While the state Government has promised to stop them, protesters opposed to SEZs are threatening to disrupt Goa’s famed New Year festivities, which draw lakhs of tourists from India and abroad.

The Goa Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) has asked tourists to stay away from the state after December 28 in protest against the state government’s plan to set up special economic zones.

GMAS Convener Mathany Saldanha says while they allowed the Christmas celebrations, they wouldn’t let tourists usher in New Year in Goa. “We have asked them to leave as we don’t want to harm them in any manner,” Saldanha said recently.

The Goa government has filed a police case against Saldanha, but he has got the backing of Manohar Parrikar, the BJP’s Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly. Parrikar claims Matanhy has not threatened violence and his statements have been interpreted wrongly. The BJP has also warned that they would take to the streets if Matanhy was arrested.

But the Goa administration is not taking any chances. “We have summoned three platoons of paramilitary forces from neighbouring states. In addition, 6,000 policemen have been pressed in to nab troublemakers,” says Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, asserting that the police machinery was geared up to tackle any law and order problem and adding that such threats were against the spirit of hospitality for which Goa was known.

The Congress-led Government has also decided to invoke prohibitory orders.

Kamat has also pointed out that the Government had already announced that it was reviewing the SEZ policy in the light of public protests. Eight SEZs that had received clearance from the Central Government have been put on hold, said the Chief Minister, and these would be formally abandoned in the New Year. He has urged the protesters to wait and see.

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