Leshi

Leshi
လေရှီးမြို့
Leshi

Location in Burma

Coordinates: 25°27′0″N 94°57′0″E / 25.45000°N 94.95000°ECoordinates: 25°27′0″N 94°57′0″E / 25.45000°N 94.95000°E
Country  Burma
Division Sagaing Division
Population (2005)
 • Ethnicities Naga
 • Religions Buddhism
Time zone MST (UTC+6.30)

Leshi (Burmese: လေရှီးမြို့; also spelt Lashi or Layshi), is a town in Naga Hills of Sagaing Division on the northwest frontier of Burma. According to the new 2008 Constitution of the military regime, it will now be grouped together with Lahe and Nanyun in Naga Self-Administered Zone.[1] Leshi is reached via Htamanthi across the Chindwin River by boat from Homalin, and there are domestic flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Homalin.[2]

The Naga New Year Festival is held on 15 January, and Lahe, Leshi, Hkamti and Nanyun hosted it in rotation until it became state-sponsored for the benefit of tourism and limited to Leshi and Lahe since 2003 during the time of the ousted prime minister Khin Nyunt.[2][3]

Naga insurgents fighting against the Indian government have bases in the area over the Burmese side of the border. The Burmese army have launched offensives against these camps in recent years following top level meetings between the two governments.[4]

In October 2008, a joint decision between India and Burma was reached to open a new border trade post at Avakhung-Leshi.[5] The inhabitants of Avangkhu had moved their village 4 km closer from its original location of 8 km from the border in order to take advantage of the border trade. Leshi is 25 km from the border and 100 km from Htamanthi.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Myanmar Constitution-Chapter II, 12a". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Naga Festival Tourist Bus Turns Turtle, 20 Injured". Mizzima News. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  3. ↑ "Naga Activists Call For Boycott Of Naga New Year Festival". Mizzima News. 3 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  4. ↑ Naw Seng (January 6, 2004). "Burma Attacks Naga Rebel Camps". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  5. ↑ Mungpi (17 October 2008). "India, Burma agree to expand border trade". Mizzima News. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  6. ↑ "Border trade beckons Naga villages". Nagalim.NL News. 5 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-29.

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