Narinjara News, 8 February 2023

Construction of a concrete pavement inside an ancient Rakhine palace of Mrauk Utownship in  Arakan State was stopped after the local residents raisedstrong objections.

A resident, while talking to Narinjara News, stated that the locals were nothappy with the construction in the archeology site of the ancient city.

"It is assumed as a disturbing act to construct a stone-paved road in theancient palace, when the Mrauk U cultural area has been lobbied for therecognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” he added.

U U Hla Saw, a veteran Rakhine politician and former member of the People'sHluttaw, has written in social media terming the construction activities in thepalace as an act of vandalism.
Mrauk-U cultural heritage area conservation organization chairman Daw Khin Thanalso opposed the construction. She had negotiated with the concerned archeologydepartment officials to abandon the activities.

“We personally visited the construction site and witnessed that a stone pavingway was readied under a development project. As the lane inside the palace ishistorically important, we raised voices against it. Understanding itsimportance, the concerned department has abandoned the work and decided toreorganise the place,” she added.
The construction work began in early January by the Mrauk-U archaeologicaldepartment with an aim to beautify the ancient palace.
In addition to the path, some street lamp-posts and benches were placed alongwith decorative trees in the area.  A Mrauk-U local argues that any ancient site should beconserved. Building a concrete path inside the ancient cultural heritage is notacceptable to the Rakhine people as it’s like destroying the ancient site. Butscientific maintenance becomes necessary, he added.
Narinjara News contacted U Kyi Khin, director of Mrauk-U archaeologicaldepartment, through telephone, but no response was found.
Another resident expressed happiness that the construction activities have beenfinally stopped.
Earlier in December last year, many street lamp-posts were erected in thehistoric Htukkant Thein temple of Mrauk-U township, which werealso removedafter public protests.
Founded by Arakanese  King Min Saw Mon in 1430 AD, Mrauk-U existed for 354years and it is recognised as one of the longest surviving ancient cities inAsia.
In 1784, the troops belonging to Bama King Bo Taw Phaya attacked the place andvandalised Mrauk-U palace. Moreover, historical records prove that soil was dugfrom the surrounding mountains to bury with earth the burnt down palace.