> *GOA BACHAO ABHIYAN* > > The GBA condemns the use of intimidating tactics and personal attacks > against Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation who has exposed the extent of > fraud and illegal mining in Goa, the facts on which the Supreme Court has > acted upon and stopped pending clean up of systems. >
Such massive fraud and illegalities are a crime against the people of Goa and the state as well as the Union of India. With such a background, we are aghast that the State Government can sit back and allow such public instigation of violence to continue against a person who has dutifully upheld the law. Calls for attacks on Claude in this case amounts to an attack on the laws of India and the Supreme Court; and should not be tolerated. This is a slide into chaos. What we see is diversionary tactics, with the Goa Mining Peoples Front > allowing themselves to be used as pawns by a select few illegal mining > interests instead of using their energies constructively. They could have > benefitted from the recovery of thousands of crores from the large scale > illegal mining loot, a sum the government has yet to recover, why is this > not their agenda for a better tomorrow? > Best practices through auctions and methods of equitable distribution of > resources have been repeatedly highlighted as balanced ways forward and yet > it is being rejected outright by a select few mining interests in fear of > finally being brought under legal scrutiny. > > It is time for all sensible thinking people to come together and work a > way around sustainable development, as it is clear that the old ways of > rampant greed and destruction cannot be continued for the profit of a few > families and businesses. > > *The GBA calls on the government to step in and cull such diversionary > tactics and * > > *1. Uphold the Supreme Court Orders* > > *2. Ensure that Law and Order prevails* > > *3. Work urgently for a sustainable way forward.* > > *4. Retrieve the crores of dues stolen due to illegal mining.* > > We cannot become a society that rewards thieves and hubris. > > Sabina Martins - Convenor Reboni Saha - Secretary > > >
