PANAJI
The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social arm of the Goa church has “strongly condemned” the alleged human rights violations unleashed by the State Government machinery on helpless villagers of Caurem-Pirla.
In a statement, Fr Savio Fernandes, secretary, CSJP, said that the situation is akin to what it was before mining was banned by the Supreme Court.
“It appears that no lessons have been learnt by the government and the mining companies after the mining ban and its consequent economic and social fallouts. The lifting of the ban on mining by the Apex Court should in no way be assumed to be a licence for the government and mining companies to indulge in violation of human rights,” Fr Fernandes said.
More than forty villagers of Caurem were arrested by Quepem police on charges of blocking transportation of e-auctioned ore.
The CSJP has instead sought that the government adopt a method of dialogue with the villagers rather than intimidation.
The Council urges the government to refrain from tactics of repression and adopt the path of dialogue with all stakeholders, particularly those impacted by the mining activity, to find a common accepted ground.
