2 soldiers from Kyaukphyu, 3 policemen from Maungdaw flee with weapons

 More and more junta soldiers are deserting the military camps in Rakhine State. On 4 and 5 February at least five junta soldiers fled with their weapons.

The local residents reported that on 4 February at around 4 pm, a corporal and a private from Kyaukphyu-based 34th infantry battalion fled with weapons.

"We came to know that they fled with weapons. The news of their escape was revealed by a family member close to the military,” said a local source.

Both the soldiers fled midway as the column moved towards Gone Chwein village-tract as they were afraid of fighting against the Arakan Army (AA).

"There are many casualties on the front line and they fled midway because they knew they would have to fight against the AA fighters,” added the source.

On the night after their escape, the military personnel inspected the overnight guest lists of villages in Gone Chwein village-tract. They entered and searched houses. If the owners were found sleeping, they banged on the doors with gun butts, forcing the residents to wake up and cooperate with them.

At the end of January, two soldiers from Thit Pote Taung Dhanyawadi naval base fled with their weapons and they seemingly joined the AA.

On the morning of Monday, inspector Soe Thein Aung, sub-inspector Maung Maung Soe and private Kyaw Than Naing from the district police station in Maungdaw fled to join the AA with weapons, reported AK Media Live and Arakan Dream.

A week earlier, lance corporal Maung Maung Htay and private Nay Lin Tun escaped from the district police station in Maungdaw, said the district police officers.

On 27 January, the residents reported that 12 soldiers fled with their weapons from two checkpoints at the entrance to Taungup township.