MoRAC discusses application to UNESCO to recognize MraukU as World Heritage Site

Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko presided over a coordination meeting on the MraukU cultural heritage area for application to include on world heritage lists yesterday.
During the meeting, the Union Minister said 48 heritage sites of the country are preserved under the law in order not to lose the ancient cultural heritages, and MraukU cultural heritage site is a national-level heritage site.
The country boasts of 10 cultural heritages and seven natural heritage sites.
So the officials applied for these 17 heritage sites to be on UNESCO’s list.
He then highlighted the ancient cultural heritages listed on World Heritage Sites, Maha Lawka Marazein pagoda, Yaza Kumar stone inscription, King Bayint Naung bell inscription and documents awarded as Memory of the World while Ananda Chandra Inscription as Memory of Asia-Pacific.
He then discussed that the MraukU cultural heritage site is a special place for the entire Rakhine people. It is also a heritage site that reflects the whole community’s socio-economy, culture, religion, politics, and artworks, he affirmed.
The Union Minister added that people could study MraukU city structure, farmland, religious buildings, city wall, and traditional construction system for kings, including pagodas and spirit shrines. The ancient buildings constructed with sandstones can only be seen in MraukU. The ministry made efforts for MraukU with full of material/non-material culture, to be on the World Heritage list in 2015-2016. The Nomination Dossier (Draft) was submitted to World Heritage Committee in September 2019.
He then said that there would be significant achievement as the advisory teams, work committees, sub-committee, government, regional authorities, region cultural conservation teams, and residents cooperated in conducting the necessary processes to apply for the world heritage list.
It should protect the cultural heritage sites together with the government and public. The heritage sites can bring dignity and economic growth to the region. It also needs to carry out the measures not to affect the interests of the local populace. It can get international technology aids and funds and improve the interests of locals.
Then, Director-General for Department of Archaeology and National Museum U Kyaw Lwin Oo clarified the completions for submitting the world heritage list and ongoing processes.
At the same time, other department heads explained the documents regarding the MraukU cultural heritage site and the draft of the comprehensive management framework for MraukU.
The Union Minister stressed the need to emphasize community peace while efforts are being made for the MraukU region to be on the world heritage list and conduct the ground survey by cooperating with the local and foreign experts, including locals.
He then urged all the people to cooperate with the officials to ensure peace in Rakhine State and concluded the meeting. —MNA