Decisive action required: Terrorist attack on Gokteik threatens cultural heritage
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By Phyo Lin Aung
The deliberate targeting of world heritage and cultural sites has become a grim hallmark of 21st century terrorism. They attack these sites to garner world attention, to express ideological differences, and to finance themselves through the trade of artifacts. As terrorist groups often strive intensively for media attention and seek iconic targets, the attribution of “world heritage” status to a monument or site— that is, its inscription on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) — may paradoxically provoke them to destroy it.
Notable examples include the Taliban's intentional destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001, militant Islamist group Ansar Dine's attacks on world heritage sites in Mali in 2012, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Da’esh) destruction of monuments and archaeological sites in Syria and Iraq over the last ten years.
Myanmar has also faced senseless destruction of valuable property and cultural sites since 2021. Although these are just physical losses, they impact all levels of society because the sites are public property. Since 2021, terrorists have destroyed more than 1,500 roads, bridges, and toll gates. Incidents of landmine explosions primarily carried out by PDF terrorists and ethnic armed forces, have affected public infrastructure. In addition, hundreds of telecom towers have been targeted by terrorists. Nearly a hundred power transmission towers have also been destroyed, along with the demolition of some power stations. These are just a few examples of terrorists’ destruction of public service properties.
Above all, the destruction of cultural heritage represents an irreversible and irreparable loss. Recently, TNLA (Ta'ang National Liberation Army) armed terrorists planted mines and carried out explosions targeting the Gokteik Viaduct, one of Myanmar’s significant landmarks and a marvel of global engineering. As a result, the viaduct’s approach structure (AB 2) on the Kyaukme side, pier No. P 16, and a 60-foot section of the steel deck between the approach structure (AB 2) and the pier were damaged.
The Gokteik Viaduct is located on the Mandalay-Lashio railway line, connecting Nawnghkio and Kyaukme in northern Shan State. Built between 1899 and 1900, it opened to traffic in 1903. This 125-year-old railway bridge is 2,260 feet (689 meters) long, 1,100 feet (335 meters) above sea level, and has a span of 1,260 feet (384 meters). It is the highest railway bridge in Myanmar, the second highest in the world, and the largest railway bridge of its kind in the world. Beyond its engineering significance, the structure has become synonymous with Myanmar's natural beauty, attracting thousands of domestic and international tourists annually. Being also a landmark of Myanmar, preserved by the government and local people for generations, it is included in the list of wonders of the world.
Following the Tatmadaw's recapture of Nawnghkio, the TNLA insurgents retreated, fleeing towards Kyaukme Township. During their withdrawal in late August, the TNLA maliciously and senselessly planted mines and destroyed the Gokteik Viaduct, a prominent and historic landmark of the country that had no relation to military affairs.
This calculated destruction occurs within a broader campaign of increased military activity by the TNLA. Since 2021, the group has significantly expanded its territorial control for the sake of self-administration with more intense military activities. Its involvement in Operation 1027 in late 2023 led to the capture of almost a dozen towns, including Mogok, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Nawnghkio, and Kutkai. However, according to the constitution, the TNLA is only authorized to administer Namhsan and Manton townships in Shan State.
Consequently, life becomes uneasy for those living under TNLA control. In Nawnghkio, which the Tatmadaw recently regained control of, the TNLA has been oppressive, and social conditions are difficult. According to a local, “The main challenge is high food prices. An egg costs between 1,500 and 3,000 kyats. There are persistent disruptions to power and communication networks. Also, if someone disagrees with the TNLA, they can accuse him of being a traitor and have him arrested by TNLA forces. Whether or not they are actually guilty, the victims are first captured and imprisoned.” Additionally, businesses have been struggling to operate under the weight of the TNLA’s tax system, which adds to their financial strain.
The TNLA's actions in northern Shan State extend far beyond those of a typical ethnic armed group, increasingly resembling those of an extremist terrorist group. This alarming shift is demonstrated by a pattern of cultural oppression and destructive violence. In particular, the act of destroying the Gokteik Viaduct, a public-service structure, without any benefit, highlights that the TNLA has become an extremist organization similar to international terrorist groups such as ISIS and the Taliban.
In February 2025, a stark example of this cultural oppression occurred when the TNLA terrorist group, which controlled the area, replaced the Shan State symbol with the Palaung ethnic symbol at the entrance to Hsipaw. Shan civil society organizations issued a statement, strongly protesting and condemning this act. Such incidents of ethnic oppression have been countless. In previous years, similar cases were reported in the Mongyu area of Kutkai Township and the Mongyin area of Namtu Township. Locals also report that rubies and other minerals illegally mined in TNLA-controlled Mogok are being auctioned off almost daily.
Amid the rising senseless violence, twenty-one organizations have issued statements strongly condemning the destruction of the 125-year-old world-famous Gokteik Railway Bridge by TNLA terrorists. Moreover, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission has also issued a statement that this act has caused great losses to the country and its people, threatening peace, the rule of law, and human rights.
In addition, international media outlets have reported that the TNLA detonated the Gokteik Viaduct; however, the TNLA continues to deny this claim. TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told exile media that their group did not destroy the Gokteik Viaduct and that it was damaged by a drone bomb dropped by the Tatmadaw.
National Defense and Security Council spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said that severe retaliation will continue in response to the bombing of the Gokteik Viaduct. “The Gokteik railway has been in use since the British colonial era. It is a bridge that the whole country is proud of and it is used by the public. By destroying the Gokteik bridge, the TNLA and PDF terrorists have demonstrated their cruelty and meanness, and destructive attitude towards the entire public. We will continue to take strong retaliatory measures against them,” he stated.
In 2024, the Myanmar Government designated the TNLA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA) as terrorist groups. However, the subsequent crackdowns have been neither consistent nor effective, leading to a concerning escalation in their destructive activities.
Therefore, it is crucial for the government to reaffirm its recognition of these acts as terrorism and to take decisive, consistent, and effective measures to neutralize the threat. Protecting the nation's cultural heritage is not merely about preserving the past; it is about defending our identity, safeguarding our unity, and investing in the pride of our future generations. –