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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by Mrs. Daisy Faleiro ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:goanet- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gilbert Lawrence > Sent: 24 January 2007 00:11 > To: goanet@lists.goanet.org > Subject: [Goanet] A cheap shot > > Gilbert Lawrence wrote: > > I have always been intrigued by the question that with so many "Goan > Justices" in Goa, why did Goa have arbitrary prison detention of so many > innocent "freedom fighters"? As has been so often propounded on this > bulletin board, many could hardly be called freedom fighters except for > the fact they landed in Fort Aguada. PAULO> Gilbert, before 1961, how could a freedom fighter be innocent? Are you talking about those who were arrested and were not freedom fighters? If yes, then I would say they were victims of an error of justice just like today there are so many innocent people that get arrested and are convicted just because the jury has decided they are guilty even though there are no conclusive evidence against them. > Were "Goan justices" in Goa not activists judges? Were they merely > following the dictates of Salazar - showing primary loyalty to the laws of > Portugal? In that case what makes them "Goan Justices"? Was their entire > thinking, upbringing, philosophy etc etc Portuguese. PAULO> Naturally Portuguese, of course! They all studied in Portugal and started their careers in Portugal and in other provinces before their posting in Goa. A Judge is someone who makes sure the law is followed. They pledged their lives to serve their country and the law of that country. I cannot understand your question. Would you want the judges to be freedom fighters? That does not make sense. To be a freedom fighter in those days was the same as to be a terrorist today. Hence, asking Goan Justices to be freedom fighters (ie terrorists) would be the same as asking a doctor to ill-treat patients. I am sure it is not difficult for you to understand this. As a doctor you would not violate your main oaths, would you? So, why did you expect the Goan Justices to do so? > Did they have to be > more Portuguese than the Portuguese to prove their loyalty? PAULO> Why do you think they were more Portuguese than the Portuguese? I do not think so. In fact, I know that in most cases they were much less strict than what a white Portuguese judge would do. With exception of Dr. Jose Militao Quadros (who was indeed recorded in history as a very strict Judge maybe because he was also Attorney-General of Portuguese India), the others would often give the minimum sentences. > Could the Goan bureaucracy led by its the "Goan Chief Justice" and other > high ranking Goan civil servants brought any sense to Salazar to follow > the Pondicherry Model .... without any invasion. PAULO> I think you miss the point. Goan Justices would not do that because that would go against their main oaths of their profession. > Here is a description of the Pondicherry Model from Wikipedia. > > Governor's interference: > A momentous event in the freedom movement of Pondichéry occurred on 18 > March 1954, when the members of the executive council and mayor of > Pondichéry and seven adjoining communes proclaimed their decision to merge > with Indian Union without a referendum. All the communes in Karikal also > followed suit. This decision was to be confirmed by the Representative > Assembly and when the French India Socialist Party was preparing to move > the merger resolution, the French Governor scuttled it by postponing the > session. Provoked by this, the Socialists planned to capture the outlying > communes one by one and move to Pondichéry. Accordingly, the leaders of > the French India Socialist Party hoisted the Indian National Flag atop the > Nettapakkam police station on the last day of March in 1954. > PAULO> Gilbert, I cannot see from the above any Judges involved in the freedom movement of Pondichery. So, what really are you trying to point out? Best, Paulo.