GOAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS TAKE NOTE.

One of the major reasons of our sufferings in Goa since 19^th December 1961 from the successive State Governments in providing good governance was the silence of the Freedom Fighters over the mischief played by our politicians.  While admiring all the genuine freedom fighters who genuinely worked and suffered physically for the sake of Goa, I disagree with their silence over what misgovernance given by all the successive governments in Goa.  If they had to indicate at least half the might of what they indicated to the Poruguese, they would succeed in doing something good for Goa. Their voice and action have got more power and when they speak even Delhi listens. They are a powerhouse by virtue of being Freedom Fighters.

There were so many movements done in Goa to preserve Goan identity but they as a powerful group refrained from lending their support openly and loudly.  This gave an impression that they had no vision for post liberation Goa.  Throwing out Portuguese from Goa was not enough but after Portuguese ousted what is the fate of Goa?  As freedom fighters they had greater responsibility to protect Goa and the interest of Goans but in this mission they failed miserably.  If necessary, as a mark of protest, they should have been ready to surrender their Tamrapatras and even Pensions instead of seeing Goa going to this ebb due to politicians’ hara-kiri on Goa.

But instead two of the renowned freedom fighters, namely Lambert Mascharenhas and Prabakar Sinari, to show their disgust over the current disgusting Goa, vomited their displeasure in harsh terms. Mascharenhas wrote a book “THE GREATER TRAGEDY” where he indicated his disgust over liberated Goa and later on he even made an open statement saying “he preferred the Goa of the Portuguez days”.

Prabakhar Sinari a brave teenager then joined “Azad Gomantak Dal” the only organization that believed in and used arms to end the Portuguez rule in Goa.  Some of them including Prabakar Sinari paid for their actions by serving time in jail. Daring as he was, made good his escape in a dramatic second attempt!

This same Prabakhar Sinari now laments in an article “Quo Vadis Goa” published in the local daily, The Nawhind Times.  Among other observation in his article, he says:

1.    Looking at the liberated Goa, 54 years after the Portuguese left our shores, the sons of the soil are the ones who have been left high and dry.  It is therefore not surprising that they chose to leave Goa most of them permanently.

2.    Look at the very things are being allowed here, Goa is on the verge of losing its identity. In fact, Goa has already lost on many counts.

3. As a matter of fact, this development by permitting major change in demography, raises a pertinent question in the minds of all surviving freedom fighters including me:

“Is this Goa for which we made so many sacrifices?”

While the above 2 Freedom Fighters expressed their disgust over the so called liberated Goa, the rest of them it looks are oblivious of what is happening in Goa, it looks they are least bothered to take note of the ugly happenings in Goa, they look content with the doles and privileges they get from the Government.  They and all of them must know one thing that they have failed Goa and Goans at the very critical time. 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

PORTUGAL ALSO CHEATED GOANS.

Further to  my  artcle in this forum on 23^rd of this month on  “GOANS WERE CHEATED BY NEHRU”,  I  want to say now how Portugal  also cheated us, Goans.

Macao like Goa was a long time colony of Portugal but when the time came to surrender Macau to Communist China,  Portugal signed a treaty with China on 20^th December 1999 with regards to its colony Macau.  This Treaty consists of 17 Clauses that safeguards and respects the wishes and aspirations of the citizens of Macau.  Even as of today China does not claim to be a Democratic country yet the said Treaty is highly democratic, human and humane.   

It is ironic how Portugal applied one principle to Macao and one principle to Goa. How nice it would have been for Goa and Goans if similar principle was also applied to Goa when singing Treaty for Goa’s surrender? Portugal acted worst than Judas by betraying Goans.

This treacherous so-called Indo-Portuguese Treaty completed 41 harrowing years for Goans and for our homeland Goa, on 31^st December 2015.  It could not be otherwise since the so-called Treaty was a conspiracy against Goans and Goa hatched by the then Big Man of Portugal, Mario Soares and the government of India.  Besides, as Dr. Inocencio Galvao Teles – ex-Law Minister in Dr. Oliveira Salazar Government, wrote in the Weekly “Diabo” in 1990 that the “Indo-Portuguese Treaty is Invalid”.

i)       So, what is our status as a people before the Community of Nations that are signatories of the “Geneva Convention” and the “Charter of the  UNO”?

ii)         Also, since Portugal transferred its sovereignty over Goa to India only on 31^st December 1974,  what according to the community of Nations, is the status of all the laws, transactions etc. taken by the government of India with reference to Goans and Goa, 13 years – i.e. from 19^th December 1961, prior to this so called Treaty of 31^st December 1974?

“ISN’T LIBERATION A CRUEL JOKE WHEN GOA IS IN CHAINS?”

On 19^th December 2015, Goa completed 54 years of its conquest by India from Portugal. (Supreme Court of India – Monsg. S.F.X. Monteiro V/s State of Goa 26 March 1969).  This was followed as seen above, by the treacherous the so called Indo-Portuguese Treaty of 31^st December 1974.

As a direct result – with every passing day, it becomes glaringly clear that the sole objective of both the signatories of the so called Indo-Portuguese Treaty of 31^st December 1974 was to ensure their own individual and national interests. And in their scheme of things, Goa and Goans were chosen as their SACRIFICIAL LAMBS!  Very ironically but not surprisingly, both India and Portugal vociferously claim to be Democratic countries and both are signatories of the Charter of the UNO.

Also, with every passing day it becomes glaringly clear to those who are honest enough to see the continuous, wanton destruction of all that is Goa and Goans;  and to those who are enough to hear the agonizing silent cries of Goans whose pleas and protests are ignored, mocked at and bull-dozed by powers-that be.

i)       The scarce land of ours is grabbed by the land-sharks from across the borders and by the Armed Forces using their money, political and muscle power;

 

ii)                Our ancient Ghaunkari (Communidades) Institution zealously guarded by our ancestors and respected by the different Dynasties that ruled Goa over thousands of years as well  as by the Portuguese Government during its 451 years of rule, are now being systematically dismantled despite our written and verbal protests;

iii)             Our lives and limbs are in perpetual danger;

iv)             Our moveable and immoveable properties are robbed by those who descend even by vehicles from across our  borders and/or by taking advantage of our still – trusting nature;

v)      Our peaceful, happy, convivial relationships among all Goans regardless of our different religious affiliations are being poisoned with communal virus by Right – Wing Organisations at a dangerous alarming pace.

vi)             Anxiety and fear rules our hearts and minds;

vii)           The population of Goans that was about six (6) lakhs in 1961 is now well beyond fourteen (14) lakhs of which the population of Non-Goans is over 50% and literally growing daily in leaps and bounds;

viii)   Because we are peaceful, non-violent, civilized people, unable and unaccustomed to killing, burning, rioting, we feel alone and forsaken by the Community of Nations, despite undoubtedly being aware of the misery and injustice heaped on us. 

A.Veronica Fernandes.

GOANS WERE CHEATED BY NEHRU.

Somewhere in mid fifties, speaking in the Parliament, Premier Nehru said, “once Portuguese are ousted from Goa, Goans will be given a choice to decide their future but will not bring them under the Indian Union against their wishes”.  According to political observers a referendum should have been conducted on this issue but once grabbed, Nnowehru and his Congress Party forgot the assurance given to Goans. This is called cheating and India is well known in this art.

On 31^st December 1974, both the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and India namely Mario Soares and Y.B. Chawan respectively, signed a Treaty in Delhi officially surrendering Goa to India.  This Treaty comprised only 6 Clauses giving no benefits and privileges to Goans to protect their rights.

While the same India when it signed the similar  Treaty with France with regards to Pondicherry, on 28^teh May 1956, India incorporated in  this Treaty 31 Articles and 8 Articles of Protocol.  All these Articles are regarding the wishes, aspirations of and safeguards for the citizens of Pondicherry.  These Articles were arrived at after a couple of years of consultations with the representatives of the citizens of Pondicherry. 

Again our last aspiration to protect our Goanness was rejected when Special Status facility was denied to us by the BJP government by citing Constitutional hurdles when the same Constitution of the same India granted Special Status privileges to 11 States in India.

When Goa matters we are denied our rights and privileges but for others there is no problem.  Are we Goans second class citizens of India?  We are treated not as liberated but as conquered and precisely  because of this the Supreme Court of India in its verdict on Pe. Chico Monteiro’s case declared “Goa was conquered” on 19.12.61.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.