To Goanet -
In the Dec 27, 2007 edition of the Gomantak Times, a letter
by Soter D'Souza was published. I requested a softcopy
of the same from Soter. Below is the full version of that letter.
"""""
"The ultimatum issued by the convenor of GMAS Mathany Saldanha
for tourists to leave the State by 28th December has evoked prompt
and interesting responses from some quarters of goans including
the Chief Minister and the GPCC. They have made their buck and
now need to play for time to overcome their bout of indigestion.
So, we have talk about rights of people to enjoy and travel and
about the tourism industry being affected due to such threats.
There is much hype about inconveniencing the tourists and other
pleasure seekers. There is propaganda about giving Goa a bad
name which will harm tourism.
We also agree that violence is not the solution and should be
avoided. So also one can be sure that the anti-SEZ lobbies are
no bunch of unemployed hooligans who enjoy rioting. They
surely have lot of productive work to do and also want to live
in peace. But the question is whether the rich and the powerful
are ever known to listen to the cries of the aam admi minus the
throwing of tantrums? The people of Saleli pleaded for help for
years together but did anyone listen until that fateful day of the
uprising? The anti-nylon 66 agitators of Keri village had relentlessly
appealed to the government to pack off the project but no one
budged until riots broke out and the blood of Nilesh Naik was
spilled. The people of Nandigram also told their West Bengal
government to back out with the SEZ but it became a prestige
issue for the State to crush the people's voice and demonstrate
its might by using the very security forces to shoot at the very
aam admi from whose taxes they get their salaries. The goan
people demanded for konkanni to be made the official language
but nothing happened without the blood of Florian Vaz being
splattered on the altar of the powers that ruled. And now, the
people of Goa have peacefully demanded the scrapping of all SEZs
but the government even while promising not to go ahead with
the approvals went about notifying the third SEZ. So where does
the aam admi stop and where do the rich and powerful begin?
Everyone longs for peace even the poorest of the poor. But will
the rich allow this to happen? The violence of the rich and powerful
gets passed off as development whereas the agitation by the
aam admi gets condemned as democratically unacceptable
behaviour. The threats of an agitation disturb the rich and
powerful who want the freedom and right to make their profits
or enjoy their holidays in Goa without any disturbance from the
aam admi. The rich and powerful which gets represented by the
government is prompt to respond with press conferences and
media hype, but where does the aam admi go and who will
listen and publicise his cries that his 'roti, kapda and makhan'
is under threat? The aam admi is expected to take patience till
the study committe submits its report and the white paper on
SEZs is presented by the Chief secretary, but meanwhile the
rich and powerful are given the license to march on impatiently
and ravage the environment and the livelihood of the 15 lakh
people of Goa. Loot and plunder by the rich is justified but the
aam admi who stands up for his rights definitely needs to
condemned by one and all in government and commerce.
After all, this is what modern day's just and equitable
development is all about, isn't it?"
-Soter D'Souza
Socorro
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