မင်းသော် The battalion commander, Hlaing Aung Min, was not reporting the deserters to his superiors, but was taking away their food and salaries
According to sources within the military, more than 30 officers and soldiers of the 918th Field Engineer Battalion, based in Myeik, Tanintharyi Region, deserted from the army over a period of one and a half years, from June 2024 to June 2025.
Although the total strength of it and soldiers in the 918th Field Engineer Battalion is nearly (300), only (200) soldiers remain in the battalion, as the headquarters of the 13th and 20th Battalions were given (100) additional personnel. It is reported that most of the soldiers who deserted without permission were also soldiers from the battalion.
Despite the high number of such desertions within the battalion, the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hlaing Aung Min, is reportedly misusing the rations and salaries of the deserted soldiers without reporting the true list of absenteeism to his superiors.
“There are over 30 deserters in the army, the battalion commander is hiding the list, he is misusing the salaries and rations of the deserters, and at the end of the month, all the rights of the deserters are handed over to him with a list,”
an insider told BBM. Not only that, but the battalion commander was also said to be unfair in sending officers and soldiers from within the army to join other combat units, sending only officers and soldiers who were not compatible with him.
In addition, the military source added that there were casualties and missing soldiers among the accompanying troops, and the battalion commander did not provide support to the families of the soldiers and even bullied and tortured them.
“Some of the front line partners have not been able to go for over 3 years and are still not allowed to go. He only adds those are not compatible with him. He does not support the families of soldiers who are missing or killed in action, and he even bullies and tortures them himself.”
Field engineer battalions were previously tasked with clearing and searching for mines on the front lines in conjunction with infantry units, but as fighting has intensified in some areas, they have also been engaged in combat duties alongside infantry and soldiers, resulting in many casualties.
