Guidance for Encouraging Soldiers to Join the Civil Disobedience Movement
The following submission was sent by a group that we support which works towards military defection. The less soldiers there are to fire off their weapons, the more human lives that can be saved and the sooner this conflict can be resolved. In the following essay, they share their thinking on how to encourage and bring about greater soldier defection. If you would like to support their work, please consider a donation of any size!
If you want a soldier to defect from Myanmar's army, it's important to understand the complex factors that influence their decision. For over six decades, the military has systematically shaped and controlled soldiers, making it challenging for them to consider defection. Soldiers are deeply embedded in the army's ideology, isolated from the outside world, and conditioned to believe that the military is the only meaningful entity.
However, there have been instances when soldiers began to question their circumstances, particularly after the NLD party's 2015 victory, which offered a glimpse of democracy. The 2021 coup d'état shattered these conditions, prompting some soldiers to awaken to the reality of the military's actions and prompting them to consider defection.
Many soldiers desire to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) because they want to avoid harming innocent people. Still, the decision is not easy due to family concerns. Family ties often hinder soldiers from leaving the army. Some fear the suffering their families may endure because of their choice, causing prolonged distress.
Soldiers may face four main obstacles when considering defection:
The reluctance to relinquish their position and power.
Influence from their spouse's family, who encouraged them to pursue power within the military.
Fear of being pursued and killed by the army as a deserter after switching sides.
Concerns about their family's well-being, including their ability to provide for them.
In the early stages, some soldiers feared that living in liberated areas after defection would expose them to risks of violence and arrest. However, the experiences shared by soldiers who have previously participated in the CDM have helped dispel these fears.
Today, the primary obstacles preventing soldiers from joining the CDM are often related to the factors mentioned above. To support transitioning soldiers effectively, it is crucial to address their family life and well-being during and after their military service, while also recognizing the complex personal reasons that may influence their decisions.