By Moe Kyaw – In an open letter sent to the Chin State chief minister on Tuesday, the Khumi (Khami) National Party asked that Paletwa be designated a district.
The new district would incorporate Paletwa, Sami, and Miza Townships.
Paletwa has the largest population of Chin State’s townships, according to the party, as well as the most villages. The township also is undergoing a new city plan in which it is expected to develop better transportation infrastructure, including an airport. It will also be a distribution point for electricity from the national grid.
The open letter also highlighted Paletwa’s strategic location bordering Rakhine State and Bangladesh, describing its geographical advantage.
According to the Khumi (Khami) National Party, the Khumi people have tried to get a “self-autonomous administration” since Burma gained independence in 1948. If the government does not want Paletwa to not break away from Chin State, the government should not ignore the area’s issues, the letter stated. Khonumthung News tried to contact Khumi (Khami) National Party chairperson U Kyaw Htun for comment but was unable to reach him.