The National Unity Government (NUG) shadow government invited junta soldiers and police officers to defect from the junta as part of the ‘People’s Embrace’ programme, on 2 April.

According to the NUG, the People’s Revolution has been gaining momentum in all frontline areas and it advised all junta personnel who can no longer stomach the junta’s terrorist behaviour to join up with the people.

According to an NUG statement, 12,327 soldiers and police officers along with thousands of their family members, had defected from the junta, under the People’s Embrace programme, as of 21 February 2023. Of those who defected 3,236 were soldiers and 9,091 were policemen.

The ‘People Embrace Program Implementation Committee’ was formed under the People’s Embrace programme to provide security, transportation, resettlement, livelihood, and social support from ethnic resistance organisations (EROs), international organisations, and donor organizations for defecting soldiers and police officers.

The NUG also warned that the People’s Embrace programme will not run forever and it encouraged junta personnel to join the programme before it was too late.