More defections from the Burmese Army have come to light following the desertion of Maj Sai Thein Win, the source of the latest exposé of the ruling military junta’s nuclear weapons programme, sources on the Thai-Burma border said.
The latest deserters are reportedly from the Air Defense Command, under the command of Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing, former commander of the Northeastern Region Command. They were identified as Captain Aung Ko Ko and Captain Aye Min Maung, who deserted in the same month, said an informed source from the Thai border security.
Capt Aung Ko Ko, who deserted on May 21, was from Air Defense Battalion # 3036 and Capt Aye Min Maung, who deserted on May 3, was from the Air Defense Base#4.
“But there have been no reports about where the two have gone,” the officer said.
Following the two’s defections, Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing passed an order on June 16, to every subordinate level command to prevent its men from deserting. If there is someone reported fleeing from a unit, the commander concerned will be held responsible for the desertions. In addition, he would also be heavily punished and would be forced to resign by the Tatmadaw, if his men are reported to have defected to opposition groups.
The headquarters has said that the reason for more desertions is because unit commanders do not have practical measures to monitor its own officers, especially while they are on a visit to their families or on holidays. Another fact is commanders do not make an effort to arrest deserters in time.
“More desertions are reported from other locations, some from low ranking officers and some just private soldiers,” he said.
Top leaders are more worried about internal unity in the army after Sai Thein Win’s disclosure of the junta’s nuclear programme, according to a source close to Naypyitaw.
A border-based group the Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), quoting documents it had compiled, reported on 23 March 2007 that the Burmese Army, with 215 infantry battalions and 340 light infantry battalions totaling 555 in September 2006, had been losing about 10,000 men every four months, most through desertions.
In the past few years, as many as 200 officers have deserted. Missile expert Maj Sai Thein Win deserted in February.
