantly in misery, and life was incredibly tough. It felt like I was merely waiting for the day to pass. I endured hunger and abuse during my stay. If I was on guard duty until 6 o'clock in the evening, I had to remain in that state throughout the day. I was also obligated to perform manual labor and fetch water," he recounted.
According to the CDM Supervision Committee, the CDM soldiers who defected from the KNPP have been accommodated and supported for an adequate period, and efforts are being made to help find a new livelihood.
"We have made arrangements to ensure the safety of those who join CDM in that camp. Our intention is not to have them return to war or become soldiers. Consequently, we have placed them in the camp according to our planned timeline. Subsequently, we are actively devising strategies and plans to empower them to become self-sufficient and build a better future for themselves," stated the CDM Supervision Committee.
As of now, the precise number of soldiers who have joined CDM and defected to KNPP is still unknown. In general defecting soldiers in joining the KNPP have a choice about whether they to actively assist the KNDF armed struggle, or if they prefer a non-combat role they can work in a civilian role.
In addition to joining CDM via KNPP, soldiers from the Military Council have also joined CDM in conjunction with the Karenni Local Defense Joint Force.
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) is setting up the KNDF-CDM Department to accommodate and support military council soldiers who decide to join the CDM.
