Civil society groups warn PH, Asean vs free trade agreement with US
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Just days before the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit would be held in this city, civil society groups called on heads of state from the region to shun the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).
The TPPA is a proposed free trade agreement among 12 nations, led by the United States. Of the Asean countries, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore are participants. Other negotiators include Chile, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Peru, Mexico and Canada.
The Philippines is not yet part of the negotiations though US President Barack Obama, during his state visit to the Philippines last year, urged President Benigno Aquino III to engage in it.
The groups, which participated in the Asean People’s Forum, staged a protest on Friday outside the venue of the conference, which was held at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur.
The Asean People’s Forum is a conference of civil society groups. Around 1,400 individuals participated in this week’s gathering, which sought to tackle development, human rights and democracy in the region. It has been held annually for the last 10 years, parallel to the Asean Summit.
Members of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Amihan, Tanggol Bayi, Karapatan, Gabriela, Migrante, Asia Pacific Research Network, the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research and the International Migrants Alliance held placards with the slogans “People Not for Sale” and “TPPA No Way.”
Article continues after this advertisement“We want no intervention of any foreign power on the talks and negotiations within the Asean,” the groups said in a joint statement.
Article continues after this advertisementThey called the US government’s alleged “invisible hand” in Asean dealings as “obvious and ominous” and that the TPPA would only benefit trans-national and multinational corporations and “imperialist countries led by the US.”
The groups also hit the Asean for not being able “to deliver promises of a better life for their people.”
Like other heads of state in the region, Aquino is set to arrive on Sunday for the Asean Summit.
Civil society groups have been opposing the TPPA for its secret negotiations. Earlier statements from the TPPA participants said the agreement would enhance trade and investment among them, as well as economic growth and development. Wikileaks has earlier released controversial portions of the agreement. RC
