Imphal, June 12: The United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body of the Naga community living in Manipur is oganising public rallies on June 16 in the hill districts of Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati in support of the ongoing Naga peace process with the Centre.

The UNC leaders and its executive members in a 6-hour long meeting held at Senapati today took the decision to go ahead with the rallies.

The UNC rallies will be held simultaneously in these four hill districts on that day with the respective Naga tribe Hohos taking the charge in their respective place of jurisdiction.

The June 16 rallies will be carried out under the theme, �Solidarity Rallies�Towards Naga Unification�.

The UNC in a brief press-note faxed to Newmai News Network from Senapati this evening by its president Puni Modoli, stated that at the end of the rallies on June 16, a memorandum each from the four hill districts would be submitted to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh through the respective Deputy Commissioners of Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati.

Mention may be made that in the past sveral years too, there had been similar rallies in these four hill districts showing solidarity to the Naga peace process.

These rallies were generally peaceful, however for the Senapati district being situated along the National Highway 39, the rallies usually disrupt the smooth passage of inter-State tourist buses and goods trucks on the rally day.

However, vehicles can pass through Senapati town when the rally is over.

The United Naga Council has also called a 24-hour bandh on June 21 as a symbol of expressing its resentment against the decision of the State Government for declaring June 18 as a State holiday.

The UNC had earlier expressed that it had no objection declaring the day as a restricted holiday.

UNC president Puni had said that the apex Naga body had no objection to people observing June 18.He also said in an earlier statement that the UNC �does not stand against any organisation or community in this regard�.

However, today�s statement said �the Naga apex body in Manipur condemns the action of the Government of Manipur for ignoring the Naga dreams and aspirations by declaring June 18 as a State holiday�.

Para-military forces, medical services, journalists and other essential services will be exempted from the purview of the UNC sponsored bandh on June 21.