STATEMENT FROM NORTH SUMATERA INDONESIA PO and NGO, AS MEMBERS OF
INTERNATIONAL
CIVIL SOCIETY- OPPOSING A MILLENNIUM ROUND OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
In November 1999, the governments of the world will meet in Seattle for
the
World Trade Organization's Third Ministerial Conference. We, the
undersigned members of international civil society from North Sumatera
Indonesia, oppose any effort to
expand the powers of the World Trade Organization (WTO) through a new
comprehensive round of trade liberalisation. Instead, governments should
review and rectify the deficiencies of the system and the WTO regime
itself.
The Uruguay Round Agreements and the establishment of the WTO were
proclaimed as a means of enhancing the creation of global wealth and
prosperity and promoting the well-being of all people in all member
states.
In reality however, in the past five years the WTO has contributed to
the
concentration of wealth in the hands of the rich few; increasing poverty
for the majority of the world's population; and unsustainable patterns
of
production and consumption.
The Uruguay Round Agreements have functioned principally to prise open
markets for the benefit of transnational corporations at the expense of
national economies; workers, farmers and other people; and the
environment.
In addition, the WTO system, rules and procedures are undemocratic,
untransparent and non-accountable and have operated to marginalise the
majority of the world's people.
All this has taken place in the context of increasing global economic
instability, the collapse of national economies, increasing inequity
both
between and within nations and increasing environmental and social
degradation, as a result of the acceleration of the process of
globalisation.
The governments which dominate the WTO and the transnational
corporations
which have benefited from the WTO system have refused to recognise and
address these problems. Instead, they are pushing for further
liberalisation through the introduction of new issues for adoption in
the
WTO. This will lead to the exacerbation of the crisis associated which
the
process of globalisation and the WTO.
We oppose any further liberalisation negotiations, especially those
which
will bring new areas under the WTO regime, such as investment,
competition
policy and government procurement. We commit ourselves to campaign to
reject any such proposals. In particular we oppose the Trade Related
Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPs).
We call for a moratorium on any new issues or further negotiations that
expand the scope and power of the WTO.
During this moratorium there should be a comprehensive and in-depth
review
and assessment of the existing agreements. Effective steps should then
be
taken to change the agreements. Such a review should address the WTO's
impact on marginalised communities, development, democracy, environment,
health, human rights, labour rights and the rights of women and
children.
The review must be conducted with civil society's full participation.
The failure of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development's
Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) demonstrates broad public
opposition to the deregulation of the global economy, the increasing
dominance of transnational corporations and escalating resource use and
environmental degradation.
A review of the system will provide an opportunity for society to change
course and develop an alternative, humane and sustainable international
system of trade and investment relations.
Medan, Oct. 9th, 1999
This statement is signed by:
1. North Sumatera Peasant Union, Medan, Indonesia
2. Labour Solidarity of North Sumatera, Medan, Indonesia
3. North Sumatera Urban Poor - LENTERA, Medan, Indonesia
4. Sintesa Foundation, Kisaran, North Sumatera, Indonesia
5. Amanat Tani Foundation, Medan, Indonesia
6. Bertani Foundation, South Tapanuli, Indonesia
7. Labuhan Tani, Rantau Prapat, Indonesia
8. Delapan Foundation, Medan, Indonesia
9. Serdang Tani Foundation, Deli Serdang, Indonesia
10. Pelangi Foundation, Langkat, Indonesia
11. Alam Tani Foundation, Asahan, Indonesia
12. Sejahtera Tani Foundation, Asahan, Indonesia
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Serikat Petani Sumatera Utara/SPSU (North Sumatra Peasant Union/NSPU)
Jl. Karya Jasa 58, Pangkalan Masyhur
Medan, North Sumatera
Indonesia 20143
Tel/Fax: +62 61 7862073
Email: putratan@indosat.net.id
http://www.angelfire.com/nd/spsu (underconstruction)
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Serikat Petani Sumatera Utara/SPSU (North Sumatra Peasant Union/NSPU) is
the federation of peasant organization consists of 94 local peasant
organizations in
North Sumatera Province as its member.
SPSU is declared by the peasant of North Sumatera in Parsariran, South
Tapanuli District, North Sumatera
Province Indonesia on June 3 1994. SPSU is member of La Via Campesina
(International Peasant Movement) at International Level, and member of
Consortium for Agrarian Reform (KPA) at National Level.
SPSU is founder and member of Federasi Serikat Petani Indonesia/FSPI
(Federation of
Indonesian Peasant Union/FIPU). FSPI or FIPU declared on July 8th 1998
by several peasant organization of Indonesia.
SPSU has two main bodies : Peasant Representative Board as the
legislative body and The Peasant
Executive Body. Both of them are elected by Congress directly. In order
to implement its program SPSU will set up the Special Task Force and
recruit the Consulates in local, regional, national, and international
level. Special task force and Consulates are the supporting system of
The Peasant Executive body consists of everyone and every institutions
who concern to the Agrarian Reform, Indigenous People, Sustainable
Agriculture, Democracy, and Peasant Movement.
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