1,000 Thais march on to protest against WTO
1,000 Thais march on to protest against WTO
Agence France-Presse, Bangkok
More than 1,000 Thai farmers and activists took to the streets of Bangkok on Tuesday railing against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and new agriculture deals proposed by the United States and Europe to be debated in Cancun, Mexico, this week.
Shouting "WTO, get out, USA get out!" and holding banners saying "Derail the WTO", the protesters peacefully marched to the European Union office and the U.S. embassy where they presented an open letter to diplomats calling for a halt to a new round of trade liberalization talks.
"Negotiations on free trade in services are being strongly promoted by the U.S. government and the EU, whereas the group of developing countries on the other hand, which are barely able to compete, have no interest in liberalizing even further," the letter said.
"The policies adopted by the two powers serve to benefit translational food industry and distribution companies based in their countries, regardless of how many others throughout the world ... lose out," said the letter signed by various Thai agriculture networks, and peasant and labor federations.
Protectors put effigies of Uncle Sam and EU leaders on stakes in front of the US embassy gate, where 30 police and security officers, some in riot gear, stood guard.
"WTO is the corporation of the rich, exploiting for their benefit," one banner read, while another simply said "World Terrorism Organization".
Thai farmers, an organizer said, were concerned that the negotiations could further destabilize steadily plummeting agriculture prices, while free trade pacts particularly with China could send a tidal wave of cheap goods into Thailand.
Police estimated 1,200 people at the rally, while organizers said 2,000 people attended.
World trade ministers were set to launch a fresh bid on Wednesday to rescue WTO trade liberalization talks, but officials have warned that there may be little significant headway made at the five-day meeting in Cancun.