"Mrauk-U, which was the capital of the powerful Arakanese Kingdom from the 15th to 17th centuries, currently restricts visitors for security reasons. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture said it submitted its application for Mrauk-U to UNESCO in January. U Thura Aung, secretary of Myanmar Archaeology Research, expressed hope that peace would soon return to the area. Experts were a bit concerned about the damage caused by an artillery shell that hit a gate near the ancient Htukkan Thein temple and the west side of the ancient Mye Hte pagoda during fighting between the Tatmadaw and AA last year. The Myanmar Archaeology Association urged the two sides to declare a truce in the area because it is being considered as a World Heritage Site Archaeologists have called on the local government and people to mediate an end to the fighting. They are confident that Mrauk-U’s 80,000 pagodas and forts qualify it to be named a World Heritage Site. UNESCO is expected to decide on Mrauk-U’s application by April, and send experts to conduct a site inspection between September and January next year. Nationalists march against amendment effort Hundreds of nationalists marched through downtown Yangon on January 9 to oppose amendments to the 2008 Constitution, especially its ban on citizens who marry foreigners from becoming president or vice president. The activists accused some groups of working with foreign powers to subvert the Buddhist religion and Myanmar’s sovereignty..."