Junta trumpets cash rewards for alleged defectors in ongoing propaganda drive

By Admin 20 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

20 November 2025, Mrauk-U

Myanmar's military regime has claimed that resistance fighters have defected to its side, saying they were given financial support, weapons rewards, and featured in ceremonies and photo opportunities.

The regime announced that it held a welcoming ceremony on 17 November for nine alleged Arakan Army (AA) members and six resistance fighters, and said they had been returned to their guardians.

AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha refuted the claim, saying the individuals shown were not AA members.

The regime did not identify the alleged defectors, and their faces were obscured in the released photos.

The junta has announced rewards of K10 million for defectors entering the "legal fold" with weapons and ammunition, K300,000 for a grenade, and K300,000 per individual.

A military and political analyst said the publication of photos and ceremonies touting defections amounted to propaganda.

"The military regime, according to the 2008 Constitution, will spread propaganda that defectors are welcome even if they have committed crimes, and then take legal action. They are just pretending to be revolutionary forces," the analyst said.

Under the Penal Code, Section (a) allows junta soldiers to be prosecuted for rebellion, and Section (b) for harming the government.

Revolutionary forces say the regime, which they describe as suffering military setbacks nationwide, is conducting psychological warfare to demoralise resistance groups.

A resistance fighter in Sagaing Region said the junta's propaganda efforts had failed to win public trust.

"No one believes the propaganda of the military regime that is burning villages and killing people. No matter how much propaganda the military regime puts out, nothing will come of it. We will fight to bring down this dictatorship. That is what the people want," he said.

Revolutionary forces say the junta, which has suffered significant troop losses due to defections to anti-regime groups, is forcibly recruiting new soldiers while continuing its propaganda campaign.