doha diary, 11/12

From: "Sarah L. Wright"
Sent: Monday, 12 November, 2001 03:25
Subject: Doha diary

Doha, Qatar

Things are heating up in terms of the negotiations. The developing countries
seem quite firm at this stage and talk about how they are not breaking
ranks. In fact, a few ministers from Southern Africa got up in a press
conference and explicitly stated they would not break ranks with the other
African countries over TRIPs. The US had proposed a deal that would give
Sub-Saharan Africa a 5 year moratorium on implelmentation in a clear effort
to divide up the LDCs.

TRIPS:
Negotiations on TRIPS are particularly fraught. Presently there are two
options: option on is supported by the developing countries and tries to get
in provisions for exemptions under trips for public health, and to
explicitly recognize the right for farmers to collect seed. The second
defines public health very narrowly to refer to 'pandemics' (which I believe
means a disease needs to be spread from person to person and doesn't even
include diseases carried by other vectors and certainly not seed,
agriculture, food security and drinking water kinds of public health
issues.) The EU has proposed a compromise (a problem as this weakens the
developing countries' position). There are also rumors that there is another
text (proposed perhaps by Brazil) that is actually stronger than the
existing options one. The Philippines with the African Group put out a very
strong statement about public health and seem to be standing firm. Great
news is the Switzerland did not get on the drafting committee for writing up
the text. They are usually in every Green Room situation but the Chair
(Mexico) said there were already enough people. This is great as Switzerland
with its big biotech industry is very hardline on patents (maybe even more
so than the US). The fact they are not there will very much change the
dynamic of the group.

The tricks of TRIPS protest:
We had a great protest this morning on TRIPs calling for the inclusion of
public health and food security into TRIPs and the need for attention to be
paid to biopiracy. We carried in a dead farmer at the head of a funeral
procession through the conference center and held an event just outside the
press room. We had speakers telling the stories of real farmers that have
committed suicide and sold their kidneys to pay of debt accrued due to high
input agruiculture. We then had a woman dressed as basmati rice who gav
testimony about how she is part of the cutlutres and lives of the people of
the Himalias but that MNCs had attempted to steal and sell her. It was very
powerful and a few people were crying at this time. We then had a panel of
speakers including Vandana Shiva, Jose Bove, and people from ActionAid in
Kenya to talk about the issues in more detail. It went off very well.

Security:
The Qatari officials and security are very nice and actually seem to enjoy
the protests. I have had a number come up to me and say that it is very
needed and they are very supportive of us. One came up after we had already
held two protests in one day requesting another one. It appears they have
been told not to stop us. Last night, I went with a friend from a South
African NGO and plastered the whole meeting center with papers condemning
the process. We also had green paper with the questions, "Do you know what
the green man is doing?," and "Have you seen the green men?" Not only did
security not stop us, they wanted copies, and gave me a free meal pass for
dinner at the Sheraton. The media all wanted one as did the delegates. We
handed out about 100 to delegates and I didn't get a single negative
comment.

The Northern press is not giving us that much attention but the Southern
press is plastered with the protests which is great. The local press is also
covering us very heavily. This is great as they are the two more crucial
areas to get this out. At this stage it is most important to provide support
for Southern countries.

Impact of globalization movements is very helpful to LDCs:

The minister of Uganda in a press conference was asked what he thought of
the NGOs and protests around the WTO. He replied that, although he was not
in agreement with all elements (ie labor) of the protests, overall he found
the worldwide movement for justice to be "very helpful" in supporting the
Least Developed Countries. This was great to hear.

Rumors:
Apparently Jamaica has flat-out told the US that they will not support a new
round. The Philippines is also very strong. At this stage the Like Minded
Group and other African countries are saying that they don't want new issues
as they don't have the capacity. There needs t be research and capacity
building before negotiation but the Philippines is even stronger saying
capacity is important but actually they don't want the new issues anyway.
Apparently the US and the EU are fighting. Zeillick is barely talking to
Lemy I have heard as the EU has said they may compromise on TRIPs. This is
just a rumor but it would be great if it were true.