Narinjara News, July 21, 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) stated that on July 20, a newly recruited member of the military council in Sittwe Township surrendered to the AA because he opposed the council's violent acts, such as the destruction of monasteries and houses. ‎

Naing Win Soe, a Karen/Buddhist soldier with a personal number of PA/142952, was the one who capitulated.

In the video, Private Nai Win Soe stated that he surrendered to the AA since he did not want to engage in the same actions himself, criticizing the military council's bombing of innocent people's homes and religious structures.

"The army officials commanded us to enter the villages and destroy the dwellings. We can do anything to any building, from temples to monasteries. However, we were reluctant. They only gave us the order to do the same. They applied pressure to us."

The military council in Yangon forcibly enlisted Pvt. Naing Win Soe on January 2, 2025. He was sent to the village of Ah Myint Kyun, the easternmost outpost of the 55th Division in Sittwe, after finishing his military training.

Outside Sittwe, close to the region under the Arakan Army's control, lies the military council-controlled An Myint Kyun, next to the Min Chaung bridge. ‎

The Arakan Army said on July 9 that Nay Lin Aung and Aung Thet Htun, two soldiers from the Ann-Padan battlefield, had also surrendered.

The Arakan Army (AA) was found to have freed over 1,200 prisoners of war seized during the Rakhine State offensive in four months with ceremonies.