CITIZENS' INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY c/o Ramesh Gauns, Pajwada, Bicholim, Goa (mob.no.9226443139)
28th April, 2006: A delegation of Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony comprising of Ramesh Gauns, Albertina Almeida, Samir Khan, Niraj Naik, Bethoven Fonseca and Arunendra Pandey today called on the Chief Secretary in connection with the Sanvordem- Curchorem related violence and sought an implementation of the demands in fifteen days' time. The Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony delegation pointed out that it is high time the Government of Goa places before the people of Goa a report of the findings and position of the Government on what happened at Guddemol, Curchorem, etc., why and how it happened, what are the steps taken and the proposed steps to prevent any such future violence. The delegation also sought to know from the Chief Secretary what was the outcome of the inquiry that the Government is reported to have initiated. The delegation was told that no inquiry had yet been initiated and that all that had been done was to register FIRs of victims and that investigations in relation to the same were in progress. The delegation further drew attention of the Chief Secretary of the need to take suo motu action against the political leaders who instigated the Sanvordem-Curchorem and related violence and to make the action taken public. The delegation impressed upon the Chief Secretary the insecurity prevailing amongst the people on account of the inaction of the Government. Further the delegation also raised concerns about the need for adequate compensation for all victims and for a review of the existing system for giving compensation. The Chief Secretary promised to look into the matter. The Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony has in its representation warned that the Government will have compelled the Citizens to expose its unwillingness to give justice to its citizens and to resort to further steps to ensure that justice is done. Ramesh Gauns Albertina Almeida Co-Convenors, Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CITIZENS' INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY c/o Ramesh Gauns, Pajwada, Bicholim, Goa (mob.no.9226443139) 26th April, 2006. To: The Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa. Sub. Demands emerging following the Sanvordem-Curchorem Violence Dear Sir, We, the citizens who stand for communal harmony and are deeply concerned by the organized communal violence and the inaction of the Government in Sanvordem-Curchorem in March 2006, wish to draw your attention to the following demands. emerging from the Sanvordem-Curchorem and related violence in March 2006: Report from the Government of Goa: It is high time the Government of Goa places before the people of the state its findings and position on what happened at Guddemol, Curchorem, etc. -- why and how it happened, what are the steps taken and the proposed steps to prevent any such future violence. We would also like to know what has been the outcome of the inquiry that the Government is reported to have initiated. The Government of Goa owes it to the people of the state. Publication of action taken on perpetrators and instigators: Action must be taken and seen to be taken. Action must be taken against the perpetrators, including those who gave inciting speeches, and instigators of the Sanvordem-Curchorem and related violence and it should be made public. The assurance must go home loud and clear that the perpetrators and instigators of such violence are being taken to task as a deterrent for future. Adequate Compensation for All Victims: The compensation assessed/offered/ provided to many victims of communal violence has been inadequate and also denied to several others. We demand that the Government ensure adequate compensation to all the victims of Sanvordem-Curchorem and related violence and that the process of claim compensation be kept open for those who have not been able to file their claims yet. Review of existing system for giving compensation: The existing system of giving compensation to victims is far from people-friendly and the processes prove to be intimidating thereby disabling several deserving persons from making or pursuing their claim for compensation. We demand that there be a review of the existing system for giving compensation. We believe as we set out earlier that the Government of Goa must make its stands clear to the public, that it must have a pro-active programme to combat communalism, that it must take the perpetrators of the Sanvordem-Curchorem and related violence to task and that it must reassure by its actions that the Muslim community which has been selectively targeted for this violence, will be safe and that justice will be done. We also believe that Time is of the essence in this endeavour. We seek an appointment at the earliest with you in this regard to discuss the above said demands. In case our demands are not met, we are constrained to state that the Government will have compelled us to expose its unwillingness to give justice to its citizens and to resort to further steps to ensure that justice is done. Yours sincerely, Ramesh Gauns Albertina Almeida Co-Convenors Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
