From Sanjay Borkar in Margao
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (mb)

• This is the new slogan of the large number of Goans opposed to the SEZ: Amka Naka SEZ, Amka Zai PEZ - 'We don't want special economic zone (SEZ); what we need is People's Economic Zone (PEZ) - 'Pez' also means rice gruel, the staple food of commoners

Margao, Dec 15: The Goa’s Movement Against SEZ (GMAS) at a public meeting on Friday has appealed state MLA’s to pass resolutions in Gramsabhas to be held on December 19, the state's liberation day, to scrap all the SEZ’s for the welfare and betterment of Goa.

GMAS activists have vented its anger over SEZs projects to be commissioned in Goa and have asked the state government to scrap all the projects. To make people aware and to make them vigilant over this issue, GMAS has begun awareness programmes in every nook and corner of Goa to oppose the SEZ.

On Friday, GMAS held a public meeting on the historical place - Lohia Maidan in Margao. High-profile fashion designer Wendell Rodricks, Fr Aeriment Rebello, Swati Kerkar, Frank Monteiro, Peter Gama, Lawrence Fernandes, Dr Mavis Faleiro, Ramkrushna Jalmi, Aeron Pereira and others spoke at the meeting and urged people to unite to have the SEZ scrapped.

During the meeting people shouted slogans like ‘We will not keep quiet until and unless the SEZs are totally scrapped’.

People have served the ultimatum that if the government fails to scrap the SEZs, they will hit the roads and will show the power of unity.

Around 5,000-odd people from across the state turned up for the cause.

Politicians who favoured the SEZ invited the wrath of the people. Most of the speakers at the meeting criticized them, and alleged that those involved in espousing the SEZ did not have the state in their hearts.

Dr Oscar Rebello, convener of Goa Bachao Abhiyan, said that this agitation marked the beginning of a social revolution and the people of Goa will agitate to get what is good for state and throw out whatever is bad.

Meanwhile, the GMAS has planned a massive morcha in Panaji December 18, which will culminate at Azad Maidan.