Myanmar Military Sentences Three Generals to Death for Surrendering to Rebels

The military regime in Myanmar has handed down death sentences to three brigadier generals for surrendering to rebels who captured the strategically vital town of Laukkaing in Shan State earlier this month.

This move comes as the junta intensifies its crackdown on perceived acts of defiance within its ranks.

According to local reports citing junta sources, three other brigadier generals have been sentenced to life imprisonment, all facing charges of "shamefully abandoning their posts." The independent news portal, The Irrawaddy, quoted insider information on these judicial actions.

The three generals facing the death penalty have been identified as Brigadier General Moe Kyaw Thu, who served as the Laukkaing headquarters chief; Brigadier General Tun Tun Myint, acting chief of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone; and Brigadier General Zaw Myo Win, the commander of Division 55, as per junta sources.

Sources indicate that the condemned generals are currently being held at Insein Prison in Yangon, reflecting the severity of the punishment meted out by the military regime.

The fall of Laukkaing, a town notorious for criminal activities and scams along the Chinese border, marked a significant setback for the junta. The town's capture by rebels represents the most substantial defeat for the military regime since its overthrow of the elected government in February 2021.

The surrender of nearly 2,400 troops, including over 200 officers, to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on January 5 was a major turning point. The MNDAA reportedly sent these surrendered soldiers and approximately 1,600 of their relatives back to the junta.

Former army captain Kaung Thu Win, who joined the civil disobedience movement after the coup, stated to The Irrawaddy that the severe penalties were aimed at dissuading other commanders from abandoning their strongholds.

The military has faced increasing pressure since the Brotherhood Alliance, comprising the MNDAA, the Arakan Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, launched Operation 1027 across northern Shan State on October 27, 2023. The alliance claims to have seized more than 500 junta bases, including headquarters, 17 towns, and key trade routes with China across northern Shan State.

Despite recent reports of a "temporary ceasefire" agreed upon at a China-mediated meeting earlier this month, the situation remains volatile, with the military regime taking stern measures against those perceived as betraying their posts.