Continued fighting in MraukU Township, Rakhine State, may hinder the ongoing efforts to enlist the region as a World Heritage Site, said heritage consultant Ohnma Myo.

The consultant made the comment during a political talk on "The Rakhine issue is Union Affairs" held in Yangon on June 2.

A draft proposal on the enlistment of MraukU region has to be submitted by September 2019 showing evidential facts about why the region should become a heritage site. Then the final proposal must be submitted by the end of January 2020, she added.

"In about September 2020, an independent expert team will come here to conduct a ground survey as to whether what we have submitted is true to not. The team will send a report to the world heritage site center. At the meeting in 20121, they will decide if MraukU region should be enlisted as World Heritage Site. What I want to say is that at this important juncture, if armed conflict goes on, this will pose a great barrier to our effort," said Ohnma Myo.

Across the world, 167 countries have 1,092 world heritage sites. There are 295 in Asia Pacific and five in Thailand, eight in Vietnam, eight in Indonesia, six in the Philippines, one in Singapore and one in Myanmar in Southeast Asia.

Ohnma Myo said an initial proposal had been submitted for the enlistment of MraukU region since 1996.

The significant characteristics of MraukU region are stone sculptures, pagodas and stupas made of stone. The region is blessed with natural streams and lakes.

"Suppose we have war with other countries, clashes should not occur at all in that region. It must be well protective," said the heritage consultant.  

There were 206 waves of clashes between the military and Arakan Army from January to May this year. The President Office announced that nearly 100 AA members were killed and 48 more arrested.