Twelve soldiers, including an officer of the Burmese Army’s Infantry Battalion 32, temporarily based in Three Pagodas Pass border town on the Thai-Burma border deserted and fled to neighbouring Thailand. A broker in Three Pagoda Pass on condition of anonymity said he helped them to escape and get jobs.

The soldiers include Lieutenant Ko Ko Lwin, 2nd Warrant Officer Htay Lwin, and 10 from other ranks. They did not mention the place where they met for security reasons.

The broker said, “They have been in touch with me for a long time but I didn’t believe them. However, I told them to meet me at a location on Thai soil. When they arrived, our people brought them safely to a work place. We did not take any money from them because we sympathized with them.”

The soldiers left their battalion five days ago, they were sent in two separate teams.

An officer from the New Mon State Party on condition of anonymity said that his organization knew about the desertions but refused to talk about it because it did not concern his organization.

Lt. Ko Ko Lwin was a personal assistant to Lt. Col. Khin Zaw, the commander of IB 32. Recently Lt Ko Ko Lwin quarrelled with his battalion commander about he had a motorcycle accident in ‘Three Pagodas’ town. The deserters are from the battalion office on Bayintnaung hill in Three Pagodas Pass.

To provide security to Three Pagodas town, IB 32 exchanged with IB 24 at the end of March. It is believed that IB 32 will replace the Light Infantry Battalion 356 soon. Unlike other towns, there are no permanent battalions in Three Pagodas border town.

The Burmese military junta changes battalions every three months in the border area, battalion commanders have plenty of opportunities to make money in the black market after assuming the position of administrative officer. The Township Peace and Development Council has to obey the commander’s order, locals say the commander’s word is law.