People's Democracy

WITH the people set to experience the disastrous effects of the declaration adopted by the Hong Kong WTO ministerial meeting in the coming period, the CPI(M) has called for large-scale mobilisation of people, particularly the peasantry, against the declaration and against the compromising role of the government of India.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India along with the leaders of the 'Indian People's Campaign Against WTO' (IPCAWTO) on December 19, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat declared that the fight for safeguarding the interests of our people will largely be outside the parliament as it may not be needed for the government to bring legislation to implement the declaration it has signed in Hong Kong. However, if and when such legislation is brought, the CPI(M) will carry on the fight inside the parliament too, he said.

Strongly condemning the government's failure to protect the interests of people, particularly farmers, Karat demanded an explanation from the government as to what India has gained from this declaration. He said the CPI(M) and the Left had held two rounds of discussions with the government prior to the Hong Kong meet on the stand it should adopt at the meet. "We were apprehensive that India instead of leading the developing countries in the fight to safeguard the interests of masses could side with the developed world. This has happened, particularly in the services sector where India collaborated with the US in unleashing the most retrograde measures", he said. Karat felt that what the government has agreed to in Hong Kong will put us into more trouble in the run up to the 2006 negotiations. "Pressure will mount on us further, he opined.

Terming the development of all developing countries getting together in Hong Kong as a "good thing", he however felt that this has not helped in overturning the inequitable trade regime. He highlighted the failure of the Indian government in this aspect.

S P Shukla, convenor of the IPCAWTO in his opening remarks said that the potential of the consolidated unity of developing countries was not used and he blamed India and Brazil for choosing not to lead. He termed as hollow all the gains being tom-tommed by the government, particularly the 2013 deadline of elimination of export subsidies by the developed world. He felt the Indian government failed totally in safeguarding the farmers interests. "From outside it may appear that we have gained some concessions, but when one makes a deeper analysis it is clear the people of the country have been let-down", he said.

CPI leader Amarjeet Kaur, well known anti-WTO activist Vandana Shiva, JD (Secular) leader Surendra Mohan were among those who addressed the media. (INN)