Residents report that junta soldiers who have fled from Taungup are hiding in villages on the border between Magway and Bago Regions.
On 2 December, more than 100 junta soldiers sent from Bago Region to reinforce Taungup came under attack in the area and were forced to retreat on 12 December.
A local resident said, “On that day, more than 100 junta soldiers were sent for reinforcement. Only about 25 soldiers managed to return. Some soldiers did not report back to the regional battalions. The majority of them were injured.”
Junta soldiers who fled from Taungup are hiding in the villages between Mindon Township in Magway Region and Oke Shit Pin Township in Bago Region, in civilian clothes, local residents said.
Among the hiding junta soldiers are also high-ranking military officers. Some of them died along the road from Taungup due to lack of food and water.
According to sources close to the military, only about 25 of the junta soldiers who fled from Taungup reported back to the military council battalions and rejoined them.
The military council is treating the injured soldiers at the Magwe military hospital, and when they recover, they are either deserting the army or trying to be listed as dead because more reinforcements will be sent to Arakan State.
According to a source close to Magway military hospital, on 12 December, the amputated patients arrived at the hospital in three military vehicles (Faw), but it is not known where they came from.
Following reports that the Arakha Army (AA) had taken complete control of MOC-5 in Taungup Township on 14 December, military council soldiers in Taungup have begun fleeing toward towns and villages in Bago Region.
Sent by Than Lwin Times
