[asia-apec 896] GATT Watchdog Media Release: APEC 98

[Gatt Watchdog]

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
19/11/98

Silly Shirts and Sideshows Won't Disguise APEC's Inhuman Face

Al Gore's comments about democracy in Malaysia at APEC have little to do with
human rights, says GATT Watchdog.  The media furore over his and Jenny
Shipley's utterances is a convenient distraction away from the fact that APEC
is in serious trouble, says the fair trade coalition.

"Gore's comments are all about US displeasure at Mahathir's calls for
regulation of the financial markets and Malaysia's continued refusal to throw
itself headlong into opening up its economy.  Just as US support for Suharto
was withdrawn earlier this year after he had defied IMF prescriptions for the
Indonesian economy in the wake of the economic crisis, so too are Gore's
comments precipitated by US economic interests, not by genuine concern for the
rights of Malaysian people.  To hold him up as some kind of human rights
advocate is totally missing the point.  The Americans, as always, are
interested in protecting their interests and bolstering their economic power
in the region," says Aziz Choudry, of GATT Watchdog.

Aziz Choudry returned on Tuesday from the International Conference on
Alternatives to Globalisation in Tagaytay City, the Philippines, and the Asia
Pacific Peoples Assembly, an alternative summit held parallel to the APEC
Summit organised by peoples organisations, unions and non-government
organisations in Kuala Lumpur.

"Because APEC claims to be a community of economies - not governments or
countries - it excludes from consideration any 'non-economic' social or
political issues like human rights, poverty, employment or the environment
unless they are redefined in 'trade-related' terms," he says.

"Human rights will never be on the APEC agenda.  Free trade and investment is
all about removing barriers to the exploitation of people and resources.  It
is about the deregulation of labour markets, less onerous health and safety
requirements, erosion or elimination of minimum wages and conditions, lack of
job security, and reduction of the social wage.  The APEC model of development
tramples on human rights daily as it tries - with increasing difficulty these
days, it seems - to make member economies compete in a race to the bottom to
attract investment and lock in a free trade regime."

"All the silly shirts in the world, and sweeping feelgood statements cannot
hide the fact that the APEC vision for the region is bankrupt - economically,
morally, socially, environmentally and politically.  Moreover, despite the
equally silly pronouncements of New Zealand government ministers and officials
that the Kuala Lumpur Summit has seen "remarkable" achievements, the finest
seamstress in the world cannot patch up the gaping holes that have appeared in
APEC member countries commitments to further trade and investment
liberalisation."

"Any model of development which seeks to insulate itself from the impact of
the package of reforms it promotes is unacceptable and dangerous.  It is
hardly surprising that APEC Leaders have just concluded their meetings in an
embarrassment-free fantasyland, miles away from Kuala Lumpur, light years away
from the real world. The APEC vision is crafted in a brave new world in which
people are mere "human resources".  It is this poisoned worldview, and this
fragile-looking forum, which the New Zealand Government will be trying to sell
to the public over the next few months.  Any way we look at it, APEC 1999 is
just not worth it!" said Mr Choudry.

For further comment, contact Aziz Choudry, GATT Watchdog ph (03) 3662803