"RAK" <raknews DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:476fe944$0$26118$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
>
> "grusl" <george.w.russell DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4a35fa92-6f65-464f-9fad-cb971619c5e3@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 23, 6:16 pm, <mylastn... DeleteThis @yaaahoooterrs.com> wrote:
>> Trouble Brewing in Goa
>>>
>>> Dec 23, 2007 - In a press conference held today in Panjim,
>>> Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) has asked all tourists
>>> to stay away from Goa after Dec 27.
>>
>>Unsourced rubbish. Ignore.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>George W Russell
>>Bangalore
>
>
> I have no idea what the real risk is but there are plenty of sources, e.g.
> http://casi.ssc.upenn.edu/india/iit_Jenkins2.htm
> http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/
> Try a Google on something like [Goa sez protests] and you will find many
> more.
>
> "Ignore" seems like a rather casual response, though you are a lot closer
> to Gia than me.
>
The reality is that the risk to tourists is negligible. Any tourists being
hurt in India is very big news. A Japanese tourist went missing last year
and a British tourist was killed under mysterious circumstances and they're
still talking about both cases in the press.
These problems are never in the tourist areas and very rarely involve anyone
who isn't a willing participant.
Politics in India is a participant sport, even rioters only seem to target
their political opponent's assets... If you're not a player you don't get
involved and nobody wants to involve you.
A couple of years ago I was in Goa when the local Saudi sponsored Muslims
tried to get some sort of Islamic radicalism going by claiming that a shrine
about to be demolished was ancient, despite the reinforced concrete still
being damp...
There was what the local, and rather excitable press called 'A Riot by
Islamic militants which involved all of six people, who were promptly
arrested.
This was followed by the almost inevitable bomb, which didn't actually
explode, just burned, didn't do any damage and didn't hurt anyone.
Honour being satisfied, and this being Goa, everyone went back to sleep.
As an even better example, last weekend there was a large Shiv Senna rally
and march in Bombay. The march was routed past a Muslim area and trouble
was expected. Cops in huge numbers patrolled the streets, vast SUVs flying
saffron flags and full of Shiv Senna toughs roared through the Muslim area
of Mahim known as 'Chota (little) Pakistan', things were tense.
My wife and I wandered through the Muslim area doing shopping and nobody
bothered us, the Shiv Senna toughs treated us politely, the Muslim
shopkeepers let us in through their bared doors, the cops stood back and
let us through, we wandered across the road through 250,000 people on the
march to the Bandra Collectors Office with stewards 'shushing people who
were shouting too loudly near us.
If you don't get involved in Indian politics it won't involve itself with
you.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
>> Stay informed about: Trouble Brewing in Goa, India 
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