- Web Master
- August 14, 2024
The National Unity Government (NUG) stated that
the junta troops' attack on the archaeological museum in Mrauk-U, the ancient
city of Rakhine State, by artillery shells violates the Geneva
Convention, an agreement Myanmar has committed to honour. Moreover the act
constitutes a war crime.
The NUG's interim board for heritage administration
expressed it through a statement over the attack on the museum on 25 December
and it strongly condemned the assault.
As a signatory to both the Geneva Convention and
the Hague Convention, Myanmar's military action violates these international
agreements. The assault on ancient cultural heritage, not associated with the
military, is always seen as a breach of the Geneva Convention, while attacks on
cultural heritage sites, as stipulated in the Hague Convention, are
characterized as a war crime.
The NUG declared that it would pursue legal
measures in both domestic and international courts against these actions.
Moreover, the actions also violate Myanmar's existing
section 19(a) of the Protection and Preservation of Ancient Monuments Act.
Furthermore, it characterizes the acts as an invasion to permanently disrupt
peace among ethnic groups.
The museum situated within the Mrauk-U heritage site
faced damages from the artillery shells fired by the junta's 540th and
377th battalions.
It safeguards ancient stone inscriptions and cultural art-facts representing the national cultural heritage of successive Rakhine kings. Moreover, the Mrauk-U heritage site is a designated area under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
The museum serves as a repository of historical
traditions, cultural richness and advancements in urban construction technology
of Rakhine State. It functions as a crucial exhibition space for priceless
stone inscriptions and sculptures that narrate the history of the four
flourishing kingdoms in the region namely Dhanyawadi, Waithali, Lemro and
Mrauk-U.
The stone inscriptions, engraved with the royal
customs of Rakhine kings, are considered priceless legacies for the Rakhine
people. The museum plays a pivotal role in showcasing not only the history, but
also the social evolution of the Rakhine people. It stands as a testament to
their rich heritage and also preserves and presents diverse facets of their
cultural legacy.
Destruction of such invaluable ethnic heritage through
military aggression represents the initial steps taken by the ancient
aggressors, whenever they invade and occupy a country. This act involves
demolishing archives and eradicating a nation's resources and thus constitutes
an exceptionally inhumane and reprehensible action.