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The Rape of Goa - A photo documentary
by
Rajan P. Parrikar
Venue: Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panjim, May 21-24, 2008
http://www.parrikar.org/misc/doc-notice.pdf
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The Goa Su-Raj Party, in solidarity with the people of Advalpal wishes to
fortify the people's resolve to arrest the sickness that is destroying
unique villages, the village life, the sustainability of village
agricultures and in general entire Goan environmental and ecological
balance, including its forests and wild-life, only for monetary
considerations of the mine owners/operators themselves and the vested
interests in local and central governments.
Goan People's Resolve that must prevail at all costs is that:-
"IF THE PEOPLE OF GOA DO NOT GET THE BENEFITS OF THE GOD GIVEN RESOURCES
THAT BELONG TO GOA AND ITS PEOPLE, THEN LET THESE RESOURCES LIE UNTOUCHED
AND UNDISTURBED"
----- Original Message -----
From: "sebastian Rodrigues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:44 PM
Subject: [Goanet] Sesa Goa's violent clashes with Advalpal villagers
Advalpal villagers tirade against mining companies continues today on a
third day today. People are attacking mines due to threat to their
village, Water sources, Forests and Agriculture.
According to the reports reaching here at 6.10 pm confrontation is on
between Sesa Goa mining company an the Adval villagers. Around 150
villagers have squatted on the road blocking mining trucks carrying ore
from Sesa Goa mines. Tension was mounting on on the mine side with no side
in a position to relent. Vedanta - that owns Sesa Goa - is known for
thorough environmental destruction as well as application of brutal
repressive measures in number of Indian States.
Sesa Goa mine owned by British corporate Vedanta was involved in beating
up of three Advalpal villagers two of them being women. Sheetal Thalekar,
Surekha Santosh Gaonkar and 17 year old Sandesh Vithal Gaonkar was beaten
by Sesa Goa goons at around 3.00 pm today on the mines site in the
presence of Goa Police personnel attached to Bicholim police station.
Bicholim police station has registered the case against unknown persons at
the demand of Advalpal villagers after initial reluctance.
Today morning Advalpal villagers marched into Sesa Goa mines and forced it
to close down. Then the group marched on the Fometos mine. However today
too police were deployed to provide security cover thereby preventing
people from entering mine. While people were at the Fomentos mine Sesa Goa
mine too were provided with police protection and re-started again.
One group today morning squatted before the deputy collectors office
shouting slogans against mining company and deputy Collector accusing
officer Arvind Bugde being agent of the mining companies. police too
rushed here and put in place barricade preventing people from entering the
deputy collector's office.
The third mine operated by Salgaoncar mining company remains close for the
past three days. Goa's Mining Minister who is also Chief Minister -
Digambar kamat - will have to take some important and hard decisions to
resolve this stand off. Neither application Goons nor Police violence is
going to solve this problem. He has to straighten his backbone and sent
home mining companies to defend homes and lives of Advalpal people.
Earlier he does it better for him and his government stability.
Sebastian Rodrigues with inputs from Ramesh Gauns in Bicholim and
Shamsunder Naik in Advalpal.
