From Our Own Correspondent

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Factual

Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents and writers.

Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers telling stories from around the world.

BBC Radio 4 FM

From Our Own Correspondent: The Myanmar Soldiers Refusing to Fight

The Myanmar Soldiers Refusing to Fight

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, The Myanmar Soldiers Refusing to Fight

As civil war grips Myanmar, soldiers are defecting to avoid killing their own people.

As civil war grips Myanmar, soldiers are defecting. Some are fleeing to Thailand, where they are given shelter by the democratic opposition they were once fighting.

Kate Adie introduces stories from Myanmar's civil war, Iran, Moldova, Denmark and South Georgia.

Since the military overthrow of the democratically elected government in Myanmar in 2021, the country has slid into civil war. When initial, peaceful demonstrations against the military coup failed, civilians took up arms. Now, some of the soldiers they are fighting are deciding to defect - refusing to fight against their own people. Many have fled to Thailand, where Rebecca Henschke spoke to them.

When an Iranian former political prisoner goes missing, who should his family turn to for help? The daughter of Ebrahim Babie was rightly reluctant to contact the Iranian authorities who had targeted her father, and instead she called the BBC's Persian Service. Jiyar Gol tells the story of his search for a missing dissident. 

Moldova shares a large border with its much larger neighbour Ukraine, and since Russia's invasion, Moldovans have been on edge. Disinformation about the war have widened the unease between pro-western and pro-Russian factions in the country. But Moldova's president has big plans for a future in the EU, and was boosted by a recent European summit held in the capital, Chisinau. Stephen McGrath reports. 

Hidden in a forest in northern Jutland, nearly 250 miles from Copenhagen, the sprawling REGAN Vest complex was built at the height of the Cold War. This huge nuclear bunker is where the Danish government and queen would have sheltered in the event of nuclear attack. Adrienne Murray paid a recent and discovered a remarkable time capsule that continues to resonate. 

The island of South Georgia, eight hundred miles north of Antarctica, was plundered by Antarctic explorers, with its whales, seals and penguins killed for their oils, furs and meat. But now the island lies within a vast nature reserve, and on a recent visit Mark Stratton found an island restored. 

Producer: Claire Bowes
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples

Photo: Captain Zay Thu Aung, who spent 18 years in the Myanmar air force (Credit: ANDRE MALERBA/BBC)

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

From Our Own Correspondent

The Myanmar Soldiers Refusing to Fight

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4