Dears, Where are the foreign tourists most at risk in a terrorist attack: a jam-packed Starred hotel ballroom /discotheque with limited exits and narrow corridors or Goa's churches at midnight or open air "beach shacks"?
If your answer to that question is a "beach shack", one of us must be crazy ...or a hotel owner/manager, a police officer or a bureaucrat who has psyched our CM in doing the unthinkable: banning the beach parties at the height of the tourist season. "Economic terrorists" who frequent the seats of power dare not frighten the Roman Cathoic Church in Goa. Protagonists of Konkani in Roman script or catholics in Kandhmal district of Orissa are a different cup of tea. They can be intimidated into silence. Goa's Churchill is no Winston Churchill, either. Rs. 15 lakhs ...and a promise of more ... can silence the demand for control of the linguistic body with far reaching implications and a budget Rs.2.00 crore per annum, it seems. The mess will go on. The Midnight mass will also go on. Terrorists will attack the Hedonists, SFX will protect all Niz Goykar catholics and Damu-bab will protect the Hindus. the Muslim girls in the Madrasas will have to fend for themselves as they have no known local patron, save Datta Naik who went to jail to protect the rights of the minorities in Baina one mid-summer afternoon in 2004. Thereafter, the animal that the BJP was riding piggy-back walked off from under its butt. The party has not recovered since. I hope it can enjoy a "Khuxalbhorit Natal". I really enjoyed the audio CD its Cultural Cell distributed and recommend it to those who like meaningful Christmas carols and other songs in Konkani and English. After Madras city became Chennai and Madras state became Tamil Nadu, the term Madrasa seems a bit anachronistic. May be they should use a seminal name like a seminary [NOT 'semi nari', as it is often mispronounced.] As far as SECURITY CHECKING goes, sample this: 1. Carrying of liquids and aerosols as hand baggage is banned in airplanes ...but one can put it in the checked in baggage. 2. The CISF questioned me at Dabolim and Mumbai airports about the hermetically sealed packets of Costa's branded "Dodol" I carried for my friends on a recent trip to Bhubhaneshwar. I had to leave the bottle of sealed mineral water at the "security check" because liquids are not allowed in the hand baggage. No not even water! When I reached Bhubaneshwar and was looking for my used can of liquid shoe polish in my checked in baggage, I discovered that I had put it in my hand baggage ...and it had passed all security checks, including four checks at the Chatrapati Shivaji international airport in Mumbai alone!! 3. At the Mumbai airport on my return trip to Goa, I happened to meet the unforgetable Linda D'Souza of the wonderful little restaurant in Fontainhas appropriately called "Viva Panjim". As any genteel lady does, she carried some creams and lotions in the only baggage she had: "Hand or cabin baggage". NO, she could not take it with her the X-ray machine operator told her. If he allowed her, she would be stopped at the "Security Check" anyway and the items would be confiscated or she would not be allowed to travel. In addition he would be questioned for allowing it. Fortunately, I had place in my checked in suitcase and the creams/lotions could go in there. When we reached Dabolim, Linda discovered that one large bottle of oil had remained in her hand baggage after all that fuss!! All this happened in just one week...Monday to Thursday ...at Mumbai International Airport. Did someone say there was a heightened alert in Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attack at the Taj and Trident .... in Mumbai???? This cancellation of "beach parties" is an economic strategy, nothing else. It is to ensure that there is no "leakage" of clientele from the 5-star hotel to the beach shacks. You can get permissions for a dance at the "Spice Farms" in the hinterland as they are not in competition with the Beach Resorts. The target of the terrorists are the beach shacks. The terrorists are not armed with AK-47s and grenades. They are armed with slush funds, complimentary stay/dance coupons and ....Goa Government orders! Capt. Anand Sharma must be some nut to say that the tourists have nothing to fear. They must fear the Congress, the party to which he belongs. Congress men and women will do almost anything for money or favours. The history of modern India is replete with examples to need repetition. It is not as if the judiciary is above all this. The central Cabinet has approved the setting up a National Judicial Council to probe complaints against judges of higher judiciary. [See report below]. About Goa Police, the less said the better. See what happened to Police Inspector Nelson Albuquerque .....suspended for inefficiency in Pernem, then reinstated and posted in charge of immigration. The tourists do not complain about inefficiency in "hafta" collection. It is only the "higher ups" who have a problem in the inefficiency of the supply chain intermediaries. Ani anink "proof" zai?? Mog asundi Miguel Ban on beach parties to affect shacks the most 21 Dec 2008, 0027 hrs IST, Raju Nayak, TNN PANAJI: Sebastian D'Cruz, a shack owner from Candolim said, "We have already placed orders (for food and entertainment) and paid deposits which will not be returned." He insisted that the government should compensate the shack owners for their "heavy losses". "Shacks are an integral part of the tourism scene in the state and protecting them is the duty of the government," he asserted. Cruz Cardoz, president, Shack Owners Association, said, "The shack business is already down 70% and there is a very low chance that the business will pick up." Cardoz, whose shack is close to a starred hotel in south Goa added, "Guests at starred hotels often prefer the food and music at shacks to the elaborate spreads at the hotel, on new year's eve. This is going to be a very sorry picture indeed this year." Serafino Cota, president, Federation of Small and Medium Hotels, was also empathetic to the plight of the shack owners. "They thrive on year-end business and they are already adhering to the various norms put down by the tourism department. This ban will put them in a very hard situation." Citizens will have to bear with mandatory vehicle checking: CM 21 Dec 2008, 0027 hrs IST, TNN PANAJI: Chief minister Digambar Kamat sought the people's cooperation on the ban on beach dos from December 23 to January 5, saying citizens will have to bear with the mandatory checking of vehicles, nakabandis and road blocks. The peak business period of shacks lasts about three months but their highest revenue is generated on December 31. A prominent shack owner in North Goa was aghast at the government decision. He said not a single tourist stays indoors in hotels during the season, especially on December 31. Most tourists come to the shacks to party. "What we earn in a month, we earn on the single night of December 31. This is a ploy by the government to give business to hotels instead of shacks," he said. Compensate for ban, say angry shack owners 22 Dec 2008, 0417 hrs IST, TNN PANAJI: Unwilling to take the ban on beach parties lying down and feeling cheated by the state government's decision to ban open beach parties,shack owners have decided to submit a memorandum to the government demanding compensation. Cruz Cardozo, president of the Goa Shack Owners Welfare Society, said that the government should either compensate shack owners for their losses or forfeit the license fee of Rs 30,000. "Why only the coast, terrorists could strike at will anywhere if they wanted. We feel this is injustice and beach parties can still be held with tight security," said Cardozo. 60% occupancy at Taj Hotel 22 Dec 2008, 0005 hrs IST, Reeba Zachairah, TNN MUMBAI: The Taj Tower seems to have bounced back by recording an over 60% room occupancy on day one. While the Trident had 18% room occupancy, like the Taj, it had several guests checking in to show their support or staying there due to an emotional attachment. Both the five-star hotels rolled out the red carpet on Sunday after 24 days of them being attacked by terrorists. Christmas midnight mass on schedule 22 Dec 2008, 0406 hrs IST, TNN PANAJI: Even in the coastal belt of Goa, where beach parties have been banned, Christmas midnight masses will go on as usual. Fr Carmo Martins, parish priest of Calangute church says that the traditional Christmas and New Year midnight masses will be held as usual outdoors. "I went to inform the Calangute police and they asked to furnish them the full Christmas week programme with the timings, so that they can assist us," said Martins. He also said that all other cultural programmes during the week would be held outdoors in the evenings. There is also no change in Colva, where the church is less than a kilometre away from the beach and where the mass will be held outdoors too. "We will have a preparatory vigil at 10.30 pm followed by mass at 11.00 pm. We have it early because there is a lot of traffic later that disturbs the service," says Fr Diogo Fernandes, the parish priest. He also said he would be meeting with the Colva police on Monday to discuss security arrangements. Catholic forum protests atrocities 22 Dec 2008, 0308 hrs IST, TNN MUMBAI: Activists of the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), a Mumbai-based community NGO, undertook a day's fast at Azad Maidan to mark the first anniversary of the violence against Christians in Orissa.They were protesting against the Orissa government's inaction and called for protection in the wake of pre-Christmas attacks on the community. Yet another cathechist (pastor/priest) was murdered this week and the CSF received reports of pre-Christmas violence from Orissa and some other states. toirepor...@timesgroup.com Grief-stricken Taj GM back at work 22 Dec 2008, 0231 hrs IST, AGENCIES MUMBAI: Taj general manager Karambir Kang, 41, whose wife and two sons were killed in the November attack, returned to work on Sunday. "Karambir Kang is back to work today,'' an Indian Hotels Spokesperson said on Sunday. Kang's wife Nitti, 38, and two sons, Samar, 14, and Uday, 5, who were put up at the sixth floor of the heritage wing of the Taj, were killed in the 26/11 attack. Cabinet nod to new panel for probing judges 9 Oct 2008, 1037 hrs IST, TNN NEW DELHI: At its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet decided to introduce the Judges (Inquiry) Amendment Bill, 2008 in Parliament. It also decided to withdraw the Judges (Inquiry) Bill, 2006 introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2006, finance "The provisions of the new bill will bring transparency in the functioning of the judiciary and will also enhance its prestige," Chidambaram said. "The panel will decide on the penalties on erring judges and judges alone will be members of the council," he added. State to acquire 300 AK 56 rifles NT 12 December, 2008 MARGAO The Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik on Thursday said that the state will purchase 300 AK 56 rifles at the cost of Rs 34 crore to boost security in the state. He said that the state is also in the process of preparing two company forces in view of the terror threat to the state and added the state is ready to meet any eventuality. Mr Naik who was in South Goa to review the security arrangement following the terror attack in Mumbai held a meeting with over 154 police officials which included the head constables of beat groups from 8 divisions, 15 ASI, 27 PIs, 3 DySPs and the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, Mr Allan D'Sa. Mr Naik said that the country faces the danger of terror attacks and we need to remain alert. He said that the coast guard, police and the Navy are alert and are ready to handle any situation. He also said that directions have been issued to the beat groups to check every household and verify the details pertaining to family members. He also said that he has sought a detailed report on crimes. With regard to the cases of desecration of religious places in the state, he said security would be provided to temples, churches and mosques. The Home Minister also added that a periodical check-up would be undertaken for police officials above the age of 40 years and asked the police to act tough on gambling, drugs smuggling and anti-social elements. Sending a strong message across, Mr Naik said that the law is equal for all and that no political interference will be tolerated. He also warned the police of patronising the political godfathers and said that they should be ready for transfers at any time. He also said that he will hold a similar meeting in Panaji on Friday and will have a similar review from time to time. The meeting was attended by top police officers. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 miguelbraga...@yahoo.co.in -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 miguelbraga...@yahoo.co.in -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
