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PROTESTS BY FARMERS AND TRADE UNIONS AGAINST THE MEGA FTA RCEP
PRESS RELEASE NEW
DELHI. 1 December 2014
PROTESTS BY FARMERS AND TRADE UNIONS AGAINST THE MEGA FTA RCEP
December 1: As negotiators from 16 nations met today in
New Delhi for 5 day consultations on the Regional Cooperation Economic
Partnership (RCEP), Farmers, Trade unions, retailers groups, and civil society
organisations protested outside the India Expo
Mart in Greater Noida. Under pressure from the protestors, a delegation
submitted a memorandum to the Government officials negotiating the RCEP.
The RCEP is a complex North South
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India is negotiating with the 10 member ASEAN
block plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Amidst a
large police presence, protestors, raised slogans such as 'Protect Indian Agriculture: Say No to RCEP
FTA', 'Stop Undemocratic RCEP FTA' , ' Protect Indian Dairy Sector' , 'If FTAs
benefits people why are texts kept secret' , ' No secrecy - We Want Transparency'.
Rakesh
Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)said that the RCEP FTA will seriously
affect Indian agriculture. ' Indian agriculture is in deep crisis and a large
number of farmers continue to commit suicide. The Government's free trade
strategy is flawed. If RCEP is concluded, it will intensify the crisis in agriculture.
The Government has not conducted any
impact assessment of already concluded FTAs. We do not want the government to
go ahead with RCEP agreement even without knowing what implications it will
have on Indian agriculture', said Tikait.
Vijoo Krishnan
of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) said that the India ASEAN FTA has seriously
affected South Indian farmers. Now the RCEP with 15 other countries, will
affect farmers across India. Countries like Australia, New Zealand want to export
their dairy products to India. If the negotiations go through, it will have a
disastrous impact. We demand that the
government stop its engagement on RCEP.
Yudhvir
Singh, Convener of Coordination Committee of Farmers Movement said, 'farmers'
organisations in India oppose the RCEP
FTA. We are concerned that RCEP will increase imports of agricultural products
into India. We are also worried that farmers' access to affordable medicines
may also be affected. The Government of India has not consulted farmers'
organisations before going ahead with RCEP negotiations. This kind of secrecy
is in the 21st century is not acceptable'.
Afsar Jafri
from the NGO Focus on the Global South
said that, the NDA government is merely following the free trade path laid out
by the UPA regime. He argued that the Commerce Minister had said that the Government
will conduct a review of all FTAs. 'But it has not come out with any socio
economic impact assessment of FTAs. All negotiations are kept secret, away from
public scrutiny. Every decision taken at these secret negotiations will affect
peoples' lives. We want transparency in trade negotiations, he added.
Dharmendra
Kumar of India FDI watch expressed concern that RCEP negotiations may change
India's position on FDI in retail policy. Further India ASEAN FTA had adverse
impact on India's manufacturing sector. The promises to create manufacturing
sector and provide jobs through SEZs has also failed. Government failed to
learn lessons from adverse impact of already concluded FTAs. Its aggressive free
trade policy and signing mega FTAs like RCEP without
Protestors
demanded the government to make pubic all RCEP documents and negotiating texts.
They called on the government to hold public consultations with all who will be
directly affected by RCEP including farmers’ organizations, trade unions,
patient groups, generic medicine manufacturing companies, SMEs and civil
society organisations. As many subjects discussed under RCEP fall under state
subjects, protestors demanded that the government must hold consultations with
state governments and evolve consensus.
For any queries, contact:
• Dharmendra Malik-bku.tikait@gmail.com-09219691168
Press Release issued by
Yudhvir Singh,
Convenor,
Indian Coordination Committee of
Farmers’ Movement,
yudhvir55@yahoo.com,
986814640
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