Mrauk-U archaeological museum assault violates Geneva Convention: NUG

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.