Dear Gabe, Rightly said. With absolutely know prejudice to the case of the girl and the boys in their legal affair,I must say that her reputation has been thoroughly raped by the press,police and politicians. Her identity could not be protected (as stipulated by the law) by giving out details that her mother is a German,that she has five sisters,that she was hospitalised in Remanso,that Dr.Fatima Olegar Nazereth treated her,that she was a third year student of Goa College of Art.You do not have to be an expert in Crossword puzzles to know who she is.Goa is not Manhattan or Shanghai. The release of information was like a strip-tease, each bit fuelling a hike in the daily circulation of the newspapers that stripped the girl naked. What arte we , a generation of voyeurs ? The news also started rumours. A cousin of mine is married to an European.His daughter was operated for appendectomy. When the news 'leaked' that the mother of the rape victim was a foreigner and a musician and that the girl was being treated in a Mapusa hospital,wags in town 'knew' who it was. Others slandered an English lady in Moira.Fortunately her daughters were abroad and none studied in Goa College of Art. Tidbits ( not just my friend Floriano's) are juicy but dangerous ! Now four out of the six persons arrested (in all probability hammered black and blue in police custody) have been released because 'prima facie' evidence has disappeared after the girl changed her statement.Her mother's statement does not hold now as the mother was neither raped ,nor a witness to it.......if it ever happened. Sodomy,cunnilingus and fellatio do not constitute 'rape' in India.It is called' molestation' (abroad it is differently called as sexual assault,battery,etc) Even when this was clear,newspaper headlines continued,nay continue with the term 'gang rape' to titilate circulation of their newspapers as much as the blood/ interest of their readers. Thankfully,at least one newspaper has shifted its attention to a creature in distress, the frog. I wonder if the so-called women's leaders would like the news editors to be flogged to be flogged in public.
Miguel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 6:21 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet] RE: [Aldona-net] Appeal for truth - Art College alleged rape > Dear Doctor, > > I write in response to your article below. May I respectfully say that I was > on the side of the accused as the story from the onset just didn't fit. > There were a spate of crimes committed against women which prompted the > Women's league to blast with both barrels, when this alleged gang rape came > to light. There was no rationale thinking at all > including from a Ms. Luiza De Mello. Also included was another Ms. Zelma De > Souza who advocated a good flogging of the accused youth. I was shocked at > the outbursts including one from Mr. Smartin, who objected to my showing > sympathy to the youth concerned. > > What has the head of bailancho saad to say about this? The Chief Minister is > now distancing himself from the ongoings - let the Courts decide, he says. > He should be asking the Police department, on what grounds are two youth > still being held. > > The sad thing is that two youth are still held in custody on flimsy > evidence - this would not have happened in a Western country. Another > frightening thing is that the girl concerned was allowed to change her > story! (cut the cloth to fit the suit). It is just as well that the girl > remains a virgin, otherwise the youth would have been have had their goose > cooked! - Even if she had her virginity taken elsewhere and at another time > by another person. > > Yours sincerely, > > Gabriel V Menezes. Dr.Gilbert Lawrence wrote To Cecil Pinto: . This is unlike many of the individuals who wrote (pontificated)> ad-nauseam on this subject on many Goanet web sites. Regards, GL > > > > Report as posted on the Aldona-net: > > We as the students who were present on that day, who spoke to the girl > > on that evening, and who also on the same evening, spoke to the people > > she has > > accused of this henious crime, were key witnesses of the Police. We have > > testified to the police on the day following the boys arrest all that > > will be stated hence forth in this letter. We were and still are shocked > > and now throughly disgusted at the accusation and furthurmore at the > > proceedings of the press................ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.491 / Virus Database: 290 - Release Date: 6/18/2003 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
