Myanmar’s military ambitions

Top-secret material reveals that Myanmar is trying to build rockets and nuclear weapons.

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Myanmar’s ruling generals have started a programme to build nuclear weapons. They are trying to develop long-range missiles.

Elections later this year are aimed at convincing the world they are moving towards democracy. But fearing attack from the US and an uprising by their own people, Myanmar’s generals are instead digging themselves in with a nationwide network of bunkers.

With top-secret material gathered over five years, this film reveals how Myanmar is trying to become the next nuclear-armed North Korea.

Key files and other information has been smuggled out by defecting army Major Sai Thein Win, a former deputy commander of a top-secret military factory at a town called Myaing.

Before leaving, he smuggled out thousands of files detailing a secret programme by Myanmar’s ruling generals to build nuclear weapons. 

To check Sai Thein Win’s claims, the Democratic Voice of Burma had him show the files to Bob Kelley, a former intelligence officer at North America’s nuclear facility Los Alamos and an ex-director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Files and photos were also shown to Geoff Forden, a military research scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The experts agree Myanmar is a long way from achieving its goals.

But many believe that with its stated intent to one day acquire nuclear weapons, Myanmar’s military ambitions should be taken seriously.

Myanmar’s military ambitions can be seen from Friday, June 4, at the following times GMT: Friday: 0600; Saturday: 1900; Sunday: 0300; Monday: 1400; Tuesday: 0530; Wednesday: 1900; Thursday: 0300.