HAVANA (Reuters) - Anti-free trade activists called on Thursday for hemisphere-wide protests against the U.S.-backed Free Trade Area of the Americas and U.S. President Bush.
Andean Indians, landless Brazilians and Canadian postal workers were among more than 1,000 peasant, labor union and student activists from 32 countries who drew up a plan of action to "defeat the FTAA" at a four-day meeting in Cuba.
"It is a perverse U.S. plan that will bring more hunger and misery and widen the gap between rich and poor," said Leonidas Iza, leader of the Confederation de Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador. "That is a social time bomb."
Encouraged by a leftward shift in South America and complications that could slow down FTAA negotiations, delegates were optimistic they can turn public opinion against the trade pact that Washington hopes to see in place next year.
The first protest is set for March 20 to coincide with world demonstrations against the U.S. invasion of Iraq called by an anti-globalization meeting in Bombay last week.
Other protests are planned for April 24, to mark the 60th anniversary of the IMF and the World Bank, and Aug 29, on the eve of the Republican National Convention in New York, when activists plan to demonstrate against Bush outside U.S. embassies in their countries.
"Everyone sees it as essential that Bush not get reelected," said Karen Hansen, coordinator of the Washington-based Alliance for Responsible Trade.
Bolivian coca growing peasant leader Evo Morales, whose organization sparked protests that brought down Bolivia's president in October, said the FTAA would bring more turmoil in the region and urged governments should withdraw from talks.
FTAA talks have run into trouble amid disputes between the United States and Brazil and Argentina over U.S. farm subsidies, copyright and patent laws and foreign investment rules.
Governments agreed in Miami in November to work toward a watered-down version by January 2005.
Of the three largest countries in South America, Venezuela is opposed to the FTAA, while the left-leaning governments of Brazil and Argentina are now seriously questioning it.
Anti-FTAA activists plan to stage a march in Puebla, Mexico, next week, when deputy trade ministers meet for talks.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
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