When more military council soldiers joined the non-violent civil disobedience movement called CDM, the Junta imposed further restrictions on soldiers to prevent any contact with anti-coup
forces and make it even harder to defect , a CDM source informed the Than Lwin Times
In late April, more soldiers from the Military Council's military joined the CDM because the Military Council organized fun and relaxation activities within the military during Thingyan.
A military affairs observer revealed, " Now the military has taken possession of NRC cards and Census documents. Some individuals were compelled to alter their census and NRC cards by the military for security and election-related reasons. These modified documents were collected and retained by the military. This is the first point. Moving on to the second point, individuals are now prohibited from taking leave or traveling outside without authorization. Even officers are not permitted to go alone; they must be accompanied by two or three others. Prior approval from superiors is mandatory before any travel is allowed,” said a military affairs observer.
This observer reported that the Military Council is currently taking measures to control the rate of desertion and joining the CDM. They are keeping NRC cards and census documents within the military compound ,and imposing restrictions to prevent people from leaving the military.
"Based on accounts from individuals who approached us, even regular soldiers are prohibited from visiting the shops located in close proximity to the military. The restrictions are so stringent that only officers are granted permission to go there," he said.
According to a military affairs observer, the Military Council has escalated its actions by withholding salaries from certain military troops and employing various methods to suppress and restrict their families. Despite these internal repressive measures, the number of troops joining the CDM from the Military Council and expressing interest in joining continues to rise.
At present, soldiers who have left the Military Council's military are being welcomed by different groups like People's Goal, People's Embrace, People's Hero, May May Yin Khwin, and local organizations.
Based on information from May May Yin Khwin, more than 12 individuals have joined the CDM within just one month after Thingyan. Additionally, there are those who have fled as deserters and sought refuge in liberated areas.
Sergeant Htet Naing Aung, who joined the CDM from the Air Force, mentioned that the Junta’s Air Force, currently has the fewest members in the CDM.
"In the Air Force, we have three divisions: administrative, industrial, and aviation. If the information from our side effectively reaches them, it can help shape their perspective and potentially lead to their involvement in the CDM," he said.
Every day, Military Council troops are losing their lives in the ongoing battles and attacks carried out by urban revolution forces throughout the country. Additionally, there are troops who are escaping without anyone being aware of their whereabouts.
As a result of the aforementioned circumstances, the Military Council is implementing repressive measures within the military. Furthermore, the CDM community perceives a lack of strength and morale among the armed forces.
The National Unity Government (NUG) has announced that individuals who have departed from the Military Council and joined the CDM will be rewarded with a significant incentive. It has been disclosed that the number of soldiers and policemen who have joined the CDM since the coup took place over two years ago, has reached approximately 20,000.
Some individuals who joined the CDM have returned to the Military Council, causing concerns. As a result, the NUG has stated that they are implementing a gradual verification and acceptance process. However, no specific information has been provided regarding when the acceptance of new members into the CDM will be closed.
