Lai-Hka Township
# Lai-Hka Township

Lai-Hka Township (Shan: ဝဵင်းလၢႆးၶႃႈ), also known as Legya Township (Burmese: လဲချားမြို့နယ်), is the former capital of Laihka State, one of the former southern Shan States. The city has a population of over 60,000. It lays 3,116 feet (950 m) above sea level on the eastern border of Kesee and Nam Zang. In the south, it connects Panglong and Lui Lin. Its neighboring towns are Lokjok to the west and Merng Klueng to the north. The total area of Lai-Hka Township is 914.92 square miles (2,369.6 $km^2)$ and is divided into 7 divisions. The rural part of the township is divided into four quarters. Agriculture is the main industry in Lai-Hka.

## History

Lai-Hka Township has had a turbulent and unstable history, with conflicts between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the Burmese Army. In the first half of 2009, there were at least four battles every month and the SPDC retaliated against villagers by confiscating property, extortion and forced relocation.

At the end of July 2009, more than five hundred houses were burnt and 30 villages forcibly relocated in the township of Lai-Hka.

