Cyrus, In a word, Sharp. +++++++++++++ Venantius J Pinto
On Sun, Dec 15, 2013 at 9:48 PM, Cyrus A. Jose Sanches < [email protected]> wrote: > Heres what the Merriam -Webster dictionary has to say > Citizen > > Relationship between an individual and a state in which the individual > owes allegiance to the state and in turn is entitled to its protection. In > general, full political rights, including the right to vote and to hold > public office, are predicated on citizenship. Citizenship entails > obligations, usually including allegiance, payment of taxes, and military > service. The concept arose in ancient Greece, where citizenship was granted > only to property owners. The Romans initially used it as a privilege to be > conferred upon or withheld from conquered peoples, but it was granted to > all the empire's free inhabitants in AD 212. The concept disappeared in > Europe during the feudal era but was revived in the Renaissance. > Citizenship may normally be gained by birth within a certain territory, > descent from a parent who is a citizen, marriage to a citizen, or > naturalization. See also nationality. > > Nationality > > Affiliation with a particular nation or sovereign state. People, business > corporations, ships, and aircraft all have nationalities. Nationality is > inferior to citizenship, insofar as the latter implies a full set of > political privileges and the former does not. Countries have limited rights > to determine which of their inhabitants will be their nationals. People > generally acquire a nationality by birth within a particular country's > territory, by inheritance from one or both parents, or by naturalization. > It may change or be augmented or taken away if a country cedes control of > the territory where one lives to another country. > > As per the above it is clear that, till 1962, the people of Goa were > citizens of Portugal as well as Portuguese nationals. From 1962 to 1973/4 > the people of Goa were Portuguese citizens with Indian nationality. In > other words prisoners of war. IF the treaty of 1973/4 signed between India > and Portugal ending hostilities was ratified, the area known as Goa was no > longer a state or province of Portugal. The People of Goa become Indian > nationals. > > However from 1961 the GOI recognised the people of Goa as " citizens "of > India. The GOP also recognised the people of Goa as citizens of Portugal. > We therefore had dual nationality. Nobody asked the people of Goa their > opinion regarding these changes. Therefore any forceful implementation of > citizenship on the people of Goa defies international law. So the impasse > continues. > > As per the definition citizenship does not change. Nationality can. We are > therefore Portuguese citizens with Indian nationality. We have lived with > this situation for the last 62 years. > > No one wants to rock the boat as having a plebiscite now would be > disastrous. > > Those who have registered / recorded their births in Portugal have done so > with the intention of claiming Portuguese citizenship and recognised as > citizens of Portugal. But if residing in Goa are Indian Nationals. > > The present situation allows them to do so. > > Let us reach an understanding, if you have recorded your birth in Portugal > and accepted citizenship, but still live in Goa, the people of Goa have no > Issue. > > If the GOI has an issue, then do not take employment in GOI establishments. > > I do not know any Goans who have loyalty to any country but Goa. > > India is claiming Goa. Portugal has an emotional attachment to Goa. What > do we Goans want? The continuation of the Status Quo. > > As far as I'm concerned, my birth certificate issued in Bombay declares my > nationality as unknown. As the GOI recognised my Parents as Citizens of > Portugal. So by birth I am a Citizen of Portugal. > > I have lived all my life in India, travelled the world on an Indian > Passport, voted in every election. Support the Indian cricket and hockey > teams, as well as the Portuguese and Brazilian together with Dempo > Football teams. > > I could not care which passport I use, I will caste my vote anywhere in > the world. I do not care who calls me what. It does not matter. > > I my heart I am and will always be a Goan. > > > > Sets me free, my iPad3 > > Freezing cold. Hot beaches
