THE LATE LOUIS RODRIGUES - KONKANI PROMOTER.

It is with deep regret,  thru FB and Gasper Almeida, I got the sad news of the sad death of Louis Rodrigues on  7^th of this month in Kuwait and interred on 9^th in Kuwait only.  May his soul rest in peace.

A dynamic man and a great Konkani promoter thru Konkani cultural programmes, I first came in contact with him somewhere in 1982 when he first time organized at Salmiya a mega event including a grand Manddo singing and Manddo dancing  item enacted by all his Mangalorean colleagues, I was reuested to give Press coverage for this event.  That was the first time I saw Manddo on Kuwait Konkani Stage.  It was full of life and beauties, one of them Luis’ wife Rita.

For Konkani cause he would do anything and it was he who was in the beginning brought Goan and Mangalorean communities together thru Konkani. Though he was a Mangalorean yet with his integration with Goans thru Tiatros and other cultural programmes, he was more a Goan than many Goans. He was one of the pioneers in establishing Konkani Heritage Kuwait, the association that brought all Konkani communities in Kuwait together under one banner.

For any Konkani function he would help and make his presence felt along with his wife Rita who is also a very good promoter of Konkani.

Very few people in Kuwait worked so hard for the cause of Konkani as he did.  I bow my head down to him for the excellent work he did in the promotion of Konkani in Kuwait.

He was also deeply involved in the Church circle doing lot of social work for the cause of our religion.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give courage for his wife and children to bear this great loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

PROF. SERGIO CARVALHO ON INVADED GOA.

                                                                             SérgioCarvalho                                                                                                      Liberty Apts. -202 

Feira Alta

Mapusa, 403507

Goa. 

                                                                                          Date:-01/02/2017
To,
TheEditor,
“Herald” 
PanjimGoa. 

Sir, 

TheGuardedSecrets 

This is with reference to the feature  “When Sentiments Soared with Mario Soares’ Goa Visit”. (Herald 9^th Jan. 2017), written two days, after his death, in Lisbon. 

The feature highlights “emotions” played-out by the late, ex-P.M. of Portugal Mario Soares and some Goans, at the air-port, when the former came to Goa, for the second time in January 1992, “who according to Portugueses journalists  wept openly, when he heard people  speaking and singing in Portuguese”. 

Why on earth, did he get “emotional" on hearing Goans speaking and singing in Portuguese? Was it news to him that Goans were fluent in Portuguese? Clearly, his “open crying” was a stellar public-performance, just as we witnessed about 2 years ago, a similar performance on the TV, by another ‘‘great personality”, shedding copious tears, for a Goenkar, who “died” suddenly and mysteriously. 

If his January 1992 visit to Goa was his second visit, then when was his first visit and why? Undoubtedly, 90% and more of Goenkars, including Professionals, do not know why and when he come to Goa the first time.

All Goenkars must know that we have been kept in the dark for over four decades, about his first visit, because of his dark and criminal actions against Goenkars and our Goem, in connivance with India. 

Late Mario Soares, ex-P.M. of Portugal, came the first time to Goa, in the last week of December 1974, for 2 or 3 days and met some people, to inform about  His Personal Decision, to sign a “Treaty” with India, without seeking the views, opinions, aspirations of Goenkars.

                                                                            

And, on 31^stDecember 1974, the then not-yet elected P.M. of Portugal-Mario Soares, signed the so-called “lndo-Portuguese Treaty” in New Delhi, as Minister for Foreign Affairs with Y.B. Chavan representing India, as its Minister for Foreign Affairs!!.

How many Goenkars are aware of this so-called “Treaty” that was signed with India, over 42 years ago and 13 year after the conquest of Goa? More than ever before, all  Goenkars, must tear off the blinkers from their eyes and ask if this so-called “lndo-Portuguese Treaty”  was/is a Legal Instrument or was/is it a “Sale Deed”, in the guise of a “Treaty”. Dr.Inocencio GalvaoTeles, ex-law Munster in late Dr. Oliveira Salazar’s Government, in the Weekly “Diabo” in 1990, asserted that “the Indo-Portuguese Treaty is invalid”

Although 42 years late, all Goenkars must know that late Mario Soares and Y.B. Chavan secretly met in New York on 24^thSeptember 1974, to “cook our (Goans’) goose" and drew up the terms for the so-called “Indo-Portuguese Treaty.” The same was signed in New Delhi on 31^st December 1974 and rectified in Lisbon on 14th March 1975; This “Treaty” consists of only VII (7) Articles, none of which, is about Goenkars and Goem. 

If on 19^thDecember 1961, the “Prince of Peace”, late Jawaharlal Nehru, P.M. of India, invaded, conquered and annexed Goa, despite his many sanctimonious assurances to safeguard everything Goan, but since, have been mercilessly trampled upon, then the “Indo-Portuguese Treaty 1974”, signed by late Mario Soares-P.M. of Portugal, was the second severe blow  upon  unsuspecting, Goenkars! It was a sinister surgical strike because Goenkars were neither informed nor consulted, when formulating the terms of this so-called “Indo-Portuguese Treaty.” 

THIS WAS TOTALLY UNLIKE THE... 

I.“lNDO-FRENCH TREATY”, with regards the French colony Pondicherry, signed in New Delhi on 28^thMay 1956, by Jawaharlal Nehru, Minister for External Affairs and H.H. Mr. Stanislas Ostrorog-Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France in India. 

This Treaty consists of XXXI (31) Articles and IX(9) Articles of Protocol. 

Every, single Article is framed and worded to safeguard,  protect the aspirations, heritage and future of Pondicherrians which were formulated after consultations with Pondicherians, for over three (3) years. Some of the safeguards, that the Indo-French Treaty guarantees are that the Official Language shall be French and all Pondicherrians, above the age of 18 years, shall have the right to acquire French Citizenship, by applying in writing, to the Govt. in France with a copy of the same to the Govt. of India, with the right to live in Pondicherry, be gainfully employed and vote, by Postal Ballot, in all the major elections held in France; that Professionals shall not be required to undergo further qualifications; that French Institutions of scientific and cultural nature shall continue and open new ones, if so desired, with France retaining the ownership and rights over the “Collage Francaise de Pondicherry” with respects to its functioning, staff-selection, salaries, discipline, syllabi, examination etc.

In case of disagreement regarding application or interpretation of the Articles, the same shall be placed before the International Court of Justice, at the request of France and /or India, ifdiplomatic negotiations fail. 

II. SINO-PORTUGUESE TREATY was signed on 20 December 1999, after consultations for a number of years with the citizens of Macao,  to ensure that all their socio-cultural and socio-political rights are fully safeguarded. 

The Treaty consists of a “Joint Declaration” made up of 17Clauses, Annex I of14 Articles and Annex II of 2 Articles. The “Joint Declaration” is elaborated in Annexes I & II and states that Macao will be called “Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China”, “(MSAR-China)” and  Portuguese shall be the Offcial Language; that “MSAR-China”, will enjoy a high degree of Autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs; that Government, Legislature, officials of principal-posts, public servants will be citizens of “MSAR-China”  and prevailing social, economic systems, life-style, laws, rights, freedoms of speech, press, assembly association…. religion, ownership of property etc. will be safeguarded by “MSAR-China"; that “MSAR-China” has the right to establish economic relations with Portugal and other countries, issue Travel Documents for entry and exit from “MSAR-China”, with free flow of capital and “Pataca” (Macao currency) to remain the legal tender and not be taxed by mainland China, that “MSAR-China” may display its own Regional Flag and Emblem, along with the National Flag and Emblem. All these provisions, guarantees, safeguards shall remain unchanged for 50 years. 

Clearly India signed a fair and democratic Treaty with France as did Portugal with China.

Yet both these Nations cheated us Goenkars, by denying us our Fundamental Right to be heard and consulted with, in crucial  matters, concerning our lives, our wellbeing, our future generations. Instead, they  consciously chose us, to be their “Sacrificial Lambs”, for their personal and political gains.

India claims, from house-tops, that it is the biggest Democratic Nation in the world and Mario Soares claimed to have brought Democracy to Portugal! Yet how “Democratic” has India and Mario Soares been, regarding the “Indo-Portuguese Treaty”, towards Goenkars? 

This vital question must haunt every Goenkar everywhere, seek answers and seek every measure to snatch away our necks, necks of our children, born and yet-to-be born, from the chopping block. The axe stands sharpened. We owe it to our noble ancestors, poor or rich and to our future generations. 

We must realize that individuals like Mario Soares are Monsters of History like Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler…  He sold Goenkars as if we were his slaves and our Goem-his private property, like every ruthless assassin! 

Yet so many Goenkars have thrown their self-dignity to the wolves. They no longer feel slighted and/or violated by anyone who has (even-ill gotten) wealth to flout and political muscle to intimidate. Some Goenkars have even published in local media, praying for peace for the soul of this Mario Soares! How servile and shameful for us Goenkars! 

All this misery, humiliation and an uncertain future, if any, has been brought upon us, by the so-called, Freedom-Fighters, like T.B. da Cunha and Purushottam Kakodkar, who, according to the same feature of 9th Jan. 2017, “held secret discussion in coffee shops... with Mario Soares, in Portugal”

“Coffee shops”?!  But then, were not these and other valiant  Goan freedom-lighters, locked up and tortured in Salazar’s jails? Did Mario Soares unwittingly expose the canard about the “sufferings” of our great Goan freedom fighters in Salazar’s jails? Were they in jail or having a jolly good time in Portugal? 

This too Goenkars, must know.

(SérgioCarvalho)

VOTE FOR SECULAR AND NOT FOR COMMUNAL.

When British left from India, they thought within a short time India will go into pieces due to the infighting among Indians on the basis of their religious affiliations because average Indian by nature is communal, some less while others more like fanatics.   Among the political parties, Congress is the least communal and because it is so, it succeeded in keeping the country united for over 3 decades but later on especially with the advent of BJP India is heading for further divisions only because of the communalism imposed by BJP.  In Goa we being the numerically second  placed community, there is an all round persecution given to Christians.  In view of this, is it right for us Christians to cast our votes for BJP?  No, never, unless we ourselves are anti-Christian.  A  true minority community member and especially a Catholic in Goa will never cast his vote for BJP candidates. 

Communalism is the worst virus that has afflicted India but overwhelming high number of majority community will never support the injustice meted out to the minority Christian community.  When Prophet Mohammed was asked “when there will be justice in the word?” Replied Prophet saying “When everyone of us would 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 huge number of majority community members will not tolerate the persecution of Catholics in Goa, they feel shy to be identified with the persecutors, hence they will surely vote with the minorities to dethrone BJP from power.   The need of the hour is to vote for Congress candidates as we decided in Calangute and Goa Forward Party candidates where they are contesting.  Wherever possible priority should go for GFP as this party is headed by the most secular persons Vijay Sardesai as Mentor and Timble as President, the former has proved his capacity as the best legislator by being a one man Opposition in the Assembly.  We have to get him re-elected at Fatorda and elsewhere his other colleagues.

It is my last request to Goan voters not to vote for communal party candidates.  Vote only for the genuine secular party candidates who will protect the interest of minorities especially of Christians.  BJP is a communal and anti-Christian.  If it comes back to power,, it will liquidate Christians. For our survival we must not vote for BJP.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

--NO PLANS IN THIS REVOLUTIOdatesN ARE WRITTEN FOR RETREAT--