Sittwe

Site-tway စစ်တွေမြို့
File:Site-tway, Burma.JPG Sittwe main street
Site-tway Location in Myanmar
Coordinates: 20°9′0″N 92°54′0″E / 20.15°N 92.9°E / 20.15; 92.9
Country	Myanmar
Admin. division	Rakhine State
District	Sittwe District
Township	Sittwe Township
Government
- Mayor
Population (2007)
- Total	187,000
- Religions	Buddhism,Islam
Area code(s)	42
[1]

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Site-tway is a town in Rakhine State, in the westernmost part of Myanmar (Burma). Site-tway (Burmese: စစ်တွေမြို့; MLCTS: sac twe mrui.; Rakhine: Site-tway), formerly known as Akyab, is located on an estuarial island created by the confluence of the Kaladan River, Myu River, and Lemyo River emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The 2006 population 181,000 and it is the provincial capital.

History

Originally a small fishing village, Site-tway became an important seat of maritime commerce, especially as a port for the export of rice after the British occupation of Arakan, now known as Rakhine State, following the First Anglo-Burmese War.

Site-tway was the location of a battle during the conquest of Arakan by the Burmese king Bodawpaya. In 1784, the Burmese expeditionary force, some 30,000 strong, encountered the governor of Urittaung Province, Saite-ké(General) Aung and his force of 3000^[2]. Outnumbered hugely, the Arakanese force tried to fight the Burmese forces on both land and sea, but were brutally crushed. This defeat opened the route towards the inland Arakanese capital of Mrauk Oo, which was soon conquered, ending the independence of the Arakanese. According to Arakanese lore, all of the Arakanese defenders were killed.

During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1823-1826) the British forces landed at Site-tway and stationed their forces by the ancient pagoda, Ahkyaib-daw, which is still standing at the head of the city. The British adopted the name Akyab for the place. In 1826, the seat of government was transferred from the old Arakan capital of Mrohaung to Site-tway on the seacoast. During the first 40 years of British rule it increased from a village to a town of 15,536 inhabitants, and by 1901 it was the third port of Burma with a population of 31,687. During colonial times, Site-tway had a bad reputation for malaria and cholera, although historical records indicate that it was no better or worse than many other locations along the India coast.

Etymology

The name Site-tway is the Burmese version of Saite Twêy, which means "the place where the war meets". When the Burmese King Bodawpaya invaded the Rakhine kingdom in 1784, the Arakanese defenders encountered the Burmese force at the mouth of Kissapanadi (Kalandan) River. In the ensuing battle, which was waged on both land and water, the Arakanese were defeated. The place where the battle occurred came to be called Saite Twêy by the Arakanese and colloquialized as 'Sittwe' by the Burmese.

Religion

The city is predominantly Buddhist but there is a large Muslim so-called Rohingya commuinity as well as other Muslim groups causing ethnic and religious tensions. More than 40 percent are Muslims by religion. ^[3]

Ahkyaib-daw, is one of the most sacred Buddhist pagodas, believed to have built in the days of Emperor Asoka (r. 269-232 BCE). The pagoda Ahdyaid-daw, meaning maxillary bone, is believed to be built on a foundation encasing a piece of Buddha’s maxillary bone hence its name. ^[4]

Site-tway is the birthplace of political monks in Myanmar. It was the birthplace of U Ottama, who was the first monk to protest against the colonial British. Also, in the recent 2007 riots, it was the monks in Site-tway who were the first to protest.

Other

The city is home to the Sittway University. The British writer Hector Hugh Munro, better known under his pen name Saki, was born in Sittwe in 1870, and returned to Burma, as it was then, to work as a young police officer.

In February 2007, India announced a plan to develop the port, which would enable ocean access from Indian Northeastern states like Mizoram, via the Kaladan River.^[5]. Sittwe's citizenry, especially Buddhist monks, have participated in the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests

Image Gallery

U Ottama's monastery and one of most prominent in the town

The main street

foreshore

new clock tower

See also

• Sittwe Airport

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sittwe

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 1m

External links

• 20° 9' 0" North, 92° 54' 0" East Satellite map at Maplandia.com
• Kaladan.com - covering Kaladan project and news

v • d • e Rakhine State Capital: Sittwe Sittwe District Sittwe Township · Ponnagyun Township · Mrauk-U Township · Kyauktaw Township · Minbya Township · Myebon Township · Pauktaw Township · Rathedaung Township Maungdaw District Maungdaw Township · Buthidaung Township Kyaukpyu District Kyaukpyu Township · Manaung Township · Ramree Township · Ann Township Thandwe District Thandwe Township · Toungup Township · Gaw Township Main cities and towns Sittwe · Ponnagyun · Mrauk-U · Kyauktaw · Minbya · Myebon · Pauktaw · Rathedaung · Maungdaw · Buthidaung · Kyaukpyu · Manaung · Ramree · Ann · Thandwe · Toungup · Gaw

Coordinates: 20°08′40″N 92°53′49″E / 20.14444°N 92.89694°E / 20.14444; 92.89694