Power to the People

by Imtiaz Muqbil,
Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) flexed their muscles against the World Trade Organization at the November 1999 “Battle in Seattle”. They were present at UNCTAD X in Bangkok, too, but much better organized, more focused and equally loud. Contrary to popular myth, the NGOs are neither idiots nor illiterate.

They have lively names like CUTS and Attac. They are outspoken and vigorous if not always well-organized. Occasionally, they take to the streets. Once in a while, they smear cake in the faces of senior officials. Love them or hate them, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are becoming a force to be reckoned with as they step up their watchdog role and protests against everything from the activities of transnational corporations (TNCs) to transparency in the IMF and World Trade Organization (WTO).

After the November 1999 protests that disrupted the WTO’s ministerial meeting in Seattle, the traditional media, especially those serving the cause of Big Business, dismissed the NGOs as being ignorant nincompoops temporarily blocking the glorious march of globalization. Not true. At UNCTAD X, they proved themselves highly skilled debaters ready to go eyeball to eyeball with senior-most officials from countries and international institutions, and not blink first.

UNCTAD clearly sees a major role for NGOs in achieving its goals, more so because by and large, they fight for the poor man. The NGOs are free to participate in UNCTAD activities. A total of 185 NGOs are registered with UNCTAD, many of them with the right to speak during the general debates and not just sit as passive observers. The Malaysian-based Third World Network seized upon this right in the plenary session to denounce a long, self-congratulatory speech by IMF managing director Michel Camdessus. It publicly pressed him to accept responsibility for the IMF’s economic miscalculations and mistakes, which he didn’t. It also pressed him to change the IMF’s one-dollar, one-vote voting system to one-country, one-vote, but he said it was not in his power to do so.

The NGOs’ are highlighting what they call the dangers of “untrammeled competition and the race to the bottom” by the liberalization, privatization and commercialization of all aspects of human life and endeavors.” With UNCTAD’s blessings, they preceded UNCTAD X with their own two-day caucus, and later organized a number of high-profile press conferences and briefings at which they hammered away at making global financial institutions implement the same reforms and show the same kinds of transparency and accountability that the institutions demand of developing countries.

What the NGOs do best, however, is publish inside stories, some even better than the media. And they do this without fear or favor. One Indian-based grouping called “50 Years is Enough” said recent ‘resignations’ from the IMF and World Bank had not been resignations at all but terminations. Another thundered against TRIPS, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights which is being negotiated under WTO aegis and which would grant IP rights over living organisms and biological resources. The NGO calls this the ‘patenting of life’, a move that would allow global pharmaceutical, cosmetics, biotechnology and agricultural companies unprecedented control over herbs and plants, most of them in the developing countries.

The representative of a Korean NGO which tried to sue the IMF for its high-interest, tight-money policies that bankrupted thousands of Korean businesses told a briefing at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand that the effort flopped because the terms of the IMF’s assistance to Korea specifically said no legal action can be taken against the IMF. Said Jay Choi, “This means the IMF is above and beyond the law.” One US activist at UNCTAD showed what he thought of the IMF by sticking a cake into Camdessus’ face.

Another NGO pointed to the kickbacks allegedly paid to former Philippines President Marcos by a multinational energy company over the construction of a nuclear power plant which has never been used. For those really interested in details, one group known as SUNS, the South North Development Monitor, has published “From GATT to the WTO” which it describes as ‘the secret story of the Uruguay Round’ and a compilation of over 3,000 documents and reports covering both the formal negotiations and “informal meetings” dating back to 1986.

One of the most respected and best organized NGO is Jubilee 2000 Coalition, a UK-based outfit that boasts champion boxer Muhammad Ali as its International Ambassador and Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu as one of its patrons. Its goal, very simply, is for the developed countries to cancel by the end of 2000 all the unpayable debt owed by the world’s poorest countries under a fair and transparent process. For the last few years, the group has come up with scintillating campaigns and research publications that offer some very brass tacks solutions to the problem.

One publication, “Dictators and Debt,” says, “One-fifth of all developing country debts consists of loans given to prop up compliant dictators. Mobutu, Marcos, Suharto and other notorious dictators were propped up by massive loans. Even when they committed gross human rights violations, were notoriously corrupt and blatantly transferred money to Swiss banks, the flow of loans continued. But when these dictators fall, it is expected that their democratically elected successors should repay those debts. Must the victims of oppression be expected to pay the cost of their own torture and imprisonment? The lenders and not the borrowers should take the responsibility for loans to dictators.”

Compelling stuff. Not surprising, then, that while most NGO goals are shared by developing countries, even though they cannot voice them as vigorously as the NGOs, some developing country governments are clearly wary, especially those which are still rife with corruption, dictatorship and lack of transparency. UNCTAD Secretary General Rubens Ricupero said some countries had in fact questioned his liberal stand on NGO involvement, stressing that he should only be listening to governments, “the true representatives of the people,” and not the self-styled NGOs. To some extent, he said that was true, and urged the NGOs to get involved politically in their own countries so that they can force change from within.

Elected or not, the NGOs are not going to go away. UNCTAD X has breathed new life into their movement and encouraged them to continue asking “inconvenient questions”. As they become more sophisticated and better organized, they will do the world a big favor by ensuring that both countries and major global institutions show equal transparency and accountability in their dealings.

by Barrie Kenyon

A visitor to the resort, who last came here in 1997, says he is positively amazed. Not by our daring and sometimes questionable night life but by the explosion, as it were, of internet caf้s. The latest count is more than fifty compared with a tiny handful only three years ago. Even resident farangs, who until recently thought that PC stood for Police Constable as they ran for cover, are now flocking to have their own e-mail facility and to surf the net. Connection charges, although dearer than in Europe, have dropped dramatically. To some, it hardly seems worthwhile having your own computer when 24 hour availability may be just a short walk or ride away. If the machine breaks down or becomes infested with a virus, you can pay your bill and depart as you give a little whistle. Someone else’s problem. Local Thais are also using internet cafes to become computer literate. Language schools report a booming business in crash course English linked to new technology.

Pattaya businesses too are flocking (or is it migrating?) to have their own web sites. Although the number is still small, hotels are leading the way, especially by offering online booking facilities for guests. Some of the sites are slow at downloading, a phenomenon which is variously blamed on old fashioned modems, heavy traffic, Thai telephone lines or the fact the sites themselves are too complex. Some sites contain surprising information. One Pattaya hotel online boasts, “We are pleased to offer you a bowel of fruit on arrival or you can leave your friendly massage at reception.” Pattaya Mail itself is an interesting example of internet success and illustrates you can combine free, worldwide access and popularity with a rising number of “real” copies actually sold over the counter. There are now facilities for booking your own airline ticket online which must have potentially devastating consequences for middlemen such as travel agents and ticketers whose profit markup is tiny anyway.

So where do we go from here? Some critics are not convinced that future shoppers will abandon malls and hypermarkets. They can point to the introduction of catalogue shopping in the USA and in Europe which used similar hype to today’s online companies: no need to struggle to the store, widest choice, lowest prices. In fact, after the novelty wore off, catalogue shopping slowed down and now accounts for less than 10% of retail sales even in the industrialized west. On the other hand, the use of mobile telephones and other handheld devices going online will improve internet access. Today’s kids growing up with computers will find that online shopping comes naturally to them. There are actually some sites now offering bids for, say, airline tickets or financial services. You say what you are willing to pay and it’s up to the company to decide whether to issue the ticket or to offer you a pension. The internet also allows people easily to shop around and compare prices. US research suggests that 40% of new car sales last year involved the net at some stage, say to compare prices or look at the latest models before actually going to meet a human salesman. As they say, no need to walk just click.

It is easy to get carried away, but dear old Pattaya is not yet ready for the real revolution. As yet, there isn’t one local supermarket online which offers to deliver your weekend shopping to your door. Most people here don’t even have a credit or debit card, the key to net retail, including the poor old farangs (without a work permit) who will have one hell of a time persuading a Thai bank to issue them with a Visa card. And overseas banks don’t like Thailand much. “Sorry, sir, we don’t issue or send our cards to that part of the world.” Government statistics show that over 95% of transactions in Thailand are still on a strictly cash basis. Anyone who has tried to cash a foreign cheque here or has had to stagger with wads of cash from one bank to another will understand the limitations of the technological age in our fair city.

The most commonly quoted reason against net shopping is the danger of giving out your credit card number online. Actually, it’s probably a good deal safer than handing your card to a waiter in a restaurant who then disappears with it for ten minutes. The real safeguard on the net is to use only a secure server. In spite of much publicized success by hackers breaking into security systems, the number of cases involving online fraud is tiny. More problematical are the vagaries of the Thai postal system. Farangs, for example, ordering online books from USA or Europe report that the parcels sometimes disappear en route. Well, that is a surprise. Chances of redress in these cases are scarcely worth mentioning except in haste. The only sure method of transporting goods internationally is the DHL delivery system which tracks your package from origin to final destination. You can also check your account with the supplier to see where your goods are at any given time in transit. But private mail is very expensive indeed. If you order books to the value of say $100, the delivery charges may almost double the total charge to you. Postal authorities here may open parcels for examination with the possibility of a further import tax at the port of entry.

There is no doubt internationally we are in the foothills of a net revolution whose future can hardly be grasped. The advent of e-commerce is no passing fad. There will be winners and losers. The best illustration of how you can lose is the voluminous and bulky Encyclopedia Britannica which almost bit the dust entirely after Microsoft produced a cheap CD-Rom called Encarta in the early 1990s. But here in Pattaya it’s going to be some years before infrastructure improvements can deal with any sea change. Until then, you’ll most likely have to continue to poke around in the Made in Thailand market to buy your jumpers and shirts and be asked if you have anything less than a thousand baht note as business is bad today. You will have to stand in line on Sundays at the ATM machine as the cash runs out, or your card is swallowed by a rude mechanical mouth. Concepts such as pervasive digital money, aggregate auction sites and personal swipe cards linked to a police crime computer are light years away in Pattaya. Fortunately.

Dang’s Story

This is the story of Dang, one of the many street dogs in Pattaya. She lives in our Soi with her sister Koi and the father of their continual litters of puppies. No one in the Soi claims her as their dog, she just begs, unsure whether the human will kick her or feed her; fortunately the people here are generous and she survives quite well.

Dang’s sister Koi had a litter two weeks ago in a hollow area that she dug out of the dirt of an abandoned garden bed. Unfortunately it has a low concrete wall around it, making it too small to lie down. Sadly within two days her seven puppies were all dead. For the next two days she wandered aimlessly in the Soi crying for her loss.

Then four days ago Dang produced a litter of five. We watched helplessly as she sat in the same cramped conditions as her sister, open to the elements, trying to be a good mum. Within 24 hours one pup was dead, crushed. The next night it poured with rain, so my Thai sister-in-law Sue went to check on them the following morning. Dang was shivering and distressed and one of the pups was coughing and dying. She immediately gathered them all up and bought them into the house. Sue managed to revive the ailing pup by toweling it warm and settled them all onto a blanket on the covered terrace. When I went to visit them Dang was looking extremely pleased with herself and the puppies were feeding contentedly. That was two days ago, mum and puppies are doing well and all being thoroughly spoilt.

I think that this story tells you a lot. Thai people do care but no one individual can help all the strays, Farang or Thai. That’s why we need PAWS volunteers and a shelter, somewhere, to house dogs like Dang so they don’t suffer needlessly on the street.

Our problem is, we have five of Dang’s puppies from her last litter, Joe our housedog, a clean, obedient and loving pet, and four we took to the farm up in Prae. I am looking for sponsors to help me get Dang and Koi spayed and find homes for these four puppies, after they have been given their injections. If you can help or know someone who can, please e-mail; [email protected] or phone Lesley Warner, (038) 723 301.

As the world-at-large clearly knows now, the thirtieth America’s Cup defense 2000 was a total annihilation of the Italian Prada Challenge by defenders Team New Zealand. The formidable Kiwi racing machine had wrested yachting’s longest-held - and most coveted - trophy away from the United States five years ago off San Diego. The Kiwis’ great win broke a few records and shattered a few shibboleths.

Pattaya Mail special correspondent Peter Cummins was sponsored by the New Zealand Tourism Board and Air New Zealand to go to Auckland to cover the action. “Events on the water were marvellous, though a little slow and drawn out at times,” our scribe pointed out upon his return yesterday.

Prada goes home to rest. Will be back in 2003 to challenge again!

“Nevertheless, whatever happened out there on the unpredictable Hauraki Gulf - racing or not - the non-stop action on the land was equally exciting - and, infectious”, Peter added. Huge crowds, estimated at over a million people during the 10 days of the finals, packed the beautiful Auckland waterfront, the viaduct and the American Express America’s Cup Village.

In the next two weeks, Peter will be presenting two illustrated feature stories: “A microcosm of the America’s Cup - New Zealand style” and “America’s Cup 2000: the Italians lost every start, but won every heart”.

In the meantime, here is a brief look at the historic event…

Words and Photos by Peter Cummins

A close start to Race Four.

The wind came... and went... and shifted... and died, on and off for 12 days. The race management, by the end of the third race of a possible nine, found that the score was Team New Zealand three to Prada Challenge zero. On Mother Nature’s side, it was two to three: only three races had been sailed whereas two had been cancelled, up to Sunday the 27th of February, after eight days of the regatta (there had been three scheduled lay-days). At this point the championship could have been over, if all races had been sailed and if one team had scored five straight wins.

But worse was yet to come and it started to look grim, as Sunday’s race was cancelled, Monday was a lay-day and Tuesday’s race was also called off. The score, at the end of twelve days, was still NZ 3 to Italy zero; Mother Nature four to America’s Cup three.

Race Director Harold Bennett was taking flack from many sides and, after some fancy footwork - and intense discussions - he called off Wednesday’s lay-day and, as had been the case on earlier rest days, the wind obliged. Team New Zealand bolted home by one minute, 49 seconds, to stand four-up on the twelfth day of the regatta, a birthday present for the turned 38- year-old skipper Russell Coutts.

The Cup Village and the mega-yachts against the Auckland cityscape.

It also gave Russell a place in the yachting history books, being the only other skipper in the Cup’s 149-year history. By winning five straight - and taking the Cup at San Diego in 1995 - Coutts equalled the record of nine consecutive races set by the legendary Cup skipper Charlie Barr who did likewise for the United States defenders in 1899, 1901 and 1903. Russell could have broken this record in race five, sailed the next day, which saw Team New Zealand show no mercy, demolishing “Luna Rossa” by almost two minutes, to take the 2000 America’s Cup 5 - 0. Russell stood aside to allow a long-time sailing colleague to have the honour of helming the final victory and the proprietorship of the America’s Cup until the next round, in 2003.

Is this the French C๔te D’Azur (Riviera)? No, it is Auckland in the grip of Cup Fever!

But, with or without wind, races or no races, the 3,000 strong spectator fleet, the press boats, the team support vessels, thousands of the two teams’ supporters and, of course, the contestants, then went back ashore and the land-based action took over, as usual, at the end of the day.

Wandering around amongst the highly-animated crowds at the water-front, one could only think: Is this Monte Carlo, Rio de Janeiro, Cannes or even Santa Catalina, the playground of California’s rich and famous?

None of the foregoing; obviously it is Auckland, New Zealand which must be the tourist’s best-kept secret destination - the Pacific’s own Riviera. Immense crowds ramble around the waterfront every evening; an incredible fleet of super- and mega-yachts jostle for space at this prime facility; the scene resounds to on-board and on-shore parties, as rivers of good New Zealand wines are consumed and floods of beer rain down from the large number of open-air bars looking onto the marina. The sun sets over in the west of the marina, a purple blaze of beauty, refracting off a thousand masts thrusting into the skies.

It is a scene of almost-unbelievable affluence - or, to put that into “Kiwi-speak” - it is the domain of the “seriously rich” - an awesome (another Kiwi-ism) scene of life in the fast lane, for those with the toys and the multitude there to enjoy the ambience and the odd wine/beer or three!

But it is not just the “serious wealth” in the fair city of Auckland. It is a lifestyle for all, those with the toys and those without them: clean air, disciplined traffic, crime-free, pedestrian crossings that are actually for pedestrians!

This correspondent, nevertheless, sponsored by New Zealand Tourism and Air New Zealand, along with almost 1,000 accredited camera teams, journos, scribes and sundry other assorted media hacks, covered diligently (of course!) this, the Thirtieth America’s Cup Challenge Round in its 149-year history.

Next week: “A microcosm of the America’s Cup - New Zealand style”.