Vanuatu: Free Speech More Important Than Free Trade

Vanuatu Government Must Respect Rights of ni-Vanuatu

In the lead up to International Human Rights Day on December 10th 2011, we the undersigned Vanuatu, Pacific and international organisations express our deep solidarity and support for the ongoing struggles of local communities, NGOs, Churches, Chiefs and business individuals in Vanuatu calling for urgent and meaningful dialogue with their government on the recent decision of Vanuatu accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Accession to the WTO will commit Vanuatu to a set of rigid and enforceable trade rules that are extremely hard to change or withdraw if they do not meet sustainable developmental promises, nor if they result in violations to the human rights of ni-Vanuatu. In this complex global situation of interlinked crises of food, fuel, finance and climate change, it is more important that ever to ensure that trade negotiations are conducted with full and open access to citizens of information, dialogue and decision-making.

Article 22 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights affirms that everyone, as a member of society, has “the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”

Therefore, such binding and wide-reaching decisions as WTO accession must only be made in an environment of free, informed, and meaningful discussion with the people of Vanuatu. The members of the ‘Say No to WTO campaign’ and various Vanuatu civil society leaders have made it clear that that they are still extremely uncomfortable with the possible ramifications of WTO membership, and that wider rural and urban communities do not feel adequately consulted on such a vital issue.

Therefore we call on the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. George Wells to permit public demonstrations and meetings to enable community voice and more than this, to willingly enter these spaces to engage with the community stakeholders. Such public voice will not lead to instability of government, as has been asserted. Rather, it will have the opposite effect as the will of the people is affirmed.

Similarly, the statement by the Hon. Minister Wells that public demonstration against a democratically elected government is unacceptable, fails to recognise that this is in fact the bedrock of democracy that is not merely comprised of a single vote at the ballot box. Civil society retains the right to influence the decisions of governments in the entire periods between elections. It is a core principle of democracy and human rights, being the rights to freely express opinions, civilly organise and the right to take part in the ongoing government of their country, directly and through freely chosen representatives.

There are further serious threats to democracy and human rights in the recent statements and actions of Vanuatu politicians, including the suggested review of the Civil Society Organisations Act. We are also disturbed to hear of the recent Prime Ministerial directive to have a UN mission cease its work to assess the human rights impact of WTO accession, when they had prior shown support for such important work. This further impacts the ability of all ni-Vanuatu to be better informed about what WTO membership will mean for their lives. We strongly urge the Government to reconsider this position.

The Vanuatu Government can apply for an extension to ensure adequate consultation takes place before a decision on accession is made.

We the undersigned stand in solidarity and support of all ni-Vanuatu expressing their rights to be a part of the decisions that will greatly affect their lives in multiple ways and we call urgently on the Vanuatu government to do the following:

• Immediately postpone any decision regarding WTO accession until there has been public, full and meaningful consultation with the people of Vanuatu;


• Respect the legitimate rights of public organising of the Vanuatu people;


• Immediately withdraw threats to review the actions of NGOs and government funded bodies that have been involved in any WTO campaigning;


• Apply for an extension for ratification to allow more time for public input into the decision;


• Work with all stakeholders toward alternative locally-informed, human rights compatible and sustainable development, trade and finance policies.

Gigi Francisco
Global Coordinator
Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) International

Rev. Francois Pihaatae
Acting General Secretary
Pacific Conference of Churches

Noelene Nabulivou and Peni Moore
On behalf of the Management Collective Women's Action for Change, (WAC), Fiji

Fiu Mataese ELISARA
Executive Director
Ole Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (OLSSI)
SAMOA

Rosa Koian
ICE Coordinator
Bismarck Ramu Group, PNG

Ged Kearney
President
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

Lisa Newman
Deputy National President
Community and Public Sector Union Australia

Michael Moore
CEO
Public Health Association of Australia

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Executive Director
femLINKPACIFIC

Kinda Mohamadieh
Arab NGO Network for Development

Arnie Saiki
Director-Imipono Projects
Hawaii, USA

Sirino Rakabi
Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy

Kris Prasad
President
Drodrolagi Movement

Matthias Reichl,
Press-speaker
Center for Encounters and active Non-Violence, Bad Ischl, Austria, Europe

Alison Healey
The Grail in Australia Women for Global Justice Network

The Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni - Fiji

Professor Jane Kelsey
Associate Dean (Research)
School of Law
University of Auckland
NEW ZEALAND

Robin Metcalfe
Master of Public and International Law Candidate
Melbourne University

Tui Nicola Clery
PhD Candidate
Te Tumu - Department of Maori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies
University of Otago
Aotearoa/New Zealand

Martyn Namorong

Joe Parker, Pitzer College (Los Angeles)

Sheila Quonoey

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ENDS

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