Government to help preserve cultural heritage

February 22, 2017

The government has taken steps to make a law for preservation of the country’s tangible and intangible traditional cultural heritage, with a call from Vice President U Henry Van Thio for doing research and adopting policies on the efforts.

Vice President U Henry Van Thio, in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Cultural Central Committee at the committee’s first meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, also stressed the need to explore the hidden traditional culture of the country’s ethnic peoples.

He also said that was something to be proud of; for example to possess cultural heritage sites everywhere across the country, adding that the government was committed to put Bagan in central Myanmar and MraukU in Rakhine State on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Maha Lawka Marazein Kuthotaw Pagoda’s stone inscriptions in Mandalay, Myazedi (Yazakuma) stone inscriptions and ancient Pyu ancient cities have also been included in the list.

Inscriptions on the Bayintnaung great bell at Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan and Arnanda Chandra inscriptions are being proposed to be put in the World Heritage List.

“All Myanmar people are obliged to preserve Myanmar’s cultural heritage, and thanks to preservation works done by the country’s ancestors, the cultural heritage owned by all indigenous peoples still exist today,” he said.

He urged central committee members at the meeting that the committee members need to participate in the cultural and historical development tasks in the States and Regions, in formulating policy to draw rules and regulations for research works to be carried out in line with the needs of the local people, in preserving and exploring ethnic culture and traditions, in the Myanmar cultural heritage sites in the cultural zones.

Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar National Cultural Committee, explained the committee’s organization and responsibilities.

The Director General for the Department of Archeology, National Museum and Library and responsible persons presented forest conservation in the cultural heritage zones and a draft law for Myanmar museums.

Vice President U Henry Van Thio discussed how all the tasks should be coordinated and encouraged them to participate in the coming meetings which could promote cooperation among the related ministries, based on the issues presented at the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, and Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar