Paletwa

{{Infobox settlement

| native_name = ပလက်ဝမြို့

| settlement_type = Town

| official_name = Paletwa

| image_skyline = Paletwa seen from the Kaladan River 2015.jpg

| pushpin_map = Myanmar

| pushpin_mapsize = 150

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Myanmar

| pushpin_label_position = right

| coordinates = {{coord|21|18|N|92|51|E|region:MM|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{Flag|Myanmar}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Chin State}}

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Paletwa District

| subdivision_type3 = Township

| subdivision_name3 = Paletwa Township

| leader_title =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_total_km2 = 3543

| elevation_m =

| elevation_ft =

| population = 96,899

| population_as_of = 2014

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = MMT

| utc_offset = +6.30

| blank_name = Climate

| blank_info = Am

| website =

| name =

}}

Paletwa ({{MYname|MY=ပလက်ဝမြို့|MLCTS=pa. lak wa. mrui.}}, {{IPA|my|pəlɛʔwa̰ mjo̰|pron}}) is one of the westernmost towns of Myanmar, in Chin State, 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. On the other side of the border, lies Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. Paletwa town's population was about 97,000 in 2014.http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/newpaper/99newsn.pdf{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Page 10 Column 1

The Arakan Army launched an attack at the town on November 13, 2023 and captured it on 15 January, 2024 during the Myanmar Civil War.{{Cite web |title=Arakan Army Declares Victory in Paletwa, Myanmar’s Chin State |url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/arakan-army-declares-victory-in-paletwa-myanmars-chin-state.html}}

Demographics

Rakhine is the Lingua Franca of the region, while Kuki-Chin languages are spoken mostly in the hills. The west of the town hosts many refugees that have fled from Rakhine state.{{Cite web|title=Hundreds of villagers flee fighting in sourthern [sic] Chin|url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/hundreds-of-villagers-flee-fighting-in-sourthern-chin|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Myanmar NOW|language=en}} The literacy rate is 65% (2017).{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing CensusDepartment of PopulationMinistry of Labour, Immigration and PopulationOctober 2017CHIN STATE, MINDAT DISTRICT|url=http://www.dop.gov.mm/sites/dop.gov.mm/files/publication_docs/paletwa_0.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

Neighboring villages such as Kan Lay (ကန်းလေ) can be reached only by foot in about an hour.

Connectivity

Nazang is connected to the Rakhine state only by boat. It leaves Kyauktaw every morning and reaches Paletwa in the afternoon, running up the Kaladan River.{{Cite web|title=The Abduction of AA over the Paletwa MP confirmed by the Chin State Govt|url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/abduction-aa-over-paletwa-mp-confirmed-chin-state-govt|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Burma News International|language=en}}

The road to Matupi is reported to be on the brink of completion. Though, there is no direct evidence of it. {{Cite web|title=Farmers' land destroyed to make way for Paletwa to Matupi road – Chin Human Rights Organization|url=https://www.chinhumanrights.org/farmers-land-destroyed-to-make-way-for-paletwa-to-matupi-road/|access-date=2020-08-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-10|title=Civilians pay the price of conflict in southern Chin|url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/civilians-pay-the-price-of-conflict-in-southern-chin/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Frontier Myanmar|language=en-US}}

Paletwa is part of an ongoing infrastructure project Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project that will connect it to the Indian state of Mizoram.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-17|title=The Limits of Development and Control in the Borderlands of Burma (Part I)|url=https://teacircleoxford.com/2018/05/17/the-limits-of-development-and-control-in-the-borderlands-of-burma-part-i/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Tea Circle|language=en}}

== Tourism ==

Despite its serene natural surroundings, Paletwa sees few tourists. The town has one hotel, but restrictive policies and limited accessibility make travel to the area a challenge.

References

External links

[http://www.maplandia.com/burma/chin/paletwa/palangvum/ Satellite map at Maplandia.com]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Category:Township capitals of Myanmar

Category:Populated places in Chin State