Date: 14th October 2007
To
The Editor
GOANET
Sir,
I am forwarding a press note regarding a representation that GaunkarsFirst
has before the Chairman, Goa State Finance Commission, Mr. Alban Couto,
vis-a-vis Panchayats and their financing.
If you require any clarification, I would be most happy to do so.
I hope you will give us due coverage in your esteemed web site.
Thank You.
Sincerely
Sd/-
Savio Herman DSouza
Convenor
GaunkarsFirst
Office: 0832-2416573
Mobile: 9422063937
__________________________________________
FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION
In a six page representation placed before the Hble Chairman of the Goa
State Finance Commission, Mr. Alban Couto, on their views and suggestions which
the Commission has sought from the public with regards to the financial
resources and devolution of powers to Panchayats, GaunkarsFirst Convenor, Savio
Herman DSouza, has elaborately described how the conquest of Goa was not a
conquest of her natives or the land and territory of Goa, but a conquest over
foreign rule, which is the reason why Goans celebrate 19th December as
Liberation Day.
The representation states that the land of the 222 private Comunidade
villages of Goa, which are governed by their very own laws based on customs and
usages codified as Code of Comunidades is not the property of His Majesty or
property of the Portuguese Government to be treated as State Property, a
pre-requirement for the Government of India to become a successor State to
the land, as stipulated under the Constitution of India.
Hence, no State Government can impose any State-made bodies such as
Panchayats and Municipalities, within the private Comunidade villages of Goa,
or laws such as the GDDLRC Act, 1968, which is enacted in order to raise
revenue in State property also known as revenue villages, when the Government
establishes State Landlordism over a given land by executing State Land Tenure
Contracts with the citizens living therein. Such State Landlordism is totally
absent in the private Comunidade villages of Goa, he pointed out.
He brought to the attention of the Commission that imposition of Panchayats
in the private Comunidade villages of Goa is one of the many atrocities
committed by the State against native Goans by falsely taking shelter under the
color of the Constitution of India. He further mentioned that by such
fraudulent imposition of Panchayats in the Comunidade villages, the State
Government is continuously committing atrocities, plunder of land resources,
ethnocide, destroying and violating the fundamental rights of native Goans to
their land, culture and economic resources, and goes against various
International Treaties between the Natives and States as enshrined under the
United Nations, of which India is also a member.
Quoting Article 7 of the Draft United Nations Declaration of the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, which denounces ethnocide, cultural genocide and alienation
of land of the natives by the State through administrative, legislative or
other means, Mr. DSouza appealed to the Chairman and The Goa State Finance
Commission to restrict the Acts of the State within villages in a State also
called revenue villages as foreseen under the Constitution, of which the
private Comunidade villages do not form a part.
The representation appealed to the Government to revoke the Panchayat bodies
set up in the non-State private Comunidade villages of Goa, the Governmental
and non-Governmental organizations to desist from abetting offences against
native Goans, direct the Government not to venture into the private Comunidade
villages which belong to the Gaunkars and not held by State grant and existed
much before the State came into existence, halt the illegal collection of
revenue in the private Comunidade villages, inform the Commission that the
Panchayats and Municipalities have no authority to issue licenses, collect
taxes or issue occupancy certificates and that the Government being the
Guardian of the Gaunkars and native Goans cannot cause prejudice to the
Comunidades and must honor the Treaty and Obligations it has inherited from the
previous Ruler.
The representation concluded by stating that it is not expected of a
Welfare State to disrespect the existence of the age-old village communities
of Goa or perpetrate atrocities against the Gaunkars and natives of Goa by
violating their native laws, Constitutional laws and International Treaties and
Agreements which makes the Government of India appear as another colonist
ruling over the Gaunkars and natives of Goa.
sd/-
Savio Herman DSouza
CONVENOR
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