Imphal, February 02 2009: The United Naga Council, which has been and still is a strong votary for the unification of all Naga inhabited areas under one political entity, has maintained that it is rational to assume that the cease fire between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India is extended to all Naga inhabited areas in the country.

Talking to The Sangai Express, the speaker of the UNC, S Milan said that since Manipur is a part of India and since the cease fire was signed between the Government of India and the collective leadership of the NSCN (IM), the truce pact should reach Manipur too.

Explaining his stand, Milan said that since Nagas are living in Manipur, they have every right to enjoy the fruit of the ceasefire.

This is the universal fact, he said and added that if there were no Nagas in Manipur then the question of extending the ceasefire here would not have arisen.

It is very unfortunate that the people who are demanding the repeal of the atrocious Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State should be so strongly opposed to the extension of the ceasefire.

To a question on the Centre rolling back the phrase, 'Ceasefire without territorial limits' in the Bangkok Declaration of June 14, 2001 after the massive uprising on June 18, 2001, Milan said that the answer should be given by the leaders at Delhi.

Let the Central leaders say whether there are Nagas living in Manipur or not or if the Nagas do not have the right to enjoy the benefits of the ceasefire in their birth place, countered Milan and added that the Nagas are only expressing their vision and believe that the ceasefire is extended to Manipur.

The UNC leader further said that the Nagas do not want any confrontation but are for a solution to the decades old Naga political problem.

"We want permanent peace," he reiterated.