Thai Pm Tries Garlic To Placate Farmers

[Boater]

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Sunday used his weekly television address to give tips on cooking with garlic, hoping to ward off protests by farmers of the pungent bulb.

The colourful and controversial premier, using ingredients such as shrimp paste, chillies and mackerel, urged people to buy local rather than imported garlic, and rattled off his favourite garlic-infused dishes.

"I did not come here today for ... a cooking demonstration, but I came here to show these ingredients," said Samak, who was a television chef before his People Power Party was elected in December 2007.

"I want to ask people to help buy local garlic -- it is perfect for Thai foods. If we are not helping each other, who will help us?"

Samak's new government is facing the threat of protests from truck drivers, rice farmers, fishermen and now garlic growers, who want state assistance to battle soaring inflation and high fuel prices.

"I bought the garlic to prevent them from blocking the roads," Samak told the nation.

Thai truck drivers have given the government until Tuesday to come up with an assistance plan -- or they say they will block roads into Bangkok.

Local media last week reported that garlic farmers were threatening protests as the price of their product falls thanks to competition from imports.

Samak is already facing street protests from the group whose rallies in early 2006 helped lead to a coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra later that year.

Last month, the food-loving Samak had to cancel his appearances on two Thai cooking shows after the opposition complained that his culinary moonlighting was unlawful.

[SeanPhuket]

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Sunday used his weekly television address to give tips on cooking with garlic, hoping to ward off protests by farmers of the pungent bulb.

The colourful and controversial premier, using ingredients such as shrimp paste, chillies and mackerel, urged people to buy local rather than imported garlic, and rattled off his favourite garlic-infused dishes.

"I did not come here today for ... a cooking demonstration, but I came here to show these ingredients," said Samak, who was a television chef before his People Power Party was elected in December 2007.

"I want to ask people to help buy local garlic -- it is perfect for Thai foods. If we are not helping each other, who will help us?"

Samak's new government is facing the threat of protests from truck drivers, rice farmers, fishermen and now garlic growers, who want state assistance to battle soaring inflation and high fuel prices.

"I bought the garlic to prevent them from blocking the roads," Samak told the nation.

Thai truck drivers have given the government until Tuesday to come up with an assistance plan -- or they say they will block roads into Bangkok.

Local media last week reported that garlic farmers were threatening protests as the price of their product falls thanks to competition from imports.

Samak is already facing street protests from the group whose rallies in early 2006 helped lead to a coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra later that year.

Last month, the food-loving Samak had to cancel his appearances on two Thai cooking shows after the opposition complained that his culinary moonlighting was unlawful.

Can I have some garlic? Wana go pick up some girls tonight

[jimmi]

Thailand and it's people need help, and the P.M. gives them cooking with garlic. This guy is joke. Let them eat cake... or in this case garlic.

[h90]

Thailand and it's people need help, and the P.M. gives them cooking with garlic. This guy is joke. Let them eat cake... or in this case garlic.

he is doing a pretty good job....as clown of the nation

[cclub75]

Thailand and it's people need help, and the P.M. gives them cooking with garlic. This guy is joke. Let them eat cake... or in this case garlic.

Indeed. A joke. And a disgrace.

Thailand deserves "something" better. Really.

[gpdjohn]

He's no clown.

I couldn't agree more.

[Ricardo]

Thailand and it's people need help, and the P.M. gives them cooking with garlic. This guy is joke. Let them eat cake... or in this case garlic.

Someone remind me, was it not PM Samak's hero, for whom he is now acting allegedly as a nominee, who in fact signed the FTA with China, which first permitted the flood of cheap-and-milder garlic into Thailand, and which led to the present unfortunate situation for local garlic-farmers ?

Perhaps PPP/TRT might now apologise, for their error which has damaged the interests of this small group of Thais, or then again perhaps not. They might rather blame the foreigners for under-cutting the local market ! Or impose 'quality-inspections', as in France, which result in the imports being turned-back at the borders ?

[Scott]

Surely they can use garlic for making ethanol. The smell of that coming out of the rear end of all the cars should make BKK smell sweet!

Another, a possibly a good idea, would be to process the garlic for the health food market and supplement market where garlic is viewed as a cure-all for many things.

Of course the best option might be export certain members of the gov't and solve a lot of problems, not just the garlic one!

[sriracha john]

Mr. Happy Garlic to the rescue....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2035152

[AussieFarang]

What a fantastic solution.

Now other than being just incompetent & inactive he's also got bad breath.!!!!!

[geriatrickid]

He's no clown. (Images of gorilla posted alongside ofThai PM not repeated)

Do you have any understanding of how raciast your montage is? It's a throwback to the Jim Crow era. You are comparing the duly elected Prime Minister to a gorilla based upon "visual characteristics". This is something one would see posted at a "white" supremacist website and is not something I think any evolved human being would want to be associated with. Aside from the inaccuracy of such a comparison, it's plain wrong. You are in Thailand, not 1930's era Alabama, nor Toronto or Durban circa 1950. This montage is not fair comment, although I recognize that even bigots have a right to air their views. I'd appreciate it though if we were not dragged into the gutter.

[ashacat]

Eat Garlic!!

[h90]

He's no clown. (Images of gorilla posted alongside ofThai PM not repeated)

Do you have any understanding of how raciast your montage is? It's a throwback to the Jim Crow era. You are comparing the duly elected Prime Minister to a gorilla based upon "visual characteristics". This is something one would see posted at a "white" supremacist website and is not something I think any evolved human being would want to be associated with. Aside from the inaccuracy of such a comparison, it's plain wrong. You are in Thailand, not 1930's era Alabama, nor Toronto or Durban circa 1950. This montage is not fair comment, although I recognize that even bigots have a right to air their views. I'd appreciate it though if we were not dragged into the gutter.

I agree and sure WWF and Greenpeace would agree.

Gorillas are known for being intelligent, gentle, kind and carefully. Real lovely creatures, all that does not apply Samak.

I have seen many Thais drawing him with pigs nose (actually not much to change) is that politically correct?

[cclub75]

I agree and sure WWF and Greenpeace would agree.

Gorillas are known for being intelligent, gentle, kind and carefully. Real lovely creatures, all that does not apply Samak.

I have seen many Thais drawing him with pigs nose (actually not much to change) is that politically correct?

Well said.

We're tired of US obsessional self-centric political correctness.

And if one people should be shocked, yes indeed, it would be the WWF... Because Samak is bad publicity for animals.

[h90]

I agree and sure WWF and Greenpeace would agree.

Gorillas are known for being intelligent, gentle, kind and carefully. Real lovely creatures, all that does not apply Samak.

I have seen many Thais drawing him with pigs nose (actually not much to change) is that politically correct?

Well said.

We're tired of US obsessional self-centric political correctness.

And if one people should be shocked, yes indeed, it would be the WWF... Because Samak is bad publicity for animals.

pssst....

you know what happens with people who don't agree.....They get tortured in the name of democracy, freedom and human rights.

[OlRedEyes]

Thailand deserves "something" better. Really.

That is debatable....

[Tony Clifton]

He's no clown. (Images of gorilla posted alongside ofThai PM not repeated)

Do you have any understanding of how raciast your montage is? It's a throwback to the Jim Crow era. You are comparing the duly elected Prime Minister to a gorilla based upon "visual characteristics". This is something one would see posted at a "white" supremacist website and is not something I think any evolved human being would want to be associated with. Aside from the inaccuracy of such a comparison, it's plain wrong. You are in Thailand, not 1930's era Alabama, nor Toronto or Durban circa 1950. This montage is not fair comment, although I recognize that even bigots have a right to air their views. I'd appreciate it though if we were not dragged into the gutter.

I sincerely apologize to each and every gorilla of planet Earth.

You have a lot of balls calling me a supremacist while we both are in a country rampant with exploitation and slavery of workers from neighbouring countries who's lives are apparently worth closeto or nothing, industrial scale prostitution, human trafficking, child prostitution etc.

Edited June 16, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[cloudhopper]

Reminds me of the "origami" approach...

[OlRedEyes]

He's no clown. (Images of gorilla posted alongside ofThai PM not repeated)

Do you have any understanding of how raciast your montage is? It's a throwback to the Jim Crow era. You are comparing the duly elected Prime Minister to a gorilla based upon "visual characteristics". This is something one would see posted at a "white" supremacist website and is not something I think any evolved human being would want to be associated with. Aside from the inaccuracy of such a comparison, it's plain wrong. You are in Thailand, not 1930's era Alabama, nor Toronto or Durban circa 1950. This montage is not fair comment, although I recognize that even bigots have a right to air their views. I'd appreciate it though if we were not dragged into the gutter.

And pray tell how is comparing an individual to a gorilla racist? Race doesn't come into it. Maybe it's specist, or summat

[allane]

When it comes to dealing with protesters, mace is much more effective than garlic.

[Seneque]

A vampire promoting garlic ?

[alex_aka_P]

Thai truck drivers have given the government until Tuesday to come up with an assistance plan -- or they say they will block roads into Bangkok.

....

Samak's new government is facing the threat of protests from truck drivers, rice farmers, fishermen and now garlic growers,

So what all of those garlic-growers will do next? Throw the garlic inside of Wat Phra Kaew?

[Bagwan]

Thailand deserves "something" better. Really.

That is debatable....

I shall never, ever, forget Mayor Samak's response to reporters when areas of BKK were under water after he promised that there would be no flooding. "You fools," he blasted. "Anybody can see that these are not floods but excess rain water." Prime Minister material?

The son of Kamnan Poh, who has gone walk about since being found guilty of murder and fraud (he sold land that didn't belong to him to Pattaya City Council for about 90 million), was recently elected Mayor of Pattaya.

Rather than deserving something better, it seems to me that the Thai people ask for what they end up with.

[h90]

Thailand deserves "something" better. Really.

That is debatable....

I shall never, ever, forget Mayor Samak's response to reporters when areas of BKK were under water after he promised that there would be no flooding. "You fools," he blasted. "Anybody can see that these are not floods but excess rain water." Prime Minister material?

The son of Kamnan Poh, who has gone walk about since being found guilty of murder and fraud (he sold land that didn't belong to him to Pattaya City Council for about 90 million), was recently elected Mayor of Pattaya.

Rather than deserving something better, it seems to me that the Thai people ask for what they end up with.

Maybe epidemic masochism?

[Bagwan]

Thailand deserves "something" better. Really.

That is debatable....

I shall never, ever, forget Mayor Samak's response to reporters when areas of BKK were under water after he promised that there would be no flooding. "You fools," he blasted. "Anybody can see that these are not floods but excess rain water." Prime Minister material?

The son of Kamnan Poh, who has gone walk about since being found guilty of murder and fraud (he sold land that didn't belong to him to Pattaya City Council for about 90 million), was recently elected Mayor of Pattaya.

Rather than deserving something better, it seems to me that the Thai people ask for what they end up with.

[Seneque]

The son of Kamnan Poh, who has gone walk about since being found guilty of murder and fraud (he sold land that didn't belong to him to Pattaya City Council for about 90 million), was recently elected Mayor of Pattaya.

Rather than deserving something better, it seems to me that the Thai people ask for what they end up with.

Here lies the reason why intelligent, able thai people stay away from political office ... who wants to risk being murdered just for showing up ....

Let the poh's, the chalerm's , the samak's of this world run this country ... the same happens in russia, in Italy , in ... etc... stay alive and enjoy what you can.

[sriracha john]

A new twist on the garlic farmers protest...

Above: If growing garlic has no price (return), we’d rather grow marijuana instead.

- from 2Bangkok.com

[hammered]

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Sunday used his weekly television address to give tips on cooking with garlic, hoping to ward off protests by farmers of the pungent bulb.

The colourful and controversial premier, using ingredients such as shrimp paste, chillies and mackerel, urged people to buy local rather than imported garlic, and rattled off his favourite garlic-infused dishes.

"I did not come here today for ... a cooking demonstration, but I came here to show these ingredients," said Samak, who was a television chef before his People Power Party was elected in December 2007.

"I want to ask people to help buy local garlic -- it is perfect for Thai foods. If we are not helping each other, who will help us?"

Samak's new government is facing the threat of protests from truck drivers, rice farmers, fishermen and now garlic growers, who want state assistance to battle soaring inflation and high fuel prices.

"I bought the garlic to prevent them from blocking the roads," Samak told the nation.

Thai truck drivers have given the government until Tuesday to come up with an assistance plan -- or they say they will block roads into Bangkok.

Local media last week reported that garlic farmers were threatening protests as the price of their product falls thanks to competition from imports.

Samak is already facing street protests from the group whose rallies in early 2006 helped lead to a coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra later that year.

Last month, the food-loving Samak had to cancel his appearances on two Thai cooking shows after the opposition complained that his culinary moonlighting was unlawful.

A moment of truth. Nothing about caring for the plight of the poor or trying to help them. Just I was scared of another protest.

Anyway guess that clears up the rumour of Samak being one of the blood sucking undead.

[bonobo]

Well said.

We're tired of US obsessional self-centric political correctness.

How did the US get drawn into this? Is the US really the source of all that is good or bad in this world?

Seems to me that "politcal correctness" is prevalent in most nations which have the time and energy to devote to that rather than merely surviving. Actually, I take that back. I have seen it in various forms in almost all nations in the world.

[nomoretalksin]

just to remind Samak once again, a litle bit about history, and why we have this cheap garlic overflow etc. here in Thailand, in the first place.

FTA's were put apparantly as many critics note, for Thaksin's and his cronies own business (such as is current lawyer and current proxy foreign minister Noppadon = medicine company) interest.

And even worse, in a typical Thaksin manner, in a speedy way, without checking the facts for his own voters/country-men/women:

1)

http://www.bilaterals.org/article-print.php3?id_article=3553

Quote

posted 13-01-2006 <h1 class="titre-texte">Sondhi alleges Thaksin signs FTA with Australia, China to benefit his IP Star</h1>

Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Manger Group, alleged that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra signed free trade agreement contracts with Australia and China with ulterior motive to benefit telecom businesses of his family. The Nation, Thailand

Sondhi alleges Thaksin signs FTA with Australia, China to benefit his IP Star

13 January 2006

Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Manger Group, alleged that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra signed free trade agreement contracts with Australia and China with ulterior motive to benefit telecom businesses of his family.

Sondhi said the FTA contracts with Australia and China had severely affected villagers and farmers but the IP Star satellite project of Shin Corp, owned by Thaksin's family, stood to benefit greatly.

Sondhi said the FTA contracts with Australia affected daily farmers and villagers who made and sold locally-brew liquors as Australia could export milk and spirits to Thailand with no tariff.

At the same time, the FTA contract with China caused garlic and onion farmers to suffer with influx of cheaper garlic and onion from China but the telecom businesses of Thaksin's family could expand to China.

Unquote

------------------------

or here:

2)

http://www.ftawatch.org/autopage1/show_pag...id=3&d_id=3

Quote

Thailand's Free Trade Agreements and Human Rights Obligations

Prepared by FTA Watch Thailand, March 2005,

for Submission to the 84th Session of the UN Human Rights Committee

Introduction

Since 2002, the government of Thailand, under the leadership of Pol Lt-Col Thaksin Shinawatra, has made considerable efforts to initiate and expedite bilateral and regional trade agreements (FTAs). The Prime Minister announced clearly that his government would "employ free trade area negotiations as Thailand's economic tactics in the areas of international trade and investment" (keynote address, 18 February, 2004). At present, agreements have been signed with China, India, Bahrain, and Australia. Negotiations are currently in progress with the United States of America (US), Japan, Peru, New Zealand, BIMSTEC (members consisting of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Phutan, Nepal and Thailand) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

FTA negotiations with developed countries in particular have an agenda that goes beyond trade in goods. They almost without fail include deregulation of investment measures, liberalization of trade in services, and implementation of competition policies. Also, trade-related intellectual property rules in FTAs risk undermining Thailand's ability to take measures to ensure access to affordable medicines. Moreover, the elimination of tariffs on agricultural goods in FTAs may have an affect on the livelihoods of small farmers, thereby affecting food security of rural communities.

This would undermine Thailand's ability to comply with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, especially the right to life (article 6, as interpreted by HRC General Comment No. 6 (1982)) and the rights of the child (article 24, as interpreted by HRC General Comment No 17 (1989). These obligations include the need to "take all possible measures to reduce infant mortality and to increase life expectancy, especially by adopting measures to eliminate malnutrition and epidemics."[1]

Moreover, FTA negotiations have been conducted secretively, without sufficient consultation and participation of public-interest civil society groups. Even though the government claimed to consult with people through several organised meetings, only limited groups of people have opportunities to participate. There was a lack of access to the draft negotiating texts in all sectors, which created difficulties for people to assess the potential impacts from the negotiations.

Small Farmers' Right to Livelihood

The elimination of tariffs on agricultural goods imported from countries that are parties to the FTAs, which is the main feature of all bilateral FTAs, can have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of small domestic producers. This may undermine Thailand's ability to "take every possible economic and social measure" to "eradicate malnutrition" under the right to life (article 6, as interpreted by General Comment No.6 (1982) and to "eradicate malnutrition among children" (article 24, as interpreted by General Comment No. 17 (1989).

A case in point is the agreement with China to eliminate completely tariffs on 116 types of fruit and vegetables. This came into effect on October 1, 2003. Within a year, imports from China surged by 180% resulting in a plunge in prices of most temperate fruits and vegetables in the domestic market by 30-50%. It is estimated that 100,000 farming families or 500,000 people have been negatively impacted by this surge in cheap imports, thereby affecting their access to food and nutritional input. Some, like garlic and onion growers, have suffered especially severe effects with their livelihoods threatened. Despite warnings by academics, the government had chosen not to take any safeguard measures.

Another 100,000 dairy farmers are being threatened in the same way by the FTA with Australia. Though the government has argued that tariff reductions and quota increases for dairy imports from Australia will be gradual and spread over a period of 20 years, farmers know that their livelihoods have been written off. It took many protests by the farmers before the government promised some assistance for them to adjust to the change. Corn and soybean farmers, however, have already been affected by market liberalization under the WTO and consequent dumping by the US agri-businesses in the last ten years with average prices decreasing by over 10%; it is anybody's guess how much further they will be affected by the FTA under negotiation with the US.

Proposed recommendations:

Thailand should undertake an assessment of the impact of trade rules on its obligation to protect the right to life and its ability to take measures to eradicate malnutrition before undertaking any new commitments under FTAs.

Thailand should also take into account its international human rights obligations under the Covenant when negotiating and implementing agricultural trade rules.

II. Access to information and participation in the conduct of FTA negotiations

The High Commissioner has, on several occasions, encouraged States to undertake human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) of trade-related rules and policies systematically (E/CN.4/2004/40, paragraph 55). HRIAs would require not only participatory methodologies - to ensure assessment quality as well as to implement the right to participate - but also comparing the real and potential impact of trade policies against a range of comprehensive indicators based on internationally recognized civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Significantly, the principle of non-discrimination as a core human rights principle promotes the disaggregation of impacts between men and women, different national, ethnic and racial groups and so on, promoting participation of a broader range of views and experiences within any assessment.

However, Thailand has conducted FTA negotiations in a secretive manner, without sufficient consultation and participation of public-interest civil society groups. The conduct of the Thai government in relation to FTA negotiations is inconsistent with its human rights obligations. These include the obligation to respect access to information (article 19, as interpreted by General Comment No. 19 (1983)); to ensure every citizen's right to participate in the conduct of public affairs (article 25, as interpreted by General Comment No. 25 (1996); to encourage public participation in policy decision making and monitoring the state's exercise of power (article 76 in the Thai Constitution); and to obtain wider and broader transparency in the negotiating process (Sec. 2102 ( (5) in the US's Bipartisan Trade Authority Bill 2002).

This has been reaffirmed by the Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs; Economic, Commercial and Industrial Affairs; Agriculture and Cooperatives; and Finance, Banking and Financial Institutions. These Committees conducted studies of relevant documents and interviews with responsible government negotiators in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce and held consultations with business organizations, NGOs and academics, including members of FTA Watch. As a result, the Committees issued a statement dated October 10, 2003, raising the following concerns over the nature of the negotiations.

1. The negotiation processes had been conducted in a rushed manner. Framework agreements had been concluded with 6 countries within 2 years and several more were expected to be completed without any clear information on their long-term impact.

2. There was no evidence of systematic, comprehensive studies on the impact of the FTAs, especially from the social, environmental, and cultural perspectives. A great number of questions and concerns were raised by the private sector on the economic studies that were available and the lack of clear answers from officials.

3. There was a lack of participation by all stake-holders in determining the country's position in negotiations; consultation was limited to private businesses. Negotiating positions had been determined on the basis of an assessment of levels of competitiveness in the private sector alone without regard to the overall social, cultural and environmental impacts.

4. Many commitments made in the signed framework agreements would necessitate prior approval by Parliament according to Article 224 of the constitution, which governed the signing of international treaties that affect the country's sovereignty. In particular, these commitments implied changes to or restrictions on domestic legislation.

5. There was insufficient preparation to mitigate the impact of the FTAs. The only response stated was for those affected to change occupation or for farmers to change crops. This could lead to a major problem of food security if farmers were forced to abandon food crops due to cheaper imports as a result of the FTAs.

Consequently, the statement called for the government to undertake several measures to address the above mentioned concerns. The most significant recommendations concern

- a submission for parliamentarian scrutiny and approval of any commitments made in any FTA negotiation which would result in any infringement on state sovereignty or require the passing of laws,

- and the establishment of a consultation process, which would include all sectors of society, prior to the signing of any agreement.

Moreover, a House of Representatives Sub-Committee on FTAs recommended in November 2004 that the government consult all stakeholders by means of public hearings organized under the existing guidelines of the Office of the Prime Minister.

In addition, the National Human Rights Commission, an agency established under the Constitution and independent of the government, has repeatedly voiced concerns over the lack of transparency and participation in the process of FTA negotiations, and on the negative impact of FTAs on the poor.

Until now the government has responded to none of these proposals, recommendations and concerns. Nor has there been any significant change in the government's method of conducting negotiations. The Department of International Trade Negotiation, Ministry of Commerce, put more effort into publicizing progress reports on the negotiations and set up "suggestion boxes" on their website and at a call centre.

More significantly, the government went ahead with signing the Free Trade Agreement with Australia and New Zealand without the involvement of Parliament and without disclosing the content of the agreement to the public until after the pact, and there is also no translation of the agreement into Thai language.

There are good grounds for questioning the transparency of the ongoing negotiations over the Thai-US FTA. An official negotiator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly admitted that the US had requested that the Thai chief negotiator sign a confidential agreement before the start of negotiations. (No details or context of the negotiations is accessible to the public so the content of the proposed agreement is not known.) At that time the chief negotiator reportedly did not sign but gave a 'gentleman's agreement' to what the US had requested.

Proposed recommendations:

Thailand should ensure access to information to government studies and government negotiating positions under FTAs.

Thailand should ensure greater consultation and participation of public-interest civil society groups in FTA negotiations.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The bilateral Free Trade Agreements that the Thai government has already signed or is in the process of negotiating with several countries invariably have a significant impact on millions of Thais. In some cases, FTAs infringe on the human rights of Thai citizens, such as the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and the right to livelihood.

Moreover, the Thai government has repeatedly failed to take heed of the concerns voiced by various sectors and institutions, or to provide all the stake-holders with the opportunity to participate meaningfully. It has refused to disclose the details of negotiations and neglected to undertake due parliamentary process recommended by the Senate before signing FTAs. Such processes are violations of the rights to freedom of information and to participate in public affairs.

FTA Watch calls on Parliament and the Thai people to demand that the Thaksin Shinawatra government take into accounts its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and international human rights law when negotiating and implementing FTAs.

Moreover, FTA Watch requests that the Thai government:

1. Remove intellectual property rights from Free Trade Agreement or other trade negotiations or agreements.

2. Undertake detailed impact assessments of the effects of all proposed trade liberalization measures on each sector of the economy, including the overall impact on the economy, human rights obligations, society, culture, the environment and sovereignty. These impact assessments must be conducted by inter-disciplinary groups of independent, impartial and non-partisan researchers.

3. Grant access to results of studies and government negotiating positions must be made public and public hearings must be conducted, involving stake-holders in all regions of the country.

4. Grant access to negotiation frameworks and maximum negotiating positions that reflect research results and public responses must be submitted to Parliament for approval at least 90 days prior to the start of negotiations.

5. Ensure that the Thai Senate and the House of Parliament each appoint an official committee to monitor closely the negotiation processes.

6. Institute a mechanism to ensure that the people, not only from the business sector, have access to information and the opportunity to express their opinions at all stages of the negotiations.

7. Ensure that the results of negotiations must be submitted to both the Senate and the House for approval at least 90 days prior to the signing of any agreement.

8. Ensure that all documents related to the negotiation, including the resulting agreements, must be available in Thai.

In review with the Thai government, FTA Watch proposes the Human Rights Committee the following questions:

1. Does the Thai government have a concern on its people's access to medicines at all? If yes, why has it not immediately implement the WTO's Decision of 30 August 2003 on "IMPLEMENTATION OF PARAGRAPH 6 OF THE DOHA DECLARATION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH", considering that there is a severe shortage of anti-troviral Effavirenz?

2. Does the Thai government consider a demand for TRIPs-Plus, which is likely to result in a longer period of monopoly, whether from data exclusivity or patent extension, as a problem of human rights?

3. How can the Thai government assure that in all trade negotiations rights to access to medicines will not be violated?

-------------------------------------

Related Information

• Thailand's Free Trade Agreements and Human Rights Obligations (PDF File)
  
• Request for an Urgent Appeal to Mr.Paul Hunt
  
• FTA Watch and allies sent an appeal to the Special Rapporteur
  

unquote

Edited June 17, 2008 by nomoretalksin