The Coordination of the Brazilian Campaign Against the FTAA learned that the current Federal Government intends to hand the proposals and offers on industry, agriculture and services on Feb. 15, 2003, thus continuing to participate in the FTAA negotiations, following the same model of negotiation of the Cardoso administration, whose mandate ended in Dec. 2002. The Government requested the postponement of the date to hand the proposals on investments and procurements.
The Coordination is aprehensive and concerned about this information, which comes from Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, because the contents of the offers were not publicly discussed. Besides, the initiative of the current government, unfortunately, gives continuity to the policy adopted by the former government.
It is impossible to understand that the Lula administration continues to hide the proposals for the FTAA, not allowing public debate by Civil Society. This attitute gives rise to serious concerns: would the proposals harm Brazil's sovereignty? Would they represent a threat to the rights of workers?
In September 2002 we held a public Plebiscite about the FTAA, wherein more than 10 million people expressed their opinion against Brazil signing the agreement, against Brazil continuing to negotiate the agreement and against the concession of the Alcantara Air Base to the USA Government. The result of the public consultation was presented to the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Powers of the Republic. Currently, the National Campaign is promoting a petition demanding that the Brazilian Government call an Official Plebiscite on the FTAA negotiation. We understand that, besides being a constitutional right, the Plebiscite is a means for a democratic government to fulfill its duty to consult society about themes, such as the FTAA negotiations, of great relevance for the future of the Nation.
Therefore, we request that the Government start an open debate about the FTAA negotiations and make public its offers, before returning to the negotiating table and handing them over. We request that the Government call an Official Plebiscite, still in 2003, so that society can express its view about the FTAA, before continuing to negotiate.
At this moment, the Brazilian Campaign Against the FTAA intensifies the organization of caucuses and committees around the country to debate, to organize demonstrations, and to collect signatures for the petition on behalf of the Official Plebiscite. We initiate a campaign of letters demanding that the Brazilian Government make public the content of its proposals for the FTAA. We count on the participation of all citizens!
Signed: THE COORDINATION OF THE BRAZILIAN CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE FTAA
Suggestion of text for the letter to the Brazilian authorities:
I demand that the Brazilian government reveal the content of the offers for the negotiations of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas). In a democracy, it is crucial that such proposals are made public and be subject to ample debate by Civil Society.
I know that the FTAA negotiations will bring serious consequences, because they embrace a broad spectrum of themes related not only to trade, but to the future of industry, agricultural production, work, health, education and the very sovereignty of the Country. The implementation of the FTAA may permanently block Brazil's capacity to define its own development path.
Therefore, I understand that the Brazilian Society has the right to debate the Government's proposals for the FTAA and must be consulted before the new Government continues to negotiate.
With best regards,
Please send the letter to:
Presidência da República
Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
pr@planalto.gov.br
protocolo@planalto.gov.br
Fax. 0xx61 411 2222/411 2221
José Dirceu, Ministro da Casa Civil
casacivil@planalto.gov.br
Fax.0xx61 321 1461
Celso Amorim, Ministro das Relações Exteriores
celsoamorim@mre.gov.br
Fax. 0xx61 411 6993
Presidência do Senado Federal
Senador José Sarney
sarney@senado.gov.br
Fax. 0xx61 311 1513
Presidência da Câmara dos Deputados
Dep. João Paulo Cunha
dep.joaopaulo@camara.gov.br
presidencia@camara.gov.br
Fax. 0xx61 318 2191
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