Goa, Dec. 29 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

Arambol woke up not to the sounds of celebration from the Rapon karancho Seafood Fes tival, but to the glow of torches as over 500 villag ers sent a clear message to the government: their hills will not be touched. The torch protest be gan at around 5 pm on Sunday at a temple close to the site where land conversion is alleged to have taken place. It culminated nearly four kilometres away at a hall in Harmal Tinto, where speakers from different parts of Goa delivered a united and forceful call against the present dis pensation. Women outnumbered men during the march, with more than 500 people walking through the village carrying lit torches.

The procession was supported by hundreds of locals and tourists...