A Series of Mistakes

The following submission was made possible by the team behind Breaking Brainwashed. It was written by Aye Chan Min, a defected soldier.

The army has recently made a series of mistakes in their operations, including instances of bombing the wrong areas and losing entire columns during battle. I have also seen an increase in incidents where military vehicles delivering weapons and rations have accidentally passed through gates where revolutionaries were stationed.

In fact, these mistakes by the military are not new. Just recently, news of Tatmadaw's errors has been widely circulated online. However, I have personally witnessed the mistakes of the military even before this, during my time at the Military College of Telecommunication and Information Technology (MCTI). I remember when General Min Aung Hlaing visited our school and the entire school was thrown into a frenzy of preparation. Taunggyi (Rapakha), the head of the district, came to the school frequently to check on the progress of the preparations, and the school principal, vice principal, and other officials had no time to rest. Even we trainees were not spared from the intense preparations, as we were expected to work like cows without rest, even in the rain.

This experience only added to my dislike of the military, as the first year of military school is especially demanding, with long hours of hard work and little rest. We were treated like slaves and given only the most difficult tasks. It is because of these experiences that I am filled with anger when I see the military continuing to make mistakes and causing harm and suffering to others. It is time for them to be held accountable for their actions and for real change to be implemented to prevent further errors.

This intense preparation for General Min Aung Hlaing's visit took a toll on some of the first-year trainees. Some of them couldn't handle the exhaustion and fell ill. In fact, just three days before the General's arrival, a first-year trainee from our division was rushed to the military hospital in Aung Phang due to a ruptured appendix.

Unfortunately, this military hospital has a reputation for causing more harm than good. In previous years, many students who were sent to the hospital while studying at MCTI ended up dying upon arrival or suffering from severe complications. I personally knew a friend who had to visit the hospital twice during his first year at the school - once for a broken arm and then again for a broken arm and a limp leg. In the end, he became blind as a result of his treatment at the Aung Phang Hospital. Another student I knew became severely disabled after relying on the military hospital, and ultimately had to drop out of school and see his life ruined. It is clear that the Aung Phang Hospital is not a place to be trusted and is more powerful in causing harm than in providing healing. The military must be held accountable for the failures of this hospital and efforts must be made to improve the care and treatment provided to soldiers and trainees.

My first-year trainee was discharged from the hospital after about a month and a half or two months. When he returned I asked about the patient’s news and we had the following exchange:

"Yes, it's fine."

"We were worried about you after you were hospitalized. Do you know about that hospital?" I asked.

"Yes, just a week after I arrived, a communications worker broke his arm and died the next day," he replied with a forced laugh.

"Well, at least nothing happened to you."

"Even though I was discharged from the hospital quickly, my stitches weren't finished for over a month after my stomach was cut open. I have to get them redone every week. After my last surgery, I left the hospital determined not to pretend everything was okay anymore. Here, take a look at my stomach." He turned his shirt over to reveal his belly, which was stitched up with large threads in a way that resembled torn children's clothing. The seam was not neat and you could even see the flesh inside.

"Wow, how are your stitches holding up?"

"Oh, I was discharged from the hospital quickly, so I'm not sure if they'll last until next week," he said with a bitter laugh, the tragedy of his situation clear in his voice.

The military has consistently proven itself to be incompetent and careless in its actions. It is truly alarming that even something as basic as stitching a person's stomach back together after surgery can be done incorrectly, leading to the need for multiple surgeries. This only highlights the extent of the issues within the military, and makes me wary of seeking medical treatment at their hospitals. I have learned to prioritize maintaining my own health rather than risking further harm at the hands of the military's neglect.

It is clear that the military is flawed in every aspect, from dropping the wrong bombs to accidentally shooting its own people. It is not a stretch to imagine that there will be even more instances of harm and tragedy caused by the military in the future. The only glimmer of hope is the possibility that the military council, which has not always been trustworthy, may eventually improve.