This is with reference to the article ‘Macau Magic for Goan’ (Herald, September 13).
One can expect from the author of the said “edit,” being a “business consultant,” to have laid focus on the “gross domestic product”(GDP) of Macau and compared it with that of Goa. However, it is not acceptable that he, being a Goenkar, has ignored totally, the “Happiness Quotient”(HQ) of the citizens of Macau, as compared to the “Unhappiness Quotient”(UQ), of his fellow Goenkars.
The main reason why the HQ of the citizens of Macau is so very high, compared to the UH of Goenkars, is NOT because of the high GDP of the citizens of Macau, but because their socio-economic and socio-political rights have been enshrined and guaranteed by the “Sino-Portuguese Treaty,” signed in 1999!
The author of the said “edit” says that “China has given Macau a high degree of autonomy that allows Macau to have its own independent currency,” and “to maintain its social and economic systems, life styles and freedom.” The author, however, has left out facts that the Official Language will be Portuguese; that they can fly their own flag; have their own passport, etc!
All these rights and guarantees, however, were NOT “given” by the Chinese government, but were arrived at, after extensive consultations with and by the delegations of Macau and the Government of Portugal, for twelve (12) long years, before signing the “Sino-Portuguese Treaty” on Dec. 20, 1999.
The author says that “liberation”(!) of Goa, was sudden and so we were unable to have a Macau type of declaration that would protect the interests of Goans.” Can this “logic,” if at all, make any sense?
What prevented the Governments of Portugal and India to have a “Macau type of declaration”, was the “sudden, undeclared war” that India launched on “Portuguese India” i.e. Goa on December 17, 18 and 19, 1961 and “conquered” it.
Thanks to this aggressive action of India, despite repeated sanctimonious assurances of the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, to the contrary, Portugal expectedly, refused to sit at the table with India, to sign a treaty. However, 13 years later, after Salazar was deposed, Mario Soares, the then unelected PM of Portugal and YB Chavan, the then minister for Foreign Affairs of India, surreptitiously met in New York on Sept 25, 1974 and drew up a so-called “Indo-Portuguese Treaty.” And on Dec 31, 1974, signed it in Delhi!
This so-called “Treaty” was cooked-up without any knowledge and/consultation with any Goenkar and consists of only six (6) clauses, not one of which is about or for Goa or Goenkars!
How many Goenkars, in Goa or outside, are even aware that there exists a piece of paper, so-called “Indo-Portuguese Treaty,” that is in reality, an illegal “Sale Deed”?
The “Indo-French Treaty” was signed on May 28, 1956, with regards Pondicherry, after due consultations with the citizens, for over six (6) months. This “Indo-French Treaty” was signed by a high-ranking Official of France and by Jawaharlal Nehru, then as minister for Foreign Affairs of India.
He preached “Peace” to the world!
