Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony (CICH) convened a meeting in Panjim city, today to collectively take a stand on the police assault on the Girls' school in Vasco city, and locate it within the larger context of police excesses in the State. The meeting concluded with a demand for the immediate suspension of the errant officers pending inquiry, petitions to appropriate State and National bodies, and a public meeting in the immediate future.
The meeting which was called at short notice was attended by around 100 people, representing a cross section of various children's rights groups, women's rights groups, educationists, tribal rights groups, lawyers, trade unions, groups working with migrant labour, village action groups, Council for Social Justice and Peace, and representatives of various religious groups. The meeting began with a narration by the victims of the actual police action of the invasion of their privacy, the intimidation and disregard for their dignity, and their being branded as terrorists. Subsequently the floor was thrown open for public debate and comment. At the very outset Jason Keith Fernandes pointed out that this episode could be looked at from four distinct but yet interconnected perspectives. First, as part of the attacks on Muslims, both in Goa and across India. The second, as a violation of the rights of women. Third, an assault on children's rights and fourth as part of the police excesses and terror by the state. Ranjan Solomon, of Interfaith Dialogue for Life, added that nevertheless there needs to be a recognition of the saffronisation of the police forces and focus on justice for minorities. In this vein Asif Hussain a businessman from Vasco, pointed out that a study of trends in Goa, indicates that it has consistently been minorities, and weaker sections of society that have no voice that have been at the receiving end of State terror. In this context, reference was made to the recent rounding up of migrant labour in Chimbel and Sancoale on the flimsy pretexts of their not possessing 'Stranger cards'. Prof. Anita Haladi expressed a common sentiment when she regretted that stronger exception had not been raised to the violations of the rights of these labourers at the time it transpired. Nishta Desai of Children's Rights in Goa, pointed out that if there is a system of requiring students to register with the police, then surely this should apply to all institutions in Goa, including those like the Hotel Management and other professional institutions, the bulk of whose students come from outside the State and have no local referents. Also, the case was made, that such process should apply to all, across class locations, not just for the poor. For example, the antecedents of owners of property hailing from outside of Goa, are not held up to scrutiny, which amounts to discrimination under law. Sabina Martins, active in the campaign against casinos, in this context pointed out that similarly antecedents of those visiting the casinos in the River Mandovi are not checked. Abdul Aziz Mulla, principal of Anjuman Islam High School Panjim, pointed out that police have to necessarily take permission of the principal of the institution prior to entry. This fundamental requirement was disregarded in the instant case. This disregard holds negative portent not only for the instant case and the rights of Muslim citizens, but for the general public in future as well. Reflecting on the larger context, Geraldine Fernandes, Convener of the Ghor Ganv Rakhon Manch, pointed out that such violations have become a common feature for village activists in various parts of Goa since at least the last 10 months. Citizens are hauled out of their homes at night without arrest warrants, false criminal cases are slapped against them. She continued by indicating that there is absolutely no response from the state functionaries, like the Chief Minister, Home Minister and others to whom representations are made. On the contrary, decisions and outcomes are deferred casually stating that they are looking into the matter. In this context reference was made to the meeting of prominent citizens with the senior government representatives protesting the PI Santosh Dessai's intimidation of the villagers of Colamb, Quepem. Auda Viegas, of Bailancho Ekvott, expressed her solidarity with the Muslim girls, and condemning the actions of the police in violating the person and privacy of the minor Muslim girls. Sabina Martins, of Bailancho Saad, stated that there was a need to define terror. Measures taken by the state to deal with terror, need to be questioned to ensure that they are democratic, non-discriminatory and that they uphold human rights. From her hearing of the incident, she felt that the attempt of the police was motivated not by the need to obtain photographs but primarily to intimidate. Fr. Maverick Fernandes of CSJP also condemned the acts of the police and proposed various measures while expressing solidarity with the community. Adv. Thalmann Pereira of CITU, drew attention of the gathering to a chronology of events, when in 1947 and in 1977 the people of India together rejected colonial rule, and the clamp down on democracy represented by the Emergency. On the other hand, in recent times we have had 6th December 1992 and 26th November 2008, when anti-national and sectarian forces have sought to divide the people of India, and in the aftermath of the violence in Bombay, have misinterpreted the events to have a strong State which is anti-people. In this context it was pointed out that the violence in Bombay should not be signified as 26/11, since this drew parallels with the American 9/11 and justified the kind of anti-people laws like the Patriot Act, and stressed that the struggles against communalism and terrorism are indivisible and there is a need to counterpose the idea of strong people, with the response of a strong people. Ramesh Gauns remarked that the State has been continuously unleashing the police force on the people in Goa and is in fact a lawless state operating in a sophisticated manner. He narrated other episodes from Quepem yesterday, where a lawyer-activist has been falsely accused by government machinery of attempt to murder. He pointed out that the instant case in Vasco was part of a larger strategy to brand Goa as a terror target and thereby quell the rightful protests and struggles of citizens in Goa, ranging from anti-mega housing struggles, anti-mining efforts, and demands for equitable treatment for scripts. Toward the end of the meeting, a plan for action was drawn up . The group unanimously decided that that DySP Deu Banaulikar and PI Harish Madkaikar should be suspended pending inquiry with immediate effect. It was decided to petition the Chief Minister, Home Minister, Chief Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Minorities, State Police Complaints Authority, Goa State Commission for Women, State Commission for Protection of Children's Rights and the Children's Court. This petition would include an ultimatum for action. In addition, it was decided that it was time for the people to come together on a public platform from their various causes to protest the growth of police violence and assert the power of a strong people. This meeting also expressed shock at the manner in which the anti-terror Bill was passed through the Lok Sabha without any debate. Ramesh Gauns Albertina Almeida Convenors -- (M) 9326137682 "Every flower must grow through dirt." -- Anonymous
