SUPPORT AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA.

In mid nineties, I went to New Delhi on my own and spending my own money to campaign on behalf of Goa Kuwait Solidarity Center, for the release of Kuwait’s Prisoners of War (POW's) languishing in Iraqi Jails. They were taken as POW’s during the invasion period of Kuwait by Iraq. In Delhi I was helped and assisted by the Head of Indo Arab Society Mr. Khan an MP from Andra Pradesh.  

During my week long stay in Delhi, I met some of the top World diplomats stationed in the capital including Arab League Chief, OIC Chief, Kuwait Ambassador in India and Foreign Minister of India Mr. Sulman Khurshid. One of the Indian leaders during my conversation with him on this topic requesting India to use its good offices with Saddam Hussein to get these POWs released from Iraq, that particular Indian leader sarcastically asked me thus:

“Mr, Fernandes, why don’t you ask America to work for the release of these POW’s when America is acting like self appointed World Policeman?”

There is a misconception in certain quarters that America wants to be the Policeman of the world to control all the activities of the world. According to me, America acts to contain and to control the brute might of the certain brute world leaders, though in some cases America committed mistakes.  That aside, American involvement in many of the hot spots proved to be necessary otherwise some of the brute leaders of some of the brute countries would put the World into fire and liquidate the humanity.

What would be the fate of the world if America did not directly and forcefully involved in Afghanistan to contain the brute might of the Talebans there?  The first target would be India of the ferocity of Bin Laden in which ferocity Bin Laden would hit Qutb Minar and Parliament House and thus destroy New Delhi.  He would create another World Trade Center disaster in Mumbai or in Delhi.  And mind you, it was not difficult for him to do this, it was easy for him to do such heinous crimes in India because India is an easy spot and because it is so, Pakistani terrorists almost hijacked Parliament House a few years back.   

What was India for Bin Laden and his Taleban gang when he with ease infiltrated into such a mighty Atomic Super Power America?  Thank God, America entered into Afghanistan, destroyed Taleban and killed Bin Laden. Otherwise Taleban’s main target would be India. Let the Indian leaders and others know this fact before accusing America of becoming the Policeman of the World.

When America waged a deadly war under the leadership of Bush Jr. to free Iraq of Saddam’s dictatorship and arrogance, many in India and elsewhere accused America of involving itself in overthrowing Saddam Hussein.  However, according to me, what America did in Iraq was absolutely right otherwise Saddam Hussein would invade all his militarily weak neighbours even by using biological weapons against his immediate neighbours as he used against his own people from Kurdistan. 

After the fall of Saddam Hussein, his Arab Muslim neighbours started having peaceful sleep otherwise they were having sleepless nights when Saddam Hussein was ruling Iraq. Such was the fear of Saddam Hussein.

Now what we see in TV from Syria is horrible and unbearable. No country and no organisation is in position to stop the genocide systematically conducted on Syrians by the Assad regime, not even UN is in position to stop this because 2 Veto Powers, Russia and China are supporting Assad’s genocide.  Both these Communist countries love bloodshed and killings because both these countries were born thru bloodshed and killings only.

In such a situation people seeking justice have no other option but to seek help from the one who is in a better position to redress this horrible situation. And who is that "One"?  It is none other than USA.  As a member of international community I support America in its Military mission to maim Assad’s capacity to maim his own citizens.   

America is the only Super Power now capable to side with the weak and as a Super Power America will have to fight against Assad regime and put an end to his genocide that he is conducting against his own citizens in his own country Syria.

In this military mission America will be doing a great humanitarian job and not a World Policeman's job as it was wrongly understood by the opponents of America. Thru this military mission America will be fighting against injustice committed on innocent people by the Assad regime.  Even in our individual and personal life we must fight against the injustice committed on others.

While concluding I quote Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) who said when He was questioned thus: "When will there be justice in this world?"  

Replied Prophet thus: "WHEN EVERYONE OF US WILL GATHER COURAGE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE INJUSTICE COMMITTED ON TO OTHERS AS IF THAT INJUSTICE IS COMMITTED ON TO US ONLY,  THEN ONLY THERE WILL BE JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD".

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait  

 

SYRIAN CONFLICT AND AMERICAN ROLE IN ARAB & MUSLIM WORLD.

What ails Arab and Islamic World?  Arab League (AL) is formed to solve the disputes occurring among the Arab nations but still Arabs are fighting among themselves and killing themselves in a big number. Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) was formed to protect the interest of Muslim countries and to solve the disputes happening among the  member nations but still the disputes occur and because of which Muslims are killing Muslims only.  While Arabs are killing Arabs  and Muslims are killing Muslims, Israel is enjoying because this is what Israel wants.

  

It is sickening to see in Syria, Assad forces are killing his own Syrians in thousands since last two years and moreover, a few days back Assad used Chemical weapons against his own people killing and maiming thousands.  Assad's tirade against his opponents is unstoppable.  He blames the opposition forces in Syria for using those Chemical weapons.  If it is true then what type of government he is running where there is no government control over the activities of his people whether from his  own supporters or opponents?  

If he has no power  to control the ill deeds  of his people then he has no right to lead his nation.  Just blaming opposition forces for using chemical weapons without evidence is not enough.  And it is a shame on him as a President of the nation to allow opposition a free hand to play such a mischief.

Hitler used biological weapons against Jews, Saddam Hussein against his own citizens Kurds and now Syrian President Assad used Chemical weapons against his own people.  How cruel Assad is to use such deadly and poisonous gas to maim and kill his own people including the angels like infant babies!!  Where is Arab League gone now?  Where is its authority now?  Where is IOC gone now and where is its religious authority and principles gone now?  To kill people thus is permissible in Islam?

America is an evil but necessary evil and without America’s involvement world order will collapse. Because of America, till today world is surviving though America is evil, it is evil for some but surely not for all. 

In their 8 year war, both the warring countries Iraq and Iran lost over a million people and who were these souls?   They were Arabs and Muslims. When every person and every organization failed to stop this war, finally interested parties openly and clandestinely begged with America to try to stop this war and then only this war came to an end. Thus came an end to the further deaths of Arabs and Muslims from Iraq and Iran thru the intervention of America.

Then another tragedy befell on Arabs and Muslims in this region when one Arab Muslim country Iraq invaded its peace loving Arab Muslim neighbour Kuwait. Again Iraq defied Arab League and OIC and against their principles swallowed Kuwait thus forcing BBC in its early morning bulletin on 2^nd August 1990 to ask a loud and clear question: 

“Where is Arab League gone?  Where is OIC gone? Where is GCC gone?” 

They gone nowhere, they were all there only where they were but they became impotent to stop the mighty power of Iraq.  Though they became impotent yet even after 24 hours of the invasion of Kuwait, in its communique released following an emergency meeting of AL held to decide on the action to be taken to free Kuwait from Iraqi invasion,  AL said: 

“Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq is an Arab problem and as such it will be solved under the Umbrella of Arab League only”.

What Arab League is and what problem it will solve?  It cannot solve the problems of this magnitude because it has no capacity to solve such problems. 

Finally America alone had to come forward with its team of powerful nations, mainly UK and France to liberate Arab Muslim country Kuwait illegally invaded by another Arab Muslim country Iraq. And mind you, please take note that this conflict between two Arab Muslim nations was solved by the Western Christian nations under the leadership of Christian USA.

Now coming back to Syrian conflict where Assad regime is committing genocide against his own people even by attacking them with Chemical weapons, all are now begging with America to come forward and teach a very good lesson to Assad and his regime.  Arabs are begging America, Muslims are begging America, Asians are begging America and even Westerners are also begging America to come forward with its mighty Military power to put an end to Assad’s madness. But will America act now decisively?

At the time of writing this piece, UK and Germany backed off from joining hands with USA to strike at Assad even though America has stationed all its war arsenals in readiness to go for the kill with the full support of one more Veto Power France. The other two Veto Powers Russia and China are blindly  supporting Assad.  Both these Communist Powers are shameless because they are both shamelessly watching Assad forces committing genocide on his own citizens. 

Both these nations are not worthy to wield Veto power because they are misusing it.  Even during the crucial vote in the UN, both these Communist countries abstained from voting for the motion to give the go ahead for war to liberate Kuwait.  By abstaining from voting both these Communists brothers showed their inclination towards Saddam Hussein and his illegal invasion of Kuwait. Both are traitors.

Both Russia and China are against American strike at Syria to solve this Syrian problem but while opposing American strike, why they cannot come forward and stop Assad from killing his own citizens in such a brutal manner? It looks brute nation Syria under its brute President Assad is supported by the other two brute nations while the third Iran has no value.

     A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.    

MARCOS PACHECO - THE GREATEST GOAN ATHLETE GOA HAS EVER PRODUCED.

                                                            Marcus Pacheco

St. Joseph’s High School at Arpora Bardez, Goa, is the first English High School of Goa established by Fr. Lyon.  Being the first English High School of Goa, it had students from all over Goa who excelled as scholars in studies while others as genii in sports field.

The village of Parra in the neighbourhood of Arpora was known then for the rich cultivation of Water Melons and its huge production made Parra very famous in Bardez.  Similary Parra during those good old days was very famous for producing some of the top sportsmen of Goa.  Marcus Pacheco was one such great sportsman son of Parra excelling in Athletics.  He was during his school days at Arpora especially during the Portuguese rule in Goa was the champion runner athlete of Goa topping in 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres and even in one mile at school level and at Goa level as well.

His best item was One Hundred metres in which he defeated even the best Portuguese "Pakle and Mestizos" athletes in Goa. While running hundred metres at Arpora School Annual Sports Meet in 1959 I saw him how speedy he was and seeing him thus I as a small boy was inspired to imitate him which I did at the later stage from the same school.

Marcus Pacheco was my hero, like Ben Johnson he was very muscular athlete, slow at starting point but accelerating his pace, strides and speed at the later stage and finishing first.  To see him running was a thriller and sheer excitement. When I joined Arpora School in 1962 June after the annexation of Goa by Bharat, he was doing his SSC but later on when he came to know of my prowess as an athlete coming from the same school, he came especially to see me running at Arpora School Annual Meet and congratulated me saying "Anthony Veronica, now you carry forward where I left".

In early 1962 at Lisboa in Portugal there was a scheduled Sports Meet of Portuguese sports persons from Portugal and from its colonies. As a Portuguese colony it was mandatory for Goa to send its best athletes for this Meet. As a best athlete of Goa Marcus Pacheco should have been an automatic choice but Portuguese Pakle dominated selection committee of Goa dropped Marcus Pacheco from the selection list with an excuse that Marcus Pacheco as a Goan having weak physical structure will not be able to manage to run in Lisboa. 

Fr. Mendonca the then mighty and knowledgeable Principal of Arpora School sensed the racial discrimination of the Portuguese dominated selection committee members and argued forcefully the case of Marcus Pacheco to include him in the Goa selection team which otherwise comprised all Pakle and Mistizos athletes.

Said Fr. Menonca, if Marcus Pacheco as a Goan is weak physically, then how he defeated in the selection trial all the so called physically strong Pakle and Mestizos competitors while conducting the selection trial?  In the selection trial Marcus Pacehco defeated all his opponents and yet he was not selected to go to Portugal.  But later on it was because of Fr. Mendonca’s intervention that finally our Goan Marcus Pacheco was given a green signal to represent Goa in the Athletics Meet to be held at Lisboa in Portugal.

After confirmation of his selection, Marcus Pacheco was given rigorous training at Campal even Road Running on the Streets of Panjim – Campal – Miramar & Dona Paula with Military Jeep of Pakles in front controlling his moves.  

When everything was done and finalised to fly to Lisboa during Christmas Week, unexpectedly for Marcus Pacheco on 18^th December itself India sent its mighty Military to annex Goa and on 19^th December officially and forcefully grabbed Goa thereby dashing all the hopes of Marcus Pacheco of winning Medal for Goa in the Portuguese Sports Meet.at Lisboa. 

May be if it materialised, Marcus Pacheco would get an opportunity to represent Portugal in  the Olympics and win a gold medal there making Goa proud. But it was not destined to happen like that.

Very shortly Goa is going to host Lusofonia Games in Goa where Goan athletes will be selected to represent Goan squad.  What Marcus Pacheco missed in Lisboa in 1962 will any of the Goan athletes win in Goa in 2013 ? By the way, will there be another Marcus Pacheco representing Goa in this Lusofonia Games in Goa?

Marcus Pacheco in Sixties worked for Chowgules Mining in Goa where he also represented Chowgules soccer team at Bardez level in the Second Division of GFA, he was a bustling forward scoring lot of goals with his both legs. As a student of Arpora School, I was also playing for that team along with him in 1965.  It was a sheer pleasure to play along with him where he provided me lot of support required on the field for a very young footballer like me.

In Seventies and in Eighties he worked in Abu Dhabi from where he returned to his home place Parra Goa and expired there about 15 years back.  May his Soul Rest In Peace and may Goa produce more and more Marcus Pachecos to bring more and more laurels for Goa in athletics field.

Befitting his stature as a great Goan athlete Goa has ever produced and having a very good sporting history behind him, I feel the organisers of the forthcoming Lusofonia Games in Goa should HONOUR him by naming one venue of the Games after him. 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.