Military Council says Tibaw Bridge not yet to be reopened

Mekong, July 29 The Military Council has stated that there are no plans to reopen the Tibaw Bridge, located on the Union highway in northern Shan State. During a meeting of the Military Council's Hluttaw (parliament) held yesterday, July 28, when Hluttaw representative Sai Kaung Thet San questioned the reopening of the Tibaw Bridge, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Major General Min Thu, responded that there were no plans for reopening. The representative had requested the reopening of the bridge due to the economic, health, and educational hardships faced by the public as a result of the closure of the Tibaw Bridge, which lies on the road connecting Lashio and Mandalay. However, the Military Council responded that it has only been able to control the urban areas and nine village tracts, and citing regional instability, stated that the bridge would not be reopened yet. "The TNLA, MNDAA, and PDF terrorist groups have not completely withdrawn and are still active in the eastern part of the Tibaw Bridge and in the remaining village tracts. Due to security conditions, the Tibaw Bridge is currently temporarily closed," said Major General Min Thu. Furthermore, Major General Min Thu urged the public in the Hluttaw to investigate and report information about armed groups such as the TNLA and MNDAA to the Tatmadaw (military). The Tibaw Bridge, connecting Lashio and Tibaw, has been blocked by the Military Council's troops since November 2025. Due to the Military Council's blockade of the bridge, the public has been forced to cross the river by ferry, leading to frequent accidents, with up to 19 deaths in less than a year. Moreover, crossing by ferry costs between 5,000 and 20,000 kyats per person and between 100,000 and 200,000 kyats per vehicle, causing difficulties for the public. However, Hluttaw representative Sai Kaung Thet San also stated that efforts would continue for the reopening of the Tibaw Bridge. "I will continue to work by any means possible. I will not give up at all," he said on his social media network. The Tibaw Bridge is fully controlled by the Military Council, while the main road between Tibaw and Lashio is controlled by the Kokang Army (MNDAA). #MeKongNews #NorthernShan #TibawBridge #MilitaryCouncil #Hluttaw