10th September: Did I mention it was hot?

10 September 2003

Taking advantage of the shade where you can find it

Today was the big march of peasants and indigenous people to mark the opening day of the 5th WTO Ministerial.

The large and powerful peasants' movement - Via Campesina - have reaffirmed that Friends of the Earth is a key ally, so we were keen to demonstrate our solidarity. We also wanted to make a statement about sustainability by cycling the route. This meant our day started with an hour-long ride in the sun to the centre where the marchers to organising.

Sun block anyone?

As we arrived one group set off carrying a table decorated with soil from their farms, roses and maize they had grown. Others helped stock up on water for the day, as most of the shops on route were cautiously closed. Some - faces covered with black - took more ominous formations and marched to their own percussion sets - the increasingly familiar anti-capitalism version of drum and bass.

Reports came in of about 8,000 of us gathered and marching to the giant blockade now fully cutting off the Zona Hotelera, singing and dancing as we went.

As we approached the blockade the chanting began:

Government, understand this: the villages are not for sale!

Others commemorated Che, Sandino and, for the Zapatistas, Marcos. Many placards noted that the WTO system, by it's very nature, means the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, but we don't have to accept it.

By now, it was so hot (circa 40 degrees) my camera packed in, so I can't show you what happened next.

Protestors eye view

A block of demonstrators scaled the barriers and tried to force them over so we could proceed down toward the WTO convention centre.

We stayed with Via Campesina - apart from the rising tensions - but there were several occasions when we had to run as waves of nervous marchers fled the police up front.

As I left, some protesters were pulling up paving stones to add to the bottles being thrown over the barricade at the riot squad. Since then reports of a death of a Korean protester have filtered back to the convention centre.

Yet in a remarkable move to cool things down - as the first big barrier fell - the police fell back. After some negotiation a handful of marchers was allowed to proceed beyond the barrier. They were met by a delegation including the Minister for Agriculture and, apparently, views were exchanged. Via Campesina were central to both the negotiations and discussion.

It is hard to know what is happening now. We are sobered by the reports of a death of a fellow Via Campesina activist.

We are thoughtful about the mix of the strong, non-violent message of the peasants and indigenous
people with the actions of those who believe stronger measures are necessary.

But I am discouraged by the monotone insistence of the WTO delegates that we "must" carry on with a free trade experiment that is clearly failing.

Tomorrow is another day.

All the best,

Eve

Eve Mitchell, our Corporate Globalisation Campaigner is sending daily updates direct from WTO Ministerial.