ALCA - FTAA - ZLEA - Contributions from Civil Society

Public
FTAA.soc/w/171/Add.1
October 24, 2000

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PARTICIPATION OF
CIVIL SOCIETY

CONTRIBUTION IN RESPONSE TO THE OPEN INVITATION

Name	Manuel Retamal G.
Organization	Corporación Urracas Emaús
Country	Chile

TOPIC : SUBMISSION TO FTAA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Strengthening Democracy

It is a cause for concern that integration and remaining in the FTAA are not presented as conditions but rather as something desirable.

• Moreover, in addition to not being clearly defined (advisory, referential or decision-making), citizen participation is limited to the local level and has not been projected to the national and international levels.
• The main aspects of the democracy presented must be defined: representative, participatory (at which levels?)
• It is necessary to more clearly define the OAS’s role with regard to its possible mediation of conflicts (among countries and within countries). The conflict between rich and poor must be taken into account; what would happen if a solution involves a political change in any of the FTAA member countries?

2. Human Rights
With regard to the protection of HUMAN rights, the FTAA member countries should commit themselves to an unconditional respect for same. It should not be left to the discretion of the States but should be a condition of same, whether or not they belong to FTAA.

3. The Governments
It should be clearly established that the countries have freedom of association and the option to choose their paths, policies and options before and while the FTAA Agreement is in effect, including others than the prevailing neo-liberal options, without this resulting in some kind of discrimination.

4. Struggle against Corruption
The idea is that State enterprises and bureaucracy are the source of corruption. In the case of the former, there is an attempt to privatize everything that is in State hands, so that everything economic in nature is in private hands. With regard to the latter, a proposal is made for a bureaucracy that can be real but that, if it is well administered (eliminating the unnecessary), is important for regulating national and international activity, and for protecting the most disadvantaged groups of society from economic, political or other types of abuse.

5. Economic Integration and Free Trade
The first question is: What will happen to agreements or associations already in force: Andean Market, Mercosur, NAFTA, etc.? Do they complement FTAA or will the FTAA exclude them?
The free movement of goods, technologies, etc. is proposed. What about workers? Could they move freely as well? What will happen to the salary base if there is a unification of the countries?
Serious consideration should be given to equitable trade.

6. White Helmets
Their specific function should be established, so that they do not become coercive forces in society.

7. The fact that the subject of defense, from the military point of view, has not mentioned is a concern.

CONCLUSION

This summarizes a submission to this initiative which, because of its extension and magnitude, is difficult to summarize any further. In any event, a 10-page document “SOME THOUGHTS ON THE FTAA” is attached, which more fully addresses the considerations that seem most important from one individual’s point of view.

Sincerely,

Manuel Retamal G.
CORPORACION URRACAS EMAUS

SANTIAGO, October 13, 2000


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