TPPA opponents hand memo to US Embassy
A memorandum opposing the "corporate colonisation" of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) was submitted to the United States Embassy today by a group of non-governmental organisations.
A memorandum opposing the "corporate colonisation" of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) was submitted to the United States Embassy today by a group of non-governmental organisations.
Members of the NGOs, including trade unions, marched from Masjid Tabung Haji to the embassy at 2.30pm and before handed over the memorandum to an assistant security managern of the embassy.
"Oppose TPPA!" chanted the group of about 100 people who carried banners that, among others, said ‘TPPA - Taking People Power Away'.
They included representatives from the National Union of Banking Employees (Nube), Malaysian Trades Unions Congress (MTUC), Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), Malaysian AIDS Council, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Solidariti Angkatan Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM).
Speaking to reporters later, one of the delegates who met with the embassy officer, Malaysian AIDS Council secretary-general Hisham Hussein, said the officer promised to hand the memorandum over to the embassy's economic division.
Embassy willing to hold talks with NGO coalition
"I read out the contents of the memorandum to the embassy representative, and he expressed his thanks and willingness to hold talks with the anti-TPPA coalition of NGO. He has not said when this will be held," Hisham said.
Among others, the NGOs urged the 12 countries in the TPPA negotiations to reject any effort that could lead to the "corporate colonisation" of the Asia Pacific nations and to promote trade that is truly free, fair, and safe to all the countries involved.
The protesters dispersed peacefully at 3.20pm
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that all 12 countries involved in the TPPA are aiming to conclude their negotiations by the end of the year.
It quoted the Japanese minister in charge of the negotiations, Akira Amari, as telling the Japanese media that "Japan will participate in discussions in a proactive and constructive manner to conclude the TPPA talks by the year-end".
Japan joined the negotiating table last month.
