A small variety of Myanmar navy officers have made a dangerous determination to stop the armed forces and be a part of the Civil Disobedience Motion (CDM) of placing staff who abruptly left their jobs to protest towards the coup that seized energy from the elected authorities on Feb. 1, citing voting fraud in November 2020 elections. Three navy officers who just lately left their posts at a protection tools manufacturing unit grew to become the newest servicemen to hitch the CDM. One of many officers, a graduate of the Protection Companies Technological Academy, fled to the Indian border after going AWOL. He spoke to reporter Soe San Aung of RFA’s Myanmar Service about his views on the protests and his navy expertise. The officer requested that his identify, rank, and private data not be disclosed in order to make sure the protection of the 2 different officers and their households. The next Q&A has been edited for readability.
RFA: Why did you defect?
Navy officer: The primary cause I defected is as a result of the navy is meant to guard the nation and the folks. That is the rationale the navy exists. Now, the Burmese navy is arresting, torturing, and killing the folks for no cause. I defected as a result of I dislike their actions.
RFA: Thus far, greater than 700 folks have been killed by safety forces amid crackdowns. As a navy officer, how do you view these killings?
Navy officer: The navy coup was not speculated to occur. As for the folks of Myanmar, we solely need democracy. They’ve taken energy and gone backwards. The responsibility of the navy is to guard the nation and the folks and to be loyal to the ruling authorities. They shouldn’t be inspecting the voter lists [from the November 2020 elections]. The navy coup was not affordable as a result of there isn’t a stable proof of voting fraud or voter listing errors.
RFA: Now that you’re in India, what are you planning on doing subsequent?
Navy officer: I’m wanting ahead to seeing a federal military established by the Nationwide Unity Authorities [Myanmar’s parallel government]. I wish to serve within the federal military in the event that they wish to use my experience. I wish to serve the federal military and the folks.
RFA: How might you assist the federal military?
Navy officer: I’m from one of many factories underneath the navy’s Protection Merchandise Industries, referred to as Ka Pa Sa. I’m reasonably skillful at protection applied sciences.
RFA: What number of officers from Ka Pa Sa are actually concerned within the CDM?
Navy officer: There are solely three officers, together with myself, from the Ka Pa Sa who’re taking part within the CDM.
RFA: From which nations does the navy buy uncooked supplies for manufacturing its weapons?
Navy officer: The uncooked supplies for our factories principally come from China, however these supplies don’t enter Myanmar by way of border buying and selling routes corresponding to [the northern Shan state border trading town] Muse. They arrive by cargo by way of Singapore. Within the Chaw Dwin Gone neighborhood in Yangon, there are storage items referred to as Ka Hta Pa. They home all of the containers with the uncooked supplies for the weapons factories, they usually distribute them to the factories. Many of the uncooked supplies come from Norinco, [a Chinese state-owned defense corporation that manufactures a range of civil and military products]. There are 38 Ka Pa Sa factories [in Myanmar]. The German firm Fritz Werner equipped the tools for manufacturing bullets. So far as I do know, there aren’t any extra gross sales of latest tools from that firm, however it’s nonetheless supplying spare elements.
RFA: What sorts of weapons are getting used towards anti-junta protestors throughout crackdowns?
Navy officer: In February, when the protests have been the heaviest, I noticed [security forces] utilizing rubber bullets and smoke bombs. After they shut down the web, they used extra violent means. They not use rubber bullets and smoke bombs. They’ve been utilizing weapons just like the MA-1, MA-Three and BA-63 assault rifles, which might kill an individual immediately when they’re hit.
RFA: In some areas, native folks say that safety forces have used rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) towards protesters. Are you aware if that is true?
Navy officer: I can not affirm this since I haven’t seen any images, however I’ve seen troops carrying RPGs, so it’s potential they used them. They wouldn’t have carried RPGs with them in the event that they hadn’t deliberate on utilizing them.
RFA: As an adolescent and a graduate of the Protection Companies Technological Academy, what recommendation are you able to give to younger people who find themselves main the Spring Revolution, the native identify for the protests, and the CDM?
Navy officer: In my view, the navy leaders can not flip again at this juncture. The navy can not hand over now. In the event that they did, the leaders must face the Worldwide Felony Court docket or the Worldwide Court docket of Justice, and they might be despatched to the gallows to be hanged. They’ll proceed the violence. They’ll maintain firing weapons and terrorizing the folks. The folks additionally understand it. I see the persons are very decided to maintain combating and win since they misplaced in 1988 [during protests and a general strike in the 8888 Revolution]. This time they don’t wish to lose once more.
Reported by Soe San Aung for RFA’s Myanmar Sevice. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung and Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.