Narinjara News, March 22/2023

Two junta’s soldiers who fled unarmed from the border guard camp at ZaydiDaung Pagoda near Zaydibyint Village in Rathidaung Township surrendered to theArakan Army (AA) in the evening of March 19, said a report of source close toAA.

The camp is located at eastern site of Mayu range near Zaydibyint Villageand Kyauk Pandu village mountain road pass and there is a border are about 70soldiers are stationed.

A local resident said, "Yesterday, they fled. Two soldiers. I knowthey don't have weapons. I can't confirm their positions or names."

A local close to AA said that the two soldiers only had backpacks and noother weapons.

Regarding this issue, Narinjara contacted Rakhine State Security and BorderAffairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura and Rakhine Army (AA) Spokesperson U KhaingThukha, but they have not any reply.

On March 6, Maungdaw Township South 4 (4) border guards from the 9th Battalionof the Myin Lwet  Border Guard Stationfled with their weapons and surrendered to AA.

Last January, three (3) military council soldiers from the (540) battalionbased in Mrauk U town and one (1) military council sergeant from the (378)battalion based in Mrauk U also escaped with full weapons.

Similarly, in 2022, some members of the military forces  also ran away unarmed from the Maha MuniPagoda Hill in Kyauk Taw Township. (NN-7).