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Guatemala Court Examines FTA
Appeal
Guatemalan organizations
described the Constitutional
Court ruling to give leave to an
appeal against a free trade
agreement (FTA) with the US as a
firm step to defend the nation´s
interests.
"This means people´s actions
have taken the FTA to the dock,"
said National Struggle Front
leader Roberto Madriz, terming
it a historic deed ensured by
unity and alliance, even among
sectors such as small and median
entrepreneurs, who had remained
separated from people.
He referred to the United
Nations Development Program
report, which said the FTA would
have a negative impact on
Guatemala´s food if the
government did not take a series
of measures before its
implementation.
The FTA will bring unemployment
and will affect 500,000 families
presently living on corn, as
their production will be
replaced by generic products,
according to Madriz.
He also assured the government
will lose over 600 million
dollars given tax exemptions on
US products, one year after the
accord is effective.
The Guatemalan Constitutional
Court confirmed it will start
hearings, consultations and
analyzes on the appeal against
the FTA social organizations
lodged in a huge march held on
February 24.
Public bodies, Guatemalan
President Oscar Berger and
people´s and social
organizations will be summoned
for the hearing.
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