The ongoing general amnesty announced by the Defence Ministry for tri-forces personnel who have been marked as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) and have obtained legal discharge from service has seen a significant response, with over 11,000 absences recorded, according to tri-forces Media Spokespersons. Effective from April 20 to May 20, 2024, the general amnesty targets other rank members of the tri-forces who went AWOL before December 31, 2024. In the initial two-week period ending on Saturday, a total of 9,735 Army personnel, 938 Navy personnel, and 676 Air Force personnel have availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain their legal discharge.
Tri-forces sources have also indicated that additional personnel marked as AWOL, currently overseas, are planning to seek discharge during this amnesty period. However, it’s important to note that this general amnesty does not extend to commissioned officers of the tri-forces, as clarified by the Defence Ministry. The response to this amnesty underscores efforts to address absenteeism within the ranks of the tri-forces and streamline the discharge process for those who have chosen to pursue legal pathways for leaving the service.