Statement and Demands From Indonesian Farmer Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to the Delegations of the G-33 Ministerial Conference

In relation with the G-33 Ministerial Conference Meeting in Jakarta, 11th-12th June 2005, we, representing nine farmer organizations and non-governmental organizations, have conducted a meeting to formulate our key positions and demands as follows:

Firstly, we appreciate the efforts made by the Indonesian government in actively formulating the SP/SSM proposal and to organise the implementation of this Ministerial Conference Meeting. We also appreciate various efforts that have been pursued by the G-33 member countries in promoting justice in the agricultural sector negotiations, based on the principles of food sovereignty, rural development, and the eradication of poverty. Despite those efforts, we believe that SP/SSM proposal is not enough to provide sufficient protection needed to sustain the livelihood of farmers and the sustainability of food access in the developing and poor countries. In our view, SP/SSM proposal is still limited and weak, and fails to reflect the interests of food sovereignty, rural development, and poverty eradication. Overall, G-33 countries are still weak in promoting food sovereignty, rural development, and poverty eradication as a result of:

1. The weak bargaining position of the G-33 member countries vis-