MSM’s fake news of Myanmar’s second great temple city
Posted On: Jan 7th, 2018 at 14:22
Myanmar
The site of Mrauk U (pronounced Mrau-oo) is definitely worth a mention, if not for this appalling piece of journalism from the Guardian. One always has to be cautious of archaeology stories that appear in mainstream media publications.
Firstly there’s the line, “…following in the footsteps of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and the pyramids of Egypt”, referring to Myanmar’s attempts to give Mrauk U World Heritage status. Again we find the mainstream media making comparisons with other known sites that more often than not have absolutely nothing to do with the site in question, similar to the constant comparisons with Stonehenge whenever a site with standing stones is found.
Mrauk U is already a well-known tourist attraction – it’s not “forgotten” – and is the second most important site in Myanmar. The Guardian gives the impression the site is still empty and is being taken over by the encroaching jungle and needs to be cleared to be saved and used.
What’s actually happening is attempts to turn the site from an open tourist attraction, which it is, into a money-making site with gates, guards, and no doubt hotels, restaurants and probably a McDonalds.
