According to the information received late last night, yesterday November 20, 2008 Fomentos called meeting of mining contractors at Cidade de Goa 5 star hotel in Dona Paula, Panjim. At this meeting yesterday strategy was worked out to resume transportation of iron ore that is blocked in protest by people in Colamb, Sanguem.
As a part of the strategy Goa Police would be paid Rs.26 lahks to provide security to the company while transportation of ore. Police personell are to be stationed on the road that passes throught the village and transport the Ore. Transportations contractors are told to be ready to take risk of damage to the trucks from villagers disgusted with mining. The is to come in operation within next few days - latest after the end of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panjim.
On November 12 2008 Police force had come on the mine to defend and protect Fomentos with tear gas shells though they were not used.
Police for the past few months already lunched battle of attrition against the Colamb villagers. On October 6, 2008 Police tried to arrest villager but their attempts was foiled. November 12, 2008 Colamb villagers and other supporters totaling 86 were arrested from the mine site while protesting. On November 18, 2008 8 Colamb villagers in the forefront of the agitation were implicated in fabricated criminal case and arrested.
Quepem Police Inspector has further threatened to register more cases against the Colamb villagers if they do not surrender to Fomentos. This was told two days ago on November 19, 2008 to the Family member of Egyps D'Souza - one of the villagers in the forefront to defend the village of Colamb- after he was called at the Quepem police station.
Considering this background the new strategy of Fomentos needs to be taken seriously; for it amounts to de-facto privatization of Goa Police to unleash repression on people of Goa to protect private interest of the mining company that is destroying peoples' livelihood, agriculture and water sources including Kushavati River, a tributory of Zuari River in South Goa.
Sebastian Rodrigues
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