Dom Minguel de Sousa's Speech
© 2003, A.D., P.J. Mascarenhas, Goa Livre Organisation
Address Delivered By Dom Minguel de Sousa, Kenya Delegate, To The Goan Conference, Paris
Mr. President:
Ladies & Gentlemen:
In the first place I wish to apologize for our late arrival. Much to our regret we had to lose several connections. Nevertheless, we are happy to be amongst you and join you in this momentous conference of the People of Goa, Damao and Dio.
It is not my intention to delay you for a very long time, as I fee, there are many more speakers to follow me. I wish to relate to you in brief the results of my own fact finding mission.
In 1952 and after a consecutive absence from Goa of 25 years, having heard so much criticism and read so much propaganda on the doings of the Portuguese Authorities in Goa, Damao and Dio, I decided I must go down and see things for myself.
I left for Goa, needless to say, dearest Goa that always lived in my heart welcomed me. I travelled from village to village, spoke to people from all walks of life and in particular to the people of modest social standing, for I find that it is here that one hears the true voice and senses the feelings of the true people. I spent six months in Goa right from the time of the Exposition (of the Incorruptible Body of St. Francis Xavier) to the month of May. I must confess that I did not come across any individual or collective bdoy who claimed any harrassment or illtreatment in any way attributed to the Portuguese authorities. They were a contented lot. They were the same happy go lucky people who toiled and earned enough for their living.
Having returned to Kenya, I decided I must acquaint my friends of this great bluff and sinister moves of the Indian Union. The Indian Union propagated just the contrary and I felt that it was time to organize a body to expose these unfounded lies. Many fell victims of thei Indian propaganda and here amongst us is a witness who also took part in favour of the Indian Union until one day he himself discovered the truth of the matter and will testify to you.
Who were the so called "satyagrahis"? They were nothing short of hungry, miserable, footpath dweelers who for a mere five rupee note offered themselves to destroy the great meaning of satyagraha. The Government of (the Indian Union province of) Bombay brought all sorts of pressure on the Goans living there, and what was the net result? The Bombay Government could not even enlist the support of a few dozens. The Goans (civil volunteers) themselves drove the so-called satyagrahis out of their country.
Having failed in these methods, the Government of India resorted to sanctions, and against whom were these directed, if not, against the Goans and the people of Damao and Dio?
These measures were adopted against the very ones whom the Government of the Indian Union was never tired of calling brothers and whom they wanted so mcuh to "liberate". I am surprised that the Government of the Indian Union should have resorted to such measures in order to bring the People of Goa, Damao and Dio to their knees and revolt against the Portuguese!
Thanks to the Pakistan Government who offered the People of Goa, Damao and Dio full facilities of Movement to and fro the respective territories. I wish to record our highest sense of appreciation and gratitude to the Government and People of Pakistan for all the help rendered to us! (Prolonged applause and shouts of "Pakistan Zindabad!" — Long Live Pakistan!).
Mr. Nehru's "peaceful" moves started with Hyderabad where he claimed that the majority was Hindu ruled by a Muslim prince. Then folowed other States which had acceded to Pakistan (i.e. Junagad, Manavadar and Mangrol) and finally came Jammu & Kashmir where Mr. Nehru claimed universal brotherhood because of the King being a Hindu and the majority population being Muslim. Then the Nagas who are Christians, in this case, of course, it is again universal brotherhood. Ladies and Gentlemen, what do we see—heads I win, tails you lose! (Cheers).
Now comes, to finally crown his pacifism, the flagrant invasion of the Portuguese State of India on the plea that it is colonialism. The people of Goa, Damao and Dio are, as far as Mr. Nehru is concerned, cooks and butlers: they have no dignity, they have no self-respect, they have no say, their wishes and their desires are not to be taken into account, for, Nehru said "that evne if they want the Portuguese he would not tolerate it."
Mr. Nehru seems to be the worst dictator one has ever known and history has ever listed. Mr. Nehru's eyes were on our rich mines which would fetch him the much required foreign exchange and the natural harbour of Marmagoa.
Dragging into the misery and hunger of the millions, that is the Indian Union, could nver have been a sincere wish. Are we blind to facts? Millions of rupees worth of foreign exchange has gone into the coffers of New Delhi and the harbour has been turned into a naval base—this is the truth of the matter. Here les the reason for his sinister motives to conquer the balance of the Indian sub-continent. The excuse that China has attacked is not at all a convincing argument.
Under cover of "liberation" now Mr. Nehru is putting forth another of his bluffs — the elections. We can never accept these elections as the final wishes of the People of Goa, Damao and Dio. (Cheers).
We must demand our birthright to say whether the People of Goa, Damao and Dio want their freedom and independence, whether they want their association with Portugal or want their integration with the Indian Union and thus lose their identity. (Cheers).
Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, I appeal to you to cry out in one voice in demanding ourmost sacred and inalienable right—SELF-DETERMINATION, and that we most earnestly and emphatically PROTEST against these faked elections. (Cheers).