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

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

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

Both the soldiers fledmidway as the column moved towards Gone Chwein village-tract as they wereafraid of fighting against the Arakan Army (AA).

"There are manycasualties on the front line and they fled midway because they knew they wouldhave to fight against the AA fighters,” added the source.

On the night after theirescape, the military personnel inspected the overnight guest lists of villagesin Gone Chwein village-tract. They entered and searched houses. If the ownerswere found sleeping, they banged on the doors with gun butts, forcing theresidents to wake up and cooperate with them.

At the end of January, twosoldiers from Thit Pote Taung Dhanyawadi naval base fled with their weapons andthey seemingly joined the AA.

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

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

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