Following a week of candlelight protests, there was jubilation as the High Court of Bombay at Goa stayed the felling of tress in Siolim. This, however, was soon cut short by a statement of Michael Lobo, MLA of neighbouring Calangute, that had residents asking: “Why is an MLA who is an outsider meddling in our constituency, talking for us?”
Michael was quoted as saying that the protest in Anjuna was spearheaded by outsiders and the road widening work was being carried out to ease traffic congestion that impeded the movement of ambulances.
The good feeling, after the stay by the High Court bench, were soured by the explanations being offered by Lobo, after his wife and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo opted to remain mum despite attempts to contact her.
“Who is he to speak for us? We have an elected representative and it is she who should be questioned, not her husband. We did not elect him to decide what is good and bad for us,” fumed Alegrina de Souza.
“Who is Michael to decide whether we need road widening because ambulances cannot reach the sick? He doesn’t live here and even if he did, our destiny is decided by God,” countered 69-year-old Simon Rodrigues, one of the petitioners.
Talk across balconies, in the village tinto and in various wards centered around how an outsider was trying to paint a picture that, “we residents of the village are outsiders and he (outsider MLA) should determine our development,” said Concy Dias as she trudged home past a felled tree.
The candlelight protest which started with around 20 people on the first day and increased gradually, touching around 100 on the fifth day, saw not just residents of Siolim but had passers by too joining on becoming aware of the reason behind the protest.
“Cutting our trees seems to be the new style of this government. We (villagers of Chopdem ) had started a protest a few years back because an outsider was killing trees in our forest. I stopped one day to support my fellow villagers,” reasoned Aparna from Chopdem as she was finishing shopping at Siolim market.
The ire of most Siolcars was at Lobo’s attempt to tarnish the protest as orchestrated by outsiders, “There were people who are now living here for years after buying residences. Do we call them outsiders just because they came together to save trees?” asked an annoyed Oswald Pinto, who has been part of the protest from the beginning.
“No one is interested in widening of the road. This is purely his imagination. If he doesn’t know to defend his illegal actions, he should not try to put words in our mouth. If he had the guts, he would come and talk to us and not through the press,” stated Fatima Fernandes.
“I heard there was a protest once and when I went the next day to see at around seven in the evening, there was no one around,” stated Siolim sarpanch, Abhay Shirodkar whilst trying to explain whether he was with the people or not.
“I am driving now but will call you later,” Abhay said when asked to comment on Calangute MLA’s reaction. He did not call back.