Dear Rajan, Thank you for posting this letter from Soter D'Souza [ fellow alumni in Britto's, my class mate in St.Xavier's HSS and co-activist in the GBA] on the net. This is the Soter I know ...but was hard put to recognise during the last two months.
Sadly, it is true that the Goa Government [specially whenever Rane was CM] understood only bloodshed. Let Digu Kaka show us that he is different. Mog asundi. Miguel Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:08:06 -0800 (PST) From: "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] Letter in Gomantak Times 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. 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 goan people demanded for Konkani 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 ***** -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
