Senapati, May 03 2010: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex organization of the Nagas under the administration of Manipur state, has sent a letter today to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in connection with the impasse over NSCN-IM leader Th.Muivah's visit to Manipur.

The UNC in its representative said that it has been happily awaiting the visit of Th.Muivah, the "peace negotiator "of the Naga people to his native village Somdal, Ukhrul and Senapati and other places during the scheduled "national peace tour." The Naga people looks forward with great fervor to the opportunity to warmly receive the "chief negotiator " of the Nagas in the Indo-Naga peace talks and to honour him for his tremendous contribution towards international peace in the South East Asian Region, the UNC said.

"However, following the quixotic cabinet decision of the state government of Manipur to ban the entry of Mr.Th.Muivah, a war like situation has been created at Mao/Tadubi/Maram, Somdal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Jessami and several vulnerable places from the afternoon of the previous day, i.e.May 2 with the sudden deployment of thousands of its state armed forces in civilian areas, construction of bunkers, positioning of armoured cars, water cannons, etc.

The insensitivity of dismantling of the traditional welcome gates erected by the Naga villages to welcome Th.Muivah on the same evening by the state armed forces at Mao Gate is an insult to the Naga tradition and culture and speaks eloquently of the Manipur State Government's disregard for the people they claim to represent.

We are convinced that the Manipur State Government is making a deliberate attempt to demonstrate its sphere of influence with the threat of force and to the extend of imposing indefinite curfew & U/S CrPC 144 at Ukhrul, Mao/Tadubi, Senapati and along NH 39 since 05:00 pm May 2, 2010 compelling all educational institutions to be closed indefinitely," it added.

The UNC letter then said that the Naga people have been looking forward to the long awaited visit of Th.Muivah, which will promote peace at the grass roots, create better understanding and relationship with the different communities.

But the "irresponsible act" of the State Government to sabotage the dawning peace in the region now stands in stark contrast to the role of a Government of the people that facilitates and promotes the resolutions of conflicts and honourable settlements.it further added.

"We humbly submit the above mentioned facts with urgency for your kind information with the request to kindly intervene in the matter to enable his scheduled visit peacefully and to also reiterate the support and aspiration of the Nagas for peace as a means to bringing a negotiated settlement through to the Indo-Naga peace talk", the UNC missive to the Prime Minister said.