Mrauk U:  The old palace grounds of the last capital of the Kingdom of Arakan has been marked by the Burmese military authority to become a castor oil plantation, report local community sources.

A teacher from Mrauk-U said that the military authorities in the town were destroying the heritage of Arakanese people by planting castor oil plants in the third tier of the last Arakanese capital.

He said, "The authority got the Women's Organization and the USDA members to plant castor oil plants. Township Peace and Development Council Chairman, U Tin Hlaing, and the Township Women's Organization Chairperson, Daw Aye Thida Nyunt, organized this new plantation."

A resident of Taung Rat Quarter in Mrauk-U expressed his discontent over the plantation, saying, "This is an insult to our people when they choose the palace hill as the site for a plantation. This is the heritage of the Arakanese people. It is one of the most valuable places for the future generations of our people. They re-built the palace of Mandalay as if it were a heavenly palace; they are destroying our ancient palace. This is a systematic effort to destroy our history."

In recent years, the main tier of the palace has been excavated to reveal archaeological remains of the last Arakanese kingdom, but they did not refill the excavation pits - leaving the remaining structure under threat.

A monk from Mrauk-U comments that "the Burmese government is saying it is important to maintain cultural heritages, but it is acting contrary to this. They didn't refill the pits after the excavation. Now they are going to plant castor oil plants. It is as if the Burmese are saying that Arakanese cannot do anything if the government decides to do what it wants in Arakan - that they can do whatever they want."

Mrauk-U palace was built by Morm Saw Mwan in 1430 and survived until 1784, when it was destroyed by invading Burmese troops. The only structure remaining is a walled hill at the site of the ancient Mrauk-U palace. #

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comments