New Zealand urged to halt free trade with ASEAN

Zarni
Mizzima News
October 10, 2008

Chiang Mai - New Zealand's left-wing political party, The Alliance, on Friday reiterated its call to the government to walk out of its Free Trade Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which has Burma as a member.


The Alliance said continuing free trade with ASEAN will provide Burma's military rulers, who have long suppressed the rights of workers, a chance to prolong its rule with profits from the trade.

"We don't think we should do free trade with Burma until there is a democratic government that could speak human rights. We believe that this is not good for Burma and for the image of New Zealand as well," said Victor Billot, The Alliance's trade spokesperson.

The renewed call from the Alliance came as the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) released a new documentary film on Burmese migrant workers, which documents the deplorable situation of Burmese workers in their work fields.

Billot said the documentary graphically illustrates the horrifying brutality of the Burmese regime, with which New Zealand is involved in free trade deals.

"The issue is closer to home than many New Zealanders realize," Billot said in a statement released on Friday.

New Zealand's recently announced free trade deals with ASEAN, of which Burma is a member, makes New Zealand complicit with the Burmese regime, Billot said.

He pointed out there have been numerous incidents in New Zealand territorial waters in recent years where Burmese seafarers and fishermen have been mistreated aboard vessels in New Zealand waters, and in some cases have jumped ship.

"This free trade will not help the Burmese workers and there will be no benefits and the number of cross-border labour will still increase," Billot added.