Defecting online: How soldiers are deserting the Burmese army
Soldiers from Myanmar鈥檚 military armed forces are leaving in droves, helped by an underground network armed with Facebook and Telegram accounts.
Myanmar has been engulfed by a civil war which is getting deadlier and more violent as time goes on. Last year the Tatmadaw 鈥� the Burmese armed forces 鈥� overthrew the civilian-led government, led by Aung Sun Suu Kyi. Now they鈥檙e acting with impunity, allegedly committing heinous crimes against those who oppose them.
In the past year many Tatmadaw soldiers 鈥� thousands, according to the opposition 鈥� have had second thoughts about their military service and are defecting to the other side. Trending has spoken to several of the defectors. They told us how they changed their minds, how they used social media to connect with the rebels and how they鈥檙e now using online tools to work against the military leaders they once served.
Presenter: Reha Kansara
Photo: Burmese soldiers line up with guns hoisted
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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