THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Swades, a social and environmental organisation of the Jesuits in Goa, launched a Post Card campaign on Wednesday, to appeal to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant through post cards to immediately drop the three linear projects of double tracking, four lane highway and the power transmission line.
Requesting the CM to revert his decision on these projects, concerned citizens from all sections of the population will write to the chief minister as a part of the sustained Save Mollem! Save Goa!! campaign, stated a press note issued by Swades Director Fr Simon Fernandes, SJ.
As part of the celebration of ‘Human Rights Day’, Swades has also launched another post card campaign to seek the release of the political prisoners arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prohibition Act (UAPA).
“Under this campaign we have planned to send as many post cards as possible to India’s Prime Minister and Home Minister, demanding the immediate release of the 83-year-old Jesuit and others imprisoned in the case.”
“The campaign also wants UAPA and the recent Farm Laws imposed on the farmers, repealed. The various institutions and the civil society organisations have joined the campaign, transcending religion, caste, creed, gender and ethnicity,” said Fr Fernandes.
“The protests in Goa against coal and the three linear projects cannot be isolated from the larger political developments of the country.”
Fr Fernandes said the UAPA is an old law enacted in 1967 as a continuation of colonial instinct to silence dissent through a fascist politico-legal structure.
“In the amended UAPA, a broad range of offences are vaguely worded and ambiguously defined. For example, the Bhima Koregaon “conspiracy” case wrongly implicated 16 renowned intellectuals, lawyers, professors, writers and activists.”
“Further, the government this year used UAPA and other seditious laws to wrongly book 19 Delhi-based scholars and activists who were a part of the peaceful nation-wide anti-CAA protests.”
“Scores of other activists continue to be under the threat of “investigation” over violence in Delhi in February and organising farmers protests in different states.”
Fr Fernandes further said the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), the biggest farmers group among the 32 organisations, marked Human Rights Day by demanding the release of several democratic rights activists and intellectuals who are lodged in prison.
“Most of the protests over the last few years “ be it in Shaheen Bagh (against the CAA-NRC), or against removing Article 370 “ happened because the government didn’t bother to consult those who would be impacted because of these measures.”
“Therefore, it is time we come together under one umbrella to strengthen and espouse the cause and speak up for each other,” said Fr Fernandes.
