To Pamela Mascarenhas, Deputy Director of Tourism (Goa) Dear Ms. Mascarenhas,
May I say how appalled I was by the following (attached) statement reportedly made by you? For, while you are quite right that all women must try avoid being assaulted by the criminal men who assault them, and while you are also right to advise women to attire themselves appropriately, the following sentence, attributed to you, is disgraceful. You are reported as having stated that: "You can't blame the locals; they have never seen such women..." So, to which horizon will this 'slippery slope' lead women visiting Goa? a: "You can't blame the migrants; they have never seen Goan women..." b: "You can't blame the sex-starved men; they have never seen women..." c: etc etc. It is possible that you meant to say something else, and misspoke. What is certain, my dear, is that you would need to think seriously before to you draft a press statement. I also suggest that the statement is then vetted by someone who is more sensitive to the needs of women than you have come across as. I hope that the Women's groups slam you for this. But then again, one never knows. sincerely j. colaco BURKHA anyone? http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/81607/India/No+bikinis+on+Goa+beaches.html The deputy director of Goa Tourism, Pamela Mascarenhas, blamed foreign tourists for bringing the assaults upon themselves. Expressing sentiments similar to those of Goa MP Shantaram Naik, which had led to a furore in the Rajya Sabha in December, Mascarenhas said, "You can't blame the locals; they have never seen such women.
