Activists rally against Thai-EU FTA talks

BANGKOK, September 20 (TNA) - A group of Thai activists has gathered in Chiang Mai province in the Thai North, where Thai and European Union (EU) officials are holding their second-round negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA), to show their opposition to the talks. Voicing their disagreement with Thailand's opening up of the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors, the protesters, who are members of 28 civic groups, marched from Tha Pae Gate to the Le Meridian Hotel, the venue of the two-day FTA negotiations, on Thursday, amid heavy police presence. The protesters also showed their support for Olarn Chaipravat, President of Thailand Trade Representatives Office and head of the Thai negotiation team, urging him to protect public and national interests. The activists held hand-made banners reading "No TRIP+ Stop Stealing Seed and Medicines,” indicating key issues of their concerns over adverse impacts from the FTA to Thai patients and farmers. The protesters claimed that the Thai-EU FTA, if concluded, would increase the country's costs of medicines and agricultural seeds, saying they fear that European companies, particularly pharmaceutical makers and seed producers, could monopolize Thai industries. The activists also handed a petition to the EU chief negotiator, Joao Aguiar Machado, who is also Deputy Director-General for Trade of the European Commission. The current round of Thai-EU FTA negotiations began on September 16 and ends on September 20, before the third round which has been set to be held in Brussels in December 2013. (TNA)