It is a well-planned conspiracy to stifle voices of tiatrists: Mariano Fernandes TNN | Aug 13, 2013, 03.34 AM IST
MARGAO: "It's a well-planned conspiracy aimed at stifling the voice of the tiatrists. In my tiatr I have portrayed the ills of the government and its policies and that has not gone down well with a section of politicians. And with the kind of good response the tiatr is receiving from the tiatr lovers, they are afraid that my tiatr will cause damage to their political prospects ahead of the Loksabha elections." This was how Mariano Fernandes, director of the tiatr "Apunn Apleak Dev Somestank" in which Francis de Tuem is alleged to have made some derogatory comments against the Nuvem MLA Francisco "Mickky" Pacheco that led to the singer's arrest, reacted to the police action against the 'kantarist.' Francis de Tuem has been released on bail by the local court. "Else how would you explain the haste in which Francis de Tuem was arrested simply based on a complaint that he made a phone call demanding money? Did the police track his call records before arresting him? Will the cops show such prompt action while dealing with complaints of the common man?" a visibly upset Fernandes demanded to know. This view is shared by another well-known tiatr directior, Rio Menezes, who feels that the way Francis de Tuem was arrested was not appropriate. "They should have followed the normal legal course of action. We are in a democratic country and everybody has a right to express oneself. There are hundreds of media of political satire across the world and tiatr is one among them. And everybody here knows one's limits. In my tiatrs, I ensure that the limits are not breached," Menezes said. Extolling the virtues of the triatrists and the glorious history of the theatre-art form, Fernandes said that the contribution of tiatr in protecting Goa's identity was "immense." "Criticizing the politicians, highlighting the faults in the system of governance, and pointing out the pitfalls in the social arena are the strengths of a good tiatr. Even during the Portuguese regime, tiatrists had displayed commendable courage in hitting out against the oppression and harassment meted out to freedom fighters, despite there being severe restrictions in freedom of expression. Through the medium of tiatr we try to educate the people, particularly the less literate who may not have access to newspapers, about the state of affairs of the government," Fernandes said. Sources in the know, however, pointed out that the controversy surrounding Tuem's arrest was remotely connected with the contents of the tiatr or the song which he sang on the stage. "Mickky, of late, has been critical of tiatrists. And when Tuem, while speaking on the tiatr stage - and not as a part of the tiatr or his role in it - made some satirical comments, Mickky took umbrage at it," a source among the tiatrists fraternity told TOI. Former president of Tiatr Academy of Goa, Tomazinho Cardozo, underscored the need for tiatrists to observe restraint while criticizing others. "One should bear in mind that whatever he says doesn't infringe the right of the others. The right to free speech and expression should be exercised by keeping within the limits. Hitting somebody below the belt, targeting politicians' family members or their personal lives is bad. It brings down the standard of the tiatr," Cardozo told TOI. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/It-is-a-well-planned-conspiracy-to-stifle-voices-of-tiatrists-Mariano-Fernandes/articleshow/21791080.cms * * * If I'm guilty, I'll quit tiatrs, says Francis TNN Aug 11, 2013, 02.20AM IST MARGAO/VERNA: Judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) granted bail to tiatrist and singer Francis de Tuem in connection with a complaint lodged by Nuvem MLA Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco on Saturday. JMFC Margao directed the Verna police on Saturday to release Francis on furnishing a bond of 10,000 as surety and directed him to report to the police station on Sunday for further investigation. The arrest of Francis has been widely condemned by the tiatr fraternity with fellow artistes making their presence felt at the Verna police station to express their solidarity with the tiatrist when he was released. The arrest has sent shockwaves across the tiatr community, as Francis is known for his songs which are rich in political satire. Francis claimed that if the charges levelled against him can be proved, then he would leave tiatr; if not Nuvem MLA Pacheco should quit politics. He further alleged that he was threatened by Pacheco at the police station on Friday night. Pacheco lodged a complaint that Francis de Tuem made derogatory remarks against him and his children while speaking at Mariano Fernandes' 'Apunn Apleak Dev Somestank' tiatr at Ravindra Bhavan on Thursday. Pacheco later lodged a complaint against Francis, accusing the tiatrist of calling him up on Thursday morning and demanding 10 lakh from him, a demand if he failed to pay up, would make him face the consequences. Police have maintained that they arrested Francis on charges of extortion and defamation as the accused made some derogatory and offensive remarks against Pacheco and his personal life in his speech during the tiatr. A police official said, "Francis has confessed to calling Pacheco on Thursday but denied the extortion charges." Francis' phone has been attached by Verna police. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-11/goa/41294216_1_tiatr-police-station-verna-police * * * Mickky scapegoat for CM to silence critics: NCP TNN | Aug 13, 2013, 03.21 AM IST PANAJI: Asserting that there's much more than what meets the eye over the arrest of tiatrist Francis de Tuem, Nationalist Congress Party alleged that the government's intention was to send a message of intimidation to all forums criticizing it. Addressing mediapersons, party's chief spokesman Trajano D'Mello said, "Our party strongly believes that expression of speech should have some limits, but we question the charge of extortion under which the singer was arrested. He could not be arrested for defamation. As per our knowledge, the authority concerned had informed the home minister about the complaint and it is very well known that the singer is a harsh critic of the chief minister." Stating that normally a procedure is followed which takes time, D'Mello said in this case, the singer was picked up from the place where he was about to perform on the same day. It is clear that the CM is trying to silence his opponents and is painting Pacheco as the black sheep. D'Mello said that the act was an assault on democracy or any law abiding citizen of the state. NCP has condemned BJP spokesperson Wilfred Mesquita's statements that the government has no problem with dance bars in Goa. Reacting to the controversy over the new offshore casino, D'Mello said it is to be seen what explanation the CM minister will give over granting permission to the new, bigger vessel in the River Mandovi. tnn http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Mickky-scapegoat-for-CM-to-silence-critics-NCP/articleshow/21790875.cms * * * Francis de Tuem in Mickky's complaint, held TNN Aug 10, 2013, 01.53AM IST MARGAO/VASCO: While a packed hall was watching Roseferns' tiatr 'Que Sera Sera ... Zaumchem Zatelem', at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Friday afternoon, there was high drama taking place outside the gates of the theatre complex. As tiatrist Francis de Tuem was hurriedly walking towards the hall to be in time for his performance in the tiatr, cops in civilian clothes were waiting for him. He was arrested by the Verna police on charges of extortion and defamation, based on a complaint filed by Nuvem MLA Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco. The tiatrist has been booked under IPC Sections 384 (extortion) and 500 (defamation). Ads by Google Verna PI Rajesh Kumar, when contacted, told TOI that Pacheco lodged a complaint that Francis de Tuem made derogatory remarks against him and his children while speaking during Mariano Fernandes' 'Apunn Apleak Dev Somestank' at Ravindra Bhavan on Thursday. Pacheco has also filed a complaint against Fernandes. "Mickky said in his complaint that Francis de Tuem called him up on Thursday morning and demanded 10 lakh from him and that if he failed to pay up he would have to face the consequences. As he made some derogatory and offensive remarks against Mickky and his personal life in his speech during the tiatr, we arrested him on charges of extortion and defamation," said Kumar. Roseferns, speaking to TOI late Friday night, said that Francis de Tuem's arrest was uncalled for, as targeting politicians in songs and tiatrs was every tiatrist's forte. "He is a popular political singer. Why only Mickky, he has sung satirical songs on various politicians, including Churchill Alemao and even chief minister Manohar Parrikar. I fail to understand the police action against him," said Roseferns. Describing how Francis de Tuem was nabbed by the cops, Roseferns said, "When I intervened and demanded to know why he was being arrested, the cops simply told me that a complaint was lodged by Mickky against him. They did not heed my plea that he should be allowed to perform in my tiatr," Roseferns said, adding that he had to effect some "adjustments" into the sequence of songs to offset Francis de Tuem's absence. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-10/goa/41265850_1_mickky-nuvem-mla-francisco-roseferns * * * Parrikar gets the stick from tiatrists Marcus Mergulhao, TNN | Aug 4, 2013, 04.48 AM IST PANAJI: Just like in his tiatr, Mariano Fernandes did not name the offender, but the message was loud and clear. "Freedom of speech and expression is being suppressed by top-level officials who have threatened to shut down my show," Mariano screamed in one advertisement for 'Apunn Apleak Dev Somestank', his latest offering that ran to a packed house. In his tiatr, Mariano is critical of the state government and its policies, and even though the central character is only referred to as Minister-who holds the education portfolio and wears short-sleeved shirts-the target, unless you are oblivious to what is happening around, is clearly chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar gets lambasted all through the tiatr; in most scenes and songs actually. He is called several things, vanshel (bear), Hitler (needs no explanation) and a devil with two large horns, amongst others. But the most cruel blow, as always, is delivered by Francis de Tuem who drags a replica of a two-faced snake on stage, of course with Parrikar's face plastered on it. Lawry Travasso, one of Goa's topmost singers, also tears into Parrikar insisting, "We know just how much you love the Catholics", while Francis de Tuem declares, "One year after becoming chief minister, Goans know who you are." In the same song, Francis de Tuem, who has made a name for himself by cutting politicians to size, makes a significant point. "I was the only one who criticized you (in the past)," he sings, as the crowd listens in rapt attention. The firebrand singer has a point. Last year, most tiatrists were eating out of Parrikar's hand, singing praises and ridiculing the then extremely corrupt government, championed by Digambar Kamat. It's an unspoken truth but Parrikar, to a large extent, rode piggyback on the tiatrists, especially in Catholic-dominated constituencies of South Goa. Now, as Parrikar gets caught in a web of promises and the cry to save Dabolim only gets louder, the honeymoon seems to be over. "Parrikar has forgotten everything. We will show him his place (now)," Junior Nelson sang in Constantino Crasto's hit tiatr 'Amchem Chintop Tumchem Xinkop'. The crowd enjoys the Parrikar bashing and most singers are called back at least twice on stage. If you are Francis de Tuem and lambasting the chief minister, the whistles and applause simply grow louder. he tiatrists-clearly incensed by Mopa, the recent meat ban, the Vasco schoolgirl rape case, casinos, law and order issues-are making bold predictions as well. Junior Nelson, an influential singer from Vasco, vowed to quit singing if the BJP could bag the South Goa Parliamentary seat in next year's elections. Lawry Travasso claimed the Congress were better and Tony de Ribandar felt it would be difficult for Parrikar to complete his five-year term as chief minister. Parrikar is not oblivious to the criticism from tiatrists. Last week, he accepted an invitation to attend the Gulab Awards, amongst others, for tiatrists, and left just before a political singer was to take the stage. Parrikar may well have saved himself the embarrassment but there is still no escaping. Hell hath no fury like a tiatrist scorned! http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Parrikar-gets-the-stick-from-tiatrists/articleshow/21588829.cms