News Clips from Goa
 

CD Banned In South Goa HERALD REPORTER http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=31813&cid=10 MARGAO, JAN 1: In an interesting development on the controversial CD case, South Goa District Magistrate, G P Naik has banned the circulation, distribution, selling, screening of the controversial CD Dogui Bodmas produced by Calvert Gonsalves in entire South Goa district. The ban issued under Section 144 of the CrPC will remain in force till the competent authorities examine the CD and submit a report. The District Magistrate has warned that any person contravening the order will be punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal code. In his order, Naik said there is sufficient ground for proceeding under Section 144 of the CrPC to maintain public order. The Magistrate’s order comes following a report received from the Margao Sub Divisional Police Officer on the situation in Goa following the release of the CD by producer Calvert Gonsalves. The Magistrate has referred to the complaint received from the Moderator of the Parish Pastoral Council, Jason Andrade alleging that the controversial CD contains songs derogatory and blasphemous nature against the Parish Priest, Fr Diogo Fernandes, Vicar General and the Bishop of Goa Archdiocese. The complaint had further alleged that Calvert has depicted the Parish Priest in bad light using the high offices of Bishop’s Palace. The Magistrate referred to Jason’s complaint stating that Calvert has allegedly openly defamed the Parish Priest by compiling the CD and distributing it amongst the villagers and making it available for sale all over Goa. The complaint alleged that Calvert and other members of the production team has caused confusion and tension among the Catholic community more particularly in Colva and Goa in general by provoking their minds which may cause public disorder. The Magistrate’s order further states as follow: On account of the controversial CD, the villagers of Colva have launched an agitation in Colva targeting the house of Calvert and the road blockade at four road junction at Colva on December 28 & 29. There was a large turnout of Colva villagers at the Church who agitated against the production team of the CD and demanding the arrest of the accused immediately. The agitation has been temporarily called off to give some time for the police to effect arrest of the accused. The villagers have demanded a ban on the controversial audio CD and seize and confiscate all such CDs”.

Goa Church Forgives Person Who Showed Priest In A Bad Light http://www.zeenews.com/news593700.html Updated on Friday, January 08, 2010, Panaji: Goa Church has said that it has 'forgiven' a person, who allegedly produced a CD against parish priest Father Diago Fernandes, which had allegedly shown the priest in a bad light. The CD had kicked up an agitation in Colva village. "We are for forgiveness. Space has to be created for repentance, if he has done anything wrong," Father Fransic Caldeira, spokesman for Goa Archbishop, told PTI this morning. The Church was reacting to the recent controversy raised through an audio CD named 'Dogui Bodmas', which allegedly had portrayed Colva Church priest Father Diago Fernandes in a bad light. The CD had triggered protests during the new year celebrations with Colva residents resorting to street protests. Local police had registered a complaint against Calvert Gonsalves, producer of the CD. Father Caldeira today said that Church has got battering for 2000 years and it has survived. "Now our stand is what stand Jesus took. Forgive them and took the battering," he commented. He recalled that when Jesus was slapped by a soldier, the Lord asked him, 'why did you slapped, if I have done anything wrong tell me!' The CD controversy had attained a new dimension when Radharao Gracias, lawyer representing Calvert Gonsalves, had blamed Archbishop for such issues. Gracias had alleged that the church does not entertain complaints against the priests. The church spokesman, however, rubbished the allegation. "Archbishop takes action in all the complaints received. The actions may not be publicised in the press," he said. Gonsalves, who is a local panchayat member, had managed to get anticipatory bail from district and sessions court after evading arrest for a couple of days. The CD controversy is being probed by Crime Branch.-PTI

Use electronic gadgets to spread love of God: Archbishop "Let the electronic gadgets and their applications- telephones, computers, mobiles, the Internet, SMS- serve to spread the good news of the love of God. There are so many beautiful things that are happening all around the world and they are to be made known. These gadgets can be used for nefarious purposes and they are so used," said the Archbishop-Patriarch, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao at the Diocesan Day for communication media valedictory function. He said further, "But one should not be afraid of them; our Christian identity, imbibed from the event of Christmas, of God becoming man and transmitting to us the divine values through the Babe laid in a manger, charges us to fight the power of darkness." [NT]

Leopard terror leaves Dhave locals in fear Residents of Dhave-Sattari have expressed fear over the presence of a leopard in the village since the last few days. According to the residents, the leopard has attacked many dogs in the village since the last few days. "We are scared to come out of our houses during night. We close our doors soon after the sunset these days," said a villager. [H]

GOACAN to urge PWD to set up Road Engg Cell As a part of its awareness programmed beginning from January 4, GOACAN will urge Public Works Department (PWD) to set up a Road Engineering Cell (REC) and develop suitable guidelines for construction and maintenance of roads for village panchayats and municipal councils. Beginning from tomorrow GOACAN will observe a consumers road safety and traffic management fortnight to create awareness among commuters about their right to safety, right to complain, right to grievance redressal and the urgent need to instill traffic discipline to reduce accidents. [H]

Colva police thwart Dhirio Banned by law, a clandestine attempt to organize 'Dhirio' (bullfight) in Benaulim was yesterday thwarted by an alert Colva police. Highly placed sources in the police told GT that they got wind of 'Dhirios' being organized at 12.30pm yesterday in Benaulim. [GT]

Go Green, Mozambique Minister Tells Goans http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=31949&cid=2 HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 5: Mozambique Minister of State for Administration, Dr Oscar Monteiro has appealed to the Goan people to maintain greenery and agriculture and protect the environment for posterity. Dr Monteiro, who is of Goan origin, is currently on a week-long visit to Goa along with the Chief Justice Constitutional Court of Mozambique, Dr Rui Baltazar. He called on the Managing Director of Herald Publications Raul Fernandes at the Printing Press at Verna. Dr Monteiro is looking forward to meet some of the freedom fighters from Goa since he too was involved in the Liberation of Mozambique from Portuguese regime. “There is a common link between Goa and Mozambique. We must not forget that we had to fight for our Liberation”, he said. “I have come here to meet people in Goa to understand certain elements of the personality of Goans, which in a way are present in my personality through my parents, friends and education”, he said. Feeling at ease in the State, Dr Monteiro was enchanted by the lush green rice fields as he traveled through the hinterland of Bardez. “There are lots of trees too. People appear living in harmony with nature, this should not be changed. It is not proper to have skyscrapers everywhere”, he said, while replying to a question. On the Goan community in Mozambique, Dr Monteiro said the main contribution of Goans to new Mozambique has been the professionals, such as engineers, doctors, lawyers and professionals in general. “These professionals had helped the country in a difficult period. They had higher skills at the time of Independence than the majority of black Mozambiquans. When Mozambique got Independence, it was left to this generation and the few black professionals to manage and shape the State”, he added. Replying to a question, Dr Monteiro said “we can be a Goan and still be a Mozambiquan. There are Goans who remained as Goans in Mozambique, and there are Goans who are Mozambiquans and there are Mozambiquans who are Goans”, he added. Like many students, Dr Monteiro had plunged himself in the Liberation movement when he was studying in Portugal and were fighting against fascism. “I was involved in the ground network of Mozambique students. Our role then was to mobilise Mozambique students toward the liberation struggle. Our aim was not to fight against the Whites, but was part of a movement which fought against all forms of racism”, he recalled, adding that “the battle against racism is never ending”.