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* * * 2007 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * *
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WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 27, 2007 @ 4:30pm
More info:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-December/066098.html
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Two mining officials and eight workers of the Margao based Raissa mining
services were held hostages by the Colamb villagers when they went there to
inspects land to start mining mining activity on December 11 2007. Mining
company officials disclosed that they were sent to the village by Member of the
Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Goa Joaquim Alemao and presented MLA's visiting
card as Managing Director of the Raissa Mining Services.
The episode began at 10.30 am when gathered villagers surrounded mining company
officials along with official from Colamb Communidade whom villagers suspect
has been in collusion with the mining company to grant land for mining purspose
at Borgalli Dongor, Colamb. Communidade official Venkatesh Pradhudessai managed
to fled from the scene while company officials were caught by the group of
around 40 villagers most of whom were women.
Villagers fear that villagers life is going to become riskier if open cast
mining comes up. Colamb village faces threat of getting wiped off from Map of
Goa with mining land under mining leases covering 1510 hectares of total
village land of 1929 hectares. Besides Joaquim Alemao, Fomentos are operating
the mines in the village but also facing tremendous pressure from the village
to close down due to severe damage to their agriculture.
The villagers, mostly adivasis took the written undertakings form the mining
officials G. Pravavananda and Jayaram that they will not visit again the
village on behalf of Raissa mining Services " We today came to visit the mine.
Once again we will not come to the same mine. We self and company members will
not visit again Borgalli Dongor proposed mine and mine related activities." The
workers who were detained by the villagers included Ashok G. palkar, Ramdas G.
Gaonkar, Vijay, Madhu, Nilesh Naik, Prem Singh, Umesh Gaonkar and Kamjakar
Gaonkar. Most of them are from nearby Sivsorem village where in Joaquim Alemao
operates his open cast iron ore mine causing irreparable damage to environment
and acute water shortages and dust pollution to the nearby villagers.
Goa government however is letting theses corporates to rip through the very
essence of Goa, its mountains in Sanguem and takula by keeping itself busy in
the annual filmy shows of international standards; it is now left upto the
common people to take assertion of their rights at a new level. Large protest
rally on December 10 2007 organised by Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar
Federation (GAKUVED) in Quepem town is only the beginning of this assertion.
Company officials and the workers were released at 1.00 pm only after police
from Quepem Police Station came to Colamb and asked the villagers to target
Colamb Communidade who is acting in collusion with the mining company.
Sebastian Rodrigues
www.mandgoa.blogspot.com
MAND
An adivasi-rights resource centre,
An initiative of Gawda, Kunbi, Velip, and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED)
"Hari Smriti"
381, Dhulapi, Corlim, Ilhas,
Goa. Pincode: 403 110
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Spread the Christmas Cheer, even when you're not here!
Send classic greetings to your loved ones in Goa.
EXPRESSIONS - 2007 Christmas Hamper
Visit http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/xmas/
Or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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