Burning chillies mark anti-WTO protests in Asia
Burning chillies mark anti-WTO protests in Asia
Reuters, Tokyo
Hundreds of Thai farmers burned chillies in a protest against the World Trade Organization on Friday, but other anti- globalization protests were small in Asia and mixed with an anti- war message ahead of WTO talks in Qatar.
The somber atmosphere created by the war in Afghanistan and September's attacks on the United States has helped prevent a repeat of the violence that hampered the 1999 WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle and other recent international gatherings.
It has also helped keep the number of protests in Asia small as delegates from 142 countries gather on Friday in the oil-rich Gulf state for the five-day meeting, where big powers hope to launch a new round of global trade talks.
India saw the biggest demonstration as thousands marched through the center of New Delhi to protest against the WTO meeting and U.S.-led air strikes on Afghanistan in a demonstration organized by India's ultra-left Communist Party.
"Down with World Trade Organization. Indian government -- leave the WTO," the protesters shouted. "Save agriculture, stop the WTO and save us from hunger," shouted one of its leaders.
"Down with American imperialism. Stop the bombing in Afghanistan. Take back American forces from Afghanistan," the protesters also shouted as thousands of red-flags fluttered under bright sunshine.
Police in riot gear put up barricades to stop protesters from marching towards parliament and water cannon were on standby.
About 500 protesters, including 400 from leftist South Korean trade unions and 100 unionists from 16 countries, marched in Seoul on Friday, scuffling briefly with riot police in an otherwise peaceful protest.
"We oppose the Fourth WTO ministerial meeting, which is trying to start a new round to uphold only the interests of the United States and countries of the center," said a statement issued at the march.
"Trade liberalization and opening aggravates the gap between rich and poor worldwide and destroys the economic base of every country," it said.
In Thailand, about 1,000 protesters, mostly farmers, held a peaceful two km (1.2 mile) march from Bangkok's World Trade Center shopping mall to the U.S. Embassy on Friday to condemn Washington and its leading role in the WTO.
Demonstrators blocked part of an eight-lane road in central Bangkok and shouted anti-globalization and anti-U.S. slogans on various issues -- from expensive patented AIDS drugs to farm subsidy schemes.