NGOs air concerns over APEC impact

JAKARTA (JP): Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Asia and Pacific countries raised concerns yesterday about the implications of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) process, which they say could bode ill for human rights.

The concerns of the Asia-Pacific NGO Working Group on APEC -- comprising 13 NGOs from Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, the United States, Canada and New Zealand -- were stated in letters sent to APEC leaders on the day they were scheduled to meet to discuss trade liberalization measures.

"We recognize that international economic cooperation can be beneficial to the citizens of all our nations," the letter, a copy of which was made available to the press, stated.

"We share concerns, however, that the economic deregulation of which APEC is a part may fail to promote, and in fact may inhibit the advancement of social justice and democratic development in APEC member nations," said the letter, signed by MS Zulkarnaen, who is from the Indonesian Forum on Environment (WALHI), on behalf of the NGOs.

"We are also concerned that this process may inhibit significantly the ability of peoples rather than corporations, to shape the development potential of their nations."

The activists came up with several recommendations, including open dialog with NGOs and the establishment of a working group on the ethical conduct of trans-national corporations and governments in the deregulation process.

They also urged APEC member countries to set up a system for monitoring the impact of the deregulation on the rights of marginal groups, including workers and low income people.

The letter was drafted during a meeting of the NGOs in Jakarta on the sidelines of the APEC conferences. The NGO meeting reviewed the implications of the APEC processes for the peoples in their countries.

The NGOs stated they would continue to monitor the work of APEC.

They said the current APEC agenda might negatively affect human rights, including labor rights, the rights of women and other groups, as well as the position of marginal peoples and the environment. (sim)