Activists protest free trade pact at EU base in Kenya
Activists protest free trade pact at EU base in Kenya
Wed Jan 24, 2007
NAIROBI (AFP) — Some 2,000 anti-globalisation activists were marching in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to protest against a plan to liberalise trade between developing nations and the European Union.
The marchers said implementation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, due to come into force in 2008, should be delayed for several years.
"Fight poverty, stop the EPAs," "We do not need euros," chanted the protesters marching from Nairobi’s Uhuru (Independence) Park to the EU offices where they unsuccessfully sought an audience with the heads of mission.
The protests were held during the ongoing World Social Forum, a gathering of thousands of anti-globalisation activisits which wraps up on Thursday.
"We are demanding a moratorium of several years on the signing of the EPAs to enable ACP countries, particularly African nations emerging from conflicts, to revamp their agriculture," said Ousainou Ngum, an activist.
Ngum said African governments were willing to sign the EPAs without being worried that their markets will be flooded by goods from the more developed European countries whose agricultural sector benefits from subsidies.
At a meeting between representatives of the the two blocs in Khartoum last month, the ACP regretted the lack of progress with the EPAs.
