Defiance against Draft CRZ notification 2018

Date: 15^th June 2018

To,

The Director,

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

(IA-III Division)

Telefax: 011-24695340

e-mail: arvind.nautiyal@gov.in

J-615, Jal Block, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan,

Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi – 110003

Subject: Defiance against Draft CRZ notification 2018

Sir,

This is in response to the Public Notice dated 18.04.2018 on your ministry’s website with subject “Draft Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2018 – reg.” signed by Arvind Nautiyal calling for comments/ suggestions from all stakeholders within 60 days. Our comments as under:

1. Draft CRZ notification 2018 aimed at supersession of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 excludes Goa from special protection in spite of its most fragile ecology. This made us to reflect deeper after our attempts to activate CRZ laws proved futile for the State of Goa. Recently we filed one complaint with Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) against the construction of bund on the banks of Mandovi River involving cutting down of mangroves in CRZ I B. Construction work sanctioned and funded by Agriculture department, (Government of Goa) and being carried on by private contractor with supervision of Naveli-Goltim Communidade. Our investigations revealed that this work worth more than 10 crore is being carried on without CRZ clearance. RTI queries revealed that Agriculture department never sought permissions from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). On the contrary after our complaint GCZMA carried on joint site inspection with us, prepared report but never shared with us even after requesting to do so, and more importantly did not stop the bund construction work in CRZ area. After our investigations we leaned from Mr. Nelson Azavedo, Attorney of the Naveli-Goltim Communidade that CRZ laws are illegally enforced in Goa and Government of India has no jurisdiction to govern any of the Goa’s land.

2. This peculiar situation has arisen due to different colonial history of India and Goa with differing Jurisprudence. While India was governed and ruled by British, Goa was governed by Portuguese with far different legal practice. Portuguese laws in Goa applicable till date conflict with Indian laws relating to land. Portuguese signed Foral document in 1533 with the officials of local self governing village bodies in Goa known as communidades guaranteeing their autonomy in governance of land and village administration. This is a separate history from British rule in India.

3. Even though India attained so called Independence in 1947 its Constitution clearly prescribes dependence upon laws of the British government via Article 147. This is because India was ruled by British and Goa was not. So Constitution is relevant to ex-British colony and not to Goa which was never a British colony.

4. This system continued till Goa got merged into India in December 1961 after Congress government led by Jawaharlal Nehru ordered Indian Army march into Goa on December 17^th 1961 and on 18^th December 1961 mid night Soviet Union exercised veto power over UN Security Council resolution to help India in its mission. India established the so-called control over Goa on 19^th December 1961. Though this event is known popularly as “Goa’s Liberation”, according to one of the Supreme Court of India’s Judgment relating to mining “Goa was annexed through Conquest”.

5. Prior to this conquest India had its Consulate in Goa. Goa was a separate country. With the conquest political status of Goa changed overnight from being a separate country attached to Portugal to Union territory of India. Indian rule in Goa sidelined communidades and established Panchayat rule at village level. This sadly, caused harm to the self-governing system already in place and introduced secret vote based democracy. Commundades are democracy without secret voting but open direct deliberative democracy.

6. Opinion Poll that took place in 1967 it was not whether people of Goa wanted to be part of India or to be Independent nation. Law and economics colluded to severely compromise Goa’s ecological identity.

7. This is particularly so after 30^th May 1987 when Goa was granted status as a separate State within India. The first cabinet meeting itself past tourism master plan within 24 hours of Statehood crowding Goa’s beaches with luxury hotels from North to South of Goa. This was opposed by Student organizations and Tourism Master Plan was dropped.

8. Goa faced renewed pressures on Coast from tourism lobbies after India adopted new economic policy in 1991 when Finance Minister Manmohan Singh ushered in New Economic Policy of Globalization. Several Golf Courses and Star Hotels were proposed on several beaches and land acquired but People of Goa fought back to stop at the planning stage itself. Since then people of Goa has been continuously battling to defend its shores from tourism, rivers from dredging from shipping and mountains from mining.

9. Draft Coastal Regulations Zone Notification is further intensification of this 1961 conquest of Goa, now at the behest of BJP. BJP is funded by corporate rather lavishly and it has grown to be one of the richest Political Party in the World with declared income of Rs. 1034 crore for the financial year 2016-17.

10. More dangerously, functioning of MoEF itself has been viewed with suspicion as Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has publicly stated in past that MoEF accepts bribes to grant Environmental Clearances.

11. Dr. Shailesh Nayak Committee never visited Goa to understand Goa’s  situation from mass of people. Why? 

12. If No Development Zone (NDZ) is applicable within notified Port Limits then it is applicable to Goa’s six National Waterways that are also under Jurisdiction of Mormugao Port Trust?

People of Goa are fully aware of Communidades as self-governing institutions. Government of India cannot full the People of Goa. CRZ in Goa doesn’t stand fruitful in anyway when Commuidades are true decision making bodies since time immemorial. So the issue is not of CRZ but of Freedom from Political regime that has introduced this notification to benefit corporates and banks in search of places to destroy ecology. At the end of 60 days comes 18 June which for us is a day of struggle for freedom, a day of defiance, Goa Revolution Day.

There will be a mass uprising in case these draft coastal regulation notification 2018 are finalized and enforced in Goa.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

 Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President

Goa Unit

Copy: Member Secretary, Goa Zone Management Authority, Porvorim, Goa

Essential documents regarding Nationalization of Goa's rivers

Here is a list of essential documents to understand nationalization of Goa's rivers:

1. Short background note. click here

2. Expert Appraisal Committee minutes where 228 barges are mentioned behind nationalized Mandovi, Zuari and Cumbharjua canal dredging. Click here

3. Basic law - The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act 1985. Click here

4. Basic Law - The National Waterways Act 2016 by which Goa's rivers are declared as National Waterways. Click here

5. The damage that the State of India is doing by Nationalizing Goa's rivers is similar to what the State of New Zealand did to Maoris from 1840 onward.  Crown apologized after acknowledging the damage done. After fighting for 140 years New Zealand passed law - Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017. Specially read up Part 3, Sections 69 to 70 on pages 44 to 49. Click here

6. Press Statement from "Our Rivers Our Rights". Click here

7. In 1961 India annexed Goa through conquest. The way Indian state plans savage attacks on Goa's attacks could even put Russians to shame. Time has come to question Russia for supporting Conquest of Goa by exercise of Veto power in security council. Click here.

8. Protection of rivers is a Fundamental duty of Every citizen of India under Article 51-A (g). Click here for copy of the Constitution of India. 

9. Important Maps of rivers and planned projects. Click here.

10. More documents available at Goa Data Center. Click here.

Resources to combat ongoing persecution of Christians in Goa

Theoretically Christianity has no place for caste discriminations. Brahminism or Bamanism is a system of Brahmin supremacy or Bamon supremacy. After resurgent challenge to bamanism from the grass roots elites are unable to manipulate Goa's church leadership in order to control native people who have embaced Christian faith. In an ugly urge to set up Baman Rashtra fear of terror is sought to be unleashed against Catholics in Goa. This has provided unique opportunity to carry on the fight uncompromisingly. This post is meant to increase the stamina of the fighters and to be fighters. Victory is always possible to anyone who refuses to give up fighting. The fight continues. Read on.

Over past one month there has been violent discourse against Christians. Violent discourse is followed by desecration of wayside crosses that are prevalent in Goa. This trend touched a new high at early morning hours of July 11, 2017 when over 100 crosses errected over the graves inside the Cementry attached to Guardian Angel Church, Sanvordem were uprooted and name plates severed. This was done in in completely planned manner as per media reports by breaking electric ligh and destroying CCTV cameras. As expected no arrests are effected in either the cases.

Bharat Mukti Morcha considers it is pertinent to intevene at this moment and place important online resources available at the disposal of those who are already in combat, those who are willing to get into combat, those who wants to understand what the persecution of christians is all about, those who are facing persecution and also those who are carrying on the persecution by uprooting crosses for one who hangs on those crosses Jesus had first priority to forgive those crucified him.

Today we present these resources begining with the book 'The Spiritual Combat' by Laurence Scupoli. Please download this book. Click here. Anyone reading this book will begin to feel empoered. Its effectiveness could be multiplied by reading and discussing this book in groups.

The second book we present to you is 'Holiness of Life'  by St. Bonaventure. Click here. We have tremendous joy to present this book as today is also the feast of St. Bonaventure who lived in 13th Century along side St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Anthony of Padua.

Current Persecutions in Goa are in the form of hidden criminal acts of demilition of crosses, stautes of Mother Mary etc. Therefore those who are actually involved in the act are not found or named or clue gathered. Yet we know as to who attempted to murder St. Francis Xavier. Click here. His body is at Old Goa inside the Basillica of Bom Jesus. Decade and a half ago when this Basillica was set on fire by miscreant, State Chief Minister Parrikar was found watching fire early morning at 5.00 am. He was confronted by late Fr. Moreno D'souza and relectantly fire brigade was brought in fire put off without any major damage to Basillica of Bom Jesus. Current desceration of crosses and statues too are going on at midnight or at early mornings and it is not difficult to guess as to who has commnaded these acts to be committed when again now Parrikar is the State Chief Minister holding portfolio of Home Minister with control over police.

St. Francis Xavier however relied on heavenly graces to carry on his mission even though it antagonised Brahmins in India. He composed, now famous prayer for this purpose. Click here.

The third book we present to you is 'Trustful surrender to Divine Providence'. This book by  Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure & St. Claude de la Colombiere. What it says about persuction is this " In the times of persecution Christians were deprived of rank and position, despoiled of their possessions, torn from their families, thrown into prison and sent to execution all for their religious convictions and faith in Christ. Far from complaining, they went their way, like the apostles, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. (58) Whatever the excuse for the persecution you may be made to suffer, and especially if it is because of your religion, accept it all without hesitation as coming from the understanding and paternal hand of your Father who is in heaven." You may download this book. Click here.

Persecution of Christians has not just been from without and from the sources unknown and known. It has also been from within. To know more about this scarecly known persecution down the book 'An Open Letter to Confuseed Catholics' by Archbishop Lefebre. Click here to download. Persecution from within has what has caused large number of land gifted to Church to be sold. In Goa bebeficiaries are Ciba-Geigy in Dulapi, Models Cosntruction in Souto Maoir (Caranzalem) and Ozone Leisure Private Limited in Vanxim. In all the cases agriculture has been sacrified. Moreover manipulation has not restricted to Land sales but also to other facets of faith life. 

Fourth book we present is 'Attention Catholics :Helpful Reminders for Catholics Living in the Modern Confusion' deals aptly with this aspect. You may downlod this book. Click here.

Fifth book we share with you is titled 'The Sword of St. Michael: Saint Pius V
1504-1572' by Lilian Brown- Olf. This book highlights that persecutions are not new to the Catholic Church. Click here to download. 

Arrival of Christianity was itself begining of Persecution. St. Thomas who was amongst the twelve apostles of Jesus was murdered in India near Chennai. Click here to check out.

Yet there has been resurgence in public interest to embrace Christianity as a revolt against Brahmanism in Indian sub-continent. Click here for Nepal update.

In some parts of India there has been severe violence against those who who are converting to Christianity. In 2008 in Orrissa state there was Genocide - mass killings - of Christians at Dsitrict of Khadamal. Here is the link you may download to know to day to day happenings at that time put together by Anto Ekka and team. Click here.  

Currently there are two major international reports on curtailment of religious freedom that includes India. First is 2017 University of Notre Dame Report - 'In response to Persecution'. This report can be downloaded from the links. Click here.

Second report is from United States Commision on International Religious Freedom 2017. This report also report attacks on Christians along with other religions. Report also mentions practice of caste system that has led to atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India. Click here to download. US Embassy in India is to take note of religious and caste violations in India.

We also share links to few major International Organsiations involved in paying attention to Persecutions and People in Goa msut know. Thier website states "Aid to the Church in Need is an international charity of and for the Catholic Church. We give a voice and render relief to Catholics persecuted and oppressed for their Faith." Click here to know more.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide is another organsiation that claims to be voice of the voiceless. Click here to reach to them.

Open Doors is another organsiation that serves persecuted Christians Worldwide. Click here to know more on them.

Voice of the Martyrs is another organisation that is involved in getting monthly newsletter on persecution and facilitates various kinds of help to persecuted Christians worldwide. Click here to reach them.

Release Internation is yet another International Organisation that is involved in campaigning for the release of Christians held in Prisons world wide. Click here to know more. Their website also has report on persecutions ongoing in Orrisa state of India where Christians are forced to stop their prayer and police permisions is made mandatory to organsie community prayer. Click here for there links.

In Pakistan Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, who was Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, was well known for campaigning against the nation's strict blasphemy law and lobbying for the rights of religious minorities was assasinated on March 02, 2011. He is Martyr for Christian faith and continues to inspire many all over the World after his martydom. Click here. There is also very resourceful wikipedia page page on Bhatti that indicate that he was with long term commitment for Christian defence. Here is more information on his martydom at wikipedia. Click here. 

Goa was once headquaters of spread of Christian faith to entire Asia. Today lets turn Goa into the centre to defend Christian faith all over Asia. Attacks on various crosses and images, attacks on Savordem's Guardian Angel Church Cemetry and uprooting of crosses inside and other forms of desecration inside the cemetry only impels us to take this direction.

For India Check out webite of All India Catholic Union. Click here. 

Fr. Tom Uzhunalil continues to be captivity in Yemen for past few years. Check links here. 

There is desecreation of Church in hyderabad. Check here for links. 

Nuns are harrassed by police. One case is in Bhopal. Here is the link. 

We have not forgotten rape of Sr. Meena Barwa in Khandamal in August 2008. Here is the link. Here is the statement made to media by Sr. Meena on her rape violence. Click here. 

Get access to full report "Genocide in Khandamal" at this link. Click here.  “Kandhamal Unresolved” is a film looks into the present situation of Kandhamal, especially the struggles of victims, denial of peace and justice, intimidation and hate campaign by Sangh Parivar and relationship between the Hindu Identity and the Dalit/Adivasi Identity. The film is now at Youtube. You may click here. 

There is an interesting blog that documents Persecution of Christians in India. Its called 'Christian Persecution India'. Click here.