Saturday 25 June 2011

Brahmanical repression on Goa's tribal people

Over the past three months repression on Goa's tribal people has shot up alarmingly.The ghastly incident of burning alive of two tribal youth Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip during lathi charge on highway protest at Balli in South Goa is latest example. The two youth were were awarded instant martydom on May 25, 2011 precisely because of their lions share in safeguarding their community lands in Gaondongri and relentless opposition to bauxite mining in Morpirla. Assault on several tribal youth was launched jointly by police and private brahmanical goons. Manguesh and Dilip today after their death has come as powerful source of inspiration to the mulnivasi struggles in Goa.


Prior to this on May 12, 2011 tribal youth Nilesh Gaonkar from Cavrem, Quepem resisting mining industry was assaulted with iron rods while he was entering the gate of his workplace at Verna industrial estate. He sustained hand and neck injuries and was hospitalized. His attackers are still at bay and police is doing precious little to nab the culprits. Prior to that on May 3, 2011 journalist Gary Azavedo was kidnapped and assaulted on Fomento mines in Cavrem, Quepem while he was on official duty. No arrests has been made even after police complaint by Gary.


Mining companies have filed over 700 police cases against number of villagers all over Goa. The largest number of police cases are against people of Colamb, Sanguem followed by those in Advalpal, Bicholim. Police cases are also registered against tribal protesters in Cavrem and Ambaulim. Also in Navelim and Sirgaon in Bicholim. Police have been prompt in registering the complaints as well as following it up with a charge-sheet for legal trial to begin. Few years back Police resorted to lathi charge in Ambaulim, Quepem during the anti-mining protests injuring several tribal people.


Judiciary too has become a potent form of tool in the hands of mining companies. People are forced to make repeated trips to the courts in Sanguem, Quepem and  Bicholim. Judiciary, Legislature, Executive as well as mining companies, few TV channels and newspapers are captured by brahmanical forces and that is the root cause of the problems of messed up governance and harassment of mulnivasis in Goa.

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