EMERGENCY IN PAKISTAN.

EMERGENCY IN PAKISTAN.

Was US not consulted by Gen. Pervez Musharraf before introducing emergency rule in Pakistan on Saturday last? I doubt. There is nothing in this world especially in the third world and in Europe happening without the green signal from the White House. In 1990, 2nd August, according to information available, US had full prior knowledge that Iraq is marching towards Kuwait and even US gave silent nod for Saddam to move in his troops towards Kuwait. “Never an appeasement to the dictator because a dictator is a dictator” said Margaret Thatcher. However good the rule of Musharraf may be in Pakistan but he trampled under his feet all the democratic rules and usurped power with brute force. As a lover of democracy I condemn Gen. Musharraf for introducing emergency rule in Pakistan. Why Musharraf only? For that matter I condemn every ruler who usurps power thru bullet and not thru ballot. And introducing of martial law is the worst thing one can do. I pledge my total solidarity with all the Pakistanis who are opposing emergency rule in Pakistan. It is disgusting to see Musharraf's police treating so badly the agitating lawyers against the emergency rule. If civilised, decent and educated people do not oppose the barbarity of Gen. Musharraf then who will do this?

In the past, in June 1995 I know how India with its strong democratic base suffered a severe blow to its progress because Indira Gandhi the then Premier of India introduced emergency rule and shut all the doors of democratic process. Press was choked and media was harassed, intelligencia was suppressed leading to the arrest of top democratic minded leaders including the colleague of her father Jeyprakash Narayan – a Ghandian himself. History repeats itself and it is repeated in Pakistan, a neighbouring country to India. During those days of 19 months of emergency rule in India a full blooded bustling Indian was converted into a pale docile person, his movement was sniffed by sniffing dogs and even his thoughts were arrested to think freely. His human attributes were extracted from his body and mind. He was made to believe that he was a sub human being. This is the result of emergency rule and martial law.

Gen. Musharraf is also on way to imitate Congressperson Indira Gandhi. Humna Rights activists from all around the globe will have to play a major role now to stop Musharraf from terrorising humanbeings in Pakistan. Indian lovers of democratic rule will have to play a major role from India to silence Musharraf as the then Pakistani leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did from Pakistan during the emergency rule in India. During those days Mr. Bhutto as a premier of Pakistan in his speeches and press conferences used to highlight the plight of the sufferrings of Indian from Indira's terror. He used to awaken the world conscience from Pakistan against Indira's emergency in India. He used to criticise Indira Ghandi and her Congress Party very severely.

By introducing emergency rule in Pakistan Gen. Musharraf proved how coward he is. He should have waited for the final verdict of Supreme Court on his election result. Instead he unceremoniously and unconstitutionally dismissed Chief Justice Chaudury trampling under his military boots constitutional delicacies. By this action he showed that he introduced emergency in Pakistan not to save the country but only to save his skin from the likely Supreme Court verdict against his continuation as President in uniform.

When I read his autobiography “In The Line Of Fire” especially chapter 18 where he humiliates Benazir Bhutto for running away from Pakistan after robbing the country of its huge resources I had very good opinion of General Musharraf as a man of upright principle. But when he allowed Benazir back home by giving her amnesty for her misdeeds I realized that this man, General Musharraf is not to be trusted. I am convinced that he is power hungry and to retain it he will do anything even by committing suicidal acts as the introduction of emergency. This is not an end. He will go on increasing and multiplying his acts of arrogance and high handedness exactly as Indira Gandhi did in 1975 in India during her emergency rule. With the support of emergency rule laws innocent persons in Pakistan will have to suffer. Decent Pakistanis opposing emergency will face the brutalities of Musharraf’s police. Intellectual class of Pakistanis will have to undergo traumatic time physically and intellectually because this class of Pakistanis will never accept “dadagiri” of one man Gen. Musharraf who thinks he is omnipotent.

I have a strong feeling that Musharraf will fail in his endeavours in attaining success in his emergency rule in Pakistan. Present day Pakistan is not what it was earlier during the regimes of Ayub, Yayah and Zia. Fire brand Imran Khan has already fired a salvo and Benazir Bhutto has already shown her disapproval to emergency and asked her party followers to oppose emergency. So also many top Pakistani leaders. Pakistan will ultimately be saved only thru civilized rule by the civilized ruler and not thru the power of bullet by the martial law. Power of bullet has failed in Pakistan because bullet begets bullet and because of this in some remote corners of Pakistan parallel governments with the power of bullet are functioning inspite of General Musharraf having full control of Pakistan. With the advent of Musharraf’s illegal rule extremism and terrorism has increased in Pakistan. May be Musharraf himself is responsible for this by clandestinely pushing the extremists and terrorists into action. An architecht of Kargil war will do nothing but only create more and more Kargils in his own land against his own people. It is useless blaming India for the ills of Pakistan. Pakistani ills are the creations of Pakistanis themselves. If India remained united today since independence it is only because of the word democracy however defective it may be but democracy alone kept the Indians united. If Pakistan was splitted yesterday it was only because of the absence of democracy in Pakistan. The millitary rule, emergency rule and martial law alone will be responsible for the further splits of Pakistan. Millitary rulers alone are responsible for all the ills in Pakistan.

I admire all the civilized countries that condemned the emergency rule in Pakistan but abjure India’s stand of not condemning emergency rule boldly in Pakistan. Will India condemn in strongest terms the introduction of martial law in Pakistan with emergency rule? I don’t think so because as long as Sonia Gandhi the Italian daughter-in-law of the late Indira Ghandi wields influence and power over the current Indian government at the centre there will not be condemnation of emergency rule in Pakistan. Sonia Gandhi was a part and parcel of Indira Ghandi’s household when her nasty mother-in-law in connivance with her late Pilot husband Rajiv Ghandi introduced and hailed emergency in India. Sonia Gandhi was a silent admirer of emergency rule in India and being so how she will accept condemnation of emergency rule in Pakistan?

Pakistan may be the country of Pakistanis spread all over the world and as such they may have more responsibility to decide their fate. Also, they may be knowing better what is good and what is bad for their country. But the lovers of democracy spread all around the globe irrespective of their nationality have got duty to support democracy and oppose emergency not only in Pakistan but anywhere in the world. Let me be a part of that segment of democracy lover in condemning emergency rule in Pakistan and opposing martial law. Pakistan may be of Pakistanis but democracy is of all including of me. For this reason I support democracy and condemn emergency.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

EDUARDO FALEIRO AND GLOBAL GOANS.

Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:48:31 +0000
From: "A. Veronica Fernandes" averonicaf806@hotmail.com
Subject: [Goanet] Global Goan Convention.
To: goanet@goanet.org
Cc: averonicaf806@hotmail.comMessage-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed


The following article I wrote in goanet on 12th January this year when Eduardo Faleiro acted arrogant during Global Goan Convention against Adv. Ires Rodrigues.

Now the same article I am reproducing in "kranti" with little alterations here and there to refresh the memory of Goans who may be interested to know more about Eduardo Faleiro.

SUB: GLOBAL GOAN CONVENTION

With strongest terms I denounce the action of NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro’s action of evicting with the help of Police, Adv. Aires Rordrigues from the Global Goan Convention Hall or from NRI Meet held recently in Goa. This is the biggest blunder Faleiro has done in his life time. If Adv.Rodrigues was a hurdle then why first of all he was given an entry pass? He should not have been permitted beforehand only. His eviction is in tune with Salazarshahi in which Faleiro must be smart. During Portuguese time, Dictator Salazar’s “Pakle” on slight pretext used to humiliate Goans and used to forcibly evict any person from the Tiatro Mattou. I saw this type of brutality of Pakle at Mapusa for the tiatro on “Milagres Saibinnichea Festak” somewhere in 1959-60. But what surprised me is this that though Salazar was ousted from Goa yet his doctrine is still carried forward by persons like Eduardo Faleiro who must have learnt this art in Portugal during his sojourn in Portugal. What worst surprised me was the attitude of all the members seated there and who silently accepted the eviction of Adv. Rodrigues without any protest, of course a few who opposed this decision I applaud them. I always harped on one aspect of global Goans mentality towards Goa and that is they have very little love for Goa and this was proved during the language agitation in Goa when they overwhelmingly remained silent spectators when our brothers and sisters agitated so much for Konkani to maintain Goa’s identity. Very many of the global Goans now showing their identity only because of the innovation of internet where they get opportunity to show their existence free of charge otherwise overwhelming majority of them are least bothered on Goa.

A genuine lover of Goa would surely raise the issue of anti-Goan Regional Plan 2011 because it is affecting Goa and Goans. Hence, what was wrong in raising this issue in the midst of Goans who should be more conscious of Goa and Goans? I also condemn those global Goans who attended this meet and yet failed to oppose the eviction of Adv. Aires who has done more for the cause of Goa and Goans than Eduaro Faleiro. What Adv.Aires did was not for the payment, not for the benefits, not for the privileges and financial remuneration for himself but what Eduardo Faleirodid was for financial benefits and privileges as an MP and Minister. He was paid for the services he rendered while Aires was not, eg. Student’s agitation for concession and demonstration during language agitation.Eduardo Faleiro according to information insulted the Goan press by telling them “Go to hell”. Though I was not present to listen yet I firmly believe that he is capable of doing this because he is very arrogant man. He liked to mock and humiliate others as if he is omnipotent.

The awards given to some NRI Goans were given on what basis? Who were the recipients of these awards and what were their contribution towards the cause of Goans and Goa? What Goan movement did they support and patronize? Just because they are doing fine in their adopted countries they are doled these awards? Is any amongst them having his house in Goa? Is any amongst them recognizable by his Goan culture, tradition and language? Is any amongst them is proud to be a Goan by following Goan ways? Is any one amongst them speaks Goan language to identify himself with Goans and Goa? I am sure these awardees are doing fine in their adopted countries but are they proud to be Goans? And on what basis they are selected? Was it an individual decision of NRI Commissioner? Do they feel they are worthy of these awards? If not then why they did not decline these awards saying "we are not worthy of same?" Do they deposit their money in Goan Banks to help Goan economy? Eduardo Faleiro did nice job and "Fulu Fustar Fozne pettoile". Every Goan must question Rane, his Congress Government, his cabinet members and Congressmen for wasting Goan tax payers' money on those who are not interested on Goa. One Mr. X from Bardez Goa approached me for my suggestion of seconding one Mr. Y from Kuwait for this award. I asked him what are the basis of selecting a person for this award? Do you have your guidelines for the selection? He had no answer.

Somehow or the other Eduardo Faleiro has close affinity with Kuwait Goans. When he was an MP somewhere in 1978 he was brought to Kuwait by Goans on his way back home from South America where he attended one Conference as a representative of India. His stay in Kuwait was supported by us thru our financial contribution, especial meeting in the Church Hall was organized by Kuwait Goan Association President Vincente D’Souza who was a dynamic leader of Goans in Kuwait, this meet was attended by the Bishop of Kuwait Monsg. Victor Saminguel and Indian Ambassador Chetwal. This meet was finally ended in fiasco when one of the Goans Prof. Claude Rodrigues from Nagoa Bardez in his speech lambasted Indian Embassy and Indian Ambassador saying "mbassador is become a peon and peon is become an Ambassador in Indian Embassy". Eduardo Faleiro was embarassed. On the same night especial Reception and Dinner was hosted by us also from our own financial contribution at Sheraton Hotel in honour of Eduardo Faleiro.

During the Kuwait invasion period there was one Kuwait Goan Association in Goa called Kuwait Goan Evacuees Society. This association with a false promise to the Kuwait Goan evacuees to take them back to Kuwait after the liberation of Kuwait, collected huge fund from the Kuwait Goans evacuees in Goa and finally instead used the said funds to print posters for the election campaign of Eduardo Faleiro. One Curtorkar acquaintance of Eduardo Faleiro was one of the leading members of this association, this leading member and his co-villager also working in Kuwait are in possession of over Thirty Thousand Kuwaiti Dinars of one leading Goan Association’s Funds, this amount equals to over half a crore of Indian Rupees. This huge amount belongs to Goan community but both the Curtorkars are withholding it against the constitution and wishes of the said Association. This is a crime and a day light robbery. There was even a court case filed recently in Goa by one of the members of that association against the withholding of this fund by the Curtorcars but still these both Curtorkar friends are refusing to hand over this huge amount back to their association. This funds was collected to use it for the benefit of community causes. In case both these Curtorkar friends by accident or sickness die, who will inherit the amount? Surely their family members and not the Association from where this fund came. This is the quality of persons who are close to Eduardo Faleiro. I am afraid this huge amount may go the way Kuwait Goan Evacuees Society’s Funds have gone for printing of posters for future election of Eduardo Faleiro.

Is Eduardo Faleiro fit to be the NRI Commissioner who will take care of our needs? We have for our Gulf people so many difficulties. Why he cannot sort out these problems? First of all why he cannot know our problems? What is the use of him having a cabinet rank? It is a dole or"bokxis" he got from Rane who was cow dunged a few days back by Dilkush Desai. Don’t ask me what are our difficulties, come here and find out personally, you are paid to do this job and don’t act like a feudal lord with the help of feudal Rane. Your job is to serve us by condescending.

A. Vronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

P.S. One of the persons making a big noise of Eduardo Faleiro's visit to Kuwait was involved in Sex scandal. He was known to have demanded sexual favour from a girl for providing a job for her. The mother of this girl has openly and publicly raised this issue during one of the public meetings of Goans. Decent and God fearing Goans should dissociate from this sex maniac and try to boycott all activities where he is involved. Young females must take care of this person. He is a shame on Goans and also a shame on those whom he is promoting.

ROMI KONKANI INTERNATIONALISED KONKANI.

The language that is used to perform one’s religious rites, ceremonies and prayers by any linguistic community, will never die. Konkani is one language that is kept alive by its followers because they use it for their religious activities. Which is that community that kept this Konkani language still alive in Goa? It is the Christian community by making use of the Roman Script, kept Konkani alive and as a matter of fact, Konkani in Goa and amongst Goans will remain alive as long as it is used by the Christian community in Roman script. When any language is used in prayers its taste and importance enhances because it is come from deep of one’s heart. Goan Christians deserve highest compliments in preserving Konkani till today. If Konkani is kept alive in Goa today it is only because of the efforts of Romi Konkani followers. Once they stopped it in their prayers and go for English to recite their prayers and perform their religious rites then Konkani will cease to exist in Goa and amongst Goans.

The biggest damage for Konkani was done by the vast majority of Hindu community by opposing it openly in the past. The entire followers of MGP rejected Konkani and volunteered to embrace Marathi. The lower strata of Hindu community though they converse in it fluently yet they reject it for reasons not known even to them. The upper Hindu class use it to hold its monopoly over it and to do this they sanscritised Konkani and they also Marathi-ised Konkani to suit their needs and also to deny the Christian community upperhand over it. This higher class and higher caste Hindus boast of their allegiance to Konkani but they perform their religious rites in non-Konkani languages. The language that is ignored by any linguistic community for its religious rites will surely die. These Sanskritik and Marathik Konnivadis give their fake allegiance to Konknni in Devanagri script only to gain material benefits for them and for their community. To spread Konknni far and wide they have done nothing and in future too they will do nothing. Even if they make attempts they will never succeed because masses reject their version of Konknni which is semi Marathi. At the moment they hold strong monopoly over Konknni in Goa even though their contribution for the campaign of recognition of Konknni is very negligent.

All the Konkani Martyrs who shed their precious Konkani blood were the followers of Roman Script Konkani. Overwhelming majority of the demonstrators who participated in demonstration like Rallies and Meetings in Panjim for the cause of Konkani were the followers of Roman Script Konkani. Even expatriate Goans like me who participated in such demonstrations during our vacations in Goa were from Roman Script circle. People like me who received “Lathis” from the “Ghantti” Hawaldars of Rane’s Government for participating in the demonstration in Panjim during language agitation were from Roman Script Konkani. People like Uday Bhembro who fight for the monopoly of Konkani by holding the card of Devanagri Konknni never received any Lathi from Rane’s Police. Ravindra Kelakar and Konknnivadis like him have not received any bullet from Rane’s “Rostad” Ghantti police “Mamas”. But men like Kelekar along with Uday Bhembro are frantically opposing due recognition for Roman Script Konkani as if Konknni is their fathers’ property. They and all the fanatics of Devanagri Konknni will surely meet with their Waterloo either today or tomorrow. All the lucrative Konkani benefits are enjoyed by these few Nagrivadis and by doing this they make us believe that they are robbing the benefits of official status of Konkani for them only. To gain official status for Konkani Romivadis have done much more and as such they deserve better dividends. By denying them these dividends is like committing crime not only on Roman script Konkani but also on the Konkani as a whole.

Our misfortune is this that we don’t have dedicated leaders to fight for our cause. I have lost my confidence in Churchill Alemao to do something substantial for the cause of Romi Konkani. He uses Romi Konkani card only to enhance his chances for election purpose. Tiatrists should stop relying on him anymore. He has already shown his true colour in the recent happenings in Goa. For the sake of political power and money he will do anything. Romi Konkani is not an issue for him anymore. Secondly, Tomazinho Cardoso whom I know from his very early age in Candolim as my colleague in many activities is not a very strong person, he lacks leadership qualities. He is very weak and shaky. For 5 long years he was in Goa Legislative Assembly as a Speaker wielding power, influence in the Assembly and in Congress party. I don’t think he did anything good for the cause of Romi Konkani at that time. That he did something for the cause of Romi Konkani I have no idea but that he did not nothing I know for sure.

During his tenure as Speaker, Tomazinho Cardoso was like a “Popott” of Rane clinging to his chair, courtesy Rane. No Speaker in the history of Goa has lowered the prestige of Speaker’s chair as he did. He was known as Speaker of Private Chamber Discussion. Such Popotts in life will not attain anything great. People in Romi circle should stop relying on Tomazinho Cardoso. He is like a sinking ship and for his survival in public life he is clinging to Romi Konkani movement. Romi Konkani does not need Tomazinho Cardoso but Tomazinho Cardoso needs Romi Konkani for his promotion and survival in public life in Goa. In one side he is flirting with Nagri “Pamprelam” and on the other side he is sleeping with Romi “Mana”. I pity our Romivadis in Goa relying on Tomazinho Cardoso. We Romivadis need strong leader to fight for our cause. Tiatrists will never be able to give strong, dedicated and sincere leadership for our cause and Tomazinho Cardoso is just a Tiatrists by birth. As a Tiatrist Tomazinho Cardoso will fail us. Issuing few Press Releases as another Tiatrist Wilmix does will not solve our problem. These Press Releases will only keep the image of Tiatrists afloat. Among them there are Tiatrists who if given a “Lolipop” by Churchill Alemao, they will sing hosannas loudly from the stage and thru Audio Cassettes in praise of Nagri Konknni. Some of them are such, their attitude is “Bhor ga potta ani sor ga dissa”.

The greatness of Konkani is surrounded on its Romi script which is accepted and recognized all over the world. We can still further spread and popularize Konkani throuogout the World and Moon as well only thru Romi Konkani. As it is Roman script Bible is already stationed in the Moon. In Jerusalem the birthplace of Jesus Christ there is a Church called “Pater Nostre”. In this Church there are Plaques on the Walls where the beautiful prayer of Jesus Christ “Our Father” is kept written in all the languages existing in this World. The Konkani language prayer “Our Father” or “AMCHEA BAPA” is kept written in Roman Script Konkani as indicated below. No other script is used to record this prayer except Roman script. This is the photograph of that prayer as it is written originally. This photograph is clicked by Mr. Mario Rebello from Panjim – Goa who along with his entire family recently paid a visit to Holy Land. Mario Rebello is my colleague in Kuwait Konknni Kendr – Kuwait.


Konkani is internationalized thru Roman Script while Konknni is monopolized thru Nagri Script by a few Hindu Saraswat Bamonn with the help of their “chamchas” from lower strata of Hindu society whose dadagiri we must break by all means until both the scripts are brought on par with each other. These Hindu Bamonn wants poor Romi Konkani followers only to fight and shed blood while like Malyalis they watch from distance with little or no participation of theirs and finally come to enjoy the good results of our efforts. Once Konknni was recognized these Nagri Konknnivadis who were earlier flirting with me like “Mardollchim Kolvontam” have totally forgotten me and my colleagues who have worked and done so much for the cause of Konkani from Kuwait. If Konkani has attained official status in Goa leading to the Statehood of Goa then part of the credit should go to Kuwaitkars only. But who recognized our Himalayan efforts at an appropriate time? Are we forgotten heroes of Konkani?

A.Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Picture by mario_rebello@hotmail.com

P.S
Mario Rebello on Church of Pater Noster:

The Princess of Belgium DÁuvergne in 1847 bought the property and had a new church built for the cloistered Carmelite Sisters. Several churches commemorating the "Our Father" were built here both in the Byzantine and Crusader periods. There are over 144 plaques depicting various languages and dialects of the prayer of the "Our Father" surrounding the enclosed wall of the property.