Re: [Goanet] Goa's first "Swedish Referendum"

[Edwin/Diana Pinto]

Many of the older generation will recall the amusing award winning Norman 
Jewison comedy “The Russians are coming”. Today in Goa, it is not only the 
Russians, but the Israelis, the British, the bouncers, the builders, the 
Bollywood brigade, the criminals, scamsters, mobsters and the big moneybags 
who have forayed into our beautiful little state and carved out comfortable 
kingdoms for themselves, where their writ carries much more weightage than 
the law of the land. Bouncers rule the streets, even killing and maiming 
innocents as they impose their will. Builders allegedly build in total 
violation of  requirements, easily obtaining their licences from a lethargic 
administration who do not even bother to check the realities on the ground. 
Tourists and other outsiders allegedly abduct locals or contravene traffic 
and other laws and then openly defy the police. They are even successful in 
preventing villagers from enjoying their San Joao traditions in Anjuna 
thanks to the local police who fail to arrive when urgently called for.

Lately, the Chief Minister  has mooted a much acclaimed “Swedish referendum” 
process for village panchayats to decide issues. But in the light of the 
prevailing circumstances in the state, it might make more sense for us to 
have the first Swedish referendum to decide if we really need an 
administrative machinery at all, since all the interest groups appear to be 
functioning as a law unto themselves, totally unhindered by those we have 
appointed to protect our rights and enforce our laws. This will certainly 
not change the status of the local Goans, who are already a brow beaten and 
victimised lot.

Diana Pinto