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Monday, February 8, 2010
Uncivilized Practices of the Civil Society
By Gladson Dungdung first published in Jharkand Mirror. It provides a
very crucial insight into the view of society towards adivasis in
India.
The term ‘Civil Society’ is mostly used for voluntary organizations,
non-governmental organizations and non-profit institutions. These are
also called as civil society organizations. Interestingly, most of
these organizations are always busy in criticizing the state (which is
of course not wrong as the state is a failure), but they themselves
behave like the state when it comes to the issues of Adivasis, Dalits
and Women of D-section (deprived sections), even though they have also
failed in delivering justice to marginalized peoples. Most of these
organizations are led by elites even after 62 years of Indian
independence. They enjoy corporate rate salaries, luxurious
accommodations and air travel in the name of Adivasis, Dalits and
women of D-section. The misappropriation of funds in the name of
marginalized groups remains uncounted, despite that they are masters
in lecturing on the issues of responsibility, transparency and
accountability.
There are very interesting kinds of so-called civil society
organizations – 1) based in the small cities or villages and getting
less funds, 2) headquartered in Delhi and other big cities and bagging
huge funds, and 3) NGO federations called people’s organizations.
Perhaps, the secretary, director and chief functionaries of these
organizations are never replaced against their will, though they talk
much about democracy. These civil society organizations also bring the
mass organizations, social movements and displacement movements into
their clutches and cash these in dollars, euros and pounds. Don’t be
surprised if some organizations based in Delhi show you a beautiful
power point presentation about the Adivasi movements against
displacement in Jharkhand, Orissa or Chhatishgarh.
There are also the holy cows called ‘funding agencies’ (national and
international), who love to be called civil society organizations,
whose prime job is to collect the money, enjoy most of it and give the
rest to other organizations. Ironically, these organizations fund
those NGOs headed by non-Adivasis for the revival of Adivasi
tradition, culture and ethos, but at the same time they avoid joining
hands with Adivasi-headed organizations for the same purposes. The sad
part is, the Adivasis are still unqualified for the funding
organizations; therefore, a few Adivasis can be seen in the lowest
strata of these organizations, despite their professional qualities,
commitment and dedication. There are also some organizations who
advocate for the Adivasi Chief Minister for the state of Jharkhand,
but when it comes to the matter of their organizations, they cannot
bear to see an Adivasi in the driving seat. They also advocate for
promotion and protection of Adivasi languages, but their doors are
always closed for the non-English speaking, marginalized people.
These organizations tirelessly use the connotation ‘empowering the
marginalized’, ‘voice to the voiceless’ and ‘women empowerment,’ but
when it comes to the question of leadership, they just escape in one
way or the other. Why did the civil society organizations fail in
bringing up the Adivasi leadership was the most important question
repeatedly asked in the National Consultation on Adivasis of India
organized by the National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) in Delhi
on December 15-16, 2009. A noted Gandhian and founder of the Ekta
Parishad, P.V. Rajgopal, accepts in denial mode that the civil society
organizations have failed in bringing up the Adivasi leadership but he
also advocates for a united fight by saying, “The issue like
displacement is not just limited to the Adivasis but it is also
hitting the farmers, vendors and fishermen.” But does it mean that the
question of Adivasis get less priority?
Ironically, the non-Adivasi leaders of the civil society organizations
not only respond diplomatically but also justify their leadership of
the Adivasis. While responding to the questions of Adivasis
leadership, a prominent social activist from Jharkhand, Sanjay Bosu
Mullick, says, “Since the Adivasis do not know about the exploitative
system and structure of our (non-adivasis) society, therefore we are
fighting with our people on behalf of them.” One can only appreciate
this diplomatic response and thank the God who has given wits, wisdom
and knowledge only to the non-Adivasis for not only understanding
their society but also the Adivasis, and shame on those Adivasis (like
me) who do not even possess the wisdom to understand their own
society.
The reality is that the Adivasis are racially discriminated, exploited
economically and denied their rights in the civil society
organizations. Similarly, the Dalits are treated like untouchables,
uneducated and inhuman, and the women of D-section are not only
exploited socially, economically and mentally but they are also
exploited sexually by the Big-bosses of the civil society
organizations. The irony is, our participation is for them is to
listen to our sorrows patiently through their tongues in a conference
hall, give our consent to their words and always make sure that they
are our messiahs. How would you explain it when your wisdom,
commitment, dedication, capacity and efficiency do not matter for them
but your race, caste, class, colour and relationship possesses
multiple values for them instead?
When the Adivasis enter into these organizations, especially in the
funding ones, their years of work experience are counted as one or two
years (so that they can be kept in the lowest strata), they are
compared with their counterpart (always a non-adivasi is used as a
parameter for them) for further promotion and their ten achievements
are not enough to beat the couple of achievements of a non-Adivasi.
When one raises these issues in the organizations, they would
manipulate, manufacture consent with their colleagues and dilute the
whole debate to ensure that the Adivasis lose the game. Finally, if
the Adivasis leave these organizations, they would frame them as
opportunists, non-committed to the Adivasi cause and counted as one
more enemy of the Adivasis.
One can question that why are the marginalized people of these
organizations keeping quiet in these circumstances? The instant answer
is, a wage labourer bears all kinds of discrimination, exploitation
and torture only because he/she knows that the day a question is
raised, he/she would be thrown out of the job. Similar theory is
applied to the marginalized people, who are ensuring their daily bread
from these civil society organizations. How can one dare to question
the big-boss, when he/she is just struggling for survival? Can you
imagine how the marginalized people are being exploited, denied and
discriminated against in those organizations, who tirelessly talk
about participation, empowerment, rights, equality and justice?
The fact of the matter is the perception, attitude and behaviour of
the elite heads of civil society organizations towards Adivasis,
Dalits and women of D-section are no different from the common people
of the so-called civilized society. They talk much about
participation, empowerment, rights, equality and justice merely to
ensure themselves a luxurious life, bag awards and become a role model
in the name of Adivasis, Dalits and Women of D-section; therefore,
they also play the game of words just like the politicians do. Can
anyone remind me about how many Adivasis, Dalits and women of D-
section were awarded (megasese) for their extraordinary work and
became a role model for all Indians?
Interestingly, the vision of these organizations is more or less the
same – formation of an equitable and just society, but the pertinent
question is how the utopian vision can be achieved through
discriminatory, inequitable and unjust practices? In fact, the elite
heads of the civil society organizations should stop their uncivilized
practices, which they are carrying out for decades. It is the right
time to let the marginalized people play their own game, become
umpires and take over as the match referee. And the elites should only
become the fourth umpires rather than playing match for the
marginalized people. Then only their talks about the empowerment,
equality and justice can be fulfilled.
Before civil society organizations organize the next consultation,
convention or conference on Adivasi, Dalit or Women’s Rights, all
marginalized people should stand up and say strongly that enough is
enough, let the Adivasis, Dalits and women of D-section speak for
themselves. The time has come to tell them (non-Adivasis heads) that
we are grateful to you for advocating on behalf of us for the last six
decades, but no more manipulation please. We are tired of hearing
about our grievances through your holy tongues; therefore, we want the
world to listen to our grievances through our mouths. We want to speak
for ourselves and we are capable enough to save our culture. But the
question that may remain unanswered is, will you, the Messiahs of the
Adivasis, Dalits and women listen us?
Gladson Dungdung is a Human Rights Activist and Writer from the
Adivasi (Indigenous) Community of Jharkhand. He can be reached at
***@gmail.com
Posted by MAND at 2/08/2010 12:32:00 PM 0 comments Links to this
post
Labels: Adivasi, Civil Society
http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/search/label/Adivasi
Goa, Goa, Gone
Mining is Goa’s second-largest industry after tourism. 8% of this
state’s land is already under mining, mostly for iron ore. Now, mining
activity is intensifying across the state. So is the opposition of
citizens to this unregulated industry. This Infochange documentary
explores the impact of mining on Goa’s environment – one of the
world’s 12 biodiversity hotspots -- and livelihoods
Watch Video
Directed by: Kurush Canteenwala
Duration: 22 mins
http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Mining promotes Poverty in Goa
By Sebastian Rodrigues
Approaching the theme
Natural economies were very common as the penetration of capital was
limited. This is in spite of Goa being Portuguese colony till 1961.
Geological survey began in Goa in early 20th century and first mining
lease was granted in 1929 by the Colonial Portuguese regime. The
actual mining activities began in 1940s and the first consignment of
iron ore exported to Japan in 1948 to begin the economic recovery of
that war-torn country. It was entirely manual mining then till the
decade of 1970s when the mining sector in Goa began to be mechanized.
With manual mining it was not possible to dig deep into ground for
iron ore, manganese and bauxite and disrupt ground water flow.
Mechanized mining made this possible in effectively in 1980s. Mining
has never been nationalized in Goa and it remained entirely a private
sector even in the rest of the country mining sector was nationalized.
Natural economies prior to entry of mining refer to direct dependence
of people for livelihood on nature. The contacts were more direct
without any kind of mediation. Their labour was the only mediation. It
is labour that was required for the cultivation of paddy and harvest
bumper crops. It was labour that was required in order to get their
daily quota of fish. It was labour that was required in order to
cultivate various types of vegetable in the and available with
abundant supply water from natural sources. It was labour that was
required for the people in mining belt to carry on their slash and
burn agriculture –shifting agriculture - on top of hills. It was
labour that was needed in order to collect various kinds of ripe
fruits on the variety of trees in the forest. It was labour that was
required in order to go in search of edible roots for their staple
food. It was labour that was invested into going into the forest and
collecting various forest products and then to transform them into
various products for daily use such as brooms, mats, medicines etc.
The large number of people in Goa’s mining belt are tribals for whom
the barter economy – including exchange of labour for labour was a
most respected norm in the functioning of their life and economy that
was harmoniously integrated with ecology.
Feudal economies that emerged in Goa during Portuguese colonial regime
chiefly due to the focus on written record keeping procedures adopted
by the colonial state. The people – tribal as well as others for whom
written record keeping by the State was alien concept did not
understand the state insistence of piece of paper a indication of land
ownership. A class of people that helped to sustain the colonial power
of Portuguese in Goa were able to understand this and colonial power
bestowed the legal ownerships of land titles on these category of
people. These people were tiny minority in collusion with Portuguese
colonial State at best can be described as the class of people that
practiced usury. These class of people came to be known as Landlords
in feudal sense.
The mass of people in mining had community sense of land ownerships.
Their land control was bestowed in communities. These community land
ownership patterns were disrupted by the colonial State and never
repaired by post-colonial state in Goa. Few remaining community land
ownership institutions were taken over on landlord class and they were
given new name called communidades. The people who traditionally
enjoyed rights over these lands were excluded from the land titles.
This effectively paved way for the legal establishment of control over
community lands that later on would be parceled out for mining
companies. Section of community land belonged to the community
temples. These temples too were brought under legal control of the
upper caste landlord class through Mazania law in Post liberation Goa.
These set of State driven class controlled legal architecture put firm
foundation for the effective legal uprooting of the people from their
lands even though in large parts of Goa they continued to enjoy actual
possession of the land.
Mining leases granted during the Portuguese colonial regimes fits into
this complex legal context of alienating people from their lands.
Mining leases numbering around 791 and covering over 67,700 hectares
of land in 10 out of total 11 talukas of Goa. Indian government did
not embark upon any radical overturn of the Colonial architecture
prevalent in the State of Goa. In fact it re-enforced it through
various laws in post Liberation Goa; one of the chief ways being, it
legally legitimized the mining leases.
Process of impoverishment thus has been triggered off with the above
legal manipulations. Legally thus the entire people of Goa except the
landlord class remained under constant uncertainty, not knowing as to
when the actual disenfranchisement of actual possession would take
place. Legal the law is now against the people in mining belt. Mining
leases enjoyed supra power and legitimacy especially from the State
agencies such as the Police, Executive, governments and Judiciary.
Legal alienation cleared the path for greater and horror field
alienation – ecological alienation. Goa State from its very inception
in 1961 remained under firm control of the mining companies. Its first
two chief ministers were mine owners themselves for two decades.
When the mining begins
Mining is one type of activity wherein the end of entire
decentralization in governance becomes imperative. The nature of
mining is militaristic. It does not tolerate any dissent. It needs all
pervasive power over land, minerals under the land, and power of
public opinion. It needs to find its ways to aggressively extract the
minerals and ship it out towards Japan, China, Europe, US and other
countries too. Social engineering is embarked upon in very powerful
manner through iron control over the State, media, intellectuals and
public organizations. Dissent is put down with powerful impetus. The
benefit it derives from these de-humanizing tendencies are that it is
able to service the demands in the Global Political Economy for
minerals. Locally it is able to create handful of economic elites and
strengthen them further through economies of scale. This is a most
certain way towards creating inequality and repressive disharmony
leading towards poverty of mass of the people at the source
destination of the mineral extraction. In fact this has been the exact
way as to how things have unfolded in Goa.
Protests against the starting of mining have been put down with Police
force. Sometimes it has been done through lure of money and alcohol.
The farmers are lured into the benefits of accepting compensation for
the loss of their land. If they do not agree then they are implicated
in some false criminal cases are forced on to compromise table.
Whichever is the way of ‘sorting’ out the protestors the outcome is
common the person, families, and communities are violently forced to
cut their links with soil and land.
They cease to be cultivators. Poverty downs on to their lives and
consequences are unpredictable. There are number of villages wherein
this has been the reality in Goa. Pissurlem village in North Goa’s
Sattari taluka is a classic village to study the mining aggression and
poverty of people. This village has been most flourishing village in
agriculture. It was blessed with abundant greenery, forest cover,
natural water springs, paddy fields and of course the hard working
people. The village has been topmost producers of paddy in the entire
taluka of Sattari. All this changed dramatically. Not only coming of
miming has forced the people of mining to stop paddy cultivation, it
has also displaced the village twice and third displacement in
Dhatwada region is on cards. There are nearly seven mines functioning
in the area of various mining companies such as Sesa Goa – owned by
British Corporate Vedanta, Fomentos, Salgaocar, Chowgules etc. The
mountains have been razed down totally. These were once dense western
ghats forest areas. The silt from the mining areas has washed away
into the paddy fields and rendered the redundant. Protests of
villagers to remove the mining silt have been put off totally both by
the mining companies as well by the State. The natural springs that
were supplying water to the paddy fields have dried up as the mining
pits have gone deep underground and ground water remained terribly
disrupted. This has deprived the villagers of steady supply of food
for their living. It has also deprived them of steady supply of water
to take bath, cooking and drinking. The village is entirely dependent
upon the mining companies to meet their daily needs for water. Mining
companies has commissioned tankers to supply daily water into the
plastic water tanks placed outside the houses of the people. There is
direct deprivation of cultivation of paddy thereby creating situation
of food security. There is also creation of dependence on mining
companies for water. So far only air in the village is not supplied by
mining companies. But here too, lager number of lung diseases reported
at the local government health centre at Valpoi such as Tuberculosis
are from Pissurlem. The co-relation is not difficult to arrive at.
Polluted air with dust particles from mining activity including
transportation of ore in trucks causes air pollution.
But can one take this as indicators of poverty? Poverty is relative
concept. If one has to judge it from the point of view of access to
water and land then it is poverty for sure. But hold on. Here is
description of my last visit to Pissurlem few months ago. One striking
feature is a visible presence of cars in front of number of houses in
Pissurlem. Another feature is prevalence of mining trucks in front of
houses. Investigations reveal that large number of people in Pissurlem
have opted to buy trucks and get into mining transportation trade due
to close down of agriculture option. Some families have earned money
to buy cars afford a life in comfort. How one does judges this? Mining
companies are also supplying with monthly doles to families in
Pissurlem as a trade off for silence of the Villagers. So people have
got into the habit of accepting the monthly doles and become
insensitive to the collective ruin of the habitat and life support
systems. New mining leases in the meanwhile continue to get activated.
Few years ago this village has suffered massive floods due to mining
activities. Mining silt that got deposited in inside the people’s
houses was over one meter thick.
The village of Sirgao in Bicholim stands out in this context. The
number of people in the village that are challenging the three
operating mines in their village – Dempos that is taken over by
British corporate Vedanta, Chowgules, and Bandekars. They filed public
interest litigation in Goa bench of Bombay High Court in June 2008.
The court directed Nagpur based National Environment Engineering
Institute (NEERI) to conduct scientific study. NEERI submitted its
study in March 2009 confirming that mining activity has caused
depletion of ground water in the village causing drying up of village
wells and springs. It also confirmed that large amount of deposition
of mining silt has taken place in the agricultural fields of the
village and paddy cultivation has not been possible. NEERI submitted
the plan to rejuvenate the water sources and remove mining silt from
paddy fields at the cost of approximately 1.8 lakhs per hectare. The
total amount that mining companies would have to pay to NEERI to
restore Sirgao’s agriculture and recharge groundwater is Rs. 660.25
lakhs. What is the story of Sirgao that is proved scientifically is
the story of every village under mining in Goa. Water and Food
security of Goa is deeply threatened.
Colamb is another village in South Goa’s Sanguem taluka that is
currently battling mining industry. The number of mining leases are 23
that are covering large area of Colamb village. The village has total
areas of 1929 hectares and mining leases covers 1510 hectares of land.
The mining leases cover places of habitat, forest, natural water
bodies, paddy fields and everything else on the surface of the
village. Already in the past 10 years couple of mines that are
operating in the village has destroyed considerable amount of
agriculture. Alcoholism has increased many folds in the mining belt
with increased problems of alienation amongst both the locals as well
as migrants. Destruction of agriculture and forest and everything else
becomes a priority for the mining companies to carry on advancing into
the newer territories. Large variety of vegetables that people –
mostly tribals cultivated has vanished as the cultivation spaces has
been occupied by mining companies. The local river named Kushavati –
tributori of Zuari river - began to dry three years ago in the month
of May. This year State government has constructed check dams on
Kushavati river. But this is not the solution. Stagnant water do not
support any fish that used to be available in the river for the local
people to eat. Now there is no fish. The huge trees on the banks of
Kushavati rivers are affected with stagnant water and as a result
trees – according to local people’s wisdom – are dying. So it is
double problem of mining as well as the problem of river being
artificially flooded. Both of these are dangerous downslides as far as
standard of people in the locality are concerned.
The above are only few glimpses of the deeply deteriorating situation
due to mining industry in Goa. Only handful of people are financially
benefiting from the trade. The people in the Goa’s mining belt are
directly affected negatively. The industry is making people poorer by
the day. Financially due to trucks banks are benefiting, while the
people are loosing their land, water, agriculture, rivers and forest.
They are loosing this forever. Goa is loosing this forever. Mining
actively causes poverty in Goa. Its consequences are going to be
unpredictable and severe for the entire society.
Mining in Goa: testimonies
Dinanath Gaonkar, Sirgao
Mining has been going on in our village for over 45 years. When I was
young all these mining pits today were dense forest. In the forest we
used to go around and pick our wild fruits, medicines and even we had
our play ground on a small patch. All this has changed now. Mining
companies – three of them has come about in our village of Sirgao and
carried on mining excavation work. This has resulted in large scale
changes of our village. Few people got employment into the mines. And
large number of villagers was involved in cultivation of agriculture.
The changes that unfolded over the period of time has shocked us and
pushed the entire village into the state of ecological refugees. Our
forest is completely disappeared – chopped down by mining companies.
Our play ground id not traceable at all. In their place there are huge
mining pits.
The mining in the mountains has led to the washing of Ore into the low
lying paddy fields and over the last few years our agriculture has
come to the grinding halt. Our paddy fields has lost fertility and are
silted with run offs from the mining companies. What are we to eat?
Where are we to cultivate? How are we to live?
Presently we live like worms in our village. Not only our paddy fields
are silted but also our village springs and wells have gone dry
because of mining. The ore extraction inside the pits has gone so low
that the mining companies are continuously involved in pumping out of
ground water with high powered water pumps. The underground flow has
changed its course towards the mining pits. This has left all the
village springs and wells dry.
Some people in the village has benefited as they operate mining
trucks. But the long term interest of our village is terribly
compromised and gradually it is becoming unbearable to stay in the
village. Our ancestors came and settled here chiefly because there was
plenty of water available here. But all that has changed now. Water in
the village is becoming scarce day by day. Our village has changed
from once prosperous towards poverty due to open cast iron ore mining.
Our future generations can no longer hope to live in this village if
the mining goes on the way it going currently. When our villagers
objected for the transportation of Ore from the land legally owned by
us police came and arrested my fellow villagers. How are we to survive
this onslaught? Our demand it to create Sirgao village free from
mining.
Motesh Antao, Colomba
I am from Colomba village in Sanguem taluka. My family directly
affected due to open cast iron mining activities carried on at the
neighboring mine. Our agriculture is getting ruined as the siltation
and water shortages have resulted in reduced production of rice. This
is a case with many farmers in Colomba. Our traditional water ways has
been chocked with silt that got washed with rains and got accumulated
inside the water ways. This has also affected our daily schedules of
life in Peace and harmony.
Mining is being carried on inside forest areas. We are involved in
protesting against the mining industry in our village because it is
deriving towards poverty. I as well as my fellow villagers are facing
constant threats from the mining companies as well from the State
Police force. I have been arrested due to my protests against mining
nearly 8 times during past two years. My brothers as well as my
parents too have been arrested and number of criminal cases are filed.
Now I have to make regular trips to the Court of law in Quepem and
Sanguem.
Police officers on two occasions beat me up at the Police station
after calling me to the police station to collect information that I
had asked under Right to Information Act involving details of assets
of Police officers and their involvement in mining transportation.
There are all together 23 mining leases in my village of Colomba. Out
of which four are in operation currently. Another 4 are going for
Public hearing next month in March 2010. Our entire village is full
greenery in the form of Forest and Paddy fields. The places where
mines have started however are no longer green. The extraction of ore
has changed colour. Health of our villagers is deteriorating. Mining
has generated tensions and few people are getting affected with hearth
attacks that were unheard of till few years ago.
Our roads have become very dangerous to walk and drive on. There are
large number of truck carrying mining ore ply regularly creating
dangerous situation of the roads. Accidents are regular phenomena and
every now and then there are victims of accidents and some even
deaths.
How do I make my living in this situation? How does my fellow
villagers to make living when mining is doing away with our soil, our
paddy fields, our water sources, our forest and our dignity? How are
we to survive? I feel we can live peacefully and prosperously in the
village only when mining is stopped completely.
Sharmila Naik, Advalpal
My village of Advalpal is depended upon agriculture. It is also the
village with forest and hills. It is located in Bicholim taluka. In
our village there used to be mining in manual form nearly 40 years
ago. The there was accident on the mine and few people had died. Then
mines were stopped. However four years ago mines started again. This
time it was mechanized mining. Few companies came to our village,
offered money to the villagers and mines got started. However after
one year we realized how dangerous this mining was we started opposing
the mines. The mines has created very dangerous situation for my
village of Advalpal. Mines disrupted traditional water flow in the
village and our crop got flooded at the time of harvest. The mine
buried existing water lakes with mining silt. Further mining even dug
our crematorium space where our village used to cremate the dead of
our village.
Now the situation is bad as the traditional water bodies are dried up
due to mining. Natural springs of our village used to supply water to
drink for our villagers. Women folks also used gather together for the
washing of clothes at the springs. All this is now gone with drying up
of springs.
In June last year due to mining our village got flooded. Mining silt
was deposited into the houses of the people. It was very traumatic
moment for my family and villagers. Few houses got badly hit by the
floods.
Mining has also destroyed cashew crops and there are very few spaces
left for us to carry on with our cashew cultivation. We used to get
bumper crops every year but for the past few years not only the yield
has deteriorated but also the places where cashew trees existed has
been used for mining purposes. The large lake space that was used for
the purpose of bathing of cattle has been buried deliberately by the
mining company. Our cattle has no place to take bath now and mining
has led to disruption of agriculture of our village.
The lease boundary of the mining company extends to the middle of the
village main road. There are three mining leases that are in operation
here. One mining lease is currently stopped due to High Court order to
remove the silt that mining company has deposited in the village.
Mining company has not adhered to the High Court Order so far for the
past 4 months.
Now my family is forced to move out of Advalpal as there are no
sources of living left in the village. Number of other families too
facing similar situations. Where are we to look for our survival in
the context of mining?
In May 2008 there was a major revolt in our village against mining. We
marched on the mine site and stopped the work by force. Then we got
together and protested outside the office of Deputy Collector,
Bicholim for one week. Number of police cases are filed against us.
Nearly 70 people have to attend the court hearings regularly at
Bicholim Court. Mining companies got police protection and carried on
their operations.
Few people of our village who own trucks benefit from the mining
industry. The rest of us get no benefit at all. In fact our village is
losing terribly and I feel mining has to stop once and for all.
Posted by MAND at 2/18/2010 11:54:00 PM 0 comments Links to this
post
Labels: Advalpal, Colamb, Mining, Poverty, Research, Sirgao
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Goa Police as the State Agency of Repression in Goa’s mining belt:
2007-2009
By Sebastian Rodrigues
Abstract
Of late there has been intense resistance to open cast iron ore,
bauxite and manganese mines in Goa. Often branded as ‘backbone of
Goa’s economy’ mining industry has been at the receiving end of public
criticism for transforming itself as ‘rogue industry’ causing enormous
harm to the ecology, agriculture, water sources, as well as traffic
congestion, air pollution, sound pollution, and large scale sicknesses
caused due to air pollution, water pollution and entry of migrant
labour.
While the village groups in different parts of the State of Goa have
expressed problems caused due to the mining industry in legitimate
manners; within the ambit of the Constitution of India, State-
Corporate nexus have responded to these concerns with repression. Goa
Police has been its most preferred agency of repression over the past
few years. This papers documents and analyzes the behavior of Goa
Police in Goa’s mining belt from 2007 to 2009 – the period that has
witnessed heightened resistance.
Amongst the methods of intimidation followed by Goa Police includes
visits by secret police known as CID (Criminal Investigation
Department) to the houses of villagers, calling up at odd hours in the
night, verbal threats, physical violence while in custody, non-
interference while protestors are attacked by mining truck owners,
humiliation tactics by putting slate around the neck and
photographing, filing of false cases, filing of charge sheets further
the proceedings in judicial courts, threatening to ban entry into the
mining villages by imposing Tadi Par, confiscating the buses used for
traveling for protest marches, confiscating and tearing down of
posters with slogans against mining companies, monitoring movements of
villagers protesting mining industry, tapping of telephones of people
opposed to mining industry, indulging in physical violence in the form
of Lathi Charge against the villagers protesting mining industry,
filing of criminal cases against the lawyers defending villagers
opposing mining industry, refusing or ignoring complaints filed by
villagers against officials of mining companies, and investigating the
opponents of mining industry as ‘Naxalites’.
The paper problemitizes the role of state funded Police force and
questions the partial and partisan role played Goa Police that is
unbecoming of public servants and suggests ways to change behavior
pattern of Goa Police as protector of ‘public’ interest and not the
interest of the mining companies.
I. Introduction
Open cast mining industry dealing with Iron Ore, Manganese and Bauxite
has its prevalence in Goa since 1948 when 100 tonnes of Iron Ore was
exported to Japan for the first time, from the times under Portuguese
Colonial rule. The industry is basically dig and sell economy located
in around 68,000 hectares of land fragmented into 791 mining leases
granted during Portuguese colonial regime. Open cast mining of this
major industry is principally for export purpose to various countries
of the World with Japan being the prominent destination since 1948. In
fact Goa’s Ore played major role in resurgence of Japan after being
reduced to ashes during the World War II that culminated in dropping
of Atom bombs by Americans on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in August 1945. However China overtook Japan as a leading
destination of Goa’s mineral exports during past few years. In fact
during 2008-2009 Goan exports of ore to China constituted 86%
(32,763,721 tonnes) while next to follow is Japan with 9% (3,557,775
tonnes). Europe (Italy, Netherlands and Rumania) got 2% of Goa’s iron
ore exports (680,513 tonnes), South Korea got 1% of Exports (545,228
tonnes), Pakistan got 1% of exports (258,029 tonnes), and Middle East
(Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai and Saudi Arabia) got 1% (231,457 tonnes).
African nation Kenya got fraction of it too - 38,500 tonnes.
According to the selected statistics (Amended upto March 31, 2009) on
Goan Mineral Ore Exports Compiled by Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’
Association Goa’s exports particularly of Iron Ore has been increasing
at rapid pace. During 2005-2006 it was 25,537,924 tonnes, In 2006-2007
it rose to 30,893,953 tonnes. In 2007-2008 it increased to 33,434,429
tonnes. In 2008-2009 exports jumped to 38,075,223 tonnes out of which
32,629,521 tonnes is to China alone.
Mining companies involved in Goan Iron Ore exports during 2008-2009
includes miners, transporters and real estate companies. The list is
as follows: Sesa Goa Limited, V.S. Dempo & Company Pvt. Ltd.,
Sociedade de Fomento Indl. P. Ltd., Prime Mineral Exports Pvt. Ltd.,
Fomento (Karnataka) Mining Co. P. Ltd., V.M. Salgaoncar & Bro. Pvt.
Ltd., V.M. Salgaoncar Sales International, Chowgule & Company Pvt.
Limited, Chowgule & Co. (Salt) Pvt. Ltd., Chowgule & Co. Pvt. Ltd.
(Mandovi Pellets), Salgaoncar Mining Industries P. Ltd., Timblo
Private Limited, Timblo Enterprises, Damodar Mangalji & Co. Ltd.,
Bandekar Brothers, V.G. Mehta Exports, Vassaantram Mehta & Co. Pvt.
Ltd., Venture Resource Holdings., Venture Real Estate, PEC Limited,
Karishma Exports, Karishma Goa Mineral Trading, Rajaram Bandekar (s)
Mines P. Ltd., Rajaram N.S. Bandekar & Co. P. Ltd., Narayan Bandekar &
Sons Pvt. Ltd., On & Offshore Hitech Engineers P. Ltd., Trimuthi
Exports, D.B. Bandodkar & Sons Pvt. Ltd., Shree Bhavani Minerals,
Minescape Minerals Pvt. Ltd., Prasanna V. Ghotge, Star PVG Exports,
Sri Krishna Enterprises, Gangadhar Narsingdas Agrawal, Fulchand
Exports, Baggadia Brothers, Shree Mallikarjun Shipping, Alphine
International, MSPL Limited, Ramakanta V. S. Velingkar, Ramakanta
Velingkar Minerals, Magnum Minerals Pvt. Ltd., Rika Global Impex Ltd.,
Muktar Pvt. Ltd., Canara Overseas Limited, Shantadurga Transport Co.
P. Ltd., and Adani Enterprises Limited. All these companies has
exported Goan Iron Ore to China without any exception. These are the
beneficiaries of the Goa’s dig and sell economy to which this trade is
the backbone of their economies fetching unimaginable financial
rewards without being in any affecting with global depression.
Sesa Goa limited – owned by British corporate Vedanta that is listed
on London stock exchange and funded by large number of banks and
shareholders world over - has topped the list of exporters with total
of 10,345,020 tonnes of export of Iron Ore. Out this 8,977,723 tonnes
exported to China, 631,186 tonnes exported to Japan, 212,378 tonnes to
South Korea, 265,704 to Europe, and 258,029 tonnes to Pakistan. The
company – V.S. Dempo & Company Pvt. Ltd – that Vedanta purchased in
June 2009 with all its mining interests in Goa exported total of
4,347,543 tonnes of iron ore to China (3,882,550 tonnes) and Japan
(464,993 tonnes). Vedanta’s target of exports for 2009-2010 is
whopping 50,000,000 tonnes from its mines in Goa alone. This is larger
than last year’s (2008-2009) combined total of all the mining
companies export from Goa of 38,075,223 tonnes of iron ore. For
Vedanta Goa is a Sunshine State! With this known target of one mining
company alone destruction of Goa’s ecology and People’s livelihood is
guaranteed.
Audoot Timblo who filed defamation suit of Rs.500 crore against the
author of this paper – Sebastian Rodrigues - at Calcutta High Court in
December 2008 citing that his writings at GAKUVED blog www.mandgoa.blogspot.com
has caused loss of business and existence of Fomento group is in
danger if his writings continues has three mining companies in his
kitty. The first one is Sociedade de Fomento Indl P. ltd that exported
2,348,970 tonnes to China (3,882,550 tonnes), Japan (453,005 tonnes)
and Europe (339,330 tonnes). The second one is Prime Mineral Exports
Pvt. Ltd. That exported 1,644,432 tonnes of Iron Ore to China. The
third one is Fomento (Karnataka) Mining Co. P. Ltd that sent 119,964
of Goan ore to China. This way there are 50 agencies that are engaged
in export of Goa’s Iron Ore. Their names are already cited above.
In order to sustain this exports tirade Goa’s hinterlands has been at
the brutal receiving ends. Its Forest and agriculture in large number
of villages where open cast mining activity is undertaken has been a
huge casualty thereby causing crisis of food security for humans and
animals alike. Goa’s ground water flow has been drastically changed
due to deep mining pits in number of locations thereby leaving village
wells, natural lakes, springs, ponds and rivulets dry. Water
dependency has developed in the Goa’s mining belt. Number of people
has become victims of dangerous Public Health Crisis in the Goa’s
mining belt that is yet to be thoroughly investigated. Large number of
people of Pissurlem and Keri – in Sattari are suffering from number
lung diseases including tuberculosis. While People in and around
Rivona in Sanguem suffer from Chicken Gunia almost in epidemic form
few months ago in September – October 2009.
Number of voices has cropped up recently highlighting that all is not
well with open cast mining industry in Goa and in fact it is rapidly
destroying not only the backbone of the local people’s economy i.e.
agriculture, but also causing irreversible ecological changes with
long term unforeseen consequences. Due to inherent rush of the China
boom and lure of foreign currency mining companies are in competition
with each other to transform Goa into a desert – all of them working
at breath neck speed. This is duly facilitated by mechanized nature of
the mining industry with latest sophisticated machinery waging a war
against nature and humanity in Goa. Communities has been lured into
alcoholism and cleverly fragmented into factions causing frequent
strife so that the will of the mining industry prevails.
In spite of all this however there are some village people in Goa
including its tribal people has demonstrated stiff and organized
resistance to this marauding open cast mining industry. At State level
Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dangar Federation (GAKUVED) has lend its voice
to the struggle against Goa’s mining plunder since 2007. Number of
other organizations such as Nature Environment Society and
Transformations (NEST), Goa Foundation, Ganv Ghor Rakhon Manch (GGRM)
and Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has also collaborated with village people
resisting mining in various villages of Goa in various ways and
varying intensities. Goa Federation of Mines Affected People has
evolved as a network of mining affected people in Goa since August
2008.
II. Documenting Police Repression
The response of the State to these protests has been to deploy State
police – Goa Police – to carry on series of repressive measures
against those people involved in the active resistance against the
mining industry. Number of people arrested and criminally charged.
Police force is deployed to protect the mining industry and to
demoralize the resisting people in various manner. Below is a list of
Police interventions and strategic non-interventions to achieve this
objective. The below documentation is based on regular spot recorded
entries at www.mandgoa.blogspot.com – blog of Mand – An Adivasi-rights
Resource Centre, an Initiative of Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar
Federation (GAKUVED) - after being reported by the villagers and
sometimes newspapers.
November 20, 2007
Colomba, Sanguem
A group of 8 Policemen came in plain clothes at 6 pm and began
threatening the villagers. They were searching Agnelo D'Souza, one of
the villagers in forefront of protest against mining threatening to
gobble up Colamb village. He had protested overwhelmingly during
November 18 2007 gram Sabha of the Rivona village panchayat and sought
resolution seeking to ban further mining activity in Colamb.
January 21, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police Inspector Mhamel of Quepem Police station over the phone
threatened Rama Velip that if the villagers continue to march on the
Fomento mines then he will arrest all the villagers.
January 23, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Goa Police protection provided to Fomento mine in Colomba, Sanguem.
February 08, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
ASI P.V. Desai attached to Quepem police station kicked one of the
Colomba villagers – Agnelo Dias. The police jeep which was following
the truck one of the police by name ASI P.V.Dessai got down from the
jeep caught hold the top portion of shirt of the youth shirt pulled
him and then assaulted him with shoes one his private parts and then
pulled him into the police jeep.
February 09, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
40 Police personnel deputed to protect Fomento mine in Colamb.
February 11, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police Protection to Fomento Mine
March 11, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police protection to Fomento Mine.
March 25, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
24 villagers including women arrested while blocking transportation of
Iron Ore from Fomento Mine. Police beat up villagers and snatched
earrings of one woman. 16 male constables and 6 lady constables
engaged to arrest 16 Women and 5 men. Women were picked up by male
constables – manhandled with some women complaining missing of their
gold ornaments on their bodies during the scuffle with the police on
the mining site.
April 12, 2008
Margao, Salcete
South Goa Collector Gokuldas Naik threatened Colomba villagers of
deploying police force to protect Fomentos to transport Ore from the
company’s Colomba mine. Collector issued this warning when a group of
Colomba villagers called on him at his Margao office.
April 22, 2008
Quepem Police Station, Quepem
Fomento Manager Atul Makode Manager of Hiralal and Khodidas mine
Colomba has on 22/4/2008 filed a false and distorted complaint before
the Quepem police against 18 villagers of Colomba villagers. The
complaint has been filed under section 143(punishment for forming an
unlawful assembly) , 147( punishment for rioting) , 447(Punishment for
criminal trespass) , 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) , 506(2)
(punishment for criminal intimidation) , 425 (Mischief ) ,
427( Mischief) , read with section 149 (Liable for prosecution of
common object). All the sections applied are of Indian Penal Code,
1860 – another colonial law, this time by British applied upheld the
mining trade in Goa started during Portuguese colonial rule. There can
be no greater evidence that Goa is de facto living in Colonial regime
of State in India. The villagers have revolted not just against mining
by against Colonial system in operation benefiting few elites in Goa,
India and abroad. The 18 villagers against whom the complaint has been
filed includes 1.Premdas Velip, 2.Alcina Dias, 3. Agnelo D’Souza, 4.
Caetan Barreto, 5. Egyps D’Souza, 6. Tilu Dias, 7. Vincent Dias, 8.
Palmira Dias, 9. Dumena D’Souza,10. Bhagrati Velip, 11. Shanta Velip,
12. Kalawati Velip, 13. Chandrakant Gaonkar, 14. Vithabai Velip, 15.
Concy Antao, 16. Kalidas Naik, 17. Surya Gaonkar, 18.Gavnekar
May 21, 2008
Nuem, Khola, Canacona
Dempo Mine: contractor Gangesh Molu Dessai, landed at the site with
around 40 police personal from Cuncolim, Margao, Maina Curtorim and
Colva. IRB who were headed by Cuncolim P.I. Sidhant Shirodkar and
Colva P.I. Edwin Colaco. The Canacona Execuitive Magistrate Shri
Valvoikar made his presence over there. The police started clearing
the obstruction which was there on the way leading to the mine. The
police were stationed at the site till 4.00 pm face to face with
protesting people.
May 19, 2008
Advalpal, Bicholim
Criminal cases registered against 70 villagers at the behest of
Fomento mining company. Fomento mining company had filed police cases
against following 12 Advalpal villagers Shyamsunder Naik, Sharmila
Naik, Kishore Naik, Kashinath Gad, Vijay Pundloskar, Ganesh Naik, Babi
Gaonkar, Suresh Gad, Shrikant Gaonkar, Manguesh Gad, Amar Shetye and
Pradip Gaonkar. The cases were registered under following sections of
the Indian Penal Code (IPC): 143, 144, 147, 148, 323, 427, 341, 506
and 149.
Out of these 4 people were arrested namely, Shyamsunder Naik, Sharmila
Naik, Kishore Naik and Kashinath Gad. Fomentos are operating Litho
Ferro mining lease in Advalpal
May 20, 2008
Advalpal, Bicholim
Police Protection provided to Fomento mine.
May 21, 2008
Advalpal, Bicholim
Sheetal Thanekar, Surekha Santosh Gaonkar and 17 year old Sandesh
Vithal Gaonkar was beaten by Sesa Goa goons at around 3.00 pm. Police
case registered. Police are yet to make any arrests so far.
June 04, 2008
Porvorim, Bardez
Advalpal villagers stopped on their way to Panjim to celebrate World
Environment Day and demonstration in front of Sesa Ghor. Their bus
taken away to Panjim Police station from Porvorim under the pretext
that Police had a secret information that the protestors are going to
block the Mandovi bridge and paralyze the traffic! Police force in
riot gears were deployed to guard the protestors after they got off
the bus in Porvorim. This police followed the protestors to Panjim
when they got back their bus and staged demonstration in from of Sesa
Ghor – the headquarters of Sesa Goa mining company owned by British
Corporate - Vedanta.
June 05, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Heavy police security in police arrangement as villagers celebrated
World Environment Day
June 19, 2008
Goa Legislative Assembly, Porvorim
Leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar at ad-hoc committee named
the author of this paper – Sebastian Rodrigues – as naxalite operating
with his team from Jharkhand in Colomba, Quepem. Top officer of Goa
Police present at the meeting agreed with Mr. Parrikar’s assertion.
Goa Police however came out with official statement denying presence
of Naxalites in the State of Goa.
June 24, 2008
Quepem Police Sation, Quepem
Quepem Police Inspector Santosh S. Dessai took a written statement
from Colomba’s Rama Velip on naxalite issue. Extracts: “…I say that I
know one Sebastiao Rodrigues r/o Siolim Mapusa since last 05 years
from the year 2003. The said Sebastiao Rodrigues use to visit our home
at Colomba alongwith br. Philip of Don Bosco, Sulcorna and Venkatesh
Prabhudessai of Colomba – Kevona. The said Sebastiao use to move along
with brother Philip Neri D’Souza.
I say that whenever there was a meeting in our village regarding
mining issue and other environmental or land issue he use to visit our
village. Most of the time said Venkatesh Prabhudessai and also Br.
Philip use to attend the said meeting of “GAKUVED” and use to take
photographs and was doing videography also. Mostly he use to do work
on the internet…”
October 11, 2008
Maina, Quepem
Eight protestors were beaten up by goons of the mining industry in the
presence of police personnel headed by PI Santos S. Dessai and
protestors arrested and sent to jail. 85 year old Dora de Souza too
was arrested while she with a group of protestors chained herself on
the road carrying iron ore away from the mine. She along with other 3
women were sent to Aguada Jail. Zilla Parishad member Subhas
Phaldessai led the attack on protestors at Dinar Tarcar Mine. PI
Santos Desai remained passive observer during this time. Priest
Mathias D’Cunha sdb, Filmmaker Kurush Canteenwalah and Sebastian
Rodrigues too was beaten up and taken into police custody. Quepem
Police team led by PI Santos S. Dessai remained mere spectator as the
mining goons were beating up the protestors
October 15, 2008
Maina, Quepem.
Police protection to Fomento mine T.C. 06/1949.
November 13, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police night patrolling in the village with three police Jeeps began.
Police night patrolling continued for three weeks.
November 12, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
86 protestors on Fomento mine T.C.No. 06/1946 were arrested and later
released on bail. Fr. Mathias D’Cunha sdb from Sulcorna was abused and
by some unruly elements defending Fomentos. He has lodged police
complaint. Police took no action. PI Santos S. Dessai was present on
the site. At the police station placards of Colomba villagers were
confiscated and torn apart under the oral instructions from PI Santos
S. Dessai. Police also destroyed people’s food while effecting
arrests. Goa Armed Police van and two jeeps full of Police personnel
were put in action in defense of the Fomentos. One lady constable
bearing badge number 6769 assaulted Colamb female protestor Dument
D’Souza just before the arrests in the afternoon in presence of
mamlatdar. Similarly Fomento security staff and truck drivers beat up
two protestors Shamsunder Naik, Durgadas Gaonkar and Gajanand Raikar
causing minor injuries to them. Former editor of Goamtak times Sujoy
Gupta who joined Fomento mining company as its vice president directed
the security staff to identify the targets for violence from the
mining company’s office on Hiralal Khodidas mine at Colomba on this
day.
November 17, 2008
Quepem Police Station, Quepem, Goa
7 villagers from Colomba, Sanguem protesting against mining invasion
of their village were arrested in fabricated criminal case filed by
Fomento mining company supporter Surya Naik. PI Santos S. Dessai began
arrests by taking Egyps D’Souza into Police custody while he was
moving around in Tilamol market. 8 arrested were later released on
bail. The villagers are Motesh Antao, Egyps D'Souza, Dument D'Souza,
Shanto Velip, Rama Velip, Telu Dias and Xavier Fernandes. They were
punished with day long forced stay at Quepem Police station on the
next day - November 18, 2008.
Novemeber 19, 2008
Quepem Police Station, Quepem, Goa
Warning of Tadi Par – Exile by Police – informally sent to Egyps
D’Souza by PI Santos S. Dessai. Egyps would be debarred from entering
South Goa jurisdiction, including his home in Quepem taluka once Tadi
Par in invoked on him.
November 22, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police team visited village with intention to arrest young Tedoz Antao
based on the complaint filed against him by Fomento security
personnel.
November 27, 2008
Ambaulim, Quepem
Police in riot gear clashed on streets when Ambaulim villagers who
blocked Iron Ore transport of Dinar Tarcar and Fomentos due to over
loading and dust pollution.
November 29, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police Protection provided to Fomento Manager en route to Quepem
Police Station to file complaint against villagers after they forced
stopped the mining transportation.
December 01, 2008
Colomba, Sanguem
Police protection provided to Fomentos to transport Iron Ore at
Hiralal Khodidas mine
(T.C. No. 06/1949).
December 04, 2008
Quepem Police Station, Quepem
Colomba villagers warned of Tadi Par. Served 4 days deadline by PI
Santosh Desai to end agitation against Fomento mining company and
accept sustainable mining. According to PI Santos S. Dessai if Colomba
villagers don’t listen then their agitation will be crushed with heavy
police force. Entire Police force from Goa will be mobilized to
unleash terror on Colamb villagers. Rama Velip, Salvador Dias, Telu
Dias, Xavier Fernandes, Purso Gaoncar, Arjun Velip, Chandrakant
Gaonkar and Surya Gaonkar witnessed PI Santosh Dessai telling them all
this in presence of two Fomento mining company officials.
December 13, 2008
Sanvordem, Sanguem
Stranger male moving around with photograph of youth from Colamb –
Tedoz Antao – approached Milagrine Antao and Dument D’souza while on
marketing visit to Sanvordem town. He told them that Quepem PI Santos
S. Dessai has commissioned him to catch the person on photograph and
hand over to him at Quepem Police Station. According to him this youth
protesting mining company’s onslaught on his village is involved in
Dacoities. Such a insidious defamatory propaganda! This questioning of
Colamb women in Sanvordem market by stranger on behalf of Quepem
Police was one more instance of desperate attempts by Goa Police-
Fomento nexus to spread terror and fear amongst common people
resisting mining industry by outsourcing its functions to private
agents.
December 17, 2008
Ambaulim, Quepem
Police violence – lathi charge – on peaceful demonstrators against
mining trucks creating air pollution and traffic hazards as all the
written petitions were not respected and acted upon by Digambar Kamat
government.. 7 villagers arrested (William Luis, Satulin Luis, Fatima
Fernandes, Franky Rebello, Glen Rebello, Diego Fernandes besides Anton
Jose Fernandes who was arrested from his home after the lathi charge.)
Police assault on lawyer John Fernandes and attempt to murder criminal
case under section 307 of Indian Penal Code filed against Advocate
Fernandes. Police Inspector Santosh S. Dessai alleged in local marathi
daily - Tarun Bharat issue of December 18, 2008 that Adv. John
attempted to murder policemen - ASI Arvind Nagekar - while lathi
charging the protestors against transportation of Iron Ore from the
road in their village causing enormous dust pollution and traffic
congestions. Wife of Advocate John Fernandes, Paulina Fernandes too
was criminally charged on this day for rioting and unlawful assembly.
Seven school children beaten by police violence, Franky Rebello was
hit on head by Police. Amongst other injured includes smt. Lourencina
Rebello (65), Andrew Fernandes, William Fernandes, John Fernandes,
Smt. Remij Fernandes (50) Francisco Fernandes, Monica Fernandes, Pobre
Fernandes and Soccor Fernandes. Quepem PI Santos S. Dessai and Deputy
collector Venancio Furtado denied lathi charge though it took place in
their presence; in fact administered by both of them – in reply under
RTI. This proved that Deputy collector present did not order the lathi
charge. South Goa Collector Gokuldas Naik justified it in interview to
Times of India of December 19, 2008 and Goa Police authority headed by
Justice Eurico Silva defended this lathi charge in his judgment. The
legality of this lathi charge is clearly a suspect.
January 06, 2009
Colamb, Sanguem
Police protection provided to Fomento mine in Colamb. It continued on
January 07, 2009.
January 15, 2009
Ambaulim, Quepem
Police launched search operation for two days – January 14 to January
15, 2009 to arrest Pobre Fernandes, an active person in resistance to
mining industry.
January 20, 2009
Cavrem, Quepem
Five tribal youth resisting mining company were arrested by Police at
Quepem Police Station. Their names are Satyendra Gaonkar, Ashish
Gaonkar, Sandesh Gaonkar, Ramesh Gaonkar, and Deepak Gaonkar. They
were arrested after mines manager Kulkarni at Nevgi mine - operated by
Dinar Tarcar - filed complaint against them on January 18, 2009.
33. February 01, 2009
Ambaulim, Quepem
Villager Franky Rebello’s house was visited by Quepem Police Constable
Mohan Dessai in the night and Franky’s wife and aged parents were
threatened with rendering Franky unemployed. Franky was not at home.
Mohan Desai was drunk when on his visit.
34. February 03, 2009
Colomba, Sanguem
Goa Police attached to Quepem Police station served the notice to
Tedoz Antao to
surrender before Quepem Police station within 17 hours in response to
criminal
case filed against him by Fomentos.
35. February 13, 2009
Colamb, Sanguem
Police visited the residence of Motes Antao, youth resisting mining
invasion of his
village of Colomba in Sanguem at 1.33 pm with intention to scare him
away.
36. March 20, 2009
Colamb, Sanguem
Motes Antao was whisked away by Police at 10.00 am from his truck in
Quepem and arrested over the charge of assault on Government Servant
based on the complaint filed by one Ganesh Velip on 29/1/2009 over the
incident taken place on 9/1/2009 the Quepem police booked Motes under
section 353,504 and 506 r/w. 34 of IPC for giving abusive words to a
court bailiff. Motes is one of the active voices of mining terrorism
in Goa and has been frequently targeted by the mining industry. This
time he was slapped on his face three times by policemen at Quepem
police station. First time he was slapped by a policeman in plain
clothes at Quepem Police Station and second and third time he was
slapped on face while being taken for medical examination at
government health centre in Curchorem. PI Devendra Gad was heading the
Police Station this time. In the bail application moved by said Motes
claimed that on the day of the alleged incident he was not yet all
present at the residence. He claimed that he has been falsely booked
at the instance of Fomento Mining Company whose summons the Court
bailiff had gone to serve to the villagers of Colomba. Goa Police
Complaint Authority headed by Justice Eurico Silva ruled in favour of
police this time too. Earlier it had done the same in case of Lathi
charge on villagers of Ambaulim, Quepem.
March 20, 2009
Colamb, Sanguem
On this same day brother of Motes Antao, Tedoz Antao too was arrested
– picked up by police while he was waiting for public transport bus at
Tilamol junction. He was criminally charged for restraining one
Yeshwant Salunke, security guard of Hiralal Khodidas mine (operated by
Fomentos in Colamb) on 13/9/2008 and was booked under section 341,
323, 427, 506(ii) r/w. 34 of IPC.
March 24-25, 2009
Cawrem, Quepem
There was alteration on March 24, 2009 in Cawrem village between two
anti - mining activists Alcine Dias and Egyps D'Souza on the one hand
and Rivona Panchayat member of Panchayat Ram Gaoncar who once upon a
time in 2003 was opponent mining operated by Radha Timblo belonging to
Badruddin Mavany mining lease but then surrendered himself and his
land to Timblos pressure tactics.
When the two men Alcine and Egyps went to the Police station to
register the complaint against Ram Gaoncar, Timblo mining company
Manager and another contractor of the Fomento mining company in Colamb
swung into action and pressurized the police to register the case
against Egyps D'Souza. A case was registered for assault and breach of
Public Peace against Egyps. Egyps was detained at the police station
for the full one night.
39. March 25, 2009
Quepem Police Station, Quepem
Rama Velip on visit to meet arrested Egyps D’souza at the Quepem
Police Station on March 25, 2009 afternoon he was arrested and forced
to accept bail and move out of the police station in one old case
pertaining to blockade of the mining transport near Fomento mine in
Colomba.
40. April 01, 2009
Colomba, Sanguem
Motesh Antao threatened by Quepem Police Inspector Devendra Gad of
booking under National Security Act (NSA) to continue harassment in
furtherance of numerous false cases filed by Fomento mining company
against him. PI Devendra Gad promised to use his police powers to
harass Motesh Antao to the last. Motesh was called to the police
station by serving call letter when he was awarded with this warning.
41. May 10, 2009
Sirgao, Bicholim
Suresh Babani Gaonkar and Dhruvanjay V. Harmalkar were arrested by
Bicholim Police Sub Inspector Terence Vaz and head constable Pradeep
Kubal for protesting against Chowgule mining company plying its mining
trucks through their property. They were picked by from Sirgao village
in North Goa at around 11.30 am without serving any call letters. The
arrests came 4 days after the famous Sirgao Zatra festival – in which
Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat participated – in the village with
scarce water due the giant mining companies sucking their water
sources dry.
Once taken into police custody they were put into police lock up. They
were not served any meals and were starved till they were bailed out
at around 5 pm on the same day.
42. May 20, 2009
Advalpal, Bicholim
Two villagers from Advalpal, Bicholim – Shamsunder Naik and Vijay
Pandluskar are arrested at Bicholim Police Station for protesting
against Sesa Goa mines on May 10, 2009 under section 151 of Indian
Penal Code – Disturbance of Public Peace! They were released from
Bicholim Police Lock up at night at 9.00 pm.
43. July 18, 2009
Colomba, Sanguem
For two weeks Rama Velip of Colamb village in Sanguem Taluka was
harassed by Goa's Secret Police - CID (Criminal Intelligence
Department). Secret police has been visiting the house of Rama Velip
and seeking to know about future plans of anti-mining movement. There
are phone calls made at Rama Velip's residence at very odd hours in
the night and asking him to report to Quepem Police Station.
Rama Velip is heading Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Fedearation
(GAKUVED) unit under the jurisdiction of Rivona Panchayat and in the
middle of resistance movement against mining in Sanguem and Quepem
Talukas of South Goa.
CID officer who is involved in harassing Rama Velip is one Premanand
Phaldessai attached to Quepem Police Station. He hails from Sanvordem
and according to the sources his family members are involved in
business of transportation of Iron Ore through ownership of trucks.
Harassment stopped only after the officer was reported on internet.
44. September 25, 2009
Colomba, Sanguem
Colamb villager Motes Antao arrested at Quepem Police Station in the
morning at 9.15 am. He was called to the police station to collect
information he had sought involving detailed information of three
police officials – PI Santos S. Dessai, PSI Prakash Desai and HC
Arvind Nagekar- under Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI). Motes was
threatened at the police station for filing application under RTI on
August 14, 2009. Motes Antao was arrested on complaint of November 28,
2008 filed by one Shri C.S.Patil Asst. Personal Manager of Hiralal
Khodidas Mine – operated by Fomento mining company in Motes’ village
of Colomba in Sanguem under sections 143, 341 and 506 read with 149 of
Indian Penal Code (IPC). What is tragic in this whole episode still
unfolding is that the citizen is called at the police station to
collect information sought under RTI and then threatened and arrest
effected on previous cases.
45. October 12, 2009
Usgao, Ponda
157 people protesting against Sesa Goa mines in Condli arrested and
released on bond. They had blocked transportation of ore for one week
prior to their arrests.
In addition to this there are also incidents of Telephone tapping of
the people resisting mining industry in Goa. It is not sure however as
to who was doing tapping of the phones. On October 10, 2008 telephone
calls from the mobile phone belonging to Sebastian Rodrigues made to
the landline phone of Rama Velip in were being tapped. Someone, a male
adult voice speaking Hindi received call made to Rama Velip. Similarly
when Rama Velip called Sebastian Rodrigues from his landline a male
adult voice speaking in Hindi received the call.
On Second occasion on Sunday, August 02, 2009 someone call came in on
landline of Sebastian Rodrigues in Siolim saying that the person is
calling from telephone exchange and trying to find out if the landline
is working alright. Telephone exchange does not attend to telephone
repair work on Sunday nor anyone had lodged any complaint pertaining
to defect in telephone functioning.
III. Ramifications
The existence of Police State is evident from the above documentation.
The democracy and its spaces are shrinking with Police Raj manifesting
itself in an unprecedented manner. The tribal people and other
silenced voices have been turning to voice out their grievances. They
are however offered hostile reception with Police terror. The modus
operandi of the State-Mining companies’ nexus in Goa is to file as
many police cases as possible on those protesting mining industry and
then convert these cases into arrests, and arrests into Court cases.
There are several Court cases ongoing across the State of Goa –
particularly against the people in Colomba, in Sanguem, Maina in
Quepem and Advalpal in Bicholim. The insidious logic being, that
Police cases and Court cases will demoralize the ongoing movement
against mining industry in Goa.
People of Goa particularly its hitherto silent majority has began to
speak out. It has began to expressed its dissent. This dissent is
found to be intolerable by the mining elites dominated State of Goa.
The response has been to inflict repression with Goa Police as its
favored agency.
Situation has come to head on in this manner as the Indian State has
developed intolerance to the democratic spaces especially when they
are used by conscious poor radical people to express dissent. To agree
to the voices from below would amount to the violation of pacts
amongst the elites that have decided things even before the conduct of
the necessary democratic consultations. There are up teem number of
examples in Goa wherein People opposed mining projects under the
mandatory Public Hearings taken place with overwhelming opposition
from the those present. In some cases the opposition has been 100%.
Yet all the mining companies has been awarded with environment
clearance by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). In
this way Goa has been turned into colony of India for the purpose of
mineral exploitation. Ruling elites in Goa have decided to join the
party to the detriment of toiling people of Goa. That’s why Goa’s
elites silently collaborating with mining companies. They have no
vision other than making some quick riches at the cost of Goa’s
ecology and People’s livelihood and Water.
IV. Need for change in Goa Police mindset
Goa Police must undergo fundamental change in the outlook from being
defenders of Goa’s mining industry - that is waging war with People of
Goa – to being defenders of the People of Goa waging struggle against
Goa’s mining plunder. There must be awareness programs conducted for
every police officer on how mining industry is destroying Goa and why
Goa Police must join the toiling farmers and residents hand – in hand
in this; do or die struggle. Behaving as agency of repression on
behalf of the mining industry – as has been the case during 2007-2009
- will only lead to demoralization of Police force as public attention
and media sensitivity is very acute. Goa Police must refuse to arrest
and administer violence on people; instead it must play helpful role
towards movement against Goa’s mining industry in the interest of the
Goa’s generations yet to be born by acting swiftly on complaints
against mining companies. This would mean defending ‘Public’ interest
in genuine sense and not the ‘Private’ interest of handful of mining
companies engaged in ruining Goa forever. Goa police must join the
ranks of people protesting mining industry incursions. People’s revolt
against mining industry is essentially a revolt against Indian
Colonialism that is manifesting itself in mining belt in collusion
with Global exploitative forces. Time is ripe now for Goa Police to
bring about historic turn around in their hitherto role as front
defense of plunder of Goa through mining.
Note: This paper is prepared to be presented at the State level
Seminar on “Human Rights and Environment – A Focus on Goa” at the
Department of Political Science, St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa on
International Human Rights Day December 10, 2009.
www.mandgoa.blogspot.com
Goan Mineral Ore Exports: Selected Statistics (Amended upto March 31,
2009), Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association, Panaji. 2009.
Posted by MAND at 12/10/2009 01:47:00 PM 0 comments Links to this
post
Labels: Advalpal, Colamb, GAKUVED, Maina, MAND, Mining, police,
Quepem, Sanguem, Sirgao
http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/search/label/Advalpal
Posted by MAND at 9/18/2009 04:03:00 PM 0 comments Links to this
post
Labels: agriculture, Bandekars, Bicholim, Chowgules, Dempos, Mining,
Sirgao, Vedanta
Pictures of June 6, 2009 floods from mining sites in Goa
Sateri Temple in Valshi, Bicholim: water from nearby Vedanta (Dempo)
mines at Bordem, Bicholim overflowing up to the temple plinth.
Below picture shows mining silt enters into compound wall of People
residing near Vedanta (Dempos) mines in Mulgao, Bicholim.
Picture below shows mining rejection from Vedanta (Sesa Goa) mine lays
scattered around in Advalpal village in Bicholim Taluka.
Picture below shows mining silt on the floor inside the village temple
in Valshi, Bicholim. This silt is from Vedanta (Dempo mine at Bordem,
Bicholim)
Mining silt entered entered inside the People's houses in Poira,
Bicholim. This Silt is from Chowgule mining company.
Compound walls, drainage disrupted during last floods in mining belt
of Goa. This picture is from Advalpal where in Sesa Goa, Salgaoncars,
Fomentos, Lithoferro mining companies are in operation.
(Pictures by Vishant Vaze)
Posted by MAND at 9/18/2009 02:47:00 PM 0 comments Links to this
post
Labels: Advalpal, Bicholim, Bordem, Chowgules, Dempos, Floods,
fomentos, Mining, Mulgao, Sesa Goa, Vedanta
http://www.nanavonmilita.wordpress.com/
...and I am Sid Harth
