TWN Info Service on Free Trade Agreements

22 June 2006


Thai NGOs Question WHO Move

Civil society organizations in Thailand are up in arms against the WHO following a report linking the US role in the abrupt transfer of a WHO official in Thailand after he wrote of possible adverse impacts to Thailand of a free trade agreement with the US.

Some 14 civil society groups issued an open letter on 19 June condemning the WHO and called for an explanation. They cited a report by Asia Times Online (see mailout dated 19 June 2006 entitled 'WHO and US Influence' or http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HF17Ae01.html) which said that Dr William Aldis was transferred from Thailand after he wrote an article published in the Bangkok Post urging Thailand to be cautious before signing an FTA with the US. Aldis said that restrictive intellectual property rights under the bilateral trade agreement would prevent Thailand from using affordable locally produced generic drugs.

Aldis wrote the opinion piece on January 9, as Thailand and the US entered their sixth round of FTA negotiations which also saw strong protests from the public that eventually led to the resignation of the chief negotiator.

According to the Asia Time Online report, the removal of of Aldis was made by WHO's late director-general Lee Jong-wook on March 24, one day after a US ambassador to the US in Geneva paid Lee a private visit to express displeasure with Aldis' public comments. This was then followed-up with a letter from the US government addressed to Lee which strongly impressed Washington's view of the importance of the WHO to remain "neutral and objective" and requested that Lee personally remind senior WHO officials of those commitments.

Aldis had been the country representative for Thailand for only 16 months. Such postings usually last for four years or more. Lee reportedly characterized the transfer to a position with less authority as a 'promotion'.

This led the civil society groups to question whether the WHO can be relied upon to protect the health of the public and urge the international organization not to be influenced by the US.

"How can the WHO, a global agency to protect public health, provide fair protection to all if intervention is allowed to take place? We condemn such intervention," said the group's open letter.

The group called on the WHO to "revise its position and liberate the organization from Washington's influence" and to 'protect the freedom of expression' of those officials who act to protect the interest of the developing countries.


Regards,

Third World Network
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