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.