BMM condemns Sonshi mining arrests

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) condemns the arrests of about 45 people including women from Sonshi, Pissurlem for protesting against mining ore transportation on April 11, 2017 and detained at Colvale Jail till date. BMM also takes note of posting from Ravindra Velip on facebook after his visit to Sonshi yesterday as follows:

"I along with my several other friends visited Sonshi village today. A village which was situated in the lap of the forests is now surrounded by six giant mining companies operating at less than radial distance of 100 mts. There are 60 to 65 households in this village of which 55 to 60 families are tribals. 9000 to 10000 trips are daily transported from this village by approximately 1200 mining trucks. You can imagine the Air and Water Quality in this village. Imagine the noise pollution that they are witnessing. When these tribals protested, they were arrested and sent in the Judicial lockup. 45 of them including women members are in Colvale jail from last 8 days. Their children and old age people who are at home are going through a tuff time. HELP THEM IF YOU CAN OR EXTEND YOUR SUPPORT"

Shonshi village earlier suffered irreversible damage to their paddy fields and and got absorbed reluctantly into buying of trucks and plying for various mining companies. The decsion of illegitimate Goa government to arrest Shonshi people is a war against natives by Goa's Bamani State. Shonshi-Pissurlem mining belt is under severe pressure from companies. They first finished off agriculture, ground then forest and huge cracks to ground reflects continues threat to life. Then they got village addicted to mining through mining trucks operation syphoning the village of minerals to be sent to Japan, China and other countries of the World. Now they are in the process of snapping the villagers of trucks business and sent them to Colvale Jail. Currently Sesa Goa owned by a British company Vedanta is carrying on most of the mining in that belt. The planet is under barabric plunder as the is being ripped and raped, homes and shattered and bled dry. Human dignity totally robbed off and visit Sonshi to know what a life without dignity is all about.

Poem "I love Pissurlem" by Sebastian Rodrigues reflects this reality and you may read at links 

http://mandgoa.blogspot.in/2008/04/i-love-pissurlem.html. 

What to do with this poem to support Sonshi?
1. Share links to your contacts
2. Take a printout on one page and organise discussions aount mining.
3. Study further the Economic and Political situation of Sonshi mining belt. You may read this report for more details:

http://mandgoa.blogspot.in/2008/04/chopper-attack.html

4. Approach members of Legislative Assembly to support People of Sonshi and withdraw support to the illegitimate Manohar Parrikar goverment formed through betrayal of masses of Goa and needs to be pulled down.
5. Gather at least five people and protest arrest of Sonshi villagers in your locality. If possible share report to the press friends or you may post below as comment.

Currently illegitimate Goa government formed unethically in everyway possible and functions as criminal enterprise with total moral bankruptcy. Out little actions will lead to collapse and dismantling of this Politician-Mining nexus. It must by noted that Sonshi is represented by Pratapsing Rane for past several decades and he cares a damn for environment and support mining completely even if peoples homes are shattered through mining: ecocide of Sattari and Vishwajit Rane and Pratapsingh Rane are committed to intensify it further or why else are they silent for decades together? Time for revolt yet again! It is a law of nature of nature: Every action has equal and opposite reaction, and every situation of oppression sows seeds of rebellion. So is it in Sonshi.

It is important to follow pattern in our approach always: Study. Organise. Agitate.

Jai Mulnivasi!

Protest against Vadanta Sesa Goa Mining company

Date: 09/03/2017

To,

Secretary (Fisheries),

Directorate of Fisheries, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director,

Directorate of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa

Subject: Protest against Vadanta Sesa Goa Mining company

Dear Sir,

It has come to our notice that Vendanta Sesa Goa mining company is involved in filing various complaints with fisheries department against fishermen carrying on fishing activities in Zuari river citing various reasons. We write to lodge our strong protest against Vedanta Sesa Goa mining company for harassing fishermen. Mining companies are outstanding destroyers of nature, ecology and environment and now Vendant, a company registered at London Stock exchange is all out to trouble fishermen in Zuari river. Fishing is birthright of fishermen and Vedanta has no right to disrupt our fishing. Vedanta must know very well that mining in Goa is mere plunder. The best proof is from Central government appointed Justice Shah Commission report.

Let Vedanta not interfere with our fishing activities which we and before us our ancestors have been carrying on since time immemorial even then there was mining barges in operation.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

         Sd/- 

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa State

       Sd/-

Sanjay Pereira

Convener, Cacra unit  

       Sd/-

Rohidas Andrade

Convener, Bambolim unit

       Sd/-

Soccoro Braganza

Convener, Siridao Unit

       Sd/-

Anthony Cardozo

Convener, Curca Unit

       Sd/-

Sitaram Pereira

Convener, Odxel Unit

      Sd/-

Milind Palkar

Convener, Nauxi unit

       Sd/-

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

      Sd/-

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

     Sd/-

Honu Dinkar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

      Sd/-

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxi Unit

        Sd/-

Yeshwant Shirodkar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

        Sd/-

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener, Odxel unit

      Sd/-

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener,

Nauxim Unit

      Sd/-

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

     Sd/-

Dulba Pereira,

Co-convener, Cacra Unit

      Sd/-

Santosh Gauns,

Co-convener,  Cacra Unit 

      Sd/-

Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener, Cacra Unit

      Sd/-

Santosh Kukalkar,

Co-convener, Cacra unit

Late Dayanand Gaonkar's house bulldozed at Colomba

 The State of Goa's Indigenous People, Gawdas can be gauged from the renew assault on from State Administration. The latest incident has come from Colomba, Rivona village in Sanguem Taluka on February 27, 2017. According to the reports flowing in officials from Mamlatdar's office in Sanguem went to Dayanand Gaonkar's house with three Pock-line machine declaring that his house is illegal and decided so by some case which we do not know as yet. Cruel demolition this time is not of any non-Goan by of indigenous people from Goa, the tribal family. 

Dayanand died few years ago while his wife and son survives and witnessed the roof over their shelter being torn down by the State Government machinery.  According to villagers around mining company is behind this demolition as it is trying get control over land for the purpose of mining. This village of Colomba has history of protest against mining and repression from the State administration protecting mining interests of Fomentos since 2007. The house selected for demolition this time was reportedly existed for past several decades in survey no. 49/1 of Colomba in Rivona village of Sanguem Taluka. Gaukar's family widow Kesar and her son are forced to live without house in open under the Jack-fruit tree close by. 

Six years back when Supreme Court ordered portion of Cidade de Goa Five Star hotel near Dona Paula to be demolished Timblo family who also owns Fomento mining company got then Congress Government headed by Digambar Kamat to change laws through ordinance followed by passing in the Legislative Assembly when BJP's Manohar Parrikar was the leader of the opposition. How come house belonged to Gawdas are demolished while 5 star hotel belonging to Bamon is protected through extreme steps? What is operating in Goa is Dictatorship of Bamons and Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly condemns the spirit of racism operating in Goa's administration as well as Political system.

Irrespective of what the legal status of Gaonkar's status it is complete violation of Human right to demolish their house and to leave them to fend for themselves and now one week has completed. This is one more remainder that Goa's Indigenous People are  subjected to oppression. 

The demolition of Gaonkar's house in the manner it was carried on raises question whether Goa's indigenous people are slaves and freedom of Goa as well as freedom of India is a myth than reality. What are the causes that has led to this state of affairs?

Fishermen-mining clash in Zuari, Stones and abuses hurled at Vedanta barges near St. Jacinto island

There has been clashes between fishermen and mining industry in Zuari river. Vedanta has lodged protest against Fisheries department, Goa. Fishermen are sought to criminalised by calling terming them as 'miscreants'. Entire mining operation in Goa is huge scam and able demonstrated by Shah commission.  Mining companies has ruined an d destroyed Goa like no other industry and now Vendanta that is listed at London stock exchange began targeting Goa's fishermen in Zuari. Bharat Mukti Morcha considers mining in Goa as great plunder and calls for halt to mining in Goa. Here we reproduce letter from Vedanta to Fisheries department. 

Fisheries department acting on this complaint from Vedanta issued directions to Fisheries organisations across State of Goa not only in Zuari but also Mandovi. Told to stand, fisheries department crawls!  This is how mining scam continues to perpetuate further more.

Vedanta mining company finds Goa fishermen in Zuari River hindrance

One year later Br. Philip Neri de Souza continues to inspire us!

One year later Br. Philip Neri de Souza is fondly remembered. He was instrumental in getting about awakening among tribal people in Sanguem and Quepem Taluka. Rama Velip is one of the persons who pays tribute to Bro. Philip in the booklet published by the Selesian Province of Panjim. We present here the scanned copy of this memorable booklet. Br. Philip was closely associated with me too specially in the area of mining campaign in India. You may like to check my earlier two write ups on Br. Philip. One is soon after his death. And the second one on his first death anniversary.

Br. Philip continues to inspire us!

Sebastian Rodrigues

First death anniversary of Bro. Philip Neri de Souza

Today is first death anniversary of Bro. Philip Neri de Souza. From 1999 till his death he worked tirelessly amongst various categories of people explaining evil effects of mining in Goa. With Sulcorna as his base, he moved from village to village, contacting people especially tribal people and offered help in various ways. He was instrumental in gathering data about mining in Goa and sharing with others like me. He moved various parts of India to network with people opposed to mining. He once traveled to Ranchi with me. 

He was full of energy and was highly enterprising. He was inspiration to move tribal people from Muscavrem to  visit Pissurlem mines in a special bus. He directly combated Radha Timblo operated mine in Rivona. 

On his first death anniversary lets pay our tribute. The way is to implement what he always told "get students involved. File complaints in writing. Build up pressure in the corrupt system gradually. One day we will succeed". We really need to get students involved as that was his dream. We have not successfully achieved this so far. This is an area we need to work and that will be our best tribute to Br. Philip Neri de Souza. 

Sebastian Rodrigues 

24.06.2016

Pictures from mining protest in Caurem

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) supports current protests against mining in Caurem in Quepem Taluka of Goa. These pictures are of April 09, 2016. We share here the Press Release from Ravindra Velip about the day's protest interspersing in-between pictures with additional comments from BMM.

It was a peaceful protest by Caurem tribals by standing on the roadside, but their slogans written on placards were louder enough to realise that peace does not exist in this remote mining village of Quepem taluka.

They protested peacefully standing on the roadside while mining trucks were illegally transporting the e-auctioned iron ore from Fomento mines.

Finally the protesting villagers burnt the statue of Sanguem MLA Subhash Faldessai.

Women squatting on site with placards of protests

It was a unique scene with police force deployed at the mining lease while villagers were standing on the road, holding placards in their hands.

Most of them were women including children and senior peoples of village

It was a  peaceful protest, to reach out their feelings to the authorities, with a hope they would listen and act against the illegal transportation.

 The message is clear: Stop harassing tribal people. Harassment is from Bamon Avadoot Timblo. Bamons have historically looted tribal people in India. This loot continues and Cavrem is one more example in Goa. Essentially this is an issue as much of race as it is of economics.

 Though she is old at protest her spirit is young and determination to fight is intense.

 We are determined to fight to the victory!

They have demanded the following:-

1. To stop immediately illegal transportation that is taking place.

2. inventory of the iron ore before transporting it, claiming that the quantity of the ore is more than double of what is being measured by the mines department.

3. Immediately register an FIR, Suspend jail authorities of Sada sub-jail and inquire into the matter Ravindra's assault.

4. Suspend PI Pravin Gawas ans PSI Vinayak Patil of Quepem Police station and inquire into the assault of Tribal villagers when they were custody of Quepem police on 06.04.2016

5. Immediately register 'The Sadhana Multipurpose co-op society' and allow to transport the e-auctioned ore through the society. 

       

Because they stopped ore transportation before inventory, the police arrested them thrice while Ravindra was blind-folded and beaten up in a judicial lock-up, fracturing his hand.