Cabinet approves Japan FTA
Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves Japan FTA
27 March 2007
(BangkokPost.com) - The cabinet Tuesday gave consent for Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Japanese government during his upcoming trip to Japan, despite strong opposition from activists.
Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras is assigned by the cabinet to explain to the general public about the detail of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) in a television interview with Channel 5 at 7 pm. tonight.
The decision came a few hours after activists opposing to the signing of the deal submitted a letter to Gen Surayud Tuesday, asking the government to reconsider the plan to sign the JTEPA.
FTA Watch’s Witoon Lianchamroon, who handed the petition letter to Gen Surayud, said that the group was concerned that the deal would affect agricultural and public health sectors as well as the general public as the deal would allow waste dumping and monopoly on seedlings.
The group also presented an 80-page black-covered book on the Thai-Japan FTA agreement, detailing the "flawed process" of negotiations.
Gen Surayud, who is scheduled to visit to Japan on April 2 to 5, signalled Monday that the government would sign the agreement next week if the cabinet gives the official consent today.
The group had threatened to ask the Administrative Court to put the JTEPA signing on hold if Gen Surayud was to go ahead with the plan.
