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Civil
Society Groups BANNED from attending World Bank
and IMF meetings
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Update From Singapore
and Indonesia |
Repression Continues in Singapore ....
The severe and repressive response of the
Singaporean government to civil society participation
at the World Bank IMF meetings has continued
since before the official meetings started
on the 14th Sept'06. To date, we calculate
that 54 civil society activists have been
either, banned, interrogated, deported or
refused entry to Singapore.
17 of this group were detained and interrogated
in Singapore and 12 of that number have been
deported back to their countries by the Singapore
authorities.
Needless to say, we have all been in a state
of outrage over the entire fiasco. Several
press briefings have been held in Singapore
and in Batam (Indonesia).Those targeted, with
support for the global anti-debt movement,
are seeking redress on the issue through legal
and political channels. We are all committed
to following up on this with the World Bank
and IMF and with our own national governments.
On Saturday, Global Campaign Against Poverty
(GCAP) campaigners organised a demonstration
in Singapore to highlight our opposition to
the devastating impact of the IMF and World
Bank in the lives of people all around the
world, and our deep objections to the clampdown
on civil society dissent. The demonstration
had to be held under ridiculous circumstances
- 'inside' in the Civil Society Organisation
(CSO) space allocated by the IMF-World Bank
meeting organisers. This is because the Singapore
government bans public demonstrations and
protests.
The GCAP campaigners wore t-shirts with 'Stand
up Against Poverty’ and also wore masks
on their faces saying ‘No Voice’.
Despite the timid and controlled nature of
the protest, the Singapore medai gave the
protest wall to wall coverage as demonstrations
are a highly unusual occurrence in Singapore.
Due to the civil society outcry and press
attention to the issue, the Singaporean government
announced that it had lifted the ban from
entry to Singapore on 22 of at least 28 banned
individuals. However, we have rejected this
offer from the Singaporean government as we
cannot accept discrimination against any of
our valued activist colleagues.
The Singaporean government has also interfered
with independently organised civil society
meetings. - A meeting planned for Sunday on
'dismantling the International Monetary Fund
(IMF)' was banned by the Singapore government.
Inspiration in Batam, Indonesia .....
As the boycott by Civil Society Organisations
(CSO) and individuals of official IMF and
World Bank meetings continued, many of us
shifted to Batam, Indonesia for the weekend
where the International People's forum took
place over three days. We have held vibrant
discussion over a wide range of topics relating
to the International Financial Institutions
(IFIs). Some of the key topics included deconstructing
the concept of Odious and Illegitimate debt;
the impact of IFI conditionality; the future
of the IMF and World Bank; ecological debt
and debt and corruption, among others.
The evenings were passed with energetic cultural
celebrations - with activists from each region
contributing performances. As Jubilee South
leader, Lidy Nacpil commented, "Does
Jubilee South know how to throw a party or
what?!" The large presence of Indonesian
students greatly added to the vibrancy of
the meeting. Having so many politicalised
young people around gave hope to all present.
Action Planning …..
I will spend today (Monday) in a strategy
session with activists represented from all
over the world. This meeting will look more
specifically at some of the issues discussed
over the weekend and possible future co-ordinated
actions. High on the agenda are planning future
actions around ‘Shrinking or Sinking’
the IMF; co-ordinated calls to action against
the IFIs and people’s audits of the impact
of World Bank lending.
And then, back to Singapore …..
I will travel back to Singapore this evening.
We plan to travel back in groups as some people
have been interrogated at immigration. This
is because the Singapore government is aware
that many activists have traveled to Batam
in order to participate in the International
People’s forum. Tuesday and Wednesday
will involve more linking up with CSOs in
Singapore in order to share ideas and future
plans.
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| Detention
and deportation of Indian delegates condemned |
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NCOA CONDEMNS THE DETENTION AND DEPORTATION
OF INDIAN DELEGATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL
PEOPLE'S FORUM - Press statment 17/09/06
At the invitation of the International
People's Forum against the World Bank and
IMF being held at Batam Indonesia from Sept
15 to 17 the confederation had sent five
delegates to discuss the various aspects
of reforms in the power Sector. All the
delegates were traveling to Batam and transiting
through Singapore. Within Singapore they
had to travel a distance of about 10 km
from the airport to the Harbour Front to
board a Ferry for Batam. The Confederation
had stated all these facts and obtained
visas for its delegation.
The Singapore Government allowed the delegates
traveling from Delhi to go to Batam without
let or hindrance but the two delegates Mr.
K Raghu and Mr. Biswaranjan Mishra were
detained for THIRTY EIGHT hours and then
deported after being humiliated, finger
printed and photographed like criminals.
They were subjected to intense custodial
interrogation and not allowed to speak to
anyone or make a phone call. Neither was
the Indian Embassy informed about the detention.
Both of them were just professionals going
to make a professional presentation at an
International Conference.
The Confederation condemns this unwarranted
action by the Singapore Government. The
Singapore Government could have transferred,
under escort, the delegates from the airport
to the Harbour to enable them to go to Indonesia.
Alternately, they could have been deported
by the next available flight. There is absolutely
no case for a THIRTY EIGHT hour detention
and custodial interrogation.
The Confederation demand that the Government
of India conduct an enquiry into this ugly
conduct of the Singapore Government. The
Confederation also demands an explanation
and an apology from the Singapore Government.
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| Singapore
tries to save face |
STATEMENT of the Organizers of the International
Peoples' Forum vs the IMF-World Bank
In response to Singapore 2006 Organizing Committee's
Sept. 15 statement
Singapore Government Decision - Too Little
Too Late!
CSO Boycott Shall Continue
16 September 2006 Batam, Indonesia
The organizers of the International People's
Forum (IPF) in Batam, Indonesia boycotting
the official events of the Annual Meetings
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and World Bank in Singapore will continue
this boycott despite the Singapore government's
September 15 press statement that it will
now allow 22 of 27 officially blacklisted
individuals to enter the country.
The Singapore government's decision, "based
on input by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and World Bank (WB)", is nothing
but a desperate face-saving exercise for
the Singapore government, World Bank, and
IMF. We will not allow these three actors
to cover up for actions which we consider
to be egregious violations of democratic
principles, and which have been met with
universal condemnation. The statement fails
to address the central concerns raised by
the 163 civil society organizations around
the world that signed a statement this week
boycotting the IMF/World Bank meetings.
Nor does the government's decision acknowledge
the enormous hardships faced by the many
civil society representatives who were denied
entry to Singapore.
The Singapore government's decision is
both too little and too late.
The government continues to ban five of
the 27 individuals on their official blacklist
from entry into Singapore. There has been
no action regarding the numerous persons
who are not on the official blacklist, but
who were nonetheless detained, subjected
to custodial interrogation and refused entry
into Singapore. Over the past few days,
reports have come in from over two dozen
of these people about the high-handed and
objectionable manner in which they were
interrogated at Singapore's Changi airport
- despite the fact that many of them had
no intention of attending the Annual Meetings.
It is clear to us that there are several
blacklists - official and unofficial - and
that the government's intention to curb
the exercise of democracy and free speech
within its territory extends beyond those
on its official blacklist. In this regard
we express our full solidarity with Singaporean
civil society groups who experienced the
same violations.
Neither the Singapore government nor the
IMF/World Bank have publicly disclosed the
names on the official blacklist. Nor have
they provided an acceptable explanation
for the violation of civil liberties resulting
from their paranoia. The government's decision
to permit entry to 22 barred individuals
is no indication of its commitment to transparency
or democracy.
The democratic process has not been upheld
even in this most recent development. No
apology has been made to affected individuals.
No restitution has been made for the hours
spent in detention, for deportation, or
for the re-routed or cancelled flights.
Furthermore, the broader group of individuals
who have been detained or refused entry
have not yet been informed that they may
now enter Singapore. In fact, the Singapore
government made no attempt to communicate
with any of the banned 27 directly. They
continue to use the World Bank/IMF as their
mouthpiece.
We feel that the World Bank/IMF will use
these recent developments to burnish their
"democratic" credentials by claiming
that they were responsible for the Singapore
government's change of heart. However we
all know that these developments would not
have occurred had the World Bank/IMF not
chosen Singapore as the venue for their
Annual Meetings in order to shield themselves
from protests and demonstrations. The two
institutions cannot be absolved from their
deep complicity in the violations of our
civil and political rights.
For us, there is no other principled way
to address these recent developments than
to continue our boycott.
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| International
Civil Society Organisations and Debt Campaigners
move from Singapore |
International Civil Society Organisations
and Debt Campaigners move from Singapore to
Batam in Indonesia for discussions, debates,
presentations and to map the way forward in
the struggle to achieve justice for the peoples
most effected by World Bank and International
Monetary Fund policies.
For all the latest on the events in Batam
see: International Peoples Forum: www.ipf.homeip.net
Current updates from Batam Indonesia:
www.ifiwatchnet.org
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| Eurodad
PRESS RELEASE: 15 September 2006 |
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Eurodad is participating in a boycott
by civil society groups of this year’s
annual meetings of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) in Singapore
as authorities refuse to reverse the ban
of many of their representatives from entering
the country. Deportations of a number of
activists have also already started and
are likely to continue over the next couple
of days.
Overnight (between Tuesday and Wednesday)
the number of supporters of development
and human rights groups who have been refused
entry to Singapore has risen from 19 to
28. This includes Eurodad members Campagna
per la Riforma della Banca Mondial from
Italy and World Development Movement from
the UK, and close Southern partners such
as Freedom from Debt Coalition from the
Philippines and INFID (International Forum
on Indonesian Development) from Indonesia.
These organisations had already received
formal accreditation from the Bank and Fund
to attend the meetings.
‘We are appalled and shocked by the
decisions of the Singaporean authorities,’
said Alex Wilks, Eurodad’s Coordinator.
‘We firmly stand behind the international
call for an immediate boycott of all events,
such as the Bank Civil Society Dialogues.
This is a question of principle which cannot
go unanswered.’
Eurodad hopes and expects that the Finnish
government, which currently holds the Presidency
of the EU, will push all the European governments,
via their respective embassies and from
the capitals, to jointly and publicly protest
against the Singaporean government, and
denounce this unacceptable state of affairs.
Not going to Singapore in an act of protest
would of course be the best way to prove
that human rights and free speech are effectively
at the top of the list of priorities of
the European Union.
INFID and Eurodad had been actively cooperating
in the organisation of a seminar on illegitimate
debt, which could have been a welcome occasion
to confront the IFIs and bilateral lenders
for the very first time on loans dished
out to undemocratic regimes largely for
political and ideological purposes with
very little interest in the final use of
these funds.
But now, in the wake of the unbending refusal
by Singaporean authorities to let the 28
people attend the meetings, Eurodad is calling
for a total boycott of all civil society
dialogues with either the IMF or the WB.
Charges moved against banned organisations
– including “security and law
and order considerations”– are
totally unfounded and extremely serious.
They may also cause significant damage to
all those individuals and organisations
involved. Eurodad deeply regrets that the
World Bank and the IMF have not proved responsible
in addressing this issue and its implications
in an appropriate manner, since this is
a matter which first of all deeply affects
their credibility.
The “ironic” decision by the IMF
and WB to cite talks dedicated to “good
governance” in Singapore, a country
which is well known as plain undemocratic,
had already aroused widespread suspicion
that the IFIs were keen to suppress open,
direct criticism of their work.
‘It is farcical for the Bank and the
Fund to meet and discuss human rights in
a country where human rights are restricted.
It shows how out of step with reality they
are and underscores our argument that the
UK government should withdraw funding from
both the IMF and the World Bank. These organisations
are illegitimate because they seek to impose
damaging conditions on loans. It is high
time they reformed, ‘said Anna Thomas,
Christian Aid’s – a Eurodad member
- senior policy manager.
Meanwhile fears are growing that members
of civil society groups who make it through
could be attacked by street thugs when they
attend an alternative Forum to be staged
in nearby Batam (Indonesia).
The Indonesian newspaper Batam Post last
week (September 8) reported a local police
chief promising to disrupt the meeting of
500 or so civil society supporters with
the help of a notorious local youth group
who have a long history of street fighting
and violence.
There will be a press conference onFriday
15 September in Batam, Asrama Haji Center,
at 10 am local time for the official announcement
of the boycott. Please contact Lidy Nacpil
at +63- 917-880-0410 or Alex Wilks (Eurodad)
on +32-498549482 for all direct information.
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The Debt and Development
Coalition Ireland
Press Release 14th
September 2006
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Irish Campaigners Boycott Singapore IMF-World
Bank Meetings
The Debt and Development Coalition Ireland,
today, announced that they are boycotting
all official meetings planned with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Singapore
this week. Their boycott has been launched
in protest at the decision of the Singapore
government to ban several campaigning organisations
from entering Singapore, despite having received
accreditation from the IMF and World Bank
to attend the annual meetings.
Nessa Ní Chasaide, co-ordinator of
the Debt and Development Coalition Ireland,
who travelled to Singapore to participate
in the official meetings and in parallel campaigning
foras said, "We are outraged at this
injustice. We will now boycott all official
meetings with the IMF and World Bank in Singapore,
in solidarity with our fellow campaigners
who have been denied their fundamental rights
to freedom of expression and association by
the Singapore government".
The IMF and World Bank have acknowledged that
the Singaporean government, by excluding IMF
and World Bank accredited campaigners, are
in breach of the agreed Memorandum of Understanding
between the IMF, World Bank and the hosting
country of the annual meetings.
Ms Ní Chasaide added, “We came
to the IMF and World Bank meetings in order
to register our resistance to the horrendous
impact of IMF and World Bank enforced economic
conditions on already impoverished countries.
We must ask, why did the Irish government,
through its membership of the IMF and World
Bank, allow the annual meetings to be held
in a location, which does not allow civil
society dissent or protest? The Irish government
must now make a clear public statement demanding
a lifting of the ban, in addition to outlining
what steps they will take at the IMF and World
Bank to ensure that this repressive situation
does not happen again".
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| MORE
- external sites |
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Over 160 International Civil Society Organisations
Boycott Official IMF - World Bank Singapore
Meetings See: http://www.eurodad.org/articles/default.aspx?id=727
ALSO
http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml
For all the latest on the events in Batam
see: International Peoples Forum: www.ipf.homeip.net
Current updates from Batam Indonesia:
www.ifiwatchnet.org
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| From Ban
to Boycott |
Nessa Ni CChasaide writes before BOYCOTT: here is
an update on a Civil Society Organisations (CSO)
meeting held today (13th Sept'06) with World Bank
& IMF staff including Wolfowitz (WB president)
and De Rato (IMF managing director)
We had a briefing from the World Bank and IMF
this morning in order to clarify the situation
re: the ban. Most questions focused on the banning
issue, though some organisations asked more general
questions. Questions posed to the world bank and
the IMF on the ban included the following:
The drama unfolds... Bretton Woods Project pointed
out to them that Singapore as the hosting government
had breached the Memorandum of Understanding between
host country and WB and IMF and asked them what
will their response be. WB and IMF responded that
yes, the memorandum of understanding had been
breached and that this has taught them that in
future they would have to consider issues of entry
and freedom to demonstrate much earlier. They
said that they were still hopeful that the ban
would be lifted. Christian Aid pointed out that
many of the banned people had already cancelled
their flights so it is wrong to have a positive
view at this point. Jubilee Australia asked the
WB and IMF what criteria had been used in blacklisting
the organisations. WB & IMF said that they
had not received consistent responses from the
Singapore authorities as to what criteria was
applied. They said that it is not clear.
Media dramaAt the end there was a big media fanfare
and WB president Wolfowitz and IMF managing director
De Rato walked in. The media went crazy. We were
allowed ask them a few questions - again most
related to the ban. They were criticised about
the situation. "I asked them that given that
they could not respond satisfactorily to the issues
we had raised about the ban, would they apologise
to our civil society colleagues who had been denied
their right to freedom of expression and association
in voicing their views on the damaging policies
of the WB and the IMF in impoverished countries".
Wolfowitz responded that if it is the case that
the Singapore government was engaging in censorship,
then this was not acceptable.
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| Campaigners
Condemn Singapore Civil Society Clampdown |
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12th September 2006
Campaigners Condemn Singapore Civil Society
Clampdown
This week, the Singapore government, due to host
the annual meetings of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group from 14th - 20th
September 2006 banned several campaign groups
from entering the country.
From Singapore, Nessa Ni Chasaide, co-ordinator
of Debt and Development
Coalition Ireland, said;
"We are outraged that our colleagues,
working in such credible campaigning organisations,
have been prevented from entering Singapore.
As a result they will be prevented from joining
us in voicing their views on World Bank and
IMF policies that have such a negative impact
on the lives of impoverished people. We call
on the Irish government, who will be represented
in Singapore this week as a member of the World
Bank and IMF, to demand a reversal of this unjust
and undemocratic decision taken by the Singapore
government."
The banned organisations include groups from
the UK, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines and
the wider Asia region, who have campaigned non-violently
for reform of the World Bank and IMF over many
years.
Ms Ni Chasaide continued,
"Singapore is a state which does
not permit civil society dissent or protest.
By deciding to host their meetings here, the
World Bank and IMF are effectively silencing
peaceful, democratic resistance to the harmful
policies of these powerful institutions."
ALSO
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| Singapore
bars 28 activists accredited by World Bank, IMF
ahead of meetings |
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The Associated Press
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/11/asia/AS_GEN_Singapore_IMF_Security.php
Published: September 11, 2006
SINGAPORE Singapore police said Monday they would
disallow 28 activists to enter the city state
for the upcoming International Monetary Fund and
World Bank meetings even though they have been
approved by the two institutions to attend.
The activists are members of eight civil society
groups from the region and elsewhere, and have
been previously involved in "disruptive activities,"
senior police officials said at a press conference.
Police did not identify the blacklisted individuals
but Chief of Staff Soh Wai Wah said that one of
the activists had previously broken into the World
Bank's headquarters in Washington D.C. and stolen
confidential documents while another demonstrator
was involved in the takeover of a consulate in
San Francisco.
"Among the people that we have raised objections
to, there are characters who have been involved
in disruptive activities in Seattle in 1999, Genoa
in 2001, in Cancun in '03," Soh said, referring
to anti-globalization protests that erupted in
Seattle during the World Trade Organization meeting,
demonstrations against the G-8 summit in Genoa,
Italy, and the WTO protests in Cancun, Mexico.
"We are concerned about the things that
they do, we're concerned about the activities
they perform that will undermine our security
and that may create law and order problems for
us," he said.
The IMF and World Bank on Friday urged Singapore
to reverse its decision to blacklist accredited
individuals and allow the activists to attend
next week's meetings in the interest of transparency
and accountability. But Singapore said it had
the right to determine whether a foreigner is
eligible for entry into its territory, and that
the city-state had to be cautious not to compromise
the security of the high-profile event.
"We would rather be seen to be taking the
correct and responsible course of action rather
than taking what appears to be the easy way out,"
operations director Aubeck Kam said.
Kam said that although there was a strict ban
on outdoor demonstrations, law enforcement officials
had taken measures to ensure that there were opportunities
for alternative views to be heard during the meetings.
Accredited activists are allowed to hold protests
within a 50-sq.-meter (530-sq.-feet) indoor area
at the lobby of the convention center where the
meetings are being held, while other foreigners
may apply to the police to hold indoor gatherings
elsewhere, and Kam said the applications would
be considered favorably.
The city-state is mobilizing its entire police
force and its reserve police national service
numbering over 10,000 to provide 24-hour
security for the meetings, which are expected
to gather 16,000 delegates and visitors.
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| Various
Articles & Items on this issue |
11th September
2006.
Civil Society Groups BANNED from attending
World Bank and IMF meetings
14th –to- 18th September 2006.
Nessa Ni Chasaide, the new Coordinator of Debt and
Development Coalition Ireland headed off today for
her first IMF and World Bank annual general meeting.
Nothing smooth about this trip. Whether Nessa will
be allowed into Singapore is not certain. Five international
non-government organisations INFID (Indonesia),
Freedom from Debt Coalition (Philippines), FOCUS
on the Global South (Asia region), Campaign to Reform
the World Bank (Italy), and World Development Movement
(UK) have all been ‘black listed’. These
are all well-known groups committed to non-violent
advocacy on economic justice issues.
11th September 2006 The Jakarta Post ( www.thejakartapost.com
)
‘Police confusion leaves NGO meet in
Batam (Indonesia) up in the air ‘.
Confusion among the police means it remains unclear
whether a group of local and international non-government
organisations will be allowed to hold a forum
in Batam to coincide with the IMF – World
Bank meeting in Singapore this week.
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11th September 2006
Letter sent by International Debt Campaigners
to the President of the World Bank and Managing
Director of the IMF.
SUBJECT: Request of immediate action against
civil society ban for Annual Meetings in Singapore
Dear Mr. Wolfowitz, dear Mr. De Rato,
We are writing to you to express our dismay in
acknowledging how the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund are reacting to the outrageous ban
to attend the upcoming Annual Meetings imposed
by the Singaporean government on about 20 NGO
representatives from five organisations and the
pressure exerted by Singapore on the Indonesian
government to prevent any civil society activities
on the island of Batam.
We understand that these steps by the Singaporean
government violate the Memorandun of Understanding
signed with the World Bank and the IMF concerning
the organisation of the Annual Meetings, which
includes a clause that the Bank and Fund have
the right to accredit civil society groups. We
note the statement issued by Bank officials and
Mr Wolfowitz’s short mention to the BBC,
but are concerned that you, the Bretton Woods
Institutions’ highest representatives, have
not exerted sufficient pressure on the Singaporean
government to withdraw its decision. This is a
matter, which deeply affects your credibility
and that of your institutions.
Changes moved against banned organisations –
including “security and law and order considerations”
which include terrorist reference at large –
are totally unfounded, extremely serious and a
shame for the Institutions you head. They may
also cause irreparable reputational damage for
all those individuals and organisations involved.
We deeply regret that the Bank and the Fund have
not proved responsible in addressing this issue
and its implications in an appropriate manner.
We also consider outrageous that the Bank has
not yet disclosed the list of all blacklisted
individuals and organisations. This behaviour
might put at risk the security of individuals
who in any case are considering to go to Singapore
and have not been properly informed.
The World Bank has claimed to be exercising leadership
in the promotion of good governance all over the
world. Ironically, the debate on how to implement
new strategies to achieve this goal could take
place in a few days in a police-state country,
with significant sectors of global civil society
absent because of the blacklist and other intimidating
measures by the host government. It is also ironic
to choose a well-known offshore financial centre
as a place to hold discussions about anti-corruption
strategies.
The Bretton Woods institutions have lately decided
to escape democratic confrontation with civil
society protests by choosing remote and inaccessible
places for those annual meetings taking place
outside of Washington. The current situation is
a clear consequence of this choice and the Bank
and the Fund will bear of the brunt of world public
opinion for what will happen in Singapore and
Batam in the coming days.
The fully undemocratic practices of the Singaporean
government and its appalling human rights record
are very well known by experts and the public.
Fundamental human rights, such as freedom of expression
and peaceful gathering, have been constantly prohibited
in the last years. In 2005 the authorities executed
eight people. It is believed to have the highest
rate of executions per capita in the world. According
to Amnesty International's annual report it imposes
"serious restrictions on freedom of expression
and assembly which inhibits peaceful civil society
activity". Despite this well-known evidence
the World Bank recently ranked Singapore as the
most business-friendly economies in its "Doing
Business" report. We ask the Bank to review
this statement, also in the light of the evidence
that Singapore operates as a tax haven and repository
for dubious finance.
We and others give notice that we cannot participate
in official meetings in Singapore under such circumstances.
We call on you to publicly denounce the Singaporean
government for violating its recurrent breaches
of its citizens’ human rights, and its violation
of the memorandum of understanding signed with
the Bretton Woods Institutions, a memorandum which
should be made public as soon as possible. If
the situation won’t change, the Bank and
the Fund should seriously consider cancelling
their official meetings here.
Looking forward to your prompt reply.
|
8th September 2006
Debt campaigners from around the world condemn
civil society clampdown for Singapore World Bank
/ International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings,
14th/18th September 2006.
Civil society groups worldwide have reacted angrily
to the Singaporean government’s ban on up
to 19 delegates who plan to attend Bank/Fund annual
meetings there next week. They have also condemned
the pressure apparently brought by Singapore’s
government on the administration of neighbouring
Batam, Indonesia, where a major civil society
conference will be help next week.
Lidy Nacpil of Jubilee South commented, “Singapore’s
thorough restrictions on freedom of expression
and assembly are well known. The sound s of shock
and disappointment from the IMF and World Bank
cannot be taken seriously. The IMF and World Bank
are trying to shed their images as economic disciplinarians
and reposition themselves as civil society-friendly
and as good governance champions, but these event
show how little they have changed”.
Why was Singapore chosen as the venue for the
IMF/World Bank meetings?
Sameer Dossani of the 50 Years Is Enough Network,
“Three years ago, we went through a similar
ordeal when the World Bank chose to have its annual
meetings in the Emirate of Dubai. “It seems
that the only countries where the IMF and World
Bank feel secure are those with no respect for
human rights and civil liberties”.
|
8th September 2006 BBC News
‘Singapore rapped over protest ban’
Singapore authorities have blocked 19 civil society
representatives from attending the annual International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings between
the 14th and 18th September 2006, amid claims
that they pose a security risk.
World Bank president Mr Paul Wolfowitz said Singapore
had made a “bad” decision when it blocked
activists that had been invited to the event.
“We might not always agree with what they
say, but it is very important to have that discussion”.
NB We will keep you updated on progress.
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February
2006
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