Alternattiva Demokratika condemns ACTA agreement

Alternattiva Demokratika has joined the European Greens in their call to discard the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

The European Greens commissioned a study on the compatibility of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights(ECHR)

"The conclusion of the study was very simple, ACTA violates fundamental rights of freedom of expression, rule of law and the right to fair judicial process. AD asks the Maltese members of European parliament to heed this week's protest against ACTA and vote against it in the European parliament in June, it will be the last chance to reject ACTA," Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD civil rights spokesperson, said.

"Civil liberties and internet freedom should be protected at all costs. It is imperative that the European Parliament rejects ACTA. We disagree with the European Commission stand that ACTA will ensure the protection of intellectual property. ACTA is a global attempt to censor the internet in the name of copyright."

Nighat Urpani, AD spokesperson for social development and health said the problem for third world countries to access medicines will be aggravated if ACTA comes into force.

"ACTA is a grave threat to generic medicines. This would also mean making medicines scarcer and more expensive in many countries. It will also make food patents more difficult to obtain."

AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said ACTA is also unconstitutional.

"ACTA is akin to policy laundering and this is completely unacceptable. As the study by the European Greens confirms, ACTA is not compatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the silence of our political parties in parliament is shameful.

"AD is fully supports the Malta Anti-ACTA Group (MAAG) and AD is the only party which clearly took a position on this issue. AD in parliament would do everything possible to block the ratification of ACTA."