Below is an introductory letter from the Mauritian groups, followed by the Declaration. They are s
eeking endorsements, but specifically from AFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS. If you represent such a group an
d wish to endorse, please follow the instructions at the end of this email. The Mauritian Platform
Against Bush Policies can be reached at mailto:[email protected].

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PA-BUSH: Platform against Bush Policies - In Parallel to the AGOA Business and Head of State Forum

People's Forum - Mauritius

5th December 2002
Dear Comrades in African Organisations and People's movements,

We are appealing to you to endorse the attached Declaration initiated by the Platform Against Bush
policies in Mauritius. Our organisation is part of this platform jointly with 17 other union, socia
l and political organisations in Mauritius. This Platform is organising a Peoples' Forum and a peac
eful march parallel to the official African Growth and Opportunity Act Fora being held as from 13th
to 17th of January, 2003. US President Bush has annouced that he will be coming to Mauritius fo
r the AGOA Forum. The US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) requires that he attend this For
um "as far as is practicable". This will be an opportunity for peoples' organisations in Africa to
express our opposition to AGOA conditions imposed by the US in exchange for access to the US marke
t, as well as US policies that threaten people's rights in our respective countries, in Africa and
worl

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), was voted by the US Congress in the year 2000. It is
a law to facilitate US multinational implantation and control over precious resources: oil, gold,
diamonds, minerals, metals, in Africa. US multinationals even want to get land titles for their ope
rations. They also want the US military to guard these operations. This is why, as from the early 1
990's, the US has been so persistent in pushing AGOA through Congress, despite its unpopularity.

What AGOA does is to give the US President king-size power to open or close the US market to goods
and services originating from 48 African countries depending on whether an African country is follo
wing AGOA conditions or not. We have noted at least 20 overt and covert conditons in AGOA. Overt co
nditions are referred to as "eligibility requirements" in AGOA. Amongst these conditions, African c
ountries are not to "engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign
policy interests". This means that African countries' foreign policy and national security policy
is to be determined by the United States. African countries are also required to adopt "free market
policies" and specifically privatise everything, including social services, withdraw price control
and subsidies whether on food, agriculture, fishing. In addition, African countries are also requi
red

Should you want further information on this piece of extra-territorial legislation, or information
about the Peoples' Forum, please contact us. We hope you will transmit your endorsement as soon as
possible. Please fax us the endorsement at (230) 208-2132 or (230) 208-5551.

Yours sincerely
Ashok Subron, for Lalit
Member of the Platform Against Bush policies (PA-Bush)
153b, Main Rd, G.R.N.W. , Republic of Mauritius, email: [email protected]

Organizations in the Platform as at 5th December 2002
General Workers' Federation Féderation des Syndicats de Corps Con
stuées
Planteurs du Nord Muvman Liberasyon Fam
Lalit Amis de Chamarel
Ledikasyon pu Travayer Arts Jonction
Féderation des Travailleurs Unis Federation of Preschool Playgroups
Muvman Lakaz Nouvo Lizour
Centre Diocesain du Monde Ouvriere Association contre le 'Mind Control' et la
Pensée Unique
ABAIM Rodrigues Government Emplo
yees' Association
Comité pour l'Amerioration de Santé Ligue Ouvriere d'Action Catholique
Organisation pour L'Unite des Artisans

===========

In the context of the January 2003 AGOA Forum being held in Mauritius

Declaration of Peoples' Organisations in Africa

On the occasion of the AGOA Forum being held in Mauritius in January 2003, we, organisations of Afr
ica, resolutely protest against Bush administration policies that are attacking peoples' rights in
our respective countries and in Africa. In particular,

We oppose economic and political conditions being imposed by the US on African States in exchange f
or access to the US market, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which is equivale
nt to a new form of colonisation;

We oppose the US war-drive and the use or threat of military intervention to further US economic an
d political interests much as in the case of Iraq, and in the continued US collusion in the aggre
ssion against the Palestinian people;

We oppose military bases in Africa such the one on Diego Garcia (part of the Chagos archipelago ex
cised from Mauritius and "depopulated" by the UK and US to install a military base there and the US
blocking all international initiatives for peace in the region);

We denounce the US refusal to sign the Kyoto Agreement when it is companies of the US that produce
a quarter of the world's "hot house" gases;

We denounce the US refusing to adhere to internationally-recognised Human Rights Covenants and Conv
entions including the non-acceptance of the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, it
s refusal to be monitored under the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, its failure to ratif
y most of the ILO Conventions, its failure to ratify the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child,
its refusal to be part of the International Criminal Court and constant undermining of the ICC, an
d its sabotage of the UN Conference against Racism held in 2001 in Durban;

We denounce the US's leading role in imposing corporate globalisation worldwide through Washington-
based institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, through its domination of the WTO, through laws
such as AGOA, and through military threats.

On the basis of this platform, we support the Peoples' Forum being organised parallel to the offici
al AGOA forum, the AGOA Business Forum and the AGOA NGO Forum being organised mainly by Washington-
based organisations such as the "Constituency for Africa" and the "Foundation for Democracy in Afri
ca" specifically set up to integrate Africa into the global capitalist economy.

Name of Organisation:........................................

Name of representative:........................................

Address:.............................................

..................................................

Email:.......................Tel.......................

Signature:......................

Please fax your endorsement signature to Lalit, member of the People' Forum initiative: Tel/fax: (2
30) 208-2132, (230) - 208-2132
Email: [email protected]