PRESS STATEMENT by South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED)

PRESS STATEMENT by South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED)

South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED), Delhi, condemns the arrest of eight anti-mining activists on 11th October who were booked under offences for unlawful assembly, trespassing and criminal intimidation. This, when they were peacefully protesting and showing solidarity with Cheryl D'Souza San Fransisco at Maina Village.

Protestors include Cheryl's eight year-old daughter Akki and her eighty five year-old mother Dora, all of who chained themselves to block roads to stop 200 mining trucks from making way into their area yesterday morning. Other protestors who joined them in solidarity include environmentalists Sebastian Rodrigues of MandGoa Adivasi Resource Center, film-maker Kurush Canteenwala, Rita Fernandes and Sashikala Devidas.

Eyewitness accounts state that despite police presence, protestors (many wearing chains voluntarily as a mark of protest) were brutally beaten up and had their cameras smashed by mafia goons to destabilize and discourage anti-mining protests from local villagers. Interestingly, on an earlier occasion, Goa's Chief Minister had told Cheryl that he could 'do nothing' about miners' encroachment into her area.

The police, instead of reacting in a pro-citizen manner and arresting the real perpetrators of violence, arrested the peacefully protesting women and environmentalists, who are still lodged in Margao and Aguada prisons. Dora, Cheryl's old mother, has been sent back to prison today after treatment at GMC and Candolim's PHC.

After refusing to register cases against mafia goons yesterday, today, however, the police relented to register cases against them, although related paper-work will end only by evening. A delegation representing protestors is currently negotiating with police and trying to secure justice due to them.

Yesterday's events reflect a direct attack on peoples' voices and freedom to protest against injustice. We appeal to all media persons to write extensively about this injustice being done to Cheryl and her family and help her fight for justice.