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----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coco beach tense again as foreigner resumes water sports activities --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Violence erupted yet again on Coco beach, Nerul, today afternoon between the traditional fishermen (ramponkars) and a foreign national who re-started operating a speed boat at the beach three days ago. The sudden re-commencement of the water sports operations despite their earlier objections to water sports here because it depletes their fish catch angered the local fishermen.
The ramponkars were further incensed that the activity was resumed without any licence from the government. Converging at the beach, the angry fishermen burnt down the water sports shack, earlier known as Wave Rider at 3 p.m. The Porvorim police who rushed to the scene, said the shack belonged to a British national, Ms Maureen Chapman. In the ensuing violence, Ms Chapman and her daughter, Ms Laura Chapman received injuries. The police said the daughter's nose was fractured and the police were therefore set to register cognisable offences against four of the fishermen. The police also received complaints from the fishermen but since their injuries were simple, non-cognisable offences would be registered against the foreigners. Both parties were sent for medical examination to the Goa Medical College, Bambolim.
The Nerul ramponkars today expressed deep resentment over the government's failure to stop foreigners from operating water sports without any licenses. "If we ride a scooter without license, they immediately catch us. But no one bothers if foreigners operate without license and put our livelihoods in danger. We have no respect in our own land," said one fisherman.
When contacted today afternoon, Captain of Ports, Mr A P Mascarenhas, confirmed that no licenses had been issued to anyone to operate water sports anywhere in the state.
Today's violence is another ugly sequel to the trouble at Coco beach around January 22, when Nerul ramponkars vehemently opposed the bigger operation of water sports craft at the beach by a company belonging to the Raymond's group. That company has since closed operations here and no untoward incident was reported until today.
Reportedly, a local operative of the British national, himself a Nerul resident, re-started the speedboat three days ago. When ramponkar's questioned him, he told them that he was doing it only for the family members of the owner who had arrived on holiday. But when he kept at it for the third day in a row, ramponkars lost patience and converged at the shack today afternoon where heated verbal exchanges resulted in violence.
Today, the water sports shack, promising "thrills and spills and the ultimate ride by operatives certified by the Institute of water sports" lay completely gutted by the fire. Sensing that a similar fate might befall the speedboat, the operator fled upstream on the speedboat through the Sinquerim river at high speed. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 18/03/03 page 1 ----------------------------------------------------
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