More PDF members rejoin society via growing legal awareness over past 5 years
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Htet Nadi (NP News)- February 14
Over the past five years, the PDF terrorist group has been waging a revolution that has led to the loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods, and many PDF youth are coming to their senses and returning to the legal fold.
It has been reported that on the morning of February 13, 141 male and 9 female PDF members, a total of 150, returned to the law enforcement community with 18 guns and ammunition at the Central Command in Mandalay Region.
At the ceremony, officials received the weapons, provided them with rewards, and returned them to their parents in an organized manner.
Similarly, on January 23, 141 men and 8 women from the MDY PDF entered the legal framework with weapons and ammunition, according to sources close to the security forces.
In addition, on February 11, 16 men from Yangon Region, Insein Township, Ayeyarwady Region, Lemyethna Township, Ingapu Township, Ye Kyi Township, and Pathein Township returned to the legal system with weapons and ammunition, believing in the peace process of the government and the Tatmadaw.
Those who have reintegrated with the lawful society said that they could no longer accept the violent acts of PDF group such as forced recruitment, killing of innocent civilians and employees, and destruction of roads and bridges.
Furthermore, they abandoned the armed struggle due to discrimination within the group, torture by the commanders, food shortages, and a lack of morale amidst their inability to resist the Tatmadaw's attacks.
A 17-year-old woman who return to the legal system from MDY PDF on November 28, 2025, shared her experiences that “I went to MDY PDF because I wanted to get a job. During the training, the instructors harassed the girls. When I tried to escape, they threatened me, saying, ‘If the Tatmadaw catches me, they will torture me, rape me, and kill me.’ But when I actually came to the legal fold, the Tatmadaw officials welcomed me warmly. There was no torture at all , and they even arranged for me to go home. I would like to invite my brothers and sisters who are still in the PDF groups to give up these bad practices and come to light.”
Currently, as support for PDF members is decreasing and more people seek personal gain in the name of support, many are becoming disillusioned with the revolution.
The government has called on all those who are currently in the PDF and ethnic armed groups for various reasons to return to the legal framework. Those who wish to reintegrate can immediately report to the nearest district/township administrative units, military camps and police stations, and rewards and necessary assistance will be provided depending on the inclusion of weapons and ammunition. –