------------------------------------------------------------------------ Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical references, some photographs and documents)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ GULF-GOANS e-NEWSLETTER (since 1994) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indian Expatriates too to the Polling Station.!!! Here in Kuwait, on 11 April 2009 a new form of protest will take place. India will hold general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in 5 phases on April 16, April 22, April 23, April 30, May 7 and May 13, 2009. As 700 million voters in India march to the polling stations to cast their votes, expatriate Indians in Kuwait too cast their votes in a model polling station being arranged at United Indian School, Abbassiya. It is under the auspices of THANIMA (The Human And Nostalgic Interaction of Malayalees Abroad) JANAVIDHITHANIMA 09, a symbolic polling which in turn an opportunity to Indians in Kuwait to take part in elections and to raise their demands including voting rights to expatriate Indian Citizens and representation of Non Resident Indians in Indian Parliament and State legislatures. JANAVIDHITHANIMA has planned as a demonstration also to press for the expatriate demands like involvement in developmental process planning and to seek actions with political willpower in the issues of rehabilitation, reservation and welfare fund for expatriates. The organizers also plead to stop Union and State Governments' attitude of indecision, hesitancy, laziness and sluggishness and over simplification in expatriate problems. The polling will be hold from 4 PM to 8 PM. Any Indian expatriate with Civil ID or Passport can come and cast their vote. There will be four columns in the ballot paper, viz.; UPA, NDA, Third Front and Protest Vote. Counting of votes and announcement of results will be taken place later on. The ballots and mega memorandum will be submitted to Indian President, Prime Minister, Chief Election Commissioner and Embassy of India in Kuwait. Countries like USA and the Philippines have granted voting rights to their overseas citizens. Expatriate citizens of countries, such as, China, Germany and Italy have representation in their nations' parliament- the organizers pointed out in a press note. Pakistan, India's neighbor country also has decided to grant voting rights to overseas Pakistanis in the next election. The population of overseas Indians is 30 million including Non Resident Indians and People of Indian Origin around the globe. There are 3 million and 1.6 million Indians respectively in USA and the UK. NRI population in Gulf Cooperation Council states include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Oman estimated to be around 6,000,000 (2006-2007). They are without citizenship and any privileges as part of it. They send $ 10 Billion every year to the home country. Remittance inflows from overseas Indians, in total, increased to $ 43.5 Billion during 2007-08 as compared to $ 30.8 billion in 2006-07. However, Centre and States governments have given a deaf ear to expatriates' demands. They ever try to betray this section of people and ignore their voice, as they are vote-less. Hence, it is an awakening to press the demands including voting rights and representation in parliament and legislatures, the organizers informed. For more details contact : 99703872 / 66071276 or email: thanimakuw...@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goa-World.Com Team and Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter Moderators and Team Members support THANIMA - Kuwait. For more details, email thanimakuw...@yahoo.com