“D’Silva: The one-man Ambelim army” was the title of the article that featured on front page of Goa’s leading English daily – Gomantak Times on May 01, 2009. The article on Anthony D’silva highlighted role he played in bringing about awareness on the regional plan and helping in formulating of the village regional plan 2021 for his village and getting VP3 status.
It is precisely this publicity that created some more hardships to Anthony that has suffered umpteen numbers of them in the past including physical assault on his body twice – once by Police in 2002 at Margao Police Station and the second time at the hands of Goons in 2007 in Cuncolim.
The publicity in the newspaper created problems for the village sarpanch. He then launched offensive against Anthony. First convened village comittee for Regional Plan 2021. The legal standing of that so called regional plan 2021 committee itself was in doubt,as the regional plan was submitted long before.Then he got his position clarified in the press. Simunltaneously called special Gram Sabha on May 17 2009 to discuss newspaper report on Anthony D’silva on May 1, 2009. "The meeting was called in a hasty manner,bringing to the notice of the public just less than 24 hours." Anthony obeserved
At this Gram Sabha of May 17 2009 one of he resolutions taken reads as follows “Gram Sabha Members unanimously proposed and resolved that henceforth Mr. Anthony D’silva should not be appointed/nominated on committee relating to the Panchayat work in future.” Mr. Anthony D’silva himself was not invited for this Gram Sabha even though the matter was relating to him. He however got the copies of the minutes of the Gram Sabha through RTI application and was shocked to read the resolution on him. Clearly this was Political Vendetta_ Political muscle flexing as power equations were threatened.
Anthony raised a question “Why punish me without trial: without even a copy of notice to attend the so called Special Gram Sabha meeting? Why personal attack in the Panchayat in my absence?”
Legally, according to Anthony the Special Gram Sabha does not hold ground as according the existing Panchayat laws – The Goa Panchayati Raj Act 1994 one tenth of member of Gram Sabha has to make request for such a meeting. “Sarpanch shall, upon a reacquisition in writing by not less than one-tenth of number of members call an extraordinary meetings of the Gram Sabha, within thirty days from the receipt of such requisition.” Reads Section (3) (5) of the The Goa Panchayati Raj Act 1994.
There are only 4 gram sabhas specified in a year ,and 4 special gram sabhas with dates mentioned as 26th January, 15th August, 2nd October and 19th December. Other then these gram sabhas are titled as extraordinary gram sabhas, so as per the act the sarpanch could have taken a extraordinary gram sabha,but this category of gram sabhas needs atleast 10 percent of the total gram sabha members to requisition in writting requesting for the same. Of course in realty this special Gram Sabha to decree on Anthony D'silva_ not even a single gram sabha member nor single panch asked for. The required procedures were not followed at all.
Ambelim village that is in close proximity of Assolna in Salcette has the population of approximately 3000 people and nearly 40% of whom are tribals. There is no School nor Hospital in Ambelim Panchayat jurisdictions. Situation of housing and even sanitation is very acute. I personally witnessed this situation in one locality of the village known as “Pedda” that was flooded few years ago when the Sal river over flew. Anthony D’silva once even remarked that if these village problems are not taken care of then future terrorists will come from Ambelim.
Some tribal families however has made fortune through their ventures in Gulf Countries, Shipping overseas and fishing trawlers but their percentage is very small and majority of the tribal communities here – Gawdas and Kunbis continue to live in very poor and hostile conditions that are being further nurtured by existing political leadership.
Ambelim that way is no short of educated and rich but are all migrated out of Ambelim to Margao, and other parts of world. They however have failed to plough their knowledge and wealth back into the village. This, Anthony feels is a major tragedy. “If only they had had to think that Ambelim must be treated more than their holiday destinations periodically but something much more than that_ the change can come about.” Anthony laments.
Anthony has been leaving in this village after returning from Bombay for nearly a decade now and has immediately launched number of initiatives in the village at his own personal expenses towards creating political awareness in the village. Originally from ambelim itself, Anthony has brief innings in the Gulf - before settling in Bombay - for livelihood reasons like so many thousands of People from Goa do. One of the interesting things he started was the newspaper Kiosk in his village. Ambelim village has very unusual and geographically unfriendly topography. Settlements are spread out all over the places. Anthony would regularly buy newspapers in the morning and spread them in kiosks at different places in the village. Spaces for the kiosks were made available by the villagers themselves. So he promoted habit of reading newspapers daily amongst the People of Ambelim. Perhaps this is the reason that newspaper story on him made such a huge impact of the local Panchayat.
All the newspapers would be welcome in his village except those involed in the sale of Goan land on mass scale . Anthony campaigned against www.magicbricks.com of Times Group and other sites because they were involved actively in sale of Goa’s land though internet and through Goa land sale fairs in Delhi.
Anthony also initiated signature campaign against Sale of Goa’s land to foreigners. With megaphone in his hand he toured village to village to spread the message of the cause that he chose to campaign as it was dear to his heart.
Then he has been very vocal participant in number of protest meetings against ‘Mega projects’ of real estate as well as protests against mining.
In health sector he helped and took care of many to the extent of even travelling out of the state of Goa and number of times to accompany the sick.
He organised awareness camps on ill effects of smoking, alcohol and drugs, hiv/aids, blood grouping, blood donations etc. and has provided advice relating to health and sickness
He also organised carrier guidiance and counselling for less fortunate student and X students. Besides helped lot of children in guiding them to get admissions in schools,colleges and even in vocational and professional colleges etc
He has been publicly debatting issues on social issues like HIV/AIDS, rampant sale of goan land,special status to Goa, agricultureal activities, mosquitoes control programes, etc.
"I have brought agricultural programmes to the people of my village of Ambelim" Anthony quips.
He has been appreciated for his work by his alma matar school Monte de Guirim for the first time in the history of the school for the social works being done in Goa.
Anthony’s political analysis about his constituency is very sharp and precise. And precisely that has ruffled up many powerful people in power. On 23rd May 2002 he was picked up few days before the General Assembly elections in Goa_ taken to Margao police Station and beaten up on his legs 11 pm in the night. The reason: He was campaigning against BJP and screening the documentary film on communalism “He Ram”. He was released during mid night after large number of people began assembling outside the Police Station in Margao and Politicians feared sympathy wave against them.
Then in 2007 on 8th April Anthony was assaulted by five goons belonging to an influential politician from South Goa while he was on a visit to one of the sick persons at NUSI hospital in Cuncolim, Salcete. Anthony was brutally beaten up – kicked on his stomach that forced excreta out of his body and simultaneously caused vomiting of blood. Goons while beating up Anthony D’silva shouted “this fellow is always against Philip Neri Rodrigues. Now we will teach you a lesson.”
Doctor at NUSI hospital who examined him on the spot – Dr. Rahul Velip - certified that Anthony has suffered grievous hurt from the assault and admitted him to the hospital. He was treated for some days and then discharged on 10th April 2007 from the NUSI hospital. Next day of his release another Doctor of the hospital Dr. Prahlad Savaoikar changed the certificate of Dr. Velip and issued new certificate to the police that the hurt sustained by Anthony D’silva was ‘minor and simple’ and Dr. Rahul Velip had committed mistake in giving the certificate that it was ‘grievous hurt’. The entire episode of attack on Anthony sounds very shady with political vendetta at its best. Isn’t it?
The controversial gram Sabha of Ambelim Panchayat has brought in Anthony D’Silva and the service he renders to the community in sharp public focus. The activities with all its diversity have a uniformity of purpose – political awareness of the community. Anthony uses both his knowledge as well as his courage at the service of the community with great risks to his life and family. He is one of the few active citizens in Goa today who can be compared to the valiant people in the Goa’s freedom struggle. He deserves recognition and salutations of all people with a determination for defence of freedom, community empowerment and political change at their core. I stand in defence of Anthony D’Silva and salute him for all that he stands for as it is only best for the future of Goa and India, and for humanity's yearnings for liberation.
Sebastian Rodrigues
Showing posts with label Goonda raj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goonda raj. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Fr. Mathias D’Cunha sdb on Maina protests, beatings and arrests
I, The undersigned, Fr. Mathias D’Cunha sdb., would like to give a detailed description of the untoward incident that took place on 11th of October 2008.
It was a bright Saturday morning and anti mining group under the banner of Goamap had decided to block the transport of ore from the Maina-Caurem mine, as the whole landscape which has natural beauty, is continuously being destroyed bit by bit. Presently the mining industry is booming and mines are mushrooming by the day. We had decided to protest in the Gandhian way, peacefully without using violence or force. This mine operated by Mr. Dinar Tarcar having T.C. No. 59/51 is illegally operated and is situated in 3 surveys that of : Maina, Rivona and Caurem in the Pirla – Cauvrem Panchayat. It has destroyed a lot of trees and some are ‘buried to rise again’ hopefully, when the activities stop.
On 11th October 2008 at about 9.15 am a few ladies and some men including myself went to this mine mentioned above. There were four ladies most affected by the mine and its ill effects and are to be further affected by a new mine just touching their compound in Maina itself to be operated by Mr. Joaquim Alemao, the honourable Minister for Urban Development. The ladies, Mrs. Dora desouza aged 85, Mrs Cheryl de Souza e Sanfransisco, aged 40, (both Rita and Shashikala are working with Mrs. Cheryl) and little girl Aki Sanfransisco aged 8 years (daughter of Mrs. Cheryl). The little girl Aki who came a little later at about 10.30 am was holding a picture of her late father Mr.Tony Sanfransisco. These ladies chained themselves at the entrance of the mine and we were around watching them and their boldness in showing their demands. Then the drivers of the mine transporters showed up and no tipper vehicles was allowed in or out. The manager being informed by the security came to inquire and was told that we were protesting the mining activities in the area. The cameramen Mr. Khurus Kanteenwalla and Mr. Sebastian Rodrigues were shooting the event.
Then at around 10.30 am a gentlemen came and took the ladies names and my name too. We enquired who he was and were told that he was CID Premanand Phaldessai. He asked us what we were doing and took off in a vehicle of the mining company. Only at 03.10 pm the PI Mr. Santosh Dessai turned up and walked to Mrs. Cheryl asking her whether she had taken legal steps before protesting. He claimed that the protest was not right. Mrs Cheryl was forthright in saying that after going to the Chief Minister, Mr. Digambar Kamat, the Mines Department and the Chief Forest Conservator, she could not get their support against this destructive action of the mining lobby. They had raised their hands up in defeat and she was not taking defeat lying down and wanted to make her point. The police Inspector told her that he was giving her time to leave the place or he would show her and the rest. A woman being so strong was a defeat to this inspector whose pride was hurt. He was not able to threaten an emancipated lady for she was firm in her decision. A little earlier a bus load load of about 35 people turned up from Colomba-Rivona.
The inspector returned once again with two vehicles, one a Gypsy and the other the Sumo loaded with man and women police. At the same time as though well planned the lorry owners and drivers were shouting that the mines were their bread and they were ready to stop if we offered them jobs. Two or three of them were hailing stones of bad words at all of us and it was disgusting to hear. The police lined up, were watching action and suddenly the vehicles which were ahead were made to be parked in front and as the blue Maruti car belonging to Mrs. Cheryl was being driven it was stopped by the rowdies and one of the men took of ignition key and pulled out the driver Kassim. They started to beat him when Mr. Seby Rodrigues ran to save him. The police were around as the goons and rowdies were trying to damage the vehicles. It was in the middle of the road. One of them tried to puncture the wheels. They got more violent and did not want any photographs to be taken while one of their men was taking snaps on his mobile camera. Then Seby was hit badly and his camera whisked off, though he ws not taking any photos at all. His camera was thrown onto the ground and his shoulder bag taken away by the miscreant. As he was on ground, our people picked him up. I ran to see the harm caused to him and the same one who attacked Mr. Seby ran towards Mr. Khurus and also started slapping him and threw him to the ground shouting ‘get lost from here’, ‘leave this place immidiately’. Fortunately he had handed over his bag with camera to a lady. He lost his spectacles in the tussle, had bruises and his leg was hurt as he began limping; I rushed to him and I was also hit by the rowdy Mr. Subash Phaldessai, who is supposedly the member (President) of the Zilla Parishad Council. Mr. Subash started using abusive language and even said nasty things to the women and of course to me as a priest. It was only then that the police acted by taking the women, Mrs. Cheryl, Miss Aki and others into police vehicle. The lady Mrs. Dora was not able to walk as she had her walker to help her and she was roughly handled in spite of her age and then taken to the Gypsy jeep. To me it seemed to look as if the police has connived with the lorry drivers and the mining people to create some commotion in order to act. We, the defenceless victims were taken in as criminals, while the criminals went scot-free and were not touched at all.
Then they attacked Mr. Robert Pinto, the driver of Mrs. Cheryl. He was slapped by them and the keys of the Grey Maruti Swift taken from his hands after he had parked the vehicles on the side. While I was watching I too was put into the Sumo vehicle. Mrs. Cheryl shouted to help her mother who is a heart patient. The P.I. was not polite at all and told her to shut up and do what she wanted. He spoke in a very angry tone and disrespectfully to a respectable lady. We were then driven to the Police Station at Quepem. We were all in the same jeep when I heard Mrs. Cheryl telling her daughter that the same people (police) who are supposed to uphold the law and help the weak were now not upholding the law and supporting the strong. As we were leaving the men were still abusing and saying nasty things to all of us in the vehicle. The other Gypsy police vehicle with Mrs. Dora and others came behind us.
We were at the police station at around 4.45 pm. We were eight adults, Cheryl, Dora, Shashikala, Rita, Seby, Khurus, Robert, myself and little girl Aki. The goons and drivers were there to see the whole drama. The formalities were taking a long period and the police were keeping us in as criminals. All the while we were under impression that the police did a good thing by protecting us when our Advocate Mr. Mario told us that we were arrested under many sections. From then the police did not allow us to move from where we were sitting on benches. Our supporters were constantly taking care of our material needs supplying all that we required as we had not eaten from the morning. There were a lot of people pleading for us to P.I. and Magistrate/ Dy Collector of Margao, Mr. Venanacio Furtado. Rev. Fr. Mevrick, the representative of Peace and Justice for the Goa diocese, was there with many people like some of our priests, Fr. Chrysologous D’Cunha, Fr. Dominic Savio Fernandes, Fr. Ralin D’Souza, Fr. Leo Pereira and other activists. It took ages for police to make arrest papers getting all the details from us criminals though we were the victims, while the perpetrators were not even arrested and it was for that very reason that we refused to take bail. Finally at around 8.30 pm we were sent by the police in 2 jeeps to the Churchorem Government hospital for a medical check up.
We were being checked by the Doctor on duty and six policemen were there to see that we do not escape from the place, and those wanting to go to the toilet were accompanied by two police. The Doctor checked all of us and gave some first aid treatment to those who needed it. I had some pressure and as I did not know the tablet I was taking he decided to admit me in the hospital. After the police informed the Quepem police I was admitted with two police to guard me for the night, it was now 10.30 pm. Being exhausted and hungry I went off to sleep but it was a disturbed one with phone calls coming inquiring about my situation. Three of our farm boys – Pravin, Francis and Prakash – came to the hospital with some dinner for me. At about 11.45 pm in came my supporters Mr. Salvador Fernandes and Mathew Fernandes to keep company for the night as they realized that I was admitted in the hospital. They took chance to lie down by the side and the police too slept. At about 2. am I got a call from Mrs. Cheryl complaining about the conditions at Fort Aguada Jail, especially for the aged mother Dora, where they were taken for Judicial custody. I rang one or two people informing them of it in the mid of night waking them up. Then at 3 am I got up again and realized that the police protecting me had disappeared. So I informed my advocate in the morning and he told me they could get me in trouble if I went away. So I was there patiently and the Doctor on duty realized that my pressure was still the same and I remembered the tablet I was taking and after confirming the same with my Doctor, Stecey Moraes, the next two who had replaced the earlier two supporters got it for me. Only in the evening when I asked the doctor to check with the police station why the police had left the place I was informed that I was not charge sheeted. I was then given the discharge note by the Doctor on duty who earlier was not ready to give it. So at about 3.15 pm I left the hospital for Don Bosco, Sulcorna with Fr. Simao Fernandes who had come to see me in the hospital.
Fr. Mathias D’Cunha sdb
It was a bright Saturday morning and anti mining group under the banner of Goamap had decided to block the transport of ore from the Maina-Caurem mine, as the whole landscape which has natural beauty, is continuously being destroyed bit by bit. Presently the mining industry is booming and mines are mushrooming by the day. We had decided to protest in the Gandhian way, peacefully without using violence or force. This mine operated by Mr. Dinar Tarcar having T.C. No. 59/51 is illegally operated and is situated in 3 surveys that of : Maina, Rivona and Caurem in the Pirla – Cauvrem Panchayat. It has destroyed a lot of trees and some are ‘buried to rise again’ hopefully, when the activities stop.
On 11th October 2008 at about 9.15 am a few ladies and some men including myself went to this mine mentioned above. There were four ladies most affected by the mine and its ill effects and are to be further affected by a new mine just touching their compound in Maina itself to be operated by Mr. Joaquim Alemao, the honourable Minister for Urban Development. The ladies, Mrs. Dora desouza aged 85, Mrs Cheryl de Souza e Sanfransisco, aged 40, (both Rita and Shashikala are working with Mrs. Cheryl) and little girl Aki Sanfransisco aged 8 years (daughter of Mrs. Cheryl). The little girl Aki who came a little later at about 10.30 am was holding a picture of her late father Mr.Tony Sanfransisco. These ladies chained themselves at the entrance of the mine and we were around watching them and their boldness in showing their demands. Then the drivers of the mine transporters showed up and no tipper vehicles was allowed in or out. The manager being informed by the security came to inquire and was told that we were protesting the mining activities in the area. The cameramen Mr. Khurus Kanteenwalla and Mr. Sebastian Rodrigues were shooting the event.
Then at around 10.30 am a gentlemen came and took the ladies names and my name too. We enquired who he was and were told that he was CID Premanand Phaldessai. He asked us what we were doing and took off in a vehicle of the mining company. Only at 03.10 pm the PI Mr. Santosh Dessai turned up and walked to Mrs. Cheryl asking her whether she had taken legal steps before protesting. He claimed that the protest was not right. Mrs Cheryl was forthright in saying that after going to the Chief Minister, Mr. Digambar Kamat, the Mines Department and the Chief Forest Conservator, she could not get their support against this destructive action of the mining lobby. They had raised their hands up in defeat and she was not taking defeat lying down and wanted to make her point. The police Inspector told her that he was giving her time to leave the place or he would show her and the rest. A woman being so strong was a defeat to this inspector whose pride was hurt. He was not able to threaten an emancipated lady for she was firm in her decision. A little earlier a bus load load of about 35 people turned up from Colomba-Rivona.
The inspector returned once again with two vehicles, one a Gypsy and the other the Sumo loaded with man and women police. At the same time as though well planned the lorry owners and drivers were shouting that the mines were their bread and they were ready to stop if we offered them jobs. Two or three of them were hailing stones of bad words at all of us and it was disgusting to hear. The police lined up, were watching action and suddenly the vehicles which were ahead were made to be parked in front and as the blue Maruti car belonging to Mrs. Cheryl was being driven it was stopped by the rowdies and one of the men took of ignition key and pulled out the driver Kassim. They started to beat him when Mr. Seby Rodrigues ran to save him. The police were around as the goons and rowdies were trying to damage the vehicles. It was in the middle of the road. One of them tried to puncture the wheels. They got more violent and did not want any photographs to be taken while one of their men was taking snaps on his mobile camera. Then Seby was hit badly and his camera whisked off, though he ws not taking any photos at all. His camera was thrown onto the ground and his shoulder bag taken away by the miscreant. As he was on ground, our people picked him up. I ran to see the harm caused to him and the same one who attacked Mr. Seby ran towards Mr. Khurus and also started slapping him and threw him to the ground shouting ‘get lost from here’, ‘leave this place immidiately’. Fortunately he had handed over his bag with camera to a lady. He lost his spectacles in the tussle, had bruises and his leg was hurt as he began limping; I rushed to him and I was also hit by the rowdy Mr. Subash Phaldessai, who is supposedly the member (President) of the Zilla Parishad Council. Mr. Subash started using abusive language and even said nasty things to the women and of course to me as a priest. It was only then that the police acted by taking the women, Mrs. Cheryl, Miss Aki and others into police vehicle. The lady Mrs. Dora was not able to walk as she had her walker to help her and she was roughly handled in spite of her age and then taken to the Gypsy jeep. To me it seemed to look as if the police has connived with the lorry drivers and the mining people to create some commotion in order to act. We, the defenceless victims were taken in as criminals, while the criminals went scot-free and were not touched at all.
Then they attacked Mr. Robert Pinto, the driver of Mrs. Cheryl. He was slapped by them and the keys of the Grey Maruti Swift taken from his hands after he had parked the vehicles on the side. While I was watching I too was put into the Sumo vehicle. Mrs. Cheryl shouted to help her mother who is a heart patient. The P.I. was not polite at all and told her to shut up and do what she wanted. He spoke in a very angry tone and disrespectfully to a respectable lady. We were then driven to the Police Station at Quepem. We were all in the same jeep when I heard Mrs. Cheryl telling her daughter that the same people (police) who are supposed to uphold the law and help the weak were now not upholding the law and supporting the strong. As we were leaving the men were still abusing and saying nasty things to all of us in the vehicle. The other Gypsy police vehicle with Mrs. Dora and others came behind us.
We were at the police station at around 4.45 pm. We were eight adults, Cheryl, Dora, Shashikala, Rita, Seby, Khurus, Robert, myself and little girl Aki. The goons and drivers were there to see the whole drama. The formalities were taking a long period and the police were keeping us in as criminals. All the while we were under impression that the police did a good thing by protecting us when our Advocate Mr. Mario told us that we were arrested under many sections. From then the police did not allow us to move from where we were sitting on benches. Our supporters were constantly taking care of our material needs supplying all that we required as we had not eaten from the morning. There were a lot of people pleading for us to P.I. and Magistrate/ Dy Collector of Margao, Mr. Venanacio Furtado. Rev. Fr. Mevrick, the representative of Peace and Justice for the Goa diocese, was there with many people like some of our priests, Fr. Chrysologous D’Cunha, Fr. Dominic Savio Fernandes, Fr. Ralin D’Souza, Fr. Leo Pereira and other activists. It took ages for police to make arrest papers getting all the details from us criminals though we were the victims, while the perpetrators were not even arrested and it was for that very reason that we refused to take bail. Finally at around 8.30 pm we were sent by the police in 2 jeeps to the Churchorem Government hospital for a medical check up.
We were being checked by the Doctor on duty and six policemen were there to see that we do not escape from the place, and those wanting to go to the toilet were accompanied by two police. The Doctor checked all of us and gave some first aid treatment to those who needed it. I had some pressure and as I did not know the tablet I was taking he decided to admit me in the hospital. After the police informed the Quepem police I was admitted with two police to guard me for the night, it was now 10.30 pm. Being exhausted and hungry I went off to sleep but it was a disturbed one with phone calls coming inquiring about my situation. Three of our farm boys – Pravin, Francis and Prakash – came to the hospital with some dinner for me. At about 11.45 pm in came my supporters Mr. Salvador Fernandes and Mathew Fernandes to keep company for the night as they realized that I was admitted in the hospital. They took chance to lie down by the side and the police too slept. At about 2. am I got a call from Mrs. Cheryl complaining about the conditions at Fort Aguada Jail, especially for the aged mother Dora, where they were taken for Judicial custody. I rang one or two people informing them of it in the mid of night waking them up. Then at 3 am I got up again and realized that the police protecting me had disappeared. So I informed my advocate in the morning and he told me they could get me in trouble if I went away. So I was there patiently and the Doctor on duty realized that my pressure was still the same and I remembered the tablet I was taking and after confirming the same with my Doctor, Stecey Moraes, the next two who had replaced the earlier two supporters got it for me. Only in the evening when I asked the doctor to check with the police station why the police had left the place I was informed that I was not charge sheeted. I was then given the discharge note by the Doctor on duty who earlier was not ready to give it. So at about 3.15 pm I left the hospital for Don Bosco, Sulcorna with Fr. Simao Fernandes who had come to see me in the hospital.
Fr. Mathias D’Cunha sdb
Friday, October 24, 2008
Maina protests, Maina Beatings, Maina Arrests, In Prison and then Freedom: A long voyage in short time
On October 11, 2008 I, Sebastian Rodrigues was on very special assignment – offering solidarity to the one of the unique protests in the history of Goa where in 85 year old Dora de Souza was to chain herself in front of the mining company in defence of Goa’s mountains and water.
Protest began around 9.30 am when Dora de Souza accompanied by her daughter Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco and her relative Rita Fernandes chained them on mining road in front of the gate of the mine operated by Dinar Tarcar of Panjim. This created blockade of the transportation of the mining trucks. Officials of the company came and enquired as to why the women had chained themselves to which Cheryl replied that she is protesting to what is happening to Goa because of mining. There were also one more woman present with the protestors Shashikala Devidas. The men included two cameramen - myself and Karush Canteenwala from Pune and Selesian Priest from Sulcorna Fr. Mathias D’Cunha.
At around 10.45 am Cheryl’s around 8 year-old-daughter Akki Sanfrancisco joined the protesting group. Around 11.30 am one mini bus full of People came from Colamb to support Maina protestors. There must be around 40 people that came in this minibus. Around 25 of them were women. They went and joined the protesting team.
Group of truck drivers and members of public gathered and was observing the proceedings as the way protest was going on. At around 3.10 pm group Police jeep came from Quepem Police station. It contained around 20 police personnel of which some were female police of the constable rank. Police party was led by Quepem Police Inspector Santosh Desai.
He came out of the Jeep along with other and advanced towards the protestors and asked them to move away from the scene. Cheryl de Souza refused to move and in fact told him that they are protesting against destruction of Goa’s hills due to mining industry. She also said that she had petitioned every authority she could think of but all of them have been extremely unkind and unresponsive. Only after that she has taken drastic step of chaining themselves up in front of the mine in Mina.
Then PI Santosh Desai withdrew along with the police party and went and stood around 15 meters away from the protestors – on the edge of the public tarred road. Then unruly crowd that had gathered on the main road began shouting abusive language against the protestors. They demanded that their daily loss of income from ore transportation due to road blockade be compensated by the protestors. Then they began abusing Cheryl for creating trouble by chaining themselves up. Then the group began to grow boisterous and began threatening violence.
I notice Balli Zilla Parishad member Subhash Phaldessai - whom I knew earlier when he protested against bauxite mining at Public hearing held at Fatorpa Shantadurga temple hall earlier this – amongst the unruly crowd. In fact he was the one who was leading the band that began violently attacking Casim – man who drives Cheryl’s car- on the tarred road. I saw he was being beaten up and police was watching from far. Then I saw Robert Pinto – body guard of Cheryl’s daughter Akki Sanfransisco being beaten up through blows on his back and head and forehead. Even as he mad an attempt to run away crowd led by Subhash Phaldessai, ran to beat him up even further. Cheryl unchained herself at this juncture and chained her daughter and moved towards police and asked them as to why they are silent spectators when all this violence was unfolding in front of their eyes. Unruly crowd then pushed Cheryl as she tried to rescue Robert with mouthful of abuses.
While all this was going on Ashok Naik, mining contractor came to the fore and demanded to know as to why Colamb people have come to Maina. He along with
others started hurling abuses on Colamb villagers. They told them to get out from the scene and go away in their bus if not their bus would be stoned. Colamb group began to move towards their bus.
Group of unruly crowd then went over to Cheryl’s two cars that were parked on the main road and began stoning. One person tried to puncture the front right tire of one of her cars.
Then same group indulging in violence led by Subash Phaldessai attacked Fr. Mathias D’Cunha. First they used filthy language on him accusing him of having irresponsible sexual behaviour and maintaining sexual relations with large number of women. He is mixing with the protestors in order to satisfy his sexual desires. Then they hit him on his head and shoulders.
Then I was attacked most vociferously by the group led by Subash Phaldessai. Nearly seven people pounced on me giving blows, some pulling my bag – that contained the charger of my video camera, my pen drive with data on it, my notebook with handwritten notes, my telephone diary with contact phone numbers, others pulling another bag that contained my video camera, batteries for the camera, blank tapes and silicon bag for camera moisture absorber. Subash Phaldessai was wearing bright pink shirt, black pant and black shoes. He hit me on my head and I fell to the ground. Somebody then pulled my camera bag with video camera in it. I was kicked again on my abdomen by Subash and his collaborators of violence. Then somebody pulled my other bag from my shoulders. Then Subash got on to my chest and beat me up. He kicked my neck, kicked my head, and then once I fell down he stood up and he kicked me in on my eyes and upper portion of nose that sustained injury. My left hand too sustained injury after I fell down on road. He used right foot to kick me on face with athletic agility. Then somebody pulled me up from the middle of guys beating me up and I realize that it was one of the young police constables in uniform. I wonder why police could not prevent all this violence. I saw my camera has disappeared and tapes were being smashed to pieces on the road itself. Silica bag was torn open on the road.
Then I saw Karush Kanteenwala being beaten. He was very badly kicked on his knees, on his head, on his chest and on his shoulders. They tried to take away his camera through violent blows all over his body. They however could not succeed in doing this.
Then I was proceeding towards minibus of the Colamb people police constable came from behind me and whisked me away. I was taken to the white coloured police jeep and was made to sit. I saw Rita Fernandes, Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco and Shashikala Devidas was already in the Police Jeep. 85-year-old Cheryl’s mother Dora de Souza was still chained sitting on white chair with her grand daughter Akki Sanfransisco besides her.
Cheryl told PI Dessai to handle her mother carefully as she is a heart patient. PI Santosh Dessai on his part shouted back at Cheryl that he will do what he wants and will teach her a lesson, and Cheryl is free to do what she like to do. Incredible callous highhandedness to support mining industry!
85-year-old Dora de Souza that suffers from Heart problem as well as arthritis was bundled inside the jeep from the backdoor.
The entire operation of October 11, 2008 was planned with careful and consolidated nexus between Balli Zilla Parishad member Subash Phaldessai as ring leader of violence on protestors, mining company and truck operators.
Around 5.00 pm we were taken to Quepem police station. We were made to wait there and were told that we are under arrest. We were surprised that the mining company that is destroying Goa’s mountains and its water sources are allowed to go scot-free while nine of us that includes 85-year-old Dora de Souza, her 40-year-old widowed daughter Chery de Souza Sanfransisco, her 8-year-old Akki Sanfransisco, her middle aged relative Rita Fernandes, Maina villager Shashikala Devidas, Akki’s body guard Robert Pinto, Selesian middle aged priest from Don Bosco Sulcorna Fr. Mathias D’Cunha, 34 year old Karush Canteenwala and myself who is researching on mining theme and also offering solidarity to mining affected communities across Goa since 2001.
Then outside the police station I noticed entire group that had inflicted violence on us gathered. One young men even raised his hand in anger to signal that I would be getting more pasting from him and the gathered crowd. And the chief administrator of violence Subash Phaldessai, Balli Zilla Parishad member was there at the Police station with changed clothes on. He had replaced pink shirt with white Khadi Kurta. Our names were recorded at the police station to complete the necessary formalities for our arrest. We were then urged to take bail by some ‘counsellors’. We refused to take bail application as we were not criminals. All of us refused bail.
Then around 10.45 pm we were taken to Curchorem primary health centre for medical check up. Two policemen were guarding each one of us even while were going to toilet. There at the hospital Fr. Mathias D’Cunha was separated from us and we were told that he was ill and is to be admitted to the hospital right then. Minus Fr. Mathias D’Cunha were brought back to Police station. After some time at around 11.15 pm we were taken to the residence of JMFC Judge at Quepem. There we were persuaded by Hon’ble judge to take bail. Again we refused. Cheryl told judge that she is too ashamed to ask for the bail as Goan woman committing no crime. From here our group split into two. One of three men Robert Pinto, Karush Canteenwala and myself, and second one with four women 85 year old Dora de Souza, Cheryl de Souza, Rita Fernanades and Shashikala Devidas. 8-year-old Akki Sanfansisco was not arrested. Men were told that they would be taken to Margao Judicial lock up while women were told that they would be taken to Aguada Central Jail in Sinquerim, Bardez.
Throughout our stay at Quepem police station several people came and wished us. Shridar Kamat, Adv. John Fernandes and Adv. Mario Almeida were amongst the first to be there. I also could meet people from Benaulim, Sao jose de Arial (Elsie Fernanades) coming and wishing us. Also Fr. Maverick Fernandes and Anabel Gama doing their bit to negotiate with Police. Priests from Selesian society were there to assist us as well though I do not remember any of their names. They performed various kinds of functions such as making phone calls to various concerned people and concerned authorities, informing media etc.
Press that came to Quepem police station questioned me as to what I had to say about the accusations on me put by Subash Phaldessai that I was carrying knives in my hands. I laughed at it but press was not satisfied. They asked my version. I told them that all that I was carrying in my hands was camera that was smashed into pieces by group of anti-social elements led by Subash Phaldessai. There were no knives in my hands and instead I was beaten on my face and on my chest by this group.
We men accompanied by police security of six police personnel were taken to Hospicio Margao for another medical test mandatory requirement before the entry into Judicial lock-up – we were told by Police. One form was filled by the doctor and our signatures were taken on the same. I remember when doctor asked me about my profession I answered him saying “media”. He promptly looked at my phase and asked me as to what was my crime. I told him that our crime was that we were filming protests against mining wherein 85 year old grand mother had chained herself in front of the mining company’s operations in Maina. I told him that same is the ‘crime; committed by Karush Canteenwala, a filmmaker from Pune.
Then we were taken outside Judicial Lockup to hand over to three of us to judicial custody. It was at 1.00 am by the time we were admitted to Judicial Lockup. Sleeping policemen had to get at this unearthly hour to receive three new convicts! Jailor was not around when we reached there. He was phoned and called. After he came over found himself shocked to meet three of us who even though being offered bail by the person of the rank of judge herself, we had rejected and marched our way into Jail. He warned us that this ‘foolish’ action on our part will leave bad remark on our carrier. He said as per requirements of the jail rules, we will be required to be photographed like any other criminals and all the records preserved for future. And he further warned us that this ‘foolish’ action of us is going to loose our prestige in society! Then he began asking our names and other details. At one point he started asking about our caste. Robert feigned ignorance, then Jailor explained the meaning with his personal example. He said “hanv Mahar! Meaning ‘I am SC’. Then Robert replied that he is ST. Jailor refuse to accept this and register saying that this will go to higher level, and instead registered him as ‘Sudir’! Then he asked me my caste and I feigned ignorance too. Then he remarked “I wonder how you Catholics don’t know your caste” and I looked at the register but could not notice what he actually wrote.
Our belongings, such as cash, purse, cell phones, ornaments etc were taken at the registration counter. They were put in the small box and we were told that they will be given back while we leave Judicial Lockup as per law. I did not have any major belongings as most of my belongings were confiscated by the violent group in Maina itself. All that I had in my possession was watch on my wrist and mobile phone that I was told to switch off as soon as I entered the Judicial Lockup.
We were asked if we had our dinner. We honestly did not have our dinner not even our lunch for that matter. We were living on few bananas and samousas given to us at police station by friends that came to meet us. It was 1.45 am by the time the formalities of our entry into Judicial Lockup got over. Jailor asked us if some money had. Robert Pinto had some extra change as he had exchanged few dollars before finding his way with us so he gave Rs. 150/- to the policemen who promised to look out for food in Margao at such an unearthly hour. We then were led into a short narrow lane and asked to pick up our beddings. We picked up. Then we were shown way to our place inside Judicial Lockup. One huge policeman opened big lock and let three of us in a space around 50 meters attached with Television and Toilet. As the iron door opened most of the sleeping jail birds got up to see who these new entrants to their species were. Those who woke up we went and shook hands and introduced ourselves and they told us their names as we did. As we were having mid-night introduction with our fellow jail mates’ policeman came with three packets of food for us. One Vegetable fried rice, One Chicken fried rice and one egg fried rice. Robert and Karush did not eat anything. Only I ate little bit of Egg fried rice. To those of us who were fed up with shifting of our green mountains to China was served Chinese food in the wee hours of the morning of October 12 2008. Just then one of the cell mates shouted at everyone to sleep and everyone covered their faces.
After three hours there was loud noise outside the cell and all our prison colleagues got up fast. They told us to get up too. We got up not knowing what is going to happen. They someone told us to sit with them in 3 rows and it were 4 am in the morning and it is time for ‘Ginti’. Soon three policemen including one armed entered our cell and began ‘Ginti’ meaning counting to make sure that none of the convicts has escaped in the middle of the night. Then at 5.am it is time for breakfast. We were given cups and plates before entering the prison and these cups were used for early morning breakfast. One cup milked tea and two breads is what the breakfast is all about. Though I suffer from high acidity I still took tea and finished both the bread s I was feeling hungry. After breakfast we went to sleep again.
Prison inmates are highly organised lot. Self organisation has taken deep roots in the cell in which 3 of us were put up in. One inmate ordered Karush to sweep the floor ad clean the toilet. In all the humility Karush did this. Later on while chatting informally with my criminal colleagues did I realize the secret behind such a clean prison cell. The cell was so clean that it was fit to host any meeting of civil society gatherings. Duties are well specified as to who will clean and do other duties on which day if new entrants do not come. In case new entrants like we 3 come then what is going to be our responsibility towards prison upkeep etc. I came to know that every new entrant that comes will have to do cleaning job everyday for three consecutive days. After this prison seniors take turn to clean everyday. It is this way that they are keeping their cell so clean. Its cleanliness truly bowled me over! In the afternoon when Karush was again asked to sweep, I went up to him and took his broom away and cleaned the prison cell myself. Joy of this activity lied in the fact that your own fellow prisoner is telling you to do this and not the policemen.
In the afternoon we were served lunch - a decent meal I must say – Fish, curry, rice and some vegetable. We had our first full-fledged meal inside the lock up. Throughout the day FM radio as well as television was on with Doordhashan and its news channel as the only two options. Remote lies with the jail staff and prison inmates get it on request. All male cell occasionally comes alive when female actress would make appearance on the screen. Then TV sounds comes alive and FM radio music is switched off in rudimentary style of connecting and disconnecting wires manually across the wall - to listen to the female voice. Female actresses on doordarshan are the only females that make their presence felt on the prisoners’ psyche inside the prison lock up. Otherwise female contacts are highly restricted – as good as banned – unless some female relatives come to visit prisoners in the lockup.
We encountered people inside of various shades and characters. One of them looked sickly – his legs has grown so very frail - but kept himself active. Didn’t have real heart to ask what the crime that they committed. One of the prisoners was very articulate and said he was in Jail because of Murder. There were few more because of this deadly crime in jail as well. There was one case wherein Police found him sleeping on the Margao railway platform, he was picked up and was loitering inside the lock up for the past six months or so. Police and law have been absolutely unfair towards migrants from other states in India. Migrants are just picked up and brought to Jail. Jails have to remain fully populated – perhaps! There was another middle aged man Anton from Quepem also in my cell, don’t remember why he was there. And news of our entry into Judicial Lockup spread into other cells too. Few prisoners came and met us and inquired about our crime and they were confused whey we told our story. One young boy from Calangute serving his 26 month jail term for kidnapping and murder of a businessman came and inquired about us. He was fair with fluent English language on his tongue. I asked him about his journey to jail and he with benefit of hindsight regretted what he did in collaboration with his friends and now convinced that he has to be there till his jail term gets over. I don’t remember his name – perhaps Ryan Pinto – he was pretty knowledgeable about mining industry and I was impressed with his knowledge. He told me Dinar Tarcar is not a big mining magnet but he is on the verge of making it big.
But there were quite few inside almost all the prison inmates treated us very well - almost like their family members – guiding us through ways of prison. And so the jail staffs was kind to us never committing any excesses or beating up that I had heard and read about over the past few years. Overall behaviour of Police at Margao Judicial Lock up was cordial and co-operative towards us. We are thankful to each one of them. We are also thankful also to each of our fellow prisoners for all their warmth, support and guidance on prison ways. The chief jailor told us that this is the first time in his life as a Jailor he has some creatures that has refused bail and forced their way inside the prison. He tried to break the code as to why we were in but he could not. Finally he concluded that we are bunch of fools that he does not have to waste his precious energy thinking about. But I am sure he kept thinking of us!
On 12 October we had quite a few visitors – Adv. Jatin Naik, Durgadas Gaonkar, Dr. Dumo, Dr. Bikram Dasgupta, Floriano Lobo, Fr. Bismarck, Adv.John Cardozo, Adv. John Fernandes, Sandeep Azrekar etc. They came with good wishes and few suggestions. Also planned our release from the Jail by taking few signatures on formats was best understood by my lawyer friends.
After lunch we slept but my fellow prisoners were engaging in all kinds of pastimes. Group of four had got themselves as players to play carom. There is a Carom board inside the prison cell. This carom board is placed on reversed bucket which then serves as an elevator for the Board to play. Other engage themselves in physical exercises of various kinds like one guy was standing on his hands with legs pointing towards the sky that you cannot see from the prison. Other guy indulging in push ups and still other guys taking stroll in ten meter long prison cell. Privacy is absent. It is possible only when you enter toilet inside the cell. And this toilet is kept absolutely clean. Few of them invited us to play Carom with them. Unfortunately two of us my self and Karush are not at Carom as much as we are on our threatened video cameras, so we did not join the play team. Robert Pinto joined the play party. This gesture from the prisoners made us feel at home. It sent our tensions high in the air. And just when Robert playing there was call from the cops on duty some visitor for me – I went out to see my Goa Su-Raj Party President Dr. Sinai Dumo and Secretary Floriano Lobo – then I requested them also to call out Karush and Robert so that I could introduce them to my Party leader. The introduction was done inside the Margao Judicial Lock up. Few new introductions happened here. Few discussions took off here. And judicial lockup was now transformed into university classroom with lessons of its own. Floriano gave me the copies of few postings he did on goanet in my support. One was when BSNL and other State intelligence agencies in unauthorised manner were collaborating to tap my phone calls to Rama Velip in Colamb, Sanguem. My cell phone by the way is tapped quite often and I am aware of it every time it is done! And the second one was press statement condemning my arrest by Goa Police while protesting against mining in Maina.
Just as both of them left after few minutes of discussions and support to us. We went inside our cell guided by the Police on duty. However soon Karush and I discovered Robert was missing. We contemplated various things as to what could have happened to Robert. Why he did not join us back to the prison cell. Is he being separated to harass and torture? Or could the police be asking some money from his collection of cash? Several thoughts crossed our minds. Karush then went into Toilet to answer nature’s call – both the number one and two. I found Karush suddenly relaxed as he moved out of the toilet. Just before he could move out Policeman opened the gate of our cell and let Robert in. I went towards him and asked him as to why he was held back by Police what went wrong. Robert surprised me: he told me that he was worried too when he was asked to wait alone there. But police told him that he had a visitor and visitor was his wife. Most of us arrested we had informed our families about our new status in struggle. Robert fearing panic at his family back at Parra, Bardez refrained from informing his wife. However his intention to keep his arrest as secret became headlines on October 12, 2008 newspapers and Robert’s name was mentioned as one of the arrested activists. There you are – Robert got transformed by media as activist overnight with receipt of the blows on his body by the gang led by Subash Phaldessai and colluded so aptly in all this by PI Santosh Dessai. His wife came to know about her beloved husband and came searching him all the way to Margao judicial lock up. By the way searching us was not an easy thing to do. Lot of people knew that were at Quepem Police station. Quepem Police station would not tell correct information till you probe them deep.
It was around 4 pm in the afternoon on October 12 and we again head loud sound outside the prison cell. Everybody got up with lightening speed. Covered their beddings and came and sat in the middle again in three rows. I knew it was ‘Ginti’ – counting time again. Three cops entered the cell one with riffle to shoot in case any of us try to escape by overpowering jail stuff – I was told something like this happened and some prisoners escaped and ever since jail administration had tightened itself – one of the cops commented on us “those three guys are new entrants” another one replied “Yes. They were brought here during last mid night because they refused bail. They are from Save Goa.” I realized amongst cops we had identity. We were from “Save Goa”. One particular policeman who was driving our jeep advised me at least 25 times to take bail and continue the movement from outside. “You cannot do movement from outside.” He kept repeating as I smelled he was little drunk but well within control to drive police jeep. There was another cop who came from Quepem Police station accompanying us to Margao in the middle of October 11 midnight that was curious about Karush as to why he has come all the way from Pune to Maina, Quepem to offer solidarity and film protest. Karush got in with lengthy discussion with cop on how mining is fining up Goa and its water sources and why people of Goa must got up and revolt against mining. Cop was even more curious know further stuff but time in Jail so regimented that you really have to move on all the time. Karush gave the cop blog id http://www.mandgoa.blogspot.com/ for his further reference. Cop was thankful to Karush and said he is going to go and refer to the blog right away during mid-night. Even cops, their families and even Police stations as well as judicial lockup and Aguada jail is what is going to be severely affected with water shortages if we do not ground menacing mining trade in Goa. 86% of Goa’s population is under mining threat according to 2008 National best teacher’s awardee Ramesh Gauns.
It must be around 6.pm – I could hardly know correct timings inside prison cell in the absence of clock inside – when dinner was served on October 12 2008. Everyone got their dinner and covered it with days newspapers that carried news about protests in Maina and our arrests. We showed the news to all the interested prisoners. They read it with interest but could not gaze as to how much they understood as there was no occasion to discuss it the topic any further as three of us thinking of getting out of jail. Warm food enticed me and I took my dinner at 6 pm itself. I and Karush took our dinner together. Robert covered his food with newspapers for the late night. After our dinner we were relaxing as one of the room mates invited me to play with him. “Will you play Ludo with me?” I said “sure!” he went on to get Ludo board but could not find it anywhere. His inquiries found that it has been passed on into the neighbouring prison cell. So that was end of our play opportunities inside the lock up.
Then I came to my temporary place inside the prison that was very close to the door and lied down. Few prisoners started making signals towards me to make proper organised beddings for myself. I was not apt at all and struggled for a while. Then one of the prisoners Casim got up and came to me, took possession of my beddings and began wonderful folding that created warm cushion under my back. I was surprised to see the way he connected pieces of clothes in his hands and prepared fabulous bedding. I was very happy at his gestures. All other prisoners gave him supportive looks at his feat of helping me. I was now with proper bedding. I was now fully part of Prisoner camaraderie in Jail. Didn’t knew how fellow prisoners would take it if I thank them loudly, vocally, I gestured in my expressing my gratitude of bedding. It was not just bedding that was grateful to the prisoners about. It was the way the entire group has developed adaptability to new comers but also ability to make them feel at home, teach them quickly the ways of jail and befriend them with actions.
I remember when our dinner were being served were with visitors and our jail mates washed our plates, and received food on our behalf and kept it covered, kept it warm. I realized for the first time that humanity exists even inside prison cell and do have love and warmth to share in spite of all the crimes of various kinds we might have committed or accused of being committed.
After another hour or so around 7.30 pm Policeman came calling 3 of us again and told us that someone has come to restore our freedom away from Margao Judicial Lock up. We shook hands with each other, and then shook hands with every fellow prisoner, thanked them for all that they have been to us for the past 20 hours. Policeman was waiting at the door and messenger of freedom was little away. It was Sunday and we were being released on bail. Sunday is most difficult day to get bail and efforts of some friends of us had attained the impossible in the police terminology.
Jailor was around with our lawyer friend and several other policemen. We signed some documents and our possessions were returned back to us. I got back my cell phone and also my watch. Robert and Karush got back their belongings as well. We were free by 7.45pm and then went straight to Aguada jail to free 85-year-old lady Dora de Souza, Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco, Shashikala Devidas and Rita Fernandes. As soon as we landed at Aguada jail we were greeting by police men on duty. We were told that Old lady has been throwing tantrums inside the jail and demanding Milk as her food. Then authorities took her out most part of the night into hospitals and now van was about to come to take her to Goa Medical College, Bambolim. Ambulance has been called with the wireless message. “And the old lady abused us policemen, she called us dogs. It was very humiliating for us. We do our duty and we are getting treatment like this. This is not fair.” We just nodded our heads while policeman was speaking so much about the old lady. I understood that Aguada’s Central jail was badly affected with old lady in it. Lady attended was sent in to get four arrested women out. Even though she went and came quickly out she had so much to tell about the Old lady. “Prison is not for the people like her. At 1.30 am Old land forced prison authorities to put her on phone as she has to speak to Fr. Mathias D’Cunha and complained about bad condition of jail.” I understood the tension very well. I tried to make phone call from Margao Judicial lock up and I was told that it is against law to make phone calls from the Prison. The old lady had not only violated laws in Maina by trespassing, rioting and unlawful assembly, she has again violated prison laws by forcing herself into making call to Fr. Mathias D’Cunha at Curchorem Primary Health Centre under arrest; hospitalized due to supposedly low blood pressure. The entire narration about the Old lady was concluding perhaps that she is a chronic violator of law and deserves to be life member of Central jail in Aguada.
And then three ladies climbed up the steps from the way so close to Arabian Sea shore. Old lady was missing. I gathered that she was in position to climb the road to Calvary and she is resting below on the exit way. Then we came out of gates and spend few minutes sharing our experiences. “You know one woman was screaming in the night. None of us could sleep. These are the women who had committed murders – mostly of their husbands; one murdered her daughter’s rapist. 26 of them and we were four of us. I swear they are half mad hard core criminals and old lady was scandalized to hear so many of them so casually speaking about murdering their husbands. But I’ll tell you they understood our concerns. They became my friends. They understand mining is ruining Goa and we must fight.” This is what Cheryl first said when she first came out of Aguada Central Jail.
This has been the voyage from Maina mining protests to getting beaten up by mining mafia to getting arrested to our refusal to take bail to our entry into prisons and then back to freedom again. I personally feel glad that I have been able to play my tiny role in offering my support to ladies – old and young – all out to defend Goa from mining loot. If our prison entries are going resolve Goa’s looming water crisis then at least I am will to march into the jail again and again without any heed to my prestige and respect. For me water – the source of very life on earth - takes priority over my personal prestige and respect. First time I entered Jail on the October 11 2008 mid-night at Judicial lockup Margao, I remembered and whispered in Karush’s ears “You know Karush Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 long years that too most part in Solitary confinement for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa. He is one of my inspirations in struggle”. Of course the course of my actions from here remained forever changed.
Sebastian Rodrigues
Protest began around 9.30 am when Dora de Souza accompanied by her daughter Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco and her relative Rita Fernandes chained them on mining road in front of the gate of the mine operated by Dinar Tarcar of Panjim. This created blockade of the transportation of the mining trucks. Officials of the company came and enquired as to why the women had chained themselves to which Cheryl replied that she is protesting to what is happening to Goa because of mining. There were also one more woman present with the protestors Shashikala Devidas. The men included two cameramen - myself and Karush Canteenwala from Pune and Selesian Priest from Sulcorna Fr. Mathias D’Cunha.
At around 10.45 am Cheryl’s around 8 year-old-daughter Akki Sanfrancisco joined the protesting group. Around 11.30 am one mini bus full of People came from Colamb to support Maina protestors. There must be around 40 people that came in this minibus. Around 25 of them were women. They went and joined the protesting team.
Group of truck drivers and members of public gathered and was observing the proceedings as the way protest was going on. At around 3.10 pm group Police jeep came from Quepem Police station. It contained around 20 police personnel of which some were female police of the constable rank. Police party was led by Quepem Police Inspector Santosh Desai.
He came out of the Jeep along with other and advanced towards the protestors and asked them to move away from the scene. Cheryl de Souza refused to move and in fact told him that they are protesting against destruction of Goa’s hills due to mining industry. She also said that she had petitioned every authority she could think of but all of them have been extremely unkind and unresponsive. Only after that she has taken drastic step of chaining themselves up in front of the mine in Mina.
Then PI Santosh Desai withdrew along with the police party and went and stood around 15 meters away from the protestors – on the edge of the public tarred road. Then unruly crowd that had gathered on the main road began shouting abusive language against the protestors. They demanded that their daily loss of income from ore transportation due to road blockade be compensated by the protestors. Then they began abusing Cheryl for creating trouble by chaining themselves up. Then the group began to grow boisterous and began threatening violence.
I notice Balli Zilla Parishad member Subhash Phaldessai - whom I knew earlier when he protested against bauxite mining at Public hearing held at Fatorpa Shantadurga temple hall earlier this – amongst the unruly crowd. In fact he was the one who was leading the band that began violently attacking Casim – man who drives Cheryl’s car- on the tarred road. I saw he was being beaten up and police was watching from far. Then I saw Robert Pinto – body guard of Cheryl’s daughter Akki Sanfransisco being beaten up through blows on his back and head and forehead. Even as he mad an attempt to run away crowd led by Subhash Phaldessai, ran to beat him up even further. Cheryl unchained herself at this juncture and chained her daughter and moved towards police and asked them as to why they are silent spectators when all this violence was unfolding in front of their eyes. Unruly crowd then pushed Cheryl as she tried to rescue Robert with mouthful of abuses.
While all this was going on Ashok Naik, mining contractor came to the fore and demanded to know as to why Colamb people have come to Maina. He along with
others started hurling abuses on Colamb villagers. They told them to get out from the scene and go away in their bus if not their bus would be stoned. Colamb group began to move towards their bus.
Group of unruly crowd then went over to Cheryl’s two cars that were parked on the main road and began stoning. One person tried to puncture the front right tire of one of her cars.
Then same group indulging in violence led by Subash Phaldessai attacked Fr. Mathias D’Cunha. First they used filthy language on him accusing him of having irresponsible sexual behaviour and maintaining sexual relations with large number of women. He is mixing with the protestors in order to satisfy his sexual desires. Then they hit him on his head and shoulders.
Then I was attacked most vociferously by the group led by Subash Phaldessai. Nearly seven people pounced on me giving blows, some pulling my bag – that contained the charger of my video camera, my pen drive with data on it, my notebook with handwritten notes, my telephone diary with contact phone numbers, others pulling another bag that contained my video camera, batteries for the camera, blank tapes and silicon bag for camera moisture absorber. Subash Phaldessai was wearing bright pink shirt, black pant and black shoes. He hit me on my head and I fell to the ground. Somebody then pulled my camera bag with video camera in it. I was kicked again on my abdomen by Subash and his collaborators of violence. Then somebody pulled my other bag from my shoulders. Then Subash got on to my chest and beat me up. He kicked my neck, kicked my head, and then once I fell down he stood up and he kicked me in on my eyes and upper portion of nose that sustained injury. My left hand too sustained injury after I fell down on road. He used right foot to kick me on face with athletic agility. Then somebody pulled me up from the middle of guys beating me up and I realize that it was one of the young police constables in uniform. I wonder why police could not prevent all this violence. I saw my camera has disappeared and tapes were being smashed to pieces on the road itself. Silica bag was torn open on the road.
Then I saw Karush Kanteenwala being beaten. He was very badly kicked on his knees, on his head, on his chest and on his shoulders. They tried to take away his camera through violent blows all over his body. They however could not succeed in doing this.
Then I was proceeding towards minibus of the Colamb people police constable came from behind me and whisked me away. I was taken to the white coloured police jeep and was made to sit. I saw Rita Fernandes, Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco and Shashikala Devidas was already in the Police Jeep. 85-year-old Cheryl’s mother Dora de Souza was still chained sitting on white chair with her grand daughter Akki Sanfransisco besides her.
Cheryl told PI Dessai to handle her mother carefully as she is a heart patient. PI Santosh Dessai on his part shouted back at Cheryl that he will do what he wants and will teach her a lesson, and Cheryl is free to do what she like to do. Incredible callous highhandedness to support mining industry!
85-year-old Dora de Souza that suffers from Heart problem as well as arthritis was bundled inside the jeep from the backdoor.
The entire operation of October 11, 2008 was planned with careful and consolidated nexus between Balli Zilla Parishad member Subash Phaldessai as ring leader of violence on protestors, mining company and truck operators.
Around 5.00 pm we were taken to Quepem police station. We were made to wait there and were told that we are under arrest. We were surprised that the mining company that is destroying Goa’s mountains and its water sources are allowed to go scot-free while nine of us that includes 85-year-old Dora de Souza, her 40-year-old widowed daughter Chery de Souza Sanfransisco, her 8-year-old Akki Sanfransisco, her middle aged relative Rita Fernandes, Maina villager Shashikala Devidas, Akki’s body guard Robert Pinto, Selesian middle aged priest from Don Bosco Sulcorna Fr. Mathias D’Cunha, 34 year old Karush Canteenwala and myself who is researching on mining theme and also offering solidarity to mining affected communities across Goa since 2001.
Then outside the police station I noticed entire group that had inflicted violence on us gathered. One young men even raised his hand in anger to signal that I would be getting more pasting from him and the gathered crowd. And the chief administrator of violence Subash Phaldessai, Balli Zilla Parishad member was there at the Police station with changed clothes on. He had replaced pink shirt with white Khadi Kurta. Our names were recorded at the police station to complete the necessary formalities for our arrest. We were then urged to take bail by some ‘counsellors’. We refused to take bail application as we were not criminals. All of us refused bail.
Then around 10.45 pm we were taken to Curchorem primary health centre for medical check up. Two policemen were guarding each one of us even while were going to toilet. There at the hospital Fr. Mathias D’Cunha was separated from us and we were told that he was ill and is to be admitted to the hospital right then. Minus Fr. Mathias D’Cunha were brought back to Police station. After some time at around 11.15 pm we were taken to the residence of JMFC Judge at Quepem. There we were persuaded by Hon’ble judge to take bail. Again we refused. Cheryl told judge that she is too ashamed to ask for the bail as Goan woman committing no crime. From here our group split into two. One of three men Robert Pinto, Karush Canteenwala and myself, and second one with four women 85 year old Dora de Souza, Cheryl de Souza, Rita Fernanades and Shashikala Devidas. 8-year-old Akki Sanfansisco was not arrested. Men were told that they would be taken to Margao Judicial lock up while women were told that they would be taken to Aguada Central Jail in Sinquerim, Bardez.
Throughout our stay at Quepem police station several people came and wished us. Shridar Kamat, Adv. John Fernandes and Adv. Mario Almeida were amongst the first to be there. I also could meet people from Benaulim, Sao jose de Arial (Elsie Fernanades) coming and wishing us. Also Fr. Maverick Fernandes and Anabel Gama doing their bit to negotiate with Police. Priests from Selesian society were there to assist us as well though I do not remember any of their names. They performed various kinds of functions such as making phone calls to various concerned people and concerned authorities, informing media etc.
Press that came to Quepem police station questioned me as to what I had to say about the accusations on me put by Subash Phaldessai that I was carrying knives in my hands. I laughed at it but press was not satisfied. They asked my version. I told them that all that I was carrying in my hands was camera that was smashed into pieces by group of anti-social elements led by Subash Phaldessai. There were no knives in my hands and instead I was beaten on my face and on my chest by this group.
We men accompanied by police security of six police personnel were taken to Hospicio Margao for another medical test mandatory requirement before the entry into Judicial lock-up – we were told by Police. One form was filled by the doctor and our signatures were taken on the same. I remember when doctor asked me about my profession I answered him saying “media”. He promptly looked at my phase and asked me as to what was my crime. I told him that our crime was that we were filming protests against mining wherein 85 year old grand mother had chained herself in front of the mining company’s operations in Maina. I told him that same is the ‘crime; committed by Karush Canteenwala, a filmmaker from Pune.
Then we were taken outside Judicial Lockup to hand over to three of us to judicial custody. It was at 1.00 am by the time we were admitted to Judicial Lockup. Sleeping policemen had to get at this unearthly hour to receive three new convicts! Jailor was not around when we reached there. He was phoned and called. After he came over found himself shocked to meet three of us who even though being offered bail by the person of the rank of judge herself, we had rejected and marched our way into Jail. He warned us that this ‘foolish’ action on our part will leave bad remark on our carrier. He said as per requirements of the jail rules, we will be required to be photographed like any other criminals and all the records preserved for future. And he further warned us that this ‘foolish’ action of us is going to loose our prestige in society! Then he began asking our names and other details. At one point he started asking about our caste. Robert feigned ignorance, then Jailor explained the meaning with his personal example. He said “hanv Mahar! Meaning ‘I am SC’. Then Robert replied that he is ST. Jailor refuse to accept this and register saying that this will go to higher level, and instead registered him as ‘Sudir’! Then he asked me my caste and I feigned ignorance too. Then he remarked “I wonder how you Catholics don’t know your caste” and I looked at the register but could not notice what he actually wrote.
Our belongings, such as cash, purse, cell phones, ornaments etc were taken at the registration counter. They were put in the small box and we were told that they will be given back while we leave Judicial Lockup as per law. I did not have any major belongings as most of my belongings were confiscated by the violent group in Maina itself. All that I had in my possession was watch on my wrist and mobile phone that I was told to switch off as soon as I entered the Judicial Lockup.
We were asked if we had our dinner. We honestly did not have our dinner not even our lunch for that matter. We were living on few bananas and samousas given to us at police station by friends that came to meet us. It was 1.45 am by the time the formalities of our entry into Judicial Lockup got over. Jailor asked us if some money had. Robert Pinto had some extra change as he had exchanged few dollars before finding his way with us so he gave Rs. 150/- to the policemen who promised to look out for food in Margao at such an unearthly hour. We then were led into a short narrow lane and asked to pick up our beddings. We picked up. Then we were shown way to our place inside Judicial Lockup. One huge policeman opened big lock and let three of us in a space around 50 meters attached with Television and Toilet. As the iron door opened most of the sleeping jail birds got up to see who these new entrants to their species were. Those who woke up we went and shook hands and introduced ourselves and they told us their names as we did. As we were having mid-night introduction with our fellow jail mates’ policeman came with three packets of food for us. One Vegetable fried rice, One Chicken fried rice and one egg fried rice. Robert and Karush did not eat anything. Only I ate little bit of Egg fried rice. To those of us who were fed up with shifting of our green mountains to China was served Chinese food in the wee hours of the morning of October 12 2008. Just then one of the cell mates shouted at everyone to sleep and everyone covered their faces.
After three hours there was loud noise outside the cell and all our prison colleagues got up fast. They told us to get up too. We got up not knowing what is going to happen. They someone told us to sit with them in 3 rows and it were 4 am in the morning and it is time for ‘Ginti’. Soon three policemen including one armed entered our cell and began ‘Ginti’ meaning counting to make sure that none of the convicts has escaped in the middle of the night. Then at 5.am it is time for breakfast. We were given cups and plates before entering the prison and these cups were used for early morning breakfast. One cup milked tea and two breads is what the breakfast is all about. Though I suffer from high acidity I still took tea and finished both the bread s I was feeling hungry. After breakfast we went to sleep again.
Prison inmates are highly organised lot. Self organisation has taken deep roots in the cell in which 3 of us were put up in. One inmate ordered Karush to sweep the floor ad clean the toilet. In all the humility Karush did this. Later on while chatting informally with my criminal colleagues did I realize the secret behind such a clean prison cell. The cell was so clean that it was fit to host any meeting of civil society gatherings. Duties are well specified as to who will clean and do other duties on which day if new entrants do not come. In case new entrants like we 3 come then what is going to be our responsibility towards prison upkeep etc. I came to know that every new entrant that comes will have to do cleaning job everyday for three consecutive days. After this prison seniors take turn to clean everyday. It is this way that they are keeping their cell so clean. Its cleanliness truly bowled me over! In the afternoon when Karush was again asked to sweep, I went up to him and took his broom away and cleaned the prison cell myself. Joy of this activity lied in the fact that your own fellow prisoner is telling you to do this and not the policemen.
In the afternoon we were served lunch - a decent meal I must say – Fish, curry, rice and some vegetable. We had our first full-fledged meal inside the lock up. Throughout the day FM radio as well as television was on with Doordhashan and its news channel as the only two options. Remote lies with the jail staff and prison inmates get it on request. All male cell occasionally comes alive when female actress would make appearance on the screen. Then TV sounds comes alive and FM radio music is switched off in rudimentary style of connecting and disconnecting wires manually across the wall - to listen to the female voice. Female actresses on doordarshan are the only females that make their presence felt on the prisoners’ psyche inside the prison lock up. Otherwise female contacts are highly restricted – as good as banned – unless some female relatives come to visit prisoners in the lockup.
We encountered people inside of various shades and characters. One of them looked sickly – his legs has grown so very frail - but kept himself active. Didn’t have real heart to ask what the crime that they committed. One of the prisoners was very articulate and said he was in Jail because of Murder. There were few more because of this deadly crime in jail as well. There was one case wherein Police found him sleeping on the Margao railway platform, he was picked up and was loitering inside the lock up for the past six months or so. Police and law have been absolutely unfair towards migrants from other states in India. Migrants are just picked up and brought to Jail. Jails have to remain fully populated – perhaps! There was another middle aged man Anton from Quepem also in my cell, don’t remember why he was there. And news of our entry into Judicial Lockup spread into other cells too. Few prisoners came and met us and inquired about our crime and they were confused whey we told our story. One young boy from Calangute serving his 26 month jail term for kidnapping and murder of a businessman came and inquired about us. He was fair with fluent English language on his tongue. I asked him about his journey to jail and he with benefit of hindsight regretted what he did in collaboration with his friends and now convinced that he has to be there till his jail term gets over. I don’t remember his name – perhaps Ryan Pinto – he was pretty knowledgeable about mining industry and I was impressed with his knowledge. He told me Dinar Tarcar is not a big mining magnet but he is on the verge of making it big.
But there were quite few inside almost all the prison inmates treated us very well - almost like their family members – guiding us through ways of prison. And so the jail staffs was kind to us never committing any excesses or beating up that I had heard and read about over the past few years. Overall behaviour of Police at Margao Judicial Lock up was cordial and co-operative towards us. We are thankful to each one of them. We are also thankful also to each of our fellow prisoners for all their warmth, support and guidance on prison ways. The chief jailor told us that this is the first time in his life as a Jailor he has some creatures that has refused bail and forced their way inside the prison. He tried to break the code as to why we were in but he could not. Finally he concluded that we are bunch of fools that he does not have to waste his precious energy thinking about. But I am sure he kept thinking of us!
On 12 October we had quite a few visitors – Adv. Jatin Naik, Durgadas Gaonkar, Dr. Dumo, Dr. Bikram Dasgupta, Floriano Lobo, Fr. Bismarck, Adv.John Cardozo, Adv. John Fernandes, Sandeep Azrekar etc. They came with good wishes and few suggestions. Also planned our release from the Jail by taking few signatures on formats was best understood by my lawyer friends.
After lunch we slept but my fellow prisoners were engaging in all kinds of pastimes. Group of four had got themselves as players to play carom. There is a Carom board inside the prison cell. This carom board is placed on reversed bucket which then serves as an elevator for the Board to play. Other engage themselves in physical exercises of various kinds like one guy was standing on his hands with legs pointing towards the sky that you cannot see from the prison. Other guy indulging in push ups and still other guys taking stroll in ten meter long prison cell. Privacy is absent. It is possible only when you enter toilet inside the cell. And this toilet is kept absolutely clean. Few of them invited us to play Carom with them. Unfortunately two of us my self and Karush are not at Carom as much as we are on our threatened video cameras, so we did not join the play team. Robert Pinto joined the play party. This gesture from the prisoners made us feel at home. It sent our tensions high in the air. And just when Robert playing there was call from the cops on duty some visitor for me – I went out to see my Goa Su-Raj Party President Dr. Sinai Dumo and Secretary Floriano Lobo – then I requested them also to call out Karush and Robert so that I could introduce them to my Party leader. The introduction was done inside the Margao Judicial Lock up. Few new introductions happened here. Few discussions took off here. And judicial lockup was now transformed into university classroom with lessons of its own. Floriano gave me the copies of few postings he did on goanet in my support. One was when BSNL and other State intelligence agencies in unauthorised manner were collaborating to tap my phone calls to Rama Velip in Colamb, Sanguem. My cell phone by the way is tapped quite often and I am aware of it every time it is done! And the second one was press statement condemning my arrest by Goa Police while protesting against mining in Maina.
Just as both of them left after few minutes of discussions and support to us. We went inside our cell guided by the Police on duty. However soon Karush and I discovered Robert was missing. We contemplated various things as to what could have happened to Robert. Why he did not join us back to the prison cell. Is he being separated to harass and torture? Or could the police be asking some money from his collection of cash? Several thoughts crossed our minds. Karush then went into Toilet to answer nature’s call – both the number one and two. I found Karush suddenly relaxed as he moved out of the toilet. Just before he could move out Policeman opened the gate of our cell and let Robert in. I went towards him and asked him as to why he was held back by Police what went wrong. Robert surprised me: he told me that he was worried too when he was asked to wait alone there. But police told him that he had a visitor and visitor was his wife. Most of us arrested we had informed our families about our new status in struggle. Robert fearing panic at his family back at Parra, Bardez refrained from informing his wife. However his intention to keep his arrest as secret became headlines on October 12, 2008 newspapers and Robert’s name was mentioned as one of the arrested activists. There you are – Robert got transformed by media as activist overnight with receipt of the blows on his body by the gang led by Subash Phaldessai and colluded so aptly in all this by PI Santosh Dessai. His wife came to know about her beloved husband and came searching him all the way to Margao judicial lock up. By the way searching us was not an easy thing to do. Lot of people knew that were at Quepem Police station. Quepem Police station would not tell correct information till you probe them deep.
It was around 4 pm in the afternoon on October 12 and we again head loud sound outside the prison cell. Everybody got up with lightening speed. Covered their beddings and came and sat in the middle again in three rows. I knew it was ‘Ginti’ – counting time again. Three cops entered the cell one with riffle to shoot in case any of us try to escape by overpowering jail stuff – I was told something like this happened and some prisoners escaped and ever since jail administration had tightened itself – one of the cops commented on us “those three guys are new entrants” another one replied “Yes. They were brought here during last mid night because they refused bail. They are from Save Goa.” I realized amongst cops we had identity. We were from “Save Goa”. One particular policeman who was driving our jeep advised me at least 25 times to take bail and continue the movement from outside. “You cannot do movement from outside.” He kept repeating as I smelled he was little drunk but well within control to drive police jeep. There was another cop who came from Quepem Police station accompanying us to Margao in the middle of October 11 midnight that was curious about Karush as to why he has come all the way from Pune to Maina, Quepem to offer solidarity and film protest. Karush got in with lengthy discussion with cop on how mining is fining up Goa and its water sources and why people of Goa must got up and revolt against mining. Cop was even more curious know further stuff but time in Jail so regimented that you really have to move on all the time. Karush gave the cop blog id http://www.mandgoa.blogspot.com/ for his further reference. Cop was thankful to Karush and said he is going to go and refer to the blog right away during mid-night. Even cops, their families and even Police stations as well as judicial lockup and Aguada jail is what is going to be severely affected with water shortages if we do not ground menacing mining trade in Goa. 86% of Goa’s population is under mining threat according to 2008 National best teacher’s awardee Ramesh Gauns.
It must be around 6.pm – I could hardly know correct timings inside prison cell in the absence of clock inside – when dinner was served on October 12 2008. Everyone got their dinner and covered it with days newspapers that carried news about protests in Maina and our arrests. We showed the news to all the interested prisoners. They read it with interest but could not gaze as to how much they understood as there was no occasion to discuss it the topic any further as three of us thinking of getting out of jail. Warm food enticed me and I took my dinner at 6 pm itself. I and Karush took our dinner together. Robert covered his food with newspapers for the late night. After our dinner we were relaxing as one of the room mates invited me to play with him. “Will you play Ludo with me?” I said “sure!” he went on to get Ludo board but could not find it anywhere. His inquiries found that it has been passed on into the neighbouring prison cell. So that was end of our play opportunities inside the lock up.
Then I came to my temporary place inside the prison that was very close to the door and lied down. Few prisoners started making signals towards me to make proper organised beddings for myself. I was not apt at all and struggled for a while. Then one of the prisoners Casim got up and came to me, took possession of my beddings and began wonderful folding that created warm cushion under my back. I was surprised to see the way he connected pieces of clothes in his hands and prepared fabulous bedding. I was very happy at his gestures. All other prisoners gave him supportive looks at his feat of helping me. I was now with proper bedding. I was now fully part of Prisoner camaraderie in Jail. Didn’t knew how fellow prisoners would take it if I thank them loudly, vocally, I gestured in my expressing my gratitude of bedding. It was not just bedding that was grateful to the prisoners about. It was the way the entire group has developed adaptability to new comers but also ability to make them feel at home, teach them quickly the ways of jail and befriend them with actions.
I remember when our dinner were being served were with visitors and our jail mates washed our plates, and received food on our behalf and kept it covered, kept it warm. I realized for the first time that humanity exists even inside prison cell and do have love and warmth to share in spite of all the crimes of various kinds we might have committed or accused of being committed.
After another hour or so around 7.30 pm Policeman came calling 3 of us again and told us that someone has come to restore our freedom away from Margao Judicial Lock up. We shook hands with each other, and then shook hands with every fellow prisoner, thanked them for all that they have been to us for the past 20 hours. Policeman was waiting at the door and messenger of freedom was little away. It was Sunday and we were being released on bail. Sunday is most difficult day to get bail and efforts of some friends of us had attained the impossible in the police terminology.
Jailor was around with our lawyer friend and several other policemen. We signed some documents and our possessions were returned back to us. I got back my cell phone and also my watch. Robert and Karush got back their belongings as well. We were free by 7.45pm and then went straight to Aguada jail to free 85-year-old lady Dora de Souza, Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco, Shashikala Devidas and Rita Fernandes. As soon as we landed at Aguada jail we were greeting by police men on duty. We were told that Old lady has been throwing tantrums inside the jail and demanding Milk as her food. Then authorities took her out most part of the night into hospitals and now van was about to come to take her to Goa Medical College, Bambolim. Ambulance has been called with the wireless message. “And the old lady abused us policemen, she called us dogs. It was very humiliating for us. We do our duty and we are getting treatment like this. This is not fair.” We just nodded our heads while policeman was speaking so much about the old lady. I understood that Aguada’s Central jail was badly affected with old lady in it. Lady attended was sent in to get four arrested women out. Even though she went and came quickly out she had so much to tell about the Old lady. “Prison is not for the people like her. At 1.30 am Old land forced prison authorities to put her on phone as she has to speak to Fr. Mathias D’Cunha and complained about bad condition of jail.” I understood the tension very well. I tried to make phone call from Margao Judicial lock up and I was told that it is against law to make phone calls from the Prison. The old lady had not only violated laws in Maina by trespassing, rioting and unlawful assembly, she has again violated prison laws by forcing herself into making call to Fr. Mathias D’Cunha at Curchorem Primary Health Centre under arrest; hospitalized due to supposedly low blood pressure. The entire narration about the Old lady was concluding perhaps that she is a chronic violator of law and deserves to be life member of Central jail in Aguada.
And then three ladies climbed up the steps from the way so close to Arabian Sea shore. Old lady was missing. I gathered that she was in position to climb the road to Calvary and she is resting below on the exit way. Then we came out of gates and spend few minutes sharing our experiences. “You know one woman was screaming in the night. None of us could sleep. These are the women who had committed murders – mostly of their husbands; one murdered her daughter’s rapist. 26 of them and we were four of us. I swear they are half mad hard core criminals and old lady was scandalized to hear so many of them so casually speaking about murdering their husbands. But I’ll tell you they understood our concerns. They became my friends. They understand mining is ruining Goa and we must fight.” This is what Cheryl first said when she first came out of Aguada Central Jail.
This has been the voyage from Maina mining protests to getting beaten up by mining mafia to getting arrested to our refusal to take bail to our entry into prisons and then back to freedom again. I personally feel glad that I have been able to play my tiny role in offering my support to ladies – old and young – all out to defend Goa from mining loot. If our prison entries are going resolve Goa’s looming water crisis then at least I am will to march into the jail again and again without any heed to my prestige and respect. For me water – the source of very life on earth - takes priority over my personal prestige and respect. First time I entered Jail on the October 11 2008 mid-night at Judicial lockup Margao, I remembered and whispered in Karush’s ears “You know Karush Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 long years that too most part in Solitary confinement for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa. He is one of my inspirations in struggle”. Of course the course of my actions from here remained forever changed.
Sebastian Rodrigues
Sunday, October 12, 2008
CHERYL'S STORY
Lonely Women Arrested for Protesting Against Powerful Miners of South Goa
Still say 'We will not leave our farmland'
Still say 'We will not leave our farmland'
Photos by Shaweta
Sitting near late Anthony San Francisco's grave Cheryl D'Souza recounts the time when she and her late husband came to settle in Maina Village, the dreams they built around it and how they built the foundations of the house, and farm in the area. "Those were the times his pet kite- Moses-would sit on his shoulder and eat peanuts from his hand," she reminsced. After her husband's death, the bird flew into a moving fan and got one of its wings chopped but somehow continues to live on today, force-fed though.
"We used to fall asleep in a hammock tied there so easily before, without fearing anything or anyone" says Cheryl while remembering good-old times with her husband.
Our thoughts suddenly got disrupted when a car zoomed past with a child gently waving at us from one window while her bodyguard drove her to school cautiously. Unfortunately, the situation in Maina has become so tense and insecure today that Cheryl is scared not only for her daughter's safety but also for her mother's deteriorating health condition. With regular threats, and circling of mining company jeeps in and around the house, she believes anything could happen to them.
After protesting against mining in their vicinity for threats to person or environmental damage, today, Cheryl D'Souza, her eighty-five year old mother Dora D'Souza, and her eight-year old daughter Akki D'Souza are languishing in police custody at Aguada police station.
Beisdes all of this, the Government of Goa had built a canal in Cheryl's backyard to channel spring water into the village few years back. However, the current location of mines is such that it is bound to pollute this drinking water source, which will not only affect her but all the other villagers in and around Maina.
'Can we fight alone' asks Dora D' Souza, her mother, who shares how a freedom fighter in the neighbouring village refused to budge from the area initailly. But when mining companies started digging next to his house, he couldn't resist pollution, noise and dust produced and was thus forced to move.
What do people's representatives have to say in Goa? Cheryl visited Digambar Kamat, present CM of Goa, who could not promise her anything substantial, almost as if his hands were tied. Helpless, Cheryl's mother said that she will chain herself to their cars and protest on the road demanding all mining activities be stopped in Maina.
Villagers from Colamb, Cowrem and Maina supported her during yesterday's protest demo as a result of which 200 trucks were prevented from going out of the area yesterday. However, in an ugly turn of events, the contractors and truck drivers attacked and damaged cameras of supporting environmental activist Sebastian Rodrigues and film-maker Kurush Canteenwala from Pune. The Police only watched the drama and arrested eight protestors including Cheryl and her family.
One wonders how Tarcar Mines got Environmental Clearance in the area, which is a green forested zone, and mining would mean devastating changes for ecological balance. Most people survive on agricultural livelihoods here. In fact cashew and coconut plantation is a thriving agricultural option for the middle class and small farmers of the village. Mining therefore has proven to be an extractive process, benefiting none of the locals.
Resistances have continued in adjoining Colamb village since last few years against Formento mines that were releasing waste waters into drinking water sources and fields, destroying crops in the area. Colamb villagers successfully pressurized them and managed to issue a show cause notice to stop mining in the area, which was hampering all usual activities. However in Colamb too, people are being regularly harassed by mining companies that make repeated complaints for arrest of activists by police.
Activists across the country are demanding the release of Cheryl's family and immediate stopping of all mining at Maina, legal or illegal.
The article was written after an exclusive interview with Cheryl some days before her arrest on 11th October 2008 for protesting against encroachment on her land by miners.
Eyewitness account: Input from John Fernandes about yesterday's anti-mining protests and subsequent arrests
Quepem remain tense today over the issued of the arrest of 8 environmentalists by the Quepem police over the alleged incident of forming unlawful assembly at Cavrem on Saturday. Quepem police today arrested Sherel D'Souza, her 80 years old mother Dora D'Souza, Rita Fernandes, Robert Pinto all from Maina Cavrem, Seby Rodrigues from Siolim, Kurush Canteenwala from Pune, and father Mathew D'Cunha of Don Bosco Quepem over the charges of forming unlawful assembly, trespass and criminal intimidation.
That morning Sherel D'Souza, her mother, her 8 years-old daughter and their servant sat on a protest at Cavrem by tying their age old mother Dora D'Souza with a chain on the kacha road leading to Tarkar mine and which started at around 9.30AM. At about 10.00 AM, around 30 villagers from Colomb appeared at the spot in a bus mostly comprising ladies and joined the peaceful protest by Sherel and her family.
Environmentalists Seby Rodrigues, Father Mathias and Sherel's friend Kurush Canteenwala from Pune, who had come to Goa to make a film also came at the spot but remained on the main road leading to Pirla.
The Mine officials appeared at the spot and asked about the problem to which Sherel stated that they are protesting the destruction forest land. In the meantime, hundreds of truck drivers, who were at the mine also appeared at the spot. Speaking to reporter P.I. Santosh Dessai, he stated that the protesters were requested by him to move out from the place but they did not. Sherel D'Souza stated in her complaint filed before the Quepem police that around 3.00 Quepem police appeared at the spot . That in the presence of Quepem police they have been attacked by the mine drivers who were instigated by the contractor and the local representatives.
The Photographers namely Seby Rodrigues and Kurush Canteenwala who were present and taking snaps were attacked by the drivers. Seby Rodrigues in his complaint has stated that he has been attacked by the Z.P. Member Subhash Dessai. He also stated that the truck driver snatched his camera and bag which was carrying and damaged the Camera and the bag. Police arrested all the protester including the minor daughter of Sherel- Akki D'Souza- put them in the police jeep and brought them at the police station and booked them under different offences.
Meantime all the truck drivers and contractors appeared at the police station and the police also attached the two vehicles of Sherel D'souza. The truck driver , contractor who were present at the police made a hue that in both the vehicles of Sherel there are weapons and other dangerous substance. The police then checked the both the vehicles. That from one vehicle recovered one knife and from the diky 2 small iron roads and a broken coita while from the other vehicle police recovered a knife.
Speaking to reporters Sherel stated that the knife that was found was for her safety as she moves alone in the night and she has to pass through a hilly area to go to her house.
Meanwhile villagers from Colomb, Banaulim, Fr. Mevrick and his team, Don Bosco Officials made their presence at the police station to show their solidarity. Those arrested refuse to move any bail application. GAKUVED President Durgadas Gaonkar who had come to the police station condemned the way the police handle the situation and for arresting the innocent people.
Meanwhile police from Curchorem, Margao, and GRPF was stationed at the police station. Deputy Collector Vanancio Furtado , Dy. SP Rohidas Patre made their presence at the police station.
That morning Sherel D'Souza, her mother, her 8 years-old daughter and their servant sat on a protest at Cavrem by tying their age old mother Dora D'Souza with a chain on the kacha road leading to Tarkar mine and which started at around 9.30AM. At about 10.00 AM, around 30 villagers from Colomb appeared at the spot in a bus mostly comprising ladies and joined the peaceful protest by Sherel and her family.
Environmentalists Seby Rodrigues, Father Mathias and Sherel's friend Kurush Canteenwala from Pune, who had come to Goa to make a film also came at the spot but remained on the main road leading to Pirla.
The Mine officials appeared at the spot and asked about the problem to which Sherel stated that they are protesting the destruction forest land. In the meantime, hundreds of truck drivers, who were at the mine also appeared at the spot. Speaking to reporter P.I. Santosh Dessai, he stated that the protesters were requested by him to move out from the place but they did not. Sherel D'Souza stated in her complaint filed before the Quepem police that around 3.00 Quepem police appeared at the spot . That in the presence of Quepem police they have been attacked by the mine drivers who were instigated by the contractor and the local representatives.
The Photographers namely Seby Rodrigues and Kurush Canteenwala who were present and taking snaps were attacked by the drivers. Seby Rodrigues in his complaint has stated that he has been attacked by the Z.P. Member Subhash Dessai. He also stated that the truck driver snatched his camera and bag which was carrying and damaged the Camera and the bag. Police arrested all the protester including the minor daughter of Sherel- Akki D'Souza- put them in the police jeep and brought them at the police station and booked them under different offences.
Meantime all the truck drivers and contractors appeared at the police station and the police also attached the two vehicles of Sherel D'souza. The truck driver , contractor who were present at the police made a hue that in both the vehicles of Sherel there are weapons and other dangerous substance. The police then checked the both the vehicles. That from one vehicle recovered one knife and from the diky 2 small iron roads and a broken coita while from the other vehicle police recovered a knife.
Speaking to reporters Sherel stated that the knife that was found was for her safety as she moves alone in the night and she has to pass through a hilly area to go to her house.
Meanwhile villagers from Colomb, Banaulim, Fr. Mevrick and his team, Don Bosco Officials made their presence at the police station to show their solidarity. Those arrested refuse to move any bail application. GAKUVED President Durgadas Gaonkar who had come to the police station condemned the way the police handle the situation and for arresting the innocent people.
Meanwhile police from Curchorem, Margao, and GRPF was stationed at the police station. Deputy Collector Vanancio Furtado , Dy. SP Rohidas Patre made their presence at the police station.
Anti-mining protestors arrested due to 'unlawful assembly'
While anti-mining protestors got arrested for 'unlawful assembly' yesterday, there is a meeting in Colamb today to share information and to express solidarity with them.
At about 10 am today, a team of concerned citizens will go and register cases against mafia goons, who instigated violence and attacked peaceful protestors, who had only chained themselves to trucks in an attempt to stop mining outside their homes!!! Initially, police refused to register cases against them but due to mounting pressure since yesterday, they have relented to this demand.
Tomorrow, another delegation will make a representation to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP and Director of Mines with their concerns and demands vis-a-vis this issue.
At about 10 am today, a team of concerned citizens will go and register cases against mafia goons, who instigated violence and attacked peaceful protestors, who had only chained themselves to trucks in an attempt to stop mining outside their homes!!! Initially, police refused to register cases against them but due to mounting pressure since yesterday, they have relented to this demand.
Tomorrow, another delegation will make a representation to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP and Director of Mines with their concerns and demands vis-a-vis this issue.
Posted by SADED (website link)
Update of events last night
Friends,
As an update of events beginnning from a peaceful public hearing at Colamb that gave a majority consensus against mining to the ugly turn of events when ten protestors were arrested yesterday from Maina, reports that poured in during wee hours of today morning suggest that the struggle is only going to intensify ...
Battlelines have been drawn between locals Goans, who are the ordinary farmers and small-time businessmen, struggling peacefully to save their land, fields, livestock and water resources from the burgeonining onslaught of mining authorities, mafia, real estate developers, corrupt police officials and politicians.
Of one of those arrested- Sebastian- has been kept at Margao judicial lock-up (12: 40 am), while Cheryl and the other three ladies (Sashikala, Akki and Dora) have been taken to Aguada judicial police station (3: 05am). Despite her old age (85 years), heart and arthritis condition, no special provisions have been given to Dora, despite repeated requests. This reveals the height of insensitivity and lack of genuine concern for the citizens of Goa...
As an update of events beginnning from a peaceful public hearing at Colamb that gave a majority consensus against mining to the ugly turn of events when ten protestors were arrested yesterday from Maina, reports that poured in during wee hours of today morning suggest that the struggle is only going to intensify ...
Battlelines have been drawn between locals Goans, who are the ordinary farmers and small-time businessmen, struggling peacefully to save their land, fields, livestock and water resources from the burgeonining onslaught of mining authorities, mafia, real estate developers, corrupt police officials and politicians.
Of one of those arrested- Sebastian- has been kept at Margao judicial lock-up (12: 40 am), while Cheryl and the other three ladies (Sashikala, Akki and Dora) have been taken to Aguada judicial police station (3: 05am). Despite her old age (85 years), heart and arthritis condition, no special provisions have been given to Dora, despite repeated requests. This reveals the height of insensitivity and lack of genuine concern for the citizens of Goa...
We demand the police to withdraw all charges and release those fighting for social justice!!!
Support those fighting to save the environment!!!
The environment belongs to all of us!!!! All of us have a responsibility to protect it!!!! Why arrest just a handful for it?!!!!
Posted by SADED (website link)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Seby banned from taking phone calls
Dear friends,
As per reports received a few minutes ago, Sebastian Rodrigues is being taken to Margao in a police jeep. He has been barred from taking phone calls.
It is sad to see continued violation of basic human rights of all peaceful protestors...
Posted by SADED (website link)
As per reports received a few minutes ago, Sebastian Rodrigues is being taken to Margao in a police jeep. He has been barred from taking phone calls.
It is sad to see continued violation of basic human rights of all peaceful protestors...
Posted by SADED (website link)
Mining Terrorism Down! Down!
Dear Friends,
As per the reports received at 9:30 pm, Father Mathias D'Cunha is feeling unwell and is admitted to government hospital at Curchorem, while Sebastian Rodrigues has been taken for medical examination under police protection.
Bail has been denied to those arrested in this case.
So, reiterating the demands once more:
We demand all end to mining in Goa, legal or illegal, since both equally kill the environment, pollute drinking water, ruin agriculture and disturb the symbiotic relationship of man with nature. Man has no moral right to destroy natural resources he cannot revive as easily or quickly. There has to be some control on his speed of devouring environment, and only for making a quick buck at any cost.
We demand the state to take a pro-protestors' stand. We demand the police to be sensitive to its law-abiding citizens.
We demand the police to wake up and protect its people from injustice by mining authorities. After all, you too are humans who will have to consume the same polluted air, food, fruits and water once mines encroach your neighbourhood...Today it is these villages, tomorrow miners may reach your neighbourhood!!!! Is that when you will respond? This issue of saving environment is not of just a few. This issue is as serious for all who live on earth and depend on natural resources for survival. Be it police, politicians, mafia goons or anyone!!!
We demand the police to arrest the perpetrators of violence, who beat up the peaceful protestors black and blue.
We demand the police to withdraw all charges against the ten innocent people arrested, who were non-violently opposing mining in front of their homes or were present there in solidarity.
As per the reports received at 9:30 pm, Father Mathias D'Cunha is feeling unwell and is admitted to government hospital at Curchorem, while Sebastian Rodrigues has been taken for medical examination under police protection.
Bail has been denied to those arrested in this case.
So, reiterating the demands once more:
We demand all end to mining in Goa, legal or illegal, since both equally kill the environment, pollute drinking water, ruin agriculture and disturb the symbiotic relationship of man with nature. Man has no moral right to destroy natural resources he cannot revive as easily or quickly. There has to be some control on his speed of devouring environment, and only for making a quick buck at any cost.
We demand the state to take a pro-protestors' stand. We demand the police to be sensitive to its law-abiding citizens.
We demand the police to wake up and protect its people from injustice by mining authorities. After all, you too are humans who will have to consume the same polluted air, food, fruits and water once mines encroach your neighbourhood...Today it is these villages, tomorrow miners may reach your neighbourhood!!!! Is that when you will respond? This issue of saving environment is not of just a few. This issue is as serious for all who live on earth and depend on natural resources for survival. Be it police, politicians, mafia goons or anyone!!!
We demand the police to arrest the perpetrators of violence, who beat up the peaceful protestors black and blue.
We demand the police to withdraw all charges against the ten innocent people arrested, who were non-violently opposing mining in front of their homes or were present there in solidarity.
MINING TERRORISM DOWN DOWN!!!!Posted by SADED (website link)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Mining Mafia invades Colamb
Protesters today in Colamb targeted its Salvo at Goa Government for its utter irresponsible behaviour in protecting agriculture and water sources - that are source of life, in order to benefit few filthy rich like Fomentos.
The Encircled and boxed truck driver was responsible for stripping his pants, Kicking Socorina Dias and Motesh Antao. Mining Companies are now deploying mafia achieve its goals of breaking unity of Colamb villagers. Goa Government simply looks other way giving free hands to goons.
Milagrina Antao with other women are questioning pathetic law and order situation in their village. "How much more do we have to struggle to make Goa government listen?"
It is the State government as well as the Central Government that is responsible for mining terrorism in Colamb just the way rest of Goa is victimised. Goa Government has been held hostage by terrorists - the mining companies - Indian as well as multinationals like Sesa Goa.
Motesh Antao is one of the fearless fighters of Colamb. Today he was targeted by Sanvordem Goons.
Socorina Dias after being kicked on her stomach/chest during the mining trucks road blockade today.
The slogans of Colamb are increasing day by day. The slogans are destined to smash Goa Government's deafness.
Women guard as the truck que up at the 'people power' of the Colamb adivasis. Will Goa government free itself from the shackles of the mining companies?Constancio Rodrigues
Vinaya D'Souza
Smitha Olivera
Mercilina Sen
Sebastian Rodrigues
Rama Velip
Friday, April 4, 2008
GAKUVED march (padyatra) against land grabbing
The Gawada, Kunbi, Velip & Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED) has organised a March (Padyatra) on Sunday, 6th April 2008 From Kadamba bus stand to Old Goa via New by pass, Kadamba Plateau at 9.00 a.m
The march (padyatra) is organised to bring attention of Government and general Public regarding land grabbing and selling it to capital loaded outsiders.
The march is organised by GAKUVED under the leadership of its General Secretary Shri Pandurang R. Kunkalkar which will start at 9.00 am from Kadamba bus stand via New by pass, Kadamba Plateau up to Old Goa and will be concluded at Gandhi Circle.
It is appealed to the general public to participate in the march (padayatra) and show Solidarity.
The march (padyatra) is organised to bring attention of Government and general Public regarding land grabbing and selling it to capital loaded outsiders.
The march is organised by GAKUVED under the leadership of its General Secretary Shri Pandurang R. Kunkalkar which will start at 9.00 am from Kadamba bus stand via New by pass, Kadamba Plateau up to Old Goa and will be concluded at Gandhi Circle.
It is appealed to the general public to participate in the march (padayatra) and show Solidarity.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Colamb mining: Two arrested,Truck and Jeep seized
A truck and a jeep trying to transport Iron ore from Fomentos mine in Colamb was seized today evening by the State Forest department after a group of around 80 villagers alerted the officials attached to Curdi Forest range in Sanguem Taluka.
Early morning today mining company allegedly broke open the barbed wire fencing put up by the Forest department and opened a road through Forest. Mining company however tried to begin transport only at around 5 pm. The villagers who were keeping vigil on the site immediately rushed and blocked the road and alerted the Curdi Range Forest officials.
5 member team for the Curdi range forest as well as Jeep load of Police from Sanguem Police station landed on the spot by 5.30 pm. Police and Forest officials then took control of the situation and ceased truck bearing registration number GA02 T8304 as well as the Jeep with registration number GA 09 U1999. Both the drivers too were arrested for violating Forest laws.
It may be noted that Goa Bench of Bombay High Court has admitted the petition of Rama Velip and others on March 10 2008 seeking directions to close down this mine with TC No. 06/1949 due to disastrous fallout on their agriculture and natural water sources. The next hearing is to up for hearing on March 24 2008; Fomentos however are trying to forcefully transport the Ore before that date. The company is indeed walking on narrow path of contempt of Court.
Sebastian Rodrigues
Early morning today mining company allegedly broke open the barbed wire fencing put up by the Forest department and opened a road through Forest. Mining company however tried to begin transport only at around 5 pm. The villagers who were keeping vigil on the site immediately rushed and blocked the road and alerted the Curdi Range Forest officials.
5 member team for the Curdi range forest as well as Jeep load of Police from Sanguem Police station landed on the spot by 5.30 pm. Police and Forest officials then took control of the situation and ceased truck bearing registration number GA02 T8304 as well as the Jeep with registration number GA 09 U1999. Both the drivers too were arrested for violating Forest laws.
It may be noted that Goa Bench of Bombay High Court has admitted the petition of Rama Velip and others on March 10 2008 seeking directions to close down this mine with TC No. 06/1949 due to disastrous fallout on their agriculture and natural water sources. The next hearing is to up for hearing on March 24 2008; Fomentos however are trying to forcefully transport the Ore before that date. The company is indeed walking on narrow path of contempt of Court.
Sebastian Rodrigues
Monday, August 13, 2007
FROM THE BAMBOLIM BATTLEFIELD - 1
Goa may be flooded. In some parts, a few families might have been thrown off guard with the gushing rains.
But not the massive ecological destruction taking place at Bambolim Beach.
Past few weeks have witnessed cutting down of large number of trees including five thousand coconut trees.
Modus operandi is simple: cut the trees and load it straight it on the trucks and carry it far off. To block the public view of this rape, a five meters tall tarpaulin is used to fence of the land.
Private security personnel constantly clash with the local villagers including violent confrontations.
The party is the same one that promises Paradise and heaven in nearby Nauxi village to filthy rich from the rest of India, and locals are subjected to goonda pressure every time they speak out.
Goons are brought in hundreds, some times. Even the former central minister's names are linked to this.
In Bambolim, nexus between power centres of the Goa State and beyond is clear. Police team visits the site twice a day to supervise the ecological disasters. Drinking well is threatened, beautiful pond is buried, plain lands are dug for underground, hills are mercilessly cut down. State administrative machinery, legislature, politicians, police, judiciary, have all been actively siding with the brutal rape of nature and its people's life and livelihood.
The questions arise as to what is going be the fate of Goa's nature and its people?In the face of failure of the State to defend who is going to stand in defence?
These questions bothers us a lot.Tell us what you feel and think about this.
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