Even as Malaysia negotiates a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, a broad-based civil society coalition in Thailand is protesting its government's attempts to 'sell sovereignty' under a similar agreement.

FTA Watch was shaped to closely monitor the process from a public interest perspective, with special focus on issues of access to medicine, use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture, and patents.

The last round of talks took place in Chiang Mai in January, with 10,000 people protesting in the streets and disrupting the meeting. As the Thai political crisis continues, the US is continuing to press for a swift conclusion of the FTA.

Jon Ungpakorn, a Thai senator who has been working closely with people with HIV/Aids, has become an anti- FTA activist. He shares his views in an interview.