The Indian group's letter to Commerce Minister Anand Sharma at the WTO 9th Minesterial at Bali

Date: 04 December 2013

To, Shri Anand Sharma

Honorable Minister for Commerce,

Government of India

Dear Sir,

We, the undersigned, represent several trade unions, farmers’ organizations, mass organisations and NGOs from India. All of us are fully in support of the Government of India’s stated position to not trade away national food security. We welcome the decision of the Indian Cabinet on 28^th November 2013 to reject any peace clause that does not guarantee a permanent solution.  The peace clause has also been widely opposed by the Chairs of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce and Agriculture, several political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties, and mass organisations. There is wide consensus in India about its harmfulness for the food security of our country.

We demand food sovereignty now. Governments must be able to take measures that ensure food sovereignty for their people and any subsidy under such policies must be exempted from AMS, especially for developing countries.

In terms of the current Peace Clause that has been superimposed on us, the Peace Clause in relation to the G-33 proposal is not acceptable, as it will put us into a situation that is worse than the present one.

We would strongly appeal to you to withstand any pressure to weaken India’s position on defending and upholding national food security as a sovereign right. The safeguarding and promotion of the country’s food security, rural employment and livelihoods are non-negotiable. Food security cannot be ensured without supporting agricultural production by small and marginal farmers.

Our country need not be defensive about protecting the right to food and fighting hunger. We would also assert that aggressively upholding the rights of our citizens is not tantamount to collapsing the ministerial talks. On the contrary, such pressure tactics must be exposed as a conspiracy to keep people hungry and poor. We underline that the Doha Round is not collapsing because of developing countries such as India but because the developed countries, especially the US and the EU, have not changed their positions and are continuing with agricultural policies, including subsidies that are harmful for other countries’ producers globally. This is the issue that governments around the world should be talking about.

We would like to reiterate that we are with you and would closely monitor the negotiations during the ministerial meeting to ensure that the interests of the poor and hungry are not compromised in any way.

Action Aid India

Bhartiya Kisan Union

Bharatiya Krishak Samaj

Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh

Focus on the Global South India

Great Mission Group Consultancy

Karnataka Rajya Ryots Sangh

Public Services International

Right to Food Campaign

Shram Seva Nyas

South Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers’ Movements

Swadeshi JagranManch

Third World Network, India