No AA fighters have defected to Myanmar military: AA spox

By Admin 18 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

18 November 2025, Mrauk-U

Nine Arakan Army (AA) members and six People's Defence Force (PDF) fighters entered the legal fold with weapons and ammunition, according to junta-controlled dailies on November 17.

The junta-controlled dailies claimed the nine AA defectors were from Minbya, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Thandwe and Gwa townships, while the six PDF fighters were from Maubin, Laymyathna, Zalun, Kyangin and Yekyi townships.

The reports said the defectors were welcomed at a ceremony at the Southwestern Command headquarters in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, where they were also given financial support.

Responding to the regime's claims, AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha said: "There is absolutely no such incident. It is possible that the military regime arrested some Arakanese people who were travelling and then forcibly tortured them to make them talk."

Although the military regime asserts that AA members and resistance fighters have defected, it has not identified the individuals, and the released photos show their faces obscured.

The regime also claimed the defectors were given K1 million for two automatic rifles, K300,000 for a hand grenade, and K300,000 as a reward for each person.

The junta report did not specify in which battles the alleged defectors had fought, but one was quoted as saying he defected to Light Infantry Battalion 51 based in Myanaung, Ayeyarwady Region.

The junta-controlled dailies also carried purported statements from AA defectors.

"When I was in AA, I couldn't contact my family or make phone calls. The food was not good when I was in AA. After a while, I got frustrated. Living, eating and drinking were rough. Sometimes we had to sleep in mud and puddles, and we got bitten by mosquitoes. When I ran away from AA, they caught me and imprisoned me. I didn't want to be imprisoned either," one said.

Another was quoted as saying: "I didn't want to live under the AA, so I broke away and fled. Sometimes I couldn't eat the rice, so I threw it away. They only gave us three or four fish. Sometimes we ate nothing, just sprinkled salt on the rice. After a while, I got frustrated. I didn't want to live in that organization. That's why I decided to defect."

Captain Zin Yaw, a participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement, said hiding the defectors' identities and faces was solely for propaganda purposes, adding that it was impossible for AA members to defect to the regime.

"I think this is just propaganda from the military regime. We have also fought with the AA. We have never seen anyone defect from the AA. The weapons used by the defectors are the MA-series, which are not commonly used by AA members. In fact, they often report with full information. This is a false portrayal of Min Aung Hlaing, saying that the military has such great organizational skills. It is possible to capture resistance fighters alive in battle, but it is impossible to defect with weapons," he added.

The AA said the junta's claims amounted to psychological warfare aimed at intimidating those who have surrendered to the Arakan Army during ongoing clashes with the regime.

"The more junta soldiers surrender to us, the more likely they are to carry out psychological warfare. The military regime may be carrying out counter-propaganda as junta soldiers surrender every day," said U Khaing Thukha.

The AA said on November 11 that it is conducting defensive operations and counteroffensives in response to the regime's offensives along the Arakan-Bago, Arakan-Magway and Arakan-Ayeyarwady borders, and that at least 70 junta soldiers had been captured.

Military observers say the regime is attempting to re-invade AA-controlled areas and is using continuous propaganda to attack the AA during the fighting in order to meet its needs for soldiers.