The regime’s Ministry of Information (MOI) reported on Friday that 23 resistance members, allegedly belonging to the People’s Defense Force (PDF), attended a surrender ceremony at the regime’s Southern Regional Military Command (RMC) in Bago Region’s Taungoo Township on Sept. 25.
The 23 former resistance members had been “forcibly recruited” into the PDF, according to the regime. Taungoo is located 127 miles (204 km) north of the region’s capital Bago.
Over 30 members of resistance forces—not under National Unity Government (NUG) command—surrendered their arms to the military in Sagaing Region’s Wetlet Township on Sept. 23.
A PDF member under NUG command told DVB on the condition of anonymity that they were of “questionable character” and had lived “disorderly” lives, without providing further details.
Wetlet, located 50 miles (80 km) northeast of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, is partially controlled by the PDF and administered by the NUG.
Pro-regime media reported that 203 members of unnamed resistance forces, including the PDF, surrendered to the military during a ceremony at the regime’s Central RMC in Mandalay on Sept. 7.
A “first-ever mass defection” from the PDF included a total of 453 men and 53 women, who surrendered to the Central RMC in Mandalay on March 19. This was dismissed at the time as regime “propaganda.”
Nay Phone Latt, the NUG spokesperson, told DVB that PDF members were “attempting to arrest” Bo Nagar and other BNRA members on allegations of murder, assault, and the sexual abuse of minors. Pale, located 39-87 miles (62-140 km) southwest of Monywa and Wetlet, is partially controlled by the PDF.
The NUG reported on Sept. 26 that 20,383 military personnel have been killed in fighting with resistance forces and around 20,000 soldiers have defected from the Myanmar military from July 2024 to August 2026.
