Dear Arwin,
Let us not throw the Baby out with the dirty bathwater. The Goa Bachao
Abhiyan still has the most committed people as far as Goa is concerned:
Patricia Pinto ... former Councillor of PMC/CCP
Pravin Sabnis ..Architect and Motivational Trainer
Soter D'Souza ..Director, Centre for Panchayati Raj
Roland Martins ..GOACAN and the CCF Network
Ritu Prasad .... Architect who did all the hard work to expose the
Regional Plan 2011
Venita Coelho ...the maker of "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahim"
Rui Araujo... of the Chicalim Vaillagers Action Committee
and a host of others who love Goa. Some of thenm are in the Core Group of the
GBA, others are in the streets, Gram Sabha meetings, filing RTIs, working
quietly, praying, supporting, photographing, writing, reporting ...or even
keeping quiet when it is easy to criticise.
With the Council for Social Justice & Peace [CSJP] throwing its weight behind
the GBA, there is a reach that goes beyond religion and politics. True that its
forerunner [the DCSJA] has been unsuccessful in the Konkan Railway agitation
[and personally I am happy that it failed as I was totally opposed to the
grounds on which KRRAC opposed the railway] and its track record with the
anti-MetaStrips agitation does not really cover it with glory, but the CSJP has
learnt from its errors and kept politicians at bay.
True, we have some elements that we may have been better off without ...and
need to watch out lest we have a repeat of what happened to the KONKANI
PORJECHO AVAZ when the victory target underwent MORPHING like the Goan
Observer's front cover designs ...from KONKANI to ANTRUZI in DEVANAGRI script
ONLY!
Today, is the day for the AGNI PARIKSHA, the test by fire ... it is not as
easy as it is for walking on hot coals for the Sirigao zatra. Besides, the
"Dhonds" undergo deprivation of fat, spirits and sex for a fortnight before the
Zatra. I wonder who has done that in the month of merry month of May! We will
know exactly who loves GOA, who loves himself and who loves money ...although
we may have no proof to show you.
I can understand Soter's frustration: It is something I would have
experienced but for the clear knowledge of one thing: SATYAMEVA JAYATE. Jesus
was betrayed not by the fishermen, tentmakers or carpenters but by the
intellectual, Judas Iscariot, who then committed suicide by hanging himself.
Peter denied Jesus thrice in just one night ... for all the stupid reasons when
asked simple questions ... and yet Jesus entrusted the church to him. All three
..... Jesus, Peter and Judas are remembered the world over ..... but for
different reasons.
Peter or Pedro or Pedru means "Rock". The GBA leadership is between a Rock
and a hard place. Between the winners and the losers ....I really do not know
who wins the Oscar tonight. There will be no award ceremony! It is time to Rock
or roll .....over and fall by the wayside.
To quote Robert Frost again:
"TWO ROADS MET IN THE WOODS, AND I....
I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRODDEN BY;
AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE"
Viva Goa!
Mog asundi.
Miguel
Arwin Mesquita <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> To Goanet -
>
>
> ******
> Trusting GBA will be satyanash for Goans
>
> by Soter D'Souza
>
> The most trusted bogey about some saffron brigade trying
> to split GBA is being circulated to drum up sympathy just to
> protect a section of GBA leaders whose actions are detrimental
> to the interest of Goans. The coterie that has been stiffling
> the voice of the GBA for over 6 months are direct beneficiaries
> of the builder and mining lobby in Goa. By conveniently citing
> the name of Ritu Prasad, a Hindu, as the cause of dissent, this
> coterie is trying to suppress the voices of dissent that have
> been questioning the actions of the GBA over the last 6 months.
> A propaganda machine has been put in place to salvage the
> position of a few leaders who are desperately needed by
> the builder and mining lobby to keep under control the
> affairs of the GBA so that there is no dissent and protest
> until the Regional Plan 2021 is approved.
>
> Every goan who is concerned about Goa and the future
> of GBA must ask the following questions and demand
> their answers.
> 1. There was a workshop on the Regional Plan organised
> by GBA in September 2007. A renowned planner had
> made several suggestions and there were certain decisions
> taken. What has the GBA done in this regard? Has the
> GBA developed any model for a Regional Plan?
>
> 2. What is the GBA's stand on the unified Building Rules
> that the government is in the process of formulating for
> both urban and rural areas? Why has it been silent on this?
>
>
> 3. What has the GBA done to get the amendments
> 16 and 16A to the TCP Act repealed? The amendments
> were passed in March 2008 but no letter of protest from
> GBA had gone to the government until 24th May when
> the core team questioned those responsible for the delay.
> Why?
>
> 4. What has GBA done to see that the TCP Act in its
> present form is repealed and a new one is put in place?
> The present RP 2021 is being prepared under the very
> same Act that created the monstrous RP 2011. The
> Chief Town Planner is supreme and the Village
> Panchayats/Munipalities have no say in the planning.
>
> 5. Has GBA's demands about planning process been
> addressed in the present interin report of the TF? Has
> the interim-report been analysed by neutral persons?
>
> 6. Was the GBA core team briefed from time to time
> about the developments in the Task Force or was it
> kept a secret? Ritu Prasad of GBA was ridiculed by
> a builder and architect on the TF, was the matter
> brought to the notice of GBA? Why was it not brought ?
>
> 7. Was the GBA core team consulted before the Convenor
> put his signature on the interim report ? The co-convenor
> of the Task Force Mr. Charles Correa and the TCP Secetary
> have still not signed the interim report. What was the
> hurry of the convenor of GBA to put his signature without
> taking everyone into confidence?
>
> 8. Why did the Convenor make press statemnts contradicting
> the core team's decision to oppose the interim report in
> his absence without ascertaining the facts? Was the Convenor
> of GBA in the company of persons linked to the mining
> and builders' lobby on the night when this press statement
> was made?
>
> 9. Are there any members in the GBA who are direct or
> indirect beneficiaries of the construction industry in Goa?
> If there are, will there be a conflict of interest?
>
> 10. Has the Convenor ever sat through an entire meeting
> of GBA in the last one year? What has been the duration
> of attendance, 5 mins., 10 mins. 20 mins. ???
>
> 11. Was the government's decision to change the mandate
> of the Task Force in making the Regional Plan accepted by
> the GBA? Did the convenor convey to the TF exactly
> opposite of what was decided at GBA on this matter?
>
> 12. Can the Convenor of GBA be greater than the core team?
>
> 13. Has GBA taken any steps to strengthen its grass-root
> base? Why? Is it reduced to another elite NGO?
>
> Please ask the embarassing questions to these leaders of
> GBA. They are accountable to every Goan and do not let
> them take you all for a ride by sponsoring an orchestrated
> media campaign to suppress the voices of dissent within
> GBA. Nothing in GBA must be kept away from public
> domain because it is a people's movement.
>
> History warns us that Prophets have always been
> ridiculed and even stoned to death. But the truth has
> to be spoken. We are ready to do it for the well being
> of Goa and we will not crumble to the cookies and
> pastries from builders. Let this warning be on
> record so that the Truth will be revealed in time to
> come. Realising the truth later may be a costly
> affair for Goa and Goans.
>
> Soter D'Souza
> A dissenting core team member of GBA
>
> ******
--
Please read my Blog:
http://arwinmesquita.wordpress.com/category/goan-identity/page/3/
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