Chilean students to join int'l protests against TPP

The Confederation of Chilean Students (Confech) announced Friday it will take part in an international day of protest against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with demonstrations scheduled for Monday in various signatory countries.

While the far-reaching free-trade deal can potentially impact the day-to-day life of people in some 12 countries, very little is actually known about it, sounding the alarm among labor, student and civil rights groups, said Confech members.

"If the initiatives are decided in a backroom, then they don't take into account the realities of the communities or today's social needs," Confech President Camila Rojas said.

"The problem isn't just that it was discussed without consulting the people, but ... a large part of these matters block the positions of organized social groups. They are treaties that are going to force us to act in a certain way," Student leader Marta Matamala said.

Confech will hold demonstrations and events in various cities to raise awareness about the controversial pact, joining other civic organizations in Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada.

In Chile's capital Santiago, student activists plan to lobby legislators to vote against the deal, which many fear will curb freedoms and threaten ecosystems by handing too much power over to corporations.

In February, after years of mainly closed-door negotiations, member countries signed the multi-party treaty that must now be ratified or rejected by their respective legislatures. The agreement bars lawmakers from making any modifications.

With Chile's Congress expected to debate joining the treaty in coming months, those opposed to the secretive deal have been organizing demonstrations.

On Monday, activists protested outside Chile's Foreign Affairs Ministry, demanding more transparency from the government.

Spearheaded by the United States, the TPP also includes Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico and Peru, which together represent more than 36 percent of world trade. Endi