WTO fight goes on

A NUMBER of international groups have called on the Vanuatu Government to respect the rights of ni-Vanuatu and allow protests against its recent decision of accession to the World Trade Organization.

They’ve come out in support of NGOs, Churches, Chiefs and business people in Vanuatu who are calling for urgent dialogue with the government.

A letter sent by the Pacific Network on Globalization and signed by a number of NGOs around the region, says accession to the WTO will commit Vanuatu to a set of rigid trade rules that will be hard to change or withdraw from if they do not meet sustainable developmental promises.

It says given the complex global situation and interlinked food, fuel, and finance crisis, it’s crucial to ensure that trade negotiations are conducted openly.

The groups are calling on the government to postpone any decision regarding WTO accession until there has been full consultation with the people of Vanuatu and to respect the rights of public protest.

Meanwhile, the opposition in Vanuatu National Parliament is calling on the Head of State, President Iolu Abbil, not to sign the bill on the ratification of Vanuatu’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

The office of the opposition says it has asked the president to challenge the constitutionality of the bill in court.

Last week, during the debate on the bill, the opposition said it did not meet the requirements of international conventions being debated in parliament.

Under Parliament standing orders, a bill on the ratification of an international convention needs 10 days before it can be debated.

But the Government has criticised the Council of Churches' role in opposing the country joining the WTO.

Prime Minister Sato Kilman accused the church body of bribery after it paid allowances to opposition MPs attending a workshop opposing WTO membership.

Mr Kilman says it would be interesting to learn where the VCC got the money to pay the allowances.

The minister of internal affairs, George Wells, who is also responsible for churches, swore about the church leaders and NGOs on one occasion but later withdrew the comment.

He said the churches and NGOs are wrong to claim that under WTO rules foreigners will end up owning land, saying under the constitution, land belongs to the custom owners.

The minister of public utilities, Harry Iauko said the role of the churches was to prepare the souls of the people for the next world, not to preach against the WTO.