NGO demands withdrawal of cases against arrested activists

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-15
PANAJI - Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of cases filed against those arrested including an 85-year-old woman, Ms Dora D’Souza, her daughter-in-law, Ms Cheryl D’Souza, Ms Rita Fernandes, Ms Shashikala Devidas, Ms Robert Pinto, Mr Kurush Canteenwala, Fr Mathias D’Cunha and Mr Sebastian Rodrigues and the immediate suspension of police inspector, Mr Santos Dessai attached to Quepem police station for collaborating with a group indulgingin violence.
Quepem police arrested them on the charge that they were blocking the road to a mine in Maina, Quepem. One of the arrested, Fr Mathias in a signed statement has said that he was abused by some of the people assembled there in the presence of the police.
Mr Pravin Sabnis of the GBA who was present for the press conference said that he would complain to their higher ups and also take it to the Human Rights Commission. Ms Cheryl, the daughter of the 85-year-old who was arrested said that they had come on the roads because they had no other choice. “We went to everybody, but nothing happened for all this time,” she said.
She said that her mother told her to give a message to all women asking them to come out on the streets.
“We are not fighting for dignity, we lost that a long time ago, but we are fighting for water,” she argued.
The GOAMAP alleged that these people were peacefully protesting in front of the gate of mine when they were attacked by goons in the presence of Goa police team led by Quepem police inspector, Mr Santosh Dessai at 3.10 pm. The NGO has demanded a judicial inquiry into the conduct of the police on October 11 in Maina, Quepem and wanted mining activities - both legal as well as illegal, stopped across the Goa as they felt that it is threatening life support systems including water sources.
GOAMAP also supports the demands on mining put forward to Chief Minister by Ganv Ghor Rakhan Manch in its memorandum on October 6. GOAMAP has also condemned the violence inflicted on the people. Meanwhile, the Bailacho Saad has condemned the arrest of the women in this particular incident.