Leshi Explained

Official Name:Leshi
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map:Burma
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Burma
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Myanmar
Subdivision Type1:Division
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2005
Population Blank1:Naga
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2:Buddhism
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:25.45°N 94.95°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:+6.30

Leshi (Burmese: လေရှီးမြို့; also spelt Lashi or Layshi), is a town in Naga Hills of Sagaing Division on the north-west 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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Myanmar Constitution-Chapter II, 12a. Amnesty International United States. 2009-01-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110218153233/http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/myanmar-burma/myanmar-constitution-chapter-2/page.do?id=1431002. 2011-02-18.
  2. News: Naga Festival Tourist Bus Turns Turtle, 20 Injured . 17 January 2008 . . 2009-01-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100803220108/http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/173-naga-festival-tourist-bus-turns-turtle-20-injured.html . 3 August 2010 .
  3. News: Naga Activists Call For Boycott Of Naga New Year Festival . . 3 February 2008 . 2009-01-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100803215838/http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/60-naga-activists-call-for-boycott-of-naga-new-year-festival.html . 3 August 2010 .
  4. Burma Attacks Naga Rebel Camps . Naw Seng . . January 6, 2004 . 2009-01-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100812184957/http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=260 . August 12, 2010 .
  5. News: India, Burma agree to expand border trade. Mungpi. Mizzima News. 17 October 2008. 2009-01-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090111221431/http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1149-india-burma-agree-to-expand-border-trade.html. 11 January 2009.
  6. News: Border trade beckons Naga villages. Nagalim.NL News. 5 September 2005. 2009-01-29.