India-EU FTA deliberated at Moreh
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06 2011:
A mass rally cum public meeting was held today at Moreh where the proposed free trade agreement between India and European Union was deliberated at length.
The mass rally was flagged off from Galngam Lentol by secretary of the Border Trade and Chamber of Commerce, Moreh Surinder Singh Patheja and terminated at Ima Kondong Lairembi Haraobung after passing through Chengjapao, Moreh bus parking and Moreh market.
The mass rally cum public meeting participated by around 500 people belonging to different walks of life including students, business community, community leaders and civil societies was jointly organised by Hill Tribal Council, Moreh and Meitei Council Moreh.
Participants of the rally carried placards which read as "Free trade: nothing free about it", "India-EU FTA: Trading away our lives", "Our lives are not on sale", "People before profit", FTA a threat to people's freedom", "We demand free, fair and prior informed consent" etc.
The public meeting was opened with the presentation of key-note address by Thomas of Centre for Social Development (CSD).
CSD consultant Dr Th Homen and Ng Ningthemjao of CSD gave speeches on Indo-EU FTA.
They dealt in length about the possible demerits and negative impacts on the lives of the people once India-EU FTA comes into force.
Later, a memorandum highlighting a charter of demands was dispatched to the Prime Minister.
The charter of demands include demand for thorough debates on India-EU FTA in the Parliament at the earliest.
The second demand is, India-EU should seek free, fair and prior informed consent of the people in the region as endorsed in the ILO Convention, the UN Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous People and others before taking up any trade agreement related to land, mountain, forest, water etc which are traditionally owned by the indigenous people.
The Government of India should clearly define the link between trade and non-trade issues such as political conflict and human rights issues as violation of human rights in the region is grave.
Putting in place a strong mechanism to ensure social and environmental standard was the last point of the memorandum.
The public meeting was graced by Tamil Sangam Moreh general secretary Rabichandran, Moreh Trade and Chamber of Commerce secretary Surinder Singh Patheja, Kuki Women Union and Human Rights president Chinneivah Haokip, CSD Consultant Dr Th Homen and Meitei Council Moreh general secretary N Inaocha Meitei.