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Stage Play: ON THE HOLY TRAIL
Staged By: The Mustard Seed Art Company
Where: Kala Academy - Mini Open-air Auditorium
When: Dec 20 & 21, 2007 @ 7pm
Read a Review at:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-December/066558.html
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Dears,
Below is a clarification that I have issued to the press on this
POLITICAL V/S APOLITICAL debate, first for the anti-Regional Plan-2011
and now for the anti-SEZ in Goa. The fact is that the "Apolital"
grouping has been successful in 1. getting the RP 2011 revoked and 2.
stopping construction/destruction at the two SEZs ...in
Buthkhambh-Keri and Verna-Loutolim.
It is also a fact that the Meditabs factory was allowed to beginning
setting up shop on the very place that Nilesh Naik lost his life to
prevent Nylon-6.6 from being set up.
The use of the SVM and GBA names by the YFG reminds me of the Konkani
proverb "Xent kadd ani ambear mar. Ambo poddlo zalear poddlo. Xent
ghellem zalear ghellem" [mening "Take something insignificant or handy
and throw it at the mango on the tree. You are lucky if the mango
falls and lose nothing if the insgnificant thing is lost." ] One does
not lose anything by "names dropping" if ab initio one does not have
credibility worth a cent!
The admonition from the Book of Revelations or Apocalypse may not be
out of place here: "So then because you are LUKEWARM, neither hot nor
cold, I spit you out." [Rev3:16] Dr. Pratap Naik sj said similar words
to the alleged lovers of Konkani in Goa on 19 December, 2007.
I believe the journalists need to do some thinking, not just blind
reporting that some of them have got used to ;-)
Once this SEZ business is over, Siddanath Buyao and I will be on the
same side fighting FOR Roman script to be included. Soter D' Souza and
even Matanhy Saldanha will be with us. Some of the elements in the GBA
will perhaps be on the other side of the fence with the Devanagri ONLY
proposition.
Politics in Goa is not like football with permanent teams ....and end
of the season inter-club transfers. It is like a game of
koinddo-ball, with players shifting allegiance in the course of a day.
Kolloi? Kolloi tujem sondd!!
[meaning "Scoop? Scoop the coconut husk" that is used as a substitute
for the bamboo spindle or bal]
Mog asundi.
Miguel
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Dec 21, 2007 10:21 AM
Subject: But, Boss, we ARE different, aren't we?
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], GOMANTAK TIMES
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
NAVPRABHA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, TARUN BHARAT
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, GOADOOT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Herald
Reporters <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear Editor/Asst.Editor/NewsEditor/Reporter,
Please note that I write this from my personal email ID and in my
PERSONAL capacity. The views expressed herein are my OWN ...but in
consonance with the stated objectives and rules of play of the GBA. I
just happen to be its recently elected Joint Secretary for the purpose
of writing the minutes of the meetings, which I obviously read.
It took me by surprise this morning that local newspapers could write
such headlines as "Differences among anti-SEZ groups comes to the fore
at Verna meeting" or a sub-head like "Anti-SEZ groups fail to close
ranks" below a correct headline "Lukewarm response to YFG meet". Was
anything different expected by the journalists sold on the malicious
PROPAGANDA of the "Youth for Goa" leaders [read GT of 19 Dec, 2007
page 3 Column 1 report entitled " 'Youth for Goa' to hold public meet"
first four paragraphs for details.]. Did they really expected the
avowedly APOLITICAL groupings like SEZ Virudhi Manch [SVM] and Goa
Bachao Abhiyan [GBA] leaders to represent their Civil Society
Organisations [CSOs] at the JUNIOR DIVISION meeting of the GMAS that
goes under the banner of YFG ??
Both, the GBA and the SVM have publicly declared, orally and in Press
Notes, that they will NOT share a platform with any known politician.
It is for this SOLE reason that Prashant Naik [General Secretary of
UGDP to which Matanhy belongs], the compere of the GBA rally at Azad
Maidan on 18 December, 2006, had to leave the CSO. It is
for this sole reason that I am a member of the GBA and have associated
with the SVM, though not yet shared the dais with them.
The CAUSE is important, not the Dais. GBA and SVM members, including
those spearheading the two CSOs, were PRESENT IN STRENGTH in the
AUDIENCE at the Azad Maidan on 18 December, 2007, at at the rally
organised by GMAS. The number of people at the rally was not all due
to the GMAS, though they may like to think of it differently. The GBA
and SVM are against SEZs. They have shown it by their presence at the
rally on 18 December, 2007.
Can GMAS tell us who among their leaders showed solidarity with the
SVM at the masive rally against SEZ held at Lohia Maidan on 14
Devember, 2007 ...a full 4 days before the GMAS rally and a week
before the YFG rally? Obviously, the YFG volunteers in their standard
white T-Shirts with "SAY NO TO SEZ" emblazoned across the back, found
the SVM public meeting convenient to distribute their pamphlets. I
have a copy of it as a souvenir of the meeting.
According to the General Secretary of GMAS, Siddanath Buyao [founder
President of "Save Goa Front" who went to the BJP along with
Dr.Wilfred Misquita just before the Lok Sabha elections this year. The
SAVE GOA slogan of the GBA did not help him or the BJP as much as it
did Churchill and Reginaldo], "the GMAS has under its umbrella 18
organisations,10 NGOs and 5 POLITICAL PARTIES" [GT 21 Dec. 07]
The speakers at the YFG [Baby GMAS] rally were: the self-same
Siddanath Buyao, GMAS Convenor and ex-Minister in BJP coalition Govt.
Matanhy Saldanha, AITUC-Communist Party Lok sabha candidate
Christopher Fonseca. These three are clearly politicians who have NOT
yet RENOUNCED politics.
The political affiliations or inclinations of neo-Goykars like foreign
returned Dr. Sahana Nayak, Ph.D and Durgadas
Kamath [of ABSF Cyberage agitation fame] as well as Malisa Simoes
[Matanhy's sister's daughter and Sports Secretary of St.Xavier's
College as a T.Y. B.Com. student], and others may be debatable BUT
Siddanath, Matanhy and Christopher are politicians.
Their cause is good, they may be good BUT they are politicians. that
makes them ineligible to share a platform with the GBA and SVM.
Individual members of the GBA Core Group like Amol Navelkar and
Prajal Sakhardande of UTT GOENKARA, Soter D'Souza of PEACEFUL SOCIETY,
Vaikunt A. Kamat aka Shashi of JAGRUT GOEM, and others have associated
with the GMAS leadership as Shridhar Kamat has associated with Digu
Kaka. It is their wish. The GBA, in my humble opinion, is a CSO, not
the RSS or Shiv Sena or Opus Dei or Al Qaida to prevent their freedom
of association enshrined in the Constitution of India. However, the
GBA and SVM cannot formally associate and share a platform with the
politicians, not just the BJP.
I am not practicing "Untouchability" as some accuse me of ...just Safe SEZ ! ;-)
I am against SEZ. I have shown solidarity with the GMAS when it
organised a Hunger Strike and at the rally at Panaji on 18 December,
2007, in spite of Siddanath Buyao calling me up at noon and abusing me
on the phone [I had to call him back to have my say as he hung up
after he had HIS say] and doing a repeat on stage at 5.00 P.M. while I
was enjoying his song and having tea at Cafe Prakash instead of
standing/sitting in a near empty Azad Maidan. The crowds for the 4
P.M. meeting actually built up after 5.30 P.M. when the offices began
to close. We are, after everything is said and done, on the same side
of the SCRIPT fence for Konkani and his father was a dear friend of
mine in the last years of his life.
Matanhy's wife and in-laws are family friends of mine since childhood
and Matanhy himself is no stranger.
Christopher Fonseca is no stranger and his sister, Suvarna, was my
choice for an Executive Member of the Botanical Society of Goa of
which I am the incumbent President.
I am an alumnus of St.Xavier's College, Mapusa, which has as its motto
the words "In virtute et scientia". Perhaps, Malisa Simoes, who is
doing her T.Y. B.Com there, does not know its meaning in English:
"Truth and Knowledge". She bluffs the Press about INVITING the GBA and
SVM leaders [I have confirmed with Fr. Maverick Fernandes and Pravin
Sabnis, of both GBA and SVM, that they have not received any
invitation neither are Dr.Videsh Jalmi of Keri Nagrik Samitee or
Charles Fernandes PMAS-Verna known to have been invited.] So she does
not speak the TRUTH. What does one say about her KNOWLEDGE of the
subject of SEZ when she used prepared speeches at Panaji on 30
November, 2007 and at Verna on 20 December, 2007.
I do not need any Sports Secretary of a college that has NEVER seen a
students' strike in 43 years [may it remain that way forever] to
lecture me on what is POLITICAL. I have been seen politicians of
various hues from close quarters long before she was even conceived,
leave alone born on this Earth. And SUCCESSFUL student agitations
[crates of rum, chicken and all, often sponsored by MLAs, MPs and even
Union Ministers] were held four times a year in the University where I
studied ....and it was brought to a standstill without breaking a
single window or burning even waste paper. A person who cannot bring
even an average of 5 students from each of the 40 colleges reportedly
contacted by them should not preach. First let her find out if there
are indeed 40 colleges in Goa. No need of RTI. The list is available
at the Registrar's office at Goa University.
If 200 persons is the best she and/or Sahana , Durgadas et al can
organise "from 40 colleges and some Higher Secondary Schools" [See GT
19 Dec. page3 Col 1, opening para] at Verna ...and did no better at
Panaji, all I can suggest to her is to put on her I-Pod and listen to
the song "BABY, GIVE IT UP". This SEZ is beyond your
capacity,sweetheart. Try something simpler! ;-)
Mog asundi.
Miguel Braganza
9822982676
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Dec 20, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: MIGUEL SPEAKS for himself.
To: GBA office <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
soter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dears,
My emails posted on Goanet, Mapusa-Net, Aldona-Net, Vascokars United
and Margao net are from my own PERSONAL email ID [and NOT of the GBA].
I am for YOUTH POWER and WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT...without forsaking my
right to my sense of humour ;-)
I believe in Matthew 5:13 to 16 . If you are not familiar with it, get
a New Testament and read it.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Pravin Sabnis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Dec 19, 2007 5:05 AM
> Subject: May we get truly liberated
> "To everyone who mocks the GBA's stand of apolitical,
> may it be understood that it means that we are non-partisan and that we are
> with the people. And that is how student activism should be. They should not
> take us seniors too seriously.
>
> Whoever told them the lie that I was asked to speak at for the Verna YFG
> meeting, is lying and this liar must be exposed. If I was asked I would have
> told them that on that day, I would in Delhi at the national meeting of the
> peoples' movements against SEZs in India.
> But if I was in Goa, I would attend for the meeting even without an
> invitation, because I want to support Abhijeet, Anvesha, Unnati,Malissa &
> other students .
>
> These students are sincere.
> But they should quit playing into the hands of those
> who are telling them that a students' protest requires buses, and T-shirts
> and flex banners.
>
> A students solidarity only requires students.
> Nothing more. Nothing less."
> "No person is your friend who demands your silence" - Alice Walker
>
>
> --
May the Force be with you.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts,
Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa
Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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Spread the Christmas Cheer, even when you're not here!
Send classic greetings to your loved ones in Goa.
EXPRESSIONS - 2007 Christmas Hamper
Visit http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/xmas/
Or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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