As 2006 draws to a close, and we take stock of achievements and failures, from the point of view of the people of the world it has been an eventful year. At the closure of accounts, we have the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Lebanese people. Another significant plus was the reversal suffered by President Bush and the Republican Party in the US senate elections. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won a resounding victory (no surprises there) in the general elections paving the way for an intensification of his social revolution. Minutes after his victory Chavez told thousands of supporters braving the rain that 'this is the starting point of Venezuelas road to socialism'.

The Non Aligned Movement (NAM) received a shot in the arm at the Havana summit, but it remains to be seen if Cuba's chairmanship of the 116-member organisation will see it forge an independent political and economic geography in 2007. British Prime Minister Tony Blair reluctantly admitted to blundering in the war on Iraq. On the trade front, the impasse (since July 2006) at the Doha round of negotiations puts a big question mark on the future of the World Trade Organisation. US and EU corporate ambitions on the services and industrial tariffs front are on hold till the deadlock is broken and March 2007 is the expected crunch time. The Annual Meeting of the Bretton Woods twins in Singapore was mired in controversy as prominent critics (including Focus staff) were banned from organising counter events. Global civil society was quick to respond and slammed all 3 culpable parties - the Singapore Government, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.  

While the US hegemonic project has been on the defensive, India willfully played into the formers attempts to exploit the China bogey and tilt the power balance in Asia. The Indo-US nuclear deal is finally through but while the jury is still out on its specifics the fact that India falls in line with the US scheme of things is amply evident. India voted with the US against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Regulation Commission in a shocking display of hypocrisy by a state that is itself nuclear. India's ambitions as a junior superpower in Asia are clearly powering its policies -both domestic and external.

This issue of FOI has an article on China and South East Asia by Walden Bello, one on Pinochet by Jeremy Corbyn and a fact sheet on the ADB loan to Kerala by Benny Kuruvilla. It also has statements from people's movements, which met this month at the ASEAN civil society forum in Cebu, Philippines. We also carry a response on the recent Forest Bill from the National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW). The resolution on a Peoples Foreign Policy for India attempts to articulate the contours of a policy that is rooted in the democratic aspirations of citizens. You will also find useful information on the World Social Forum to be held in Nairobi from January 20-25 2007.

Focus on India has attempted to bring you analyses and insights into the micro and macro issues that face the people of India and will continue to do so in 2007.

Best wishes,
Focus on the Global South -India.

CONTENTS:

1. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.a. To WSF Nairobi 2007!
1.b. International conference to close Guantanamo
1.c. Fact sheet on proposed water privatisation in K East Ward - Mumbai: MUMBAI PAANI
1.d New Focus publication: ALBA: Venezuela's Answer To Free Trade

2. STATEMENTS/ REPORTS/ CALLS TO ACTION

2.a. "We reject the revival of the Doha round" - Open letter to Pascal Lamy and the ASEAN Heads of State
2.b. NFFPFW Statement on Forests Rights Bill
2.c. A Peoples Foreign Policy of India - Resolution from conference in Mumbai 7-8 December 2007.

3. ARTICLES

3.a. China and Southeast Asia: Emerging Problems in an Economic Relationship: Walden Bello
3.b. Whither Pinochet? : Jeremy Corbyn
3.c. ADB Kerala urban loan conditionalities: Fact or Fiction?:  Benny Kuruvilla