On the occasion of the Ninth Ministerial Meeting of the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Bali, Indonesia, several farmers’
organisations, trade unions, mass organisations and peoples’ campaigns resolved
to support the Indian Government’s position to not trade away national food
security.
 |
| Protest at the 9th WTO Minesterial, Bali, Indonesia |
The group welcomes the decision of the Indian Cabinet on 28th
November to reject any peace clause that does not guarantee a permanent solution. The peace clause has 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.
 |
| Kannaiyan (wearing the green cap), secretary of the SICCFM, at the WTO conference venue |
However, the group cautioned the Indian negotiating team
headed by Commerce Minister Mr. Anand Sharma, not to bow to any pressure to
weaken India’s position on defending and upholding national food security as a
sovereign right. The group declared that the safeguarding and promotion of the
country’s food security, rural employment and livelihoods are non-negotiable,
and that food security cannot be ensured without supporting agricultural
production by small and marginal farmers
 |
| Nandini Jayaram, women's coordinator of SICCFM, also defending the rights of farmers, at Bali |
The group reminds the WTO members that no country needs to
be on the defensive about protecting the right to food and fighting hunger in
their countries. And that aggressively
upholding the rights of its 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.
It was decided that the group 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.
The following groups are currently in Bali, as the voices of millions of Indian farmers.
Bhartiya Kisan Union
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj
Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh
Focus on the Global South India
Great Mission Group Consultancy
Public Services International
Right to Food Campaign
Shram Seva Nyas
South Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers’ Movements
Swadeshi JagranManch
Third World Network India
