Burma: "From the military coup, I knew I no longer wanted to serve in the army"

Burmese Captain Nyi Thuta, one of the few officers to have defected from the army.

The original article was written by Jelena Tomic on 24 October 2021, and can be found here: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/fr%C3%A9quence-asie/20211023-birmanie-on-est-pr%C3%AAt-%C3%A0-tout-pour-reprendre-le-contr%C3%B4le-de-nos-vies.

Nyi Thuta is a former Burmese army officer, the first to defect after the military coup in February and publicly denounce the bloody crackdown on civilians. He has sided with the anti-junta armed forces and hopes to lead by example. Exclusive testimony.

We are on February 9, 2021 in Naypidyaw, the Burmese capital. For the first time, police fired live ammunition at demonstrators. A young woman, shot in the head, died a few days later in hospital. The shock is immense. At 19, Mya Thwe Thwe Khine became the symbol of the revolution. She will be the first of 1,186 people killed to date by the junta. 

“  From the military coup, I knew I no longer wanted to serve in the army. But everything changed the day this young woman was killed. It broke my heart, says Nyi Thuta, 30. I wanted to give my support to the anti-junta forces, so that his death and that of other children would not be in vain. On February 28, therefore, I decided to defect.  "

2,000 defections

Despite the risks and after 14 years of service, this officer of the Tatmadaw, the Burmese army, dares to take the plunge. “  Most soldiers don't want to kill people, but they can't leave the army because they are subject to martial law. They do not have the right to resign and must obey the orders of the generals. Military families live in army barracks. If a soldier disobeys, he risks prison and his family will no longer be protected.  "  

To date, according to the government of national unity, 2,000 soldiers have defected, a number never seen in Burma's history. Nyi Thuta hopes to see this figure double. The captain maintains contact with some of his former colleagues via encrypted messaging.

“  They tell me how they feel, what is happening inside the army, the ideological indoctrination of certain soldiers. We have lived for decades under dictatorship. The level of education is very low, which results in a weak critical mind. The majority of the troops are morally defeated, disillusioned. They are afraid to desert. That is why we must help them to extricate themselves from the clutches of the generals.  "

Morale at its lowest

The putsch has revived many old conflicts. The Kachin, Karen, Shan, Kayah or Chin rebel groups joined forces to confront the junta. Fighting is increasing across the country. But faced with an army of 400,000 men, can the People's Defense Force stand up?

 “  The morale of the troops is at its lowest. Today more than 100,000  people have joined the resistance. They are fighting in all states in Burma, currently the most violent clashes are taking place in Chin state and the northwestern Sagaing region. The army suffered heavy losses there. It should be noted that in the past the army had not even succeeded in defeating ethnic groups armed with  10,000 men.  "

“  The people had no choice but to proclaim this revolutionary war. War was our last resort, but we will do anything to regain control of our lives. And we want to win with as few casualties as possible . Captain Nyi Thuta is convinced that a massive defection of soldiers will only be possible if the international community accepts to recognize the government of national unity.