Reuters | October 22, 2001 | by Robert Evans
GENEVA - A coalition of anti-free trade groups demanded yesterday that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ensure their right to stage protests at its coming ministerial conference, wherever it is held.
And they said any switch of the meeting from Qatar to Singapore would show the trade body wanted to hide from dissent. At the same time, Qatar's ambassador to the WTO indicated that there could be some firm move early next week on whether the venue might be transferred from his country's capital, Doha, because of security considerations.
A statement signed by 12 environmental and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs) called for the gathering to be held in Geneva - where anti-globalisation groupings could easily converge from around the world.
Ministers from the WTO's 142 member countries and some 30 others waiting to join are due to be in Doha from November 9-13.
But there have been strong indications that many want the gathering transferred, probably to Singapore, because of growing tension in Muslim countries over the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan in Washington's war against terrorism.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said on Thursday that Qatar had done a top-class job in preparing for the conference, but because of events beyond its control there was "uncertainty and risk" about the location.
Singapore, which hosted the WTO's first ministerial meeting in December 1996, has already said it would be ready to handle a scaled-down session.
But Qatar says it is going ahead with preparations. The Gulf state's ambassador to the WTO told reporters yesterday it was committed to hosting it with "security for everybody."
QATARI-U.S.CONTACTS
However the envoy, Sheikh Fahed Awaid al-Thani, said there had been contacts between the Qatari foreign ministry and U.S. officials on the issue. "I think you'll hear good news on Monday," he added, without elaborating.
The NGO coalition statement complained that Singapore "does not tolerate public dissent" and said civil society groups wanted to hold peaceful demonstrations outside the meeting. Qatar has said it would allow non-violent protests.
But, the statement added, Singapore laws made protest difficult. A police permit was required for any gathering of more than five people, and the authorities could arrest and detain without trial anyone they deemed a security threat.
"The WTO must guarantee that wherever the Ministerial is finally held, civil society groups are allowed to assemble and demonstrate peacefully," one of the NGOs, the environmentalist Friends of the Earth, declared.
Diplomats said one option had been to hold the gathering in Geneva, home to the WTO. But Swiss authorities feared that with the ministers in the city protests could degenerate into the violence seen at other international economic gatherings.
Big powers and some developing countries hope the meeting will launch a new global round of trade liberalisation negotiations, but some key emerging economies and poorer states are still holding out against the project.
Another centrepiece of the meeting is to be formal approval of the admission of China into the body after the completion last month of nearly 15 years of negotiations.Reuters:
