" AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald
travelled to Jakarta for the sixteenth round of RCEP negotiations in
early December to participate in parallel events organised by Indonesian
civil society groups, coordinated by the Indonesian Global Justice
organisation. Talks are proceeding slowly on the controversial TPP-
like proposal on intellectual property and medicines and ISDS, which have
been highlighted by civil critics.
Participation from civil society groups outside Indonesia was relatively
limited because of the short notice and clashes with some other regional
meetings, but there was representation from Australia, New Zealand,
Malaysia, Philippines, India, Thailand and regional organisations like
the Third World Network, MSF and Friends of the Earth.
There was a limited opportunity for civil society groups and some
Indonesian organisations to make short presentations to RCEP chief
negotiators and Indonesian negotiators on issues including ISDS,
medicines, trade in goods and services and impacts on farmers. This was
welcome, however the consultation with civil society was still very
limited compared with consultations with business.
Indonesian civil society events were very successful and included forums,
(including one with Indonesian parliamentarians) rallies and a media
conference. Doctors without Borders (MSF) launched a new publication on
the RCEP and medicine monopolies, and
Friends of the Earth, the Transnational Institute and others launched a report on ISDS cases in the RCEP countries.
These activities got good media coverage in local Indonesian media like
the Jakarta Post, and the MSF and FOE
reports were covered by the ABC in Australia.
The next round of negotiations is to be held in Japan in late February
and early March 2017. "
Read more
about the Jakarta negotiations:
Advice from AFTINET Nov Bulletin
A number of PSI affiliates in Australia are affiliates and supporters of AFTINET
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