A revolutionary bridge too far in Myanmar

Myanmar’s dictator Senior General Min Aung Hlaing showcased a major infrastructure project on June 8, opening the Thanlyin Bridge 3 across the Bago River, linking the commercial capital Yangon with the Thilawa Special Economic Zone.

Started in 2019 with a 31 billion yen (US$197 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the bridge symbolizes economic progress under the State Administration Council (SAC) junta that is largely at odds with widespread armed conflict and economic decline its coup has caused.

Just days later, however, military-controlled media announced that security forces had thwarted a plot to attack the bridge opening ceremony. Several people were arrested with two 107mm rockets and launching gear in a workers’ housing area close to the bridge. Two more were arrested the following day with another rocket.

SAC-aligned media claimed that “(o)n the morning of June 8, 2024, in an old wooden cabin in the shipyard workers’ housing area in Ward 61 of Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township… several UG (underground) members were apprehended…(a)ccording to a report from a concerned resident opposed to terrorism.”

The military media, which can never resist displaying a “perp-chart” of mug shots and alleged connections between the conspirators, designated some of them as “rocket shooter”, “shooter assistant”, and “situation monitor.”

It claimed that a man called “Arkar Min (yet to be apprehended) of the Brigade Drone Force PDF (People’s Defense Force) provided instructions on how to use rockets via Instagram in the third week of April 2024.” Another alleged leader, Phyu Hnin Aye, was designated as “Rocket shooting director (at large from Mae Sot).”

The SAC has accused the exiled National Unity