自由贸易攸关各族人民权益 We should question the FTA

此文已于2006年11月16日刊登于(This artible has been published in )《独立新闻在线》http://www.merdekareview.com/news.php?n=2970

马美自由贸易协定第三轮谈判已经结束。在10月30日早上，一百多名社会人士在“反对自由贸易联盟”的号召下，前往谈判地点抗议、示威。然而，反对自由贸易人士激昂的呐喊并没有通过媒体传遍全国各地角落。

就华文报章而言，唯有《东方日报》以彩色版进行报道，但该报又将示威人士指为“激进份子”，让人不禁怀疑，我国的新闻把关人，对马美自由贸易的谈判、签定后的影响，究竟是不闻不问？不知不觉？还是不清不楚？

一般而言，自由贸易协定指两国或以上的国家、经济体间具有法律约束力的契约，签署国的目标之一是消除贸易壁垒，促进彼此的产品与服务自由流动。此文暂不讨论多边自由贸易，但看马美自由贸易，拥护或支持的人皆各有说辞。

有人欢喜有人愁

马美自由贸易估计会让政府取消一些保护措施，一名马来政治评论人在报章上指，反对者是一些“保守政治声音”。一些华裔同胞则抱着看好戏的心理，毫不讳避地直指“让美国的竞争来纠正那些只保护单一族群的政策！”

种族政治走到这个地步，的确让人无可奈何。一方因长期浸泡在各种各样的优惠、特权中，一旦保护政策被取消，就像终日由主人喂饱的猫那样，可能连捉老鼠的本能也失去；而另一方则希望籍自由贸易来逼使政府取消保护政策，那长期“

自力更生”的心底，积累满肚子长期受制度性压制及边缘化的怨气，争的就是与其他人平起平坐，公平竞争的机会。

原本，国内各行各业包括：电子业、纺织业、服务业、医药界、农民、金融业等，举凡出卖劳力赚取生活必需品的人民，都应该质疑马美自由贸易的谈判内容。然而，反对或支持马美自由贸易的人士皆从本族群利益考量利弊，若此协定哪朝成定局，其导致的后果，这一代以种族角度思考的人士都难辞其咎。

与美自贸恶梦连连

非洲各国、泰国、印尼人民都反对他们的政府与美国签署自由贸易协定。美国是经济强国，但不代表和它进行自由贸易就能飞黄腾达。笔者对一部影片记忆犹新：加勒比海某小国因美国入口的奶粉价格低于本国生产的鲜奶（美国政府给予美国农产品极高的津贴），导致牛奶供应商必须将数加仑的牛奶倒掉、养牛人忍痛杀掉奶牛… …

经济强国与发展中国家签署自由贸易协定，是强迫小国开放市场、让资本与技术相对薄弱的本土工、农、商直接面对跨国集团的竞争。如果中小型企业、承包商倒下，失业率将随之提高，贫富悬殊问题加剧。政府放松投资管制后，大资本家在贪污腐败当道的发展中国家继续扩张、累积资本。

自由贸易对民主最大的讽刺就是：在许多国家，民选代议士组成的国会在最后关头，都无法推翻协定内容，一些国家为了人民利益违背协定，反被控“防碍投资者利益”。在许多国家如：加拿大、墨西哥、南美洲各国、澳洲等早有前鉴，尝过苦头的人最直接的批评就是：自由贸易典当人民权益！

自由贸易考验民主

非政府组织及在野党组成的“反自由贸易联盟”，数度要求会见我国国际贸工部长拉菲达，表达本身对马美自由贸易协定的担忧。不料，却遭对方冷冷一封信：“我们知道你们要说什么，我们知道自己在做什么… …“回拒。

在国内，有很多关乎大众利益的文件被列为官方机密，包括政府与南北大道公司的合约。这一次，我国谈判代表自今年6月份起，皆对会谈内容三缄其口。要知道，无论自愿与否，在谈判过程中，美国政府早让我国代表签署保密协议。我们应该大声问道：“你们签署的合约关乎全国2千700万人口的命运，凭什么要我们相信你？”

谈判还没有结束，马美自由贸易对我国的影响对于全体国人而言，还没有切肤之痛。大家连国内的攫夺案、通货膨胀都应付不暇，要关注这种影响下一代的经济协定似乎显得心有余而力不足。但是，要知道，根据我国宪法，自由贸易协定可以绕过国会，直接在内阁通过。我们要问：拥有决定权的部长们，在没有咨询民意的情况，你们依据什么来决定国民的命运？

但笔者相信，人民可以要求最基本的透明度。贸工部不应该屈服于美国任何形式的协议，而应该在每一轮会谈后光明正大地举行汇报会、征询各界意见。美国代表尚且需向他们的工商界代表汇报，凭什么我国的政府能将会谈文件藏起来，不面对人民？

由经济列国如美国、日本、欧盟主导的自由贸易必须谨慎看待，因为当中涉及的问题包括：谁定义的自由、自由的条件、自由的范围等等，在搞不清楚自由贸易伙伴是敌是友的情况下签定自由贸易，我们必然会赔上追求这类自由的代价。

The third round of the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement talks is over. On 30 Oct 2007 morning, more than 100 activists gathered in front of the Imperial Hotel, where the talks were held, they went there to protest and demonstrate. However, their voice has not been heard by people in others part of the country.

One of our Chinese Press, only the Orientaldaily reported the news, and generously published them in colour, but they described the protesters as “extremists”. I cannot help thinking that our guardians of information that are so indifferent to FTA, do they care about the whole process? Do they know anything about it?

Generally speaking, Free Trade Agreement means contract between two or more than two nations or economies that is aimed to remove protective customs tariffs, and to encourage free flow of goods and services between the parties. In this article, multilateral free trade is not in the process of discussions, we will only have the choice of facing the implications of the controversial Malaysia-US free trade.

It is believed that FTA Malaysia-US will lead to the abolishment of some protective policies in a local market. One of the Malay intellectuals wrote, people who anti-FTA are “conservative politicians”. For Chinese-Malaysians, some of them are welcoming the US power to enter our local market so that those Malay preferential policies will be redressed.

It is very sad to see our racial politics moving into such direction. All kind of privileges, special rights have permeated into the life of one side. On the other side, they hope to see the abolishment of protective policies through the FTA, this is the resentment stems from the groups which have long systematically marginalized by the government, they still hope for equal opportunities after a long time of self-dependency.

Actually, people from all walk of life including electrical, textile, service, and medical industries, farmers, finance etc, ( long as these people are selling their labour in exchange for satisfaction of their basic needs) they all need to question the content of the FTA negotiations. However, various groups who support or oppose FTA are measuring the interest of their ethnic groups, therefore, if the agreement comes into effect, they have to pay the price for any consequences of the FTA negotiations.

People in Africa, Thailand, and Indonesia are opposing their governments in signing FTA with the US. US is an economically powerful state, but it does not mean that whoever established a free trade agreement can be as powerful as it is. I still remember a documentary about FTA between a Caribbean country and the US, a creamery supplier poured all his fresh milk, and the ranchers have to slaughter their milk cows. All these things happened due to the low price milk powder imported from the US, as the US gives a far higher subsidy to their farmers until they can produce milk powder in a lower cost.

When the economically developed countries seek to sign FTA with developing countries, it means forcing developing countries to liberalize their market. Due to a lack of capital and technologies, local businesses and private sectors will find it hard to compete with transnational corporations (TNCs). If these small manufacturing enterprises, contractors collapse, unemployment rate as well as the gap between the rich and the poor will increase. When the government loosens investment regulations, the capitalists will continue to expand and accumulate their capital again in the corrupt developing countries .

Free Trade also makes a mockery of democracy. In many countries, even the elected parliamentarians are unable to overthrow the decisions taken prior to signature of FTA. Some of the governments were charged by TNCs when they were trying to regulate some laws to protect the interest of their disadvantages groups. Any government measures that affect the expected future profits of the US companies have in previous FTAs been counted as constituting “expropriation” and thus the government is liable to pay compensation for the losses.

Many lessons can be learnt from countries like Canada, Australia, Mexico, FTA trades away people’s rights and benefits!

The anti-FTA Alliance consists of NGOs and opposition parties. When they wrote to Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and asked for a talk with Rafidah, the ministry rejected them with a letter telling that they know what they are doing.

In Malaysia, many documents which are affecting people are official secrets, including the highway concession contracts. This time, the FTA talks began in June 2006, but they disclosed nothing about the contents of the talks. It is important to know that in the process of negotiation, the Malaysian delegates and the US have to sign an agreement to keep the talks as confidential. We want to ask, what kind of contract are you going to sign? How do we trust you in deciding the fate of 2.7million people in this country?

The FTA talks will be continued. It seems like our nations are too busy with snatching thieves, inflation, it is unlikely to draw attention of the people. Crucially, according to our constitution, the cabinet can endorse the FTA without the consent of parliament. It is crucial for us to ask our ministers, without public participation and consultation, on what ground for the ministers to decide our future?

At least, we should ask for transparency. MITI should not be bound by any kind of the US agreement. They should report to the public and seeking further opinions after every round of talks. Even the US delegates have to report to their business representatives, how can we hide our documents?

We have to scrutinize every aspects of the free trade dominated by developed countries such as the US, Japan, EU. It is important to know: who defines the trade? What are the conditions? If not, we will have to pay the price of pursuing it.

(The fourth round of the Malaysia-US FTA talks will be held at 8-12 Jan 2007)

#

Weekend in Fraser Hill

23 activists arrested, houses demolished

They keep the illegal mansion of Klang municipal councillor, Zakaria... ...

But they demolished the houses (so-called Squatters )of the people,

the only place where the poor can sleep in ... ...

KHIR TOYO OVERRULES PAK LAH, 23 ACTIVISTS ARRESTED, HOUSES DEMOLISHED

Report by : SUARAM


(Note- the local authorities have confiscated and deleted the photos taken.)


Ampang, 20 November 2006

After almost 8 hours of defending 62 houses in Kampung Berembang, finally the police and local authorities crushed the resistance resulting in 23 arrests including arrest of PSM and JERIT leaders, houses being demolished and burned down and one women in a very critical condition, fighting for her life in the hospital.


After only managing to demolish 2 houses on Friday, the MPAJ(Local authorities) with the developers and the police came again this morning to finish the job which they failed to complete last week. At the village, all three entrances to the village have been blocked by human shield and other items. There were also a large number of activists mainly from JERIT and PSM, along with several other villagers from other Urban Settlers community aligned to the Coalition of Housing and Urban Settlers present. The situation was tense and the people waited for the showdown.


After more than 3 hours of initial stand-off, the first ambush by MPAJ at around 10.30am saw a massive clash between the local authorities and the villagers. The fight broke out with every corner, fist fighting, punching and dragging. The local authorities with 3 huge demolition machines failed to penetrate the human shield but it resulted in the local authorities arresting and assaulting 8 people – 2 villagers and 6 activist. The assault was brutal but the people were equally strong and the first wave of attack by the authorities failed. There were injuries from both sides. Both parties retreated to original positions.


Then came the second round of stand still. The District Police Chief of Ampang, ACP Amer and his high ranking officers were also prevented from entering the area from another location. That resulted in another arrest by the police. Human Rights Commissioner, Dato Siva Subramanim arrived shortly.


Then in a series of negotiation between the District police Chief, Dato Siva, MPAJ officer- Ismail, the developer and PSM Secretary general S.Arutchelvan created a stand still but a tense situation.


The police Chief told that he prefers to call off the operation as he said the situation is very tense and serious and he wants to avoid a bloodshed. Siva Subramanima said that the demolition should be called off and SUHAKAM (Human Rights Commission) will conduct a meeting with the relevant bodies to resolve the issue.


But the Local authorities- MPAJ who were under the Instruction of the Developers was very adamant to bull doze. They told the police that they have enough people to carry out the operation. The police then told all parties to hold on, as there were attempt to reach certain Government authorities to call off the exercise.


Both parties stood their ground. The developers and the MPAJ said that the people did not have an Injunction while the people said that the case was to be heard in April next year and therefore the authorities have to wait and the land status must remain unchanged. Then the police Chief, MPAJ and SUHAKAM representative went to the Developers site office with the instruction that there should be no forced eviction until some agreement can be reached.


Just after 1 pm, the whole situation from gloom changed to happiness when 2 villagers shouted victory and carried with them some papers. They managed to get a letter calling for the demolition and forced eviction to be postponed. The letter was released by the Prime Minister's Department and signed by the Prime Minister's private secretary. The villagers Pak Lang told the people gathered, the Government has opened its eyes. We have a letter now and thanked everyone. The activists were very caution and told the people not to be fooled but wait for final confirmation that the forced eviction exercise will be called off. Pak Lang has already started singing praises for the Prime Minister.


A team villagers and PSM Sec Gen, S.Arutchelvan then took the letters to the Developers site office. They were shocked to find that the Developers has catered a lot of food to feed the government servants. Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission, Dato Siva said that the letter is good enough to stop the demolition of houses. He said this is the highest authority- The Prime Minister's Office. He later held a Press Conference at the side and left.


An hour later, things became sour again when Riot police started parking their heavy vehicles in two main entrance to the village. The news then came that the Selangor Chief Minister (MB) Khir Toyo has overruled the PM's letter and has called for the operation to carry on. Pak Lang was stunned and in tears. The villagers were stunned. The Villagers then made a human chain with the activist and waited for the ultimate assault, which was imminent.


Then a team of police under the order of the Deputy Police Chief came to arrest PSM Secretary General S.Arutchelvan, who was at that time the key negotiator. He was told to surrender but he remained defiant. Arul was then arrested, dragged and handcuffed by around ten policemen. He was then taken away to a separate police detention center.


The rest of the people continued to hold on. They managed to hold on for another half an hour, then the next series of arrest took place. Sivarajan, PSM's Treasurer, Chang Lih Kang- SUARAM were arrested, other JERIT leaders as well other activist and villagers were arrested. 13 more people were arrested, a fight broke out, more people got injured and one young lady collapsed and did not regain consciousness. She was taken to the Hospitals. The authorities moved from every angle, one house was razed and the rest went down one by one. The resistance collapsed under a heavy presence of riot police with authorities outnumbering the people to 3 to 1.


All arrested were taken to Ulu Kelang police station except for Arutchelvan who was kept at Ampang Police Headquaters. He was later taken to Ulu Kelang and after a massive protest by Human Rights Groups, all those arrested were released just before midnight the same day. They were released on police bail and told to report at the Ampang magistrate on 4 th. December. Around ten police reports at different parts of the country was also done by the JERIT network condemning the arrest and the forced eviction..

At the village, the houseless people erected tents. They were still stunned how the Chief Minister- Khir Toyo can overrule a letter from the Prime Minister's department. They are now more convinced that the Prime Minister has no control. The Human Rights Commission is equally stunned and are going to call for a Press Conference the following day.


The arrest of 23 people is perhaps the first time after many years when such a huge resistance was put up. The last major resistance in an Urban Settlers area was in 1998 in Kampung Sg. Nipah where 55 people were arrested. Today the resistance in Kampung Berembang has radicalized the community there. The people are putting up tents and are staying put in the same land. Under the ruins, they are going to attempt to build their homes again.


The resistance this time also saw how the various races can unite under a class solidarity to fight the oppressor. The villagers- all of them Muslim Malays have now realized a few important lesson. They now see that the issue is simply that the Developer(capitalist) has bought over the local authorities and the State Government and police are standing behind them. The Prime Minister letter did not stand. The only people who stood with the poor urban settlers were other settlers from various ethnic and comrades from the socialist party and the JERIT coalition as well as ther activist. They understand who are their allies and who are their enemy.


List of people arrested:

1. Adli Abdul Rahman

2. Ahmad Tamrin

3. Arutchelvan

4. Awalluddin Sharif

5. Azman Mohd

6. Chang Lih Kang

7. Ebrahim Haris

8. Faezae Ramzi (15 years old)

9. Fiqtriey bin Al Hakimi

10. Kumaravee

11. Lechumy Devi Doraisamy

12. Lee Huat Seng

13. Mohan

14. Mohd. Rajis

15. Parames Elumalai

16. Ramachanthiran Ananthan

17. Ramalingam Thirumalai

18. Sabariah Ayoub

19. Sevan

20. Sivarajan

21. Thevarajan Ramasamy

22. V. Wani

等老天降雨？不要推卸责任 Do something, don’t just pray for rainfall

Published in Merdekareview.com on 26 Oct 2006



十年前入学的孩子，记忆中已经累积一段天空蒙蒙胧胧的记忆。每逢西南季候风吹，蓝天突然被遮挡，空气中还偶而弥漫着刺鼻的焦味。印尼周边国家如马来西亚、新加坡、汶莱、泰国受烟霾困扰，一眨眼，竟已10年。

不久前，在东南亚各国强烈要求下，印尼总统苏西洛宣布该国将在近期内，寻求国会通过认签《东协跨国界烟霾污染协定》。如果印尼最终认签这项协定当然是好事，但这桩“好事”有多好呢？印尼认签了协定，我们的海滩在明年这个时候还可以一片“碧海蓝天”吗？

翻回过去一个月，我国与印尼领袖针对烟霾的回应。印尼领袖说：“除非风向转变，否则我们也无能为力。”我国的领袖也祈求天降雨去烟霾。两国政府甚至互相指责对方的种植公司及伐木活动是烟霾的罪魁祸首，然后我国政府公布：“印尼拿不出名单，证明没有大马公司涉及”。看来看去，两个东南亚的老大哥，都没有把话说完。

听起来，烟霾好像变成了自然灾害，谁也不必负责，下雨过后自然会有新鲜空气。我不禁打了个冷颤，两个都是贪污贪出名堂的国家，人民这辈子也甭想知道谁在烧芭了。

让我们一起搞清楚：烧林的是哪一群人？火耕种植原是传统农民的种植方式，火耕在全世界许多人口散居、腹地辽阔的地方，是一种让土地有机会休息、积累肥料的“永续性”种植方式。传统农民或群体一般上求自给自足，因此，火耕范围很小，他们依赖森林资源，不至于把几千万公顷森林烧光，还将烟霾“输送”到邻国。

这种传统的“永续性”生产方式，却在印尼70年代土地改革中被破坏。一些原本散居的传统农民被聚集起来，让路给一些大规模种植及生产的投资者。

大规模种植业者主要是油棕业者，还有咖啡、可可。印尼政府曾经说过，扑火工作艰难，主要是很多林火热点位于沼泽林。沼泽林是稀有的生态区，一般上是保护区，为什么会变成种植区不在话下。然而，可以想像财力雄厚、并拥有政治势力的大规模种植公司，为了盈利不惜破坏环境。

如果说伐木业是目前全世界最赚钱的行业之一，为什么种植公司不选择伐木然后卖掉赚钱？印尼多年来的伐木活动已经毁掉许多原始热带雨林，这些公司近年来“趁风势”所烧的森林主要是没有经济价值的次生林，或是伐木后的“残余林”。另外，由于印尼政府征收橡胶树桐的砍伐及出口税，未有政策奖掖应用橡胶树桐的公司，所以，很多老橡胶林也因此“葬身火海”。

资料显示，1997年的霾害中，印尼政府提控至少167家涉及非法烧林活动的公司，然而，审讯过程繁锁冗长，到了2000年只有一家公司罪名成立被处罚。发展中国家法制不健全、执法不严的问题，往往让这些大财团有机可乘，通过剥削自然环境积累资本。对财团来说，在发展中国家“钱”可以解决的问题都不是问题。

认识印尼在遏止烧林活动的能力后，那我们要问，认签了《东协跨国界烟霾污染协定》能改变多少？目前，我们听到的是马、新、泰、汶已经放话：早一点签署，我们可以早一点启动拨款机制。

的确，协定中列明东南亚各国在监控、评估、预防及回应的合作方向，比如：交换资讯、技术、专才。而印尼在认签这项协定后，需在国内制订有助于解决烟害的政策及修改法令。但印尼最终是否会揪出非法烧林的公司，这还需取决于他们国内的政治意志。做为一份“指导性”协定，就算烟霾继续或恶化，根据协定中第27条文，各国也只能“通过友好地咨询及协商解决。”

许多针对环境问题设计的跨国性或国际性协定，纵使在认签国修正了国内的法令后，也因国内本身的司法、执法、教育、经济、民众参与度等问题，成了无爪的老虎。

至此，笔者不想制造一种“都是印尼政府、种植业、伐木业的错！”的印象，因为印尼人民本身也深受烟霾困扰。经济活动是一种人与人之间的互动，当非法烧芭活动进行时，我们是否在入口、消费着源自于印尼烧芭活动的商品？如：家具木材、食物油、化妆品等等，间接成了烧芭活动的帮凶？

就算“没有大马公司涉及烧芭活动”是一句真话，我们也有权利知道自己是否正在掏腰包购买“烧芭财团”的产品，政府必须公布：国内什么集团与“烧芭财团”有商业关系，让这些典当环境赚钱的利益集团，承担更多社会责任，为环境遭破坏付出更多补偿！

必须做的事真的太多了，如果只祈求老天爷降雨，恐怕老天爷也不会同情不动脑筋的人。假使印尼认签了《东协跨国界烟霾污染协定》， 虽然值得掌声鼓励，但那只是小小的一步。

Do something, don’t just pray for rainfall

Young Malaysians who entered school ten years ago all remember a period of time when the sky was often shrouded by haze during southwestern monsoons. Every time a southeast wind blew the blue sky disappeared, and occasionally saturated the air with a stench that irritated the nose. Countries neighbouring Indonesia, like Singapore, Burnei and Thailand have been disrupted by low visibility and choking haze for ten years.

Not long ago, Indonesia was urged by ASEAN countries to promptly ratify the ASEAN Transboundary Haze Agreement. Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said earlier that Jakarta would ratify the treaty. It would be good news even though the Indonesian government is the last ASEAN country that finally ratified the treaty. However, will Indonesia's ratification make a difference? Are the mechanisms in the treaty effective enough to overcome the annual smog?

How did the Malaysian and Indonesian leaders respond to this issue recently? Both prayed to God for rainfall. They also condemned each other for allowing their logging and plantation companies to practice slash-and-burn as a cheap and illegal means of land-clearing. In the end, the Malaysian government claimed that "the Indonesian government was unable to provide us the list of company names; therefore, no Malaysian company is involved in burning the forest." Neither of them has provided us the whole story.

It seems like nobody is willing to admit responsibility for the haze pollution. It has become a type of natural disaster - I trembled at the very thought of it. We can never know who is burning the forest, causing health and environmental degradation.

Let us figure out, who is burning the forest. In traditional agriculture fire has been used as a tool to clear the lands. Slash-and-burn has been extensively used in many places by traditional farmers. Sustainability of fertile soil can be expected in such a relatively, small-scale operation. Traditional farmers often demand and ensure their self-reliance and self-sufficiency in such operations. They rely on the resources of the forest; it is unlikely of them to destroy the vast area of forest until the smoke and haze is “exported” to their neighbours hundreds of miles away.

Such a "sustainable" mean of land-use has changed since the land reform of Indonesia in 1970s. Traditional agriculture has given way to forest conversions for the expansion of agricultural lands, settlements and tree crop-based large-scale plantations.

Those large-scale plantation companies mainly grow oil palm, coffee and cocoa. The Indonesia government once mentioned that fire suppression is difficult and costly as most of the “hot spots” are located in peat-swamp areas. Peat-swamp areas are so rare that they are usually protected as ecological reserves. We should question how these reserves were converted into agricultural land. From here, we can see how those companies undermine the environment in order to make profits.

Logging is one of the most profitable industries, but why didn’t the plantation companies just cut down the timber and sell it off? In fact, tropical forests in Indonesia have been destroyed after many years of logging activities. Most of the burning areas are unproductive over-logged forests and jungle rubber. In addition, the Indonesian government imposes heavy export taxes on sawn rubber timber. There are no incentives to encourage these companies to process and utilize rubber woods; therefore, the rubber timber are always goes up in smoke.

Some research shows that, in 1997, at least 167 companies were prosecuted for illegal slash-and-burn activities. However, only one company was sentenced. The dysfunction of the legal system and its weak implementation in developing countries can be easily taken advantage of as opportunities for those financial groups to accumulate capital at the price of environmental degradation.

What will be done if the Indonesian government ratifies the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution? Recently, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei have urged Indonesia to promptly ratify the treaty, which would allow the group to work out and put a regional firefighting fund into operation.

There are various provisions in the agreement for each party to adhere to its obligations in terms of monitoring, assessment, prevention and response. If Indonesia ratifies the treaty, they will need to amend or formulate some policies to tackle the smog. Under Settlement of Disputes (Articles 27), the agreement states: “Any dispute between parties as to the interpretation or application of, or compliance with, this agreement or any protocol thereto, shall be settled amicably by consultation and negotiation.” As the agreement lacks an effective dispute settlement mechanism, the effectiveness of the measures to prevent and control activities that cause haze pollution still depends on the political will within the Indonesian government.

In fact, there are many international treaties which are designed to combat the environmental problems. However, after they were ratified by the relevant countries, domestic problems in legislation, implementation, education, economics and public participation, amongst others, has always undermined commitment to the agreement.

In the end, we should not only blame on the Indonesian government, plantation companies and logging companies. Indonesian people themselves are also suffering. Economics activities are interactions between human beings. When the forest is burning, are we not consuming the products made of the materials from the burning forests, and thus do we not become the accomplices of these illegal activities?

Even if we assume that “no Malaysian company is engaged in burning the forest”, we still have the right to know whether we are buying products from corporations which are involved in illegal burning. We should demand that these corporations fulfill their social obligations by paying compensation for degrading the environment and the health of their fellow Malaysians.

Even if the Indonesian government ratifies the treaty, it does not mean that the haze pollution problem will be solved next year. It will be just a small step.

#

FTA + Protest+ Media = ?

NOTHING about our protest against FTA is seen in the local newspapers.

The Oriental Daily described the protesters or Anti-free Trade Alliance as "EXTREMISTS"!

Should we send these editors abroad to see who are the real EXTREMISTS?

How far can our media go?

How far can the readers, the audience reach?

People never learn from the past.

That's why people always repeat the same mistakes.

Do not trade our rights away

The Third-round of the US-Malaysia FTA talks was held this morning. I went to join a protest organized by the Anti-Free Trade Alliance in front of the Sheraton Imperial Hotel.

I studied quite a number of cases regarding free trade agreements between the US and the developing countries like Mexico, Latin Americans, African countries,etc. These agreements have jeopardized jobs and deprived poor people of cheap, generic drugs.

I think at this moment, most of the Malaysians still unable to figure out the disadvantages and the impacts of the FTA. Despite the potential threats of the free trade agreement, I was told that the coalition has been trying to demand a talk or a dialog with the delegations of the Malaysian government, however,their request has been rejected again and again.

What Malaysian should now concern is :there is no CONSULTANCY and TRANSPARENCY in the process of decision-making, thus , there is no ACCOUNTABILITY in the agreement.

The delegations or negotiators should disclose the details of the talks. Why all this secrecy? What are they trying to hide from the public?

The US Congress has to approve FTAs negotiated by its Trade Representative before they can come into effect - and involve Parliament in the decision to sign the FTA. Would our Parliament ask for a white paper? A public hearing? A parliamentary debate? Or (set up) a parliamentary select committee to discuss the agreement?

Unfortunately, Parliament has been silent on the matter. There has no public participation with stakeholders. Can we hope for an open and fair discussion?

They should stop the talks now and talk to the people.

Do not trade our land, water, air, education, health, democracy away.
Do not trade our rights away.

Do not wait until it is too late.

Wild Life

My adventure in the UK has come to the end finally.
I came back to Malaysia a month ago.

One week after I arrived, I started my working life in our capital - Kuala Lumpur.

Currently, I am working for the Publicity Department in a political party.
I have not been updating my Blog since I came back.

Things will never be the same after you have left some people or some places for a long time.

Now I am living and working in a strange city, with a lot of strangers (who soon has become my friends). This is my new life.


There are full of things and people that can make oneself happy or unhappy, contented or dissatisfied, full of hopes, or the worst, making your dream scattered.

I never dare to have any high expectations on anything, however, it is still hard to deal with people or things that are disappointing.

I think, that's life.

That's life?

KC said to me:"no matter what you have chosen, the most important thing is, you think 'That's matter!' "

Should I continue to write on my blog?

伦敦拼图 9月13日－18日, Amazing London

这是我今年第二次到伦敦。上一次逗留，是今年初前往MANCHESTER时，在伦敦转车的短短数小时。当时已经匆匆地游览过了白金汉宫、海德公园、TOWER BRIDGE、西敏寺国会大厦几个非常著名的景点，这一次到伦敦，我决定集中脚力在“逛博物馆”！

感谢平，让我在他的新居住了五个晚上，让我再次有机会享用大男生准备的食物。在伦敦这几天，到过的主要地方依序为：国家艺术画廊、大英博物馆、 大自然博物馆、Victoria and Albert博物馆、英国剧作家莎士比亚剧场（仿造建筑）、思想家马克思的墓地、BBC新闻中心、百年历史的黑人市场、FOREST HILL HORNIMON 博物馆。

在伦敦这几天，一个人看地图走走逛逛、迷路、搭地铁、巴士的感触很复杂。这份心情笔记整理起来也挺不容易。决定不去做过多的描绘，只告诉大家自己身处其中的感觉。

在国家艺术画廊内最失望，因为梵谷、莫纳及毕加索的画作都被移走了！不过，还好看到许多古典主义画派的作品，我凭着很多年前在暨大选修的“西方美术史”的一点点印象，来鉴赏墙上的画作，也算没有白走一趟，只是有点恨当时没把老师的讲义拿在手上！

大英博物馆好大好大，建筑物像是由圆润的石柱撑着，我在里面走了六小时，最激动的时刻就是看见了埃及木乃伊，起初我以为它们被搬到上海参展了，后来询问了柜台，才在另一个展厅找到它们。然而，在“中国展览厅”那里有点寂寞，因为曾经听说敦煌莫高窟、北京圆明圆内很多宝物都被盗来了当时的“大英帝国”，但在那儿，我只从一面墙上，看到一幅相信是从莫高窟搬回来的大壁画，我找不到有关它的说明，所以无法确定，不过，有九成像。这个博物馆的另一个好处就是，参观者可以在里面拍照。我知道照相机的镁光灯对古文物不好，但既然馆方不介意，那我当然不客气了。

与平、Steven共进晚餐时，我说：“这次看见木乃伊和在中国看见千年古尸的感觉一样，我因好奇而想看，但看了后又觉得它们不属于这个世界，而觉得心里不舒服。”然后不知怎的，平与Steven 就争论起到底大英博物馆做的是“替没有能力的人们进行文物保护工作” 还是“展示盗窃回来的古文物帝国主义”？我并不积极地参与他们的辩论，对我来说，盗来的，就是盗来的。不过， 像古埃及、古希腊神殿或宫殿的那些理石人像、石雕，重甸甸的，他们当年有本事运回英国，也算他们有本事了！

大自然博物馆与V& A博物馆只隔一条街。大自然博物馆内刚好有一项恐龙展，印象中，读初中时，我的父母曾经带我去吉隆坡参观过了。这两所博物馆的展出内容不提，单单是它的建筑物，就已经极有历史、美术价值。大大的拱形门、拱形窗、层层叠叠… … 那种属于帝国的气势，我也只在伦敦感受到。

星期六一早，我参观了1992年才落成的莎士比亚剧场，对莎士比亚的作品存有的一点记忆，来自在中国求学时的初恋。那时，在暨大旁的小小电影院观赏过《哈姆雷特》，选修“外国文学史”时，也读了关于莎翁及其作品的事。以前看书时，还看到人们争论到底莎士比亚到底是不是真有其人？然而，据这个剧场的响导所言，莎士比亚真有其人，而且因戏剧成为伦敦的富人。他的剧场当年能容纳3千多人，在那个年代的英国，是皇室与国会的斗争时代，甚至非常有政治影响力。伟人的成就往往只限他那代人，这位戏剧大师和我接下来去“探访”的马克思一样，至今已经没有后代，然而，他们的作品、思想对现今人类社会依然发挥着影响力。

离开莎士比亚剧场之后，我无意间走到一个社区，那里有一条走道，筑起了一道长长的墙，记载了这个社区争取成为保护区的历史。我看到一句让人动容的话：“OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE HUMAN DIGNITY （我们的目标是推广人的尊严）”。

我与Steven在星期六下午，走了好长、好长的一段路，终于找到了HIGHGATE CEMETRY！没想到，墓园管理人竟向我们每人征收两镑入场券，好吧！看在伟人的份上！在中国求学的时候，我家的官员“不鼓励”马来西亚学生在中国选修关于马克思主义的科目，现在，如果他们知道在西方的学府，教授们能够名正言顺地向各国同学介绍马克思、社会主义，这些政治部人员肯定暴跳如雷！我想，天底下也只有害怕人民太聪明、而发现自己不断做错事的政府，才会去限制、阻止人民接受不同的思想。

我们没买一镑的墓园图，因此在墓园里找了好久，路上偶然发现一些华人的坟墓，Steven是英国出生的华人，他不断地问我一些以中文书写的墓碑上的中文字，待我解释了一轮后，他咋舌道：“好复杂！”马克思的坟墓在一个转角处，他与妻子、女儿、孙子同葬一穴，墓壁上一面刻着：“THE PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ONLY INTERPRETED THE WORLD IN VARIOUS WAY。THE POINT HOWEVER IS TO CHANGE IT （哲学家只是以不同的方式对这个世界进行诠释，然而，重点是要改变它。）”另三面是空白的。此刻，我带着复杂的心情向他致以万二敬意。墓前有两束鲜花，是由中国新疆生产建设兵团代表团献上的，我真的很想知道，这些从小接触马克思思想教育的中国人，生活在经济迅速发展的中国，站在马克思墓前，他们在想什么？

其实我也没想什么复杂的事。马克思墓的四周，也是许多民权运动者、革命人士的安息地。我想起吉隆坡的林连玉墓，华教人士深怕华裔子弟忘记他，在他的墓上刻着满满的介绍，我问Steven说：“马克思的坟墓怎么没有关于他的介绍？”他说：“不用写大家都知道的。”那，大马华人的林连玉呢？突然，我感到很悲哀。

这一个傍晚，我们走了很久，从OXFORD CIRCUS 走到STRAND，才找到平工作的BBC。走入这个许多新闻从业员梦寐以求的新闻殿堂，我不禁再次回想，新闻专业出身的我，究竟会在哪里落脚？

星期日的中午，我再次独自出发，这回，我选择了大象堡（Elephant and Castle）附近的一个市集。前往目的地的路上，很多小商店都是由黑人经营，原来，我来到了黑人区。市集很像马来西亚的Pasar Malam， 唯一不同的是，这里的摊主95％是黑人。与其中一位白人摊主聊天时，才知道这个市集已有100年以上的历史，高峰期时，整千人将马路挤得水泄不通，这里很多摊主已经第二代、第三代人。我觉得最有趣的是，光碟摊主们摆卖了各自国家生产的流行乐、电影，形成“一摊一国”的景象。打听之下，原来他们的租金一天24英镑。

这里的第二代、第三代黑人说的英语和英国人一模一样，够标准了吧？但我在巴士上、大街上还不是黑人一堆、白人一堆的多，我说啊，我们的政府，怎么能够认为华小、淡小的存在是国民无法团结的原因？

脚累了。行程也越来越松散了。一个人四处旅行曾经是我浪漫的个人主义梦想，然而，在英国这一年，我却无法如此洒脱。

我想，这回是我在英国第一次，不去想为什么，手指指着地图，想去哪里，就去哪里，独自在大街上闲逛。没人理会你身上有没有钱，没人理会你下一站到什么地方，这几天，这个样子，我已经很满足了。总算不太狼狈。

＃