Peruvian farm orgs protest FTA
Peruvian Farm Orgs Protest FTA
Lima, Mar 10, 2006 (Prensa Latina) — More than 30 agricultural organizations in Peru announced a national strike against possible signing of a free trade agreement with the United States, which they believe would severely affect them.
The strike is called for the 29 and 30 of this month, informed German Altamirano, leader of the Communal Agrarian Business Association, because more than 95 percent of small and median farmers are excluded from the accord and it will provoke a mass migration to the cities.
The treaty has been signed by Lima and Washington and is pending approval by both legislatures, but dozens of social organizations have launched a "This FTA, No" campaign and are gathering signatures to force the legislature to submit the treaty to a popular referendum.
Although President Alejandro Toledo has been advertising massively for months to convince the people the treaty will solve all of Peru’s problems, the text of the accord has not been published and many fear it was negotiated under too much pressure to assess its real effects.
