Peasants stage protest rally
The Sangai Express | 17.12.2011
Peasants stage protest rally
Imphal, December 16 2011: Peasants coming from 14 villages of Imphal West district today staged a protest rally followed by a mass meeting demanding an immediate halt to the ongoing negotiation to seal the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
The rally which was jointly organised by the Village Women Coordinating Committee, Imphal West, Kiyam Apunba Farmers’ Club and Advanced Technique Farmers’ Club started from Sangaithel Bazar and wound up at Kachikhul community hall where a public meeting ensued.
The meeting adopted four resolutions including an immediate halt to the negotiation between India and the European Union for FTA until all sections of the Indian population are aware of the FTA.
Removal of intellectual property rights from the FTA being negotiated between India and the EU, and disclosure of all the draft proposals and recommendations made by the Government for the FTA are other resolutions of the meeting.
Extensive debate and discussion on the proposals put up by both the negotiating sides before sealing the FTA was the fourth resolution of the meeting.
Later, a memorandum listing these four resolutions were dispatched to President Pratibha Patil.
Addressing the meeting, U Nobokishore of the Centre for Social Development said that negotiations between India and EU for FTA started since 2008 .
The two sides would meet for the last round of negotiation in February, 2012 but nothing has been disclosed to the public about the FTA till date.
It is the mass which would be most affected the FTA is signed between India and EU.
The FTA would give a severe blow to the traditional way of life and many would be left without a decent means of livelihood.
Agricultural lands, forests, flora and fauna, rivers and lakes would be severely affected, Nobokishore said.
FTA would not bring any meaningful development at the grassroots level.
It would only benefit companies with huge capitals, he stated.
The Parliament should discuss the FTA though it has not yet dedicated a single session to the agreement under negotiation.
The Government should not be allowed to forfeit the rights of its citizens, he said.
