People's Democracy

WORKERS of Vasco-da-Gama and Marmagoa paid their homage on December 20 last to the two martyrs, Conceisaum Costa and Thomas Fernandes, who were killed in the brutal police firing during the historic seventy-day general strike of the dock workers in 1964.

At a rally organised on the day by the Marmagoa Port, Dock and Transport Workers’ Union at Cunha Maidan, a purse of Rs 1,000 was given to the mother of Conceisaum Costa as a token of the workers’ regard for the martyr’s family. A huge workers’ procession had earlier paraded the streets of the city. On the same day, a purse of Rs 500 was handed over to the wife of Thomas Fernandes at a rally organised in Tuticorin.

Gerald Pereira, general secretary of the Marmagoa Port, Dock and Transport Workers’ Union, while paying glowing tributes to the martyrs declared that the Red Flag dyed in the blood of the two comrades would remain flying forever. He appealed to the workers to work relentlessly under this banner to usher in socialism in India.

Kamalabai Chawan, president of the Marmagoa Women’s Front, sharply condemned the chief minister of Goa for directing the sixty-year-old mother of Conceisaum Costa to join a beggar’s home when she approached him for some relief in her old age. The womenfolk of Goa have taken this as an insult and would never forgive the Congress rulers for their callousness, she said.

Sham Bihri Singh said that the class character of the government was fully exposed when it sent police to shoot workers, instead of compelling the employers to concede the just demands of the workers. After all, he said, the dockers demanded only permanency of their service, and dearness and house rent allowances.

Gajanan Patil, secretary of the union, condemned the government like lathi-charge, indiscriminate use of the DIR, inhuman treatment in jails and shooting down of workers. These repressive measures could not terrorise anybody, he said, pointing to the fact that over a thousand women came out on the streets defying Section 144 in support of their husbands, brothers and sons who were struggling for their just demands.

Diwakar Kakodkar charged the government with total bankruptcy in its policies on all fronts. He highlighted the serious situation developing in the country due to skyrocketing prices and depressing living standards. A government responsible for this chaos has no right to exist and people have every right to remove such a government. He appealed to the workers to be prepared for a long-drawn struggle.

Ibrahim Sulemen, a worker, reminded the people of Goa not to forget the two martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of the people of Goa. Over two hundred and fifty workers and union leaders including fifty women are even now facing trial under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the obnoxious DIR, he said.

--- People’s Democracy, January 2, 1966