Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 03 2010:
The campaign against the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) launched by the Northeast Dialogue Forum reached Moirang where a mass rally was taken out today.
The rally participated by hundreds of people was organized in collaboration with New Life Foundation.
A public meeting followed the rally in which resource persons highlighted the impact of the agreement on the people of NE region.
The rally which started from Moirang Multi-purpose Higher Secondary was flagged off by Rose Mangshi, president of the Kuki Women Union.
Students of various schools also participated in the rally.
The rally cum public meeting was organized in the context of the upcoming EU-India Business Summit in Brussels, Belgium on December 10. The meeting highlighted the implications for the NE particularly small and marginal farmers and women.
It also brought together several representatives of civil society groups and concerned individuals.
At the concluding part of the meeting a memorandum was drafted for onward submission to the Prime Minister of India.
The memorandum alleged lack of transparency, public debate and democratic process in the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and sought constitution of an independent commission to review any agreement.