Goan Memories of 2nd August...--Part III

2nd of August this year will be 17th anniversary of the brutal invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi regime under its dictator Saddam Hussein. Along with all others residing in Kuwait in 1990, 2nd August, a huge Goan community comprising around 25 thousand was also caught unaware.
Part III

Many Kuwait Goan evacuees came for our Rally from distant places in specially hired buses. One such bus came from Sanguem thru the leadership of the late Jack Santan Fernandes of Commercial Bank of Kuwait. Unfortunately, he was not recalled by his Bank after the liberation. According to one source instruction was given by the top Boss to recall Jack but it was his own immediate Goan superior from Cansaulim who rejected Jack giving an excuse that Jack is not interested in returning to Kuwait. This Cansaulimkar was jealous of Jack's contribution in the promotion of G-KSC while he never supported us. Regretably, this type of cruel fate was faced by many of our Goans, associates and supporters. Others who came by especial buses were our supporters from Navelim thru the efforts of Elvino Rodrigues, Thomas, Luis and others while more buses came from Colva thru the efforts of Alleluia, Tiatrist Mario and their colleagues; Verna thru the efforts of Tiatrist Francis de Verna and his colleagues; Agacaim thru the efforts of Sheikh Agnelo and his friends. For these buses everybody spent money from his or her own pockets. There were no Buses nor the so called prominent people in Kuwait from AVC nor from Curtorim nor from Sanvordem nor from Majorda nor from Utorda though many of the people from these villages working in Kuwait are making big noise in Kuwait either individually or thru their associations.

Besides coming in especial buses, individuals came from different places from all over Goa namely Aldona, Pomburpa, Saligao, Nagoa Bardez, Mapusa, Siolim, Tivim, Calangute, Candolim, Pilerne, Merces, St. Cruz, Cortalim, Cancona, Margao, Vasco and many other palces.

While we the Konknnivadis in Goa raising Kuwait’s banner with pride against Saddam Hussein, our Konknnivadi brothers in Mangalore and Bombay were doing nothing to emulate our feat even though in Kuwait some of them were and still are acting like big persons. I was expecting KCWA would come forward and emulate our example because KCWA from Kuwait accumulated huge fund for them. They should have realized that if it was not for Kuwait they would never accumulate such a big fund. They failed to recognize that minus Kuwait many of them would be nowhere in life. And inspite of all these benefits they failed to show their solidarity openly and publicly with the suffering Kuwait and Kuwaitis during the invasion of Kuwait. In Mangalorean Konkani community there are so many affluent people but during this period their affluence turned out to be hollow. They proved to be materially affluent but intellectually bankrupt. I was surprised how even their priests who receive so much of financial aid from KCWA did not advise them to emulate our example. They also remained indeferent to the woes of Kuwait like our Goan priests? After all priests are priests, whether from Goa or Mangalore or Bombay. They are the birds of same feathers. They, like Indian politicians, will all laugh with you when you are laughing but will refuse to cry with you when you cry.

A. Veronica Fernandes addressing the rally

Our movement in Goa under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center within a night gained worldwide attention thru media and thru air waves, even CNN highlighted our Rally and Puiblic Meeting held in Panjim at Azad Maidan which was attended by some Kuwaitis as well including a prominent and a top officer in the Ministry of Interior, Col. Juma Al Kholifi. He was a like a representative of the real Government of Kuwait under the leadership of Amir of Kuwait. In his speech at Azad Maidan he made the gathering cry. This small step of ours turned out to be a gigantic one even alerting and informing Kuwaiti Embassy in Delhi and Kuwaiti Government in exile stationed at Taif in Saudi Arabia of what we Goans did for the cause of Kuwait.

Ministry of Interior, Col. Juma Al Kholifi kissing the Kuwaiti flag

All who were under the impression that Kuwait Goans were docile and "copist" were shocked to know of our bold steps in support of Kuwait. We were not docile and not copist, the docile and copists were those who refrained from supporting us and those who refused to join us in our movement for the cause of Kuwait. The docile and ungratefuls Kuwait Goan evacuees were those who were sleeping at home during our Rally on 12th November 1990.

To be concluded...