Civil society activists demand
accountability of the
World Bank-IMF
The IPF held a small gathering in Batam and issued a statement that says ‘no’ to the way people’s lives are being ‘managed’ by the ‘axis of evil’ comprised
of the World Bank, IMF and the WTO,
writes Mohiuddin Ahmad
When the annual general meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were scheduled in Singapore, as a part of the ritual to hold such a meeting once in every three years outside Washington, DC, civil society organisations and groups representing social movements from across the globe started preparing to hold an International People’s Forum in the same place to oppose the hegemonic economic globalisation led by the Bank-Fund and the neo-liberal policies of the global brokers.
Jubilee South, an anti-debt coalition of NGOs and movements, along with many other international and regional alliances and networks constituted an International People’s Forum (IPF), with an objective to provide a broad platform to all participants for organising meetings, workshops and demonstrations. Main concerns and demands of the IPF were:
1. Immediate and 100% cancellation of multilateral debts as part of the total cancellation of debts claimed from the South, without externally imposed conditionality.
2. Open, transparent and participatory External Audit of the lending operations and related policies of the International Financial Institutions, beginning with the World Bank and IMF.
3. Stop the imposition of conditions and the promotion of neoliberal policies and projects.
a. In this 50th anniversary year of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the IFIs end the promotion of privatisation of public services and the use of public resources to support private profits.
b. Stop IFI funding and involvement in environmentally destructive projects, beginning with big dams, oil, gas and mining and implement the major recommendations of the Extractive Industries Review.
c. Immediately stop imposing conditions that exacerbate health crises like the AIDS pandemic and make restitution for past practices such as requiring user fees for public education and health care services.
As the government of Singapore is insensitive to civil society organisations and wanted to give the northern guardians an image of a ‘good boy’, it had been very tough with the IPF. So the IPF decided earlier to organise their events in Batam, an Indonesian Island that can be accessed by ferry in forty minutes from Singapore.
Jubilee South partners in Indonesia put a lot of hard work to make the event a success where about twenty thousand civil society representatives from all over the world were expected to participate in various activities from 12 to 17 September. However, the Indonesian authorities at the last moment clamped a crackdown on the IPF. All activities of IPF were banned and only some events were allowed from 15 to 17 September. IPF thinks that the Indonesian police was instigated by the World Bank and the Singapore authorities to decide so.
There are also ‘good boys’ in the civil society who have happily been co-opted in the official meetings that took place in Singapore. But most of the activists decided to boycott. In he meantime, many CS activists started arriving Singapore to join IPF events, as there was hardly any time to reschedule. Several participants were detained at Singapore airport. Some were allowed to cross the immigration desk after long 48 hours of waiting and many were ‘deported’ back to their countries. This never happened in any previous meetings of the Bank-Fund. Although the Bank pretends to be a ‘friend’ of the civil society, and had been successful in co-opting and funding many NGOs, the Singapore and Indonesian governments behaved like ‘more Catholic than the Pope’.
The IPF held a small gathering in Batam and issued a statement that says ‘no’ to the way people’s lives are being ‘managed’ by the ‘axis of evil’ comprised of the World Bank, IMF and the WTO.
The IPF statement
Issued at Asrama Haji Batam Centre, Batam, Indonesia on 18 September 2006, the IPF statement says:
International People’s Forum organisers celebrate successful forum and share plans for ways forward.
Today we conclude the International People’s Forum vs. the IMF and World Bank (IPF), which was convened in Batam from September 15th to 17th. Over 500 Indonesians participated in the Forum, as did around 200 individuals from 25 countries representing at least 100 organisations.
The IPF, like other similar fora, has successfully demonstrated to the world that many diverse civil society organisations and social movements can meet in peace and unity, and have meaningful, in-depth and informed discussions on the policies and practices of International Financial Institutions (IFIs). Despite the many hindrances suffered by IPF conveners and participants in organising and travelling to the Forum, we met in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation to share information, insights and strategies on critical issues facing communities and peoples affected by World Bank and IMF operations.
We find the World Bank and IMF responsible for policies and actions that lead to the intensification of poverty and deprivation, the violation of basic human rights, the curtailment of basic political and civil liberties, the undermining of national sovereignty and democratic governance, and the subversion of the right to development.
We call attention to the numerous obstacles we faced in preparing the Forum which, among other things, forced us to cancel outdoor events and caused at least 100 international (sic) individuals to forfeit their participation. Our reports indicate that at least 54 individuals from 17 organisations were either banned from entering Singapore, detained at the Singapore airport without explanation, subjected to custodial interrogation and, regrettably, some were even deported. Furthermore, many continue to face problems entering Singapore as they travel home. We have yet to receive any explanation from either the Singapore government or the World Bank and IMF on why this has happened.
We take the World Bank and IMF to task for not meeting its promises to engage respectfully and openly with civil society organisations. The credibility of these promises has been seriously damaged ever since the World Bank and IMF were made aware of the restrictions Singapore would place on the freedom of assembly for civil society during the Annual Meetings. After it became clear to us that Singapore would not allow the Forum to take place within its borders, we moved the IPF to Batam, Indonesia. We pledge solidarity with those committed to building a vibrant civil society in states that restrict essential rights such as the freedom of speech and we appreciate the Indonesian Government for allowing us to host the Forum in Batam.
In response to the banning and mistreatment of our colleagues, we launched a boycott of official engagement between the World Bank and IMF and civil society at the Annual Meetings. After individuals were ‘un-banned,’ we re-affirmed the boycott and labelled the actions of the Singapore Government as ‘too little too late’. Each and every participating organisation will now and in the future critically re-examine its relationship vis-à-vis the World Bank and IMF and our future engagements, while not losing our focus on holding these institutions accountable for negative impacts associated with their operations.
As a result of our analyses on the World Bank and IMF and drawing on our experiences in the last weeks, we make the following demands.
First, on the policies and practices of the World Bank and IMF, we re-invigorate The Global Call to Action Against the IFIs. In particular, we stress the urgent need for:
100 per cent cancellation of multilateral debt;
open, transparent and participatory external audits of IFI lending and policies;
stopping the imposition of policy conditions that undermine economic sovereignty and exacerbate crises in health and education;
discontinuing the privatisation of public services; and
ending IFI involvement in environmentally destructive projects.
Second, in response to the restrictions placed on the IPF initiative:
We demand from the World Bank and IMF an explanation as to why they proceeded with Singapore as the venue of the Annual Meetings when restrictions on civil society engagement were evident months in advance.
We demand the full disclosure of all information pertaining to civil society participation including the Memorandum of Understanding between the World Bank and Government of Singapore and official and un-official lists of so-called ‘banned individuals’ .
Third, to ensure that there is full accountability and transparency of the IFIs to peoples and communities that are affected by IFI operations:
We call on the governments that are members of the World Bank and IMF Boards of Directors to keep these institutions fully accountable for their impacts on human rights, equity, and the sustainability of development.
Mohiuddin Ahmad, a researcher and writer, is Chairperson of CDL and Chairperson of Jubilee South-Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development. Email: mohi2005@gmail.com
Democracy is absent in the USA
Since Electoral College system elects the president and vice-president, it undermines the universal democratic principle of one-man-one-vote. Second, the system leaves enough scope for political parties to manipulate election,
writes Mohammad Amjad Hossain
It is really ridiculous that Bush administration boasts of its mission of spreading democracy to the non-democratic parts of the world, particularly the Muslim countries while democracy remains absent in the United States itself. The government of the United States should take steps to remove the anomalies that bedevils the American polity and establish democratic norms and practice in line with Abraham Lincoln’s dictum that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
What is at stake to bring about democracy in the United States? The Presidential Electoral College system has been disputed for many years since elections of 1800. The president and the vice-president are elected by the votes of only 538 citizens. They form the Electoral College. It was introduced in the article 2 of the constitution and amended by the 12th amendment of the constitution. The twelfth amendment stipulates that ‘the electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of them at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and of number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit to the seat of the government of the United States, direct to the President of the Senate.’ The president of the Senate is the incumbent vice-president. The president and vice-president, therefore, are not elected by popular votes.
In the electoral system, when a voter votes for a presidential candidate, he or she would be voting to instruct the electors from the state selected by the state to cast their votes for the same candidate. Therefore, the candidate who wins the popular votes in a state wins all the pledged-bound votes of the state electors. There are now 538 electors. A majority of 270 decides the presidential candidate. Since electoral college representation is based on congressional representation, states with larger population get more electors. In case none of the presidential candidate wins 270 electoral votes, the election will be decided by the House of Representatives. This is a contingency plan as mandated in the constitution. This is exactly what happened in 2000 when AL-Gore of the Democratic Party and George W. Bush of the Republican Party did not win decisively. The House of Representatives also failed to elect president while vote counting in Florida was in dispute. The Supreme Court in a split verdict elected George W. Bush president.
Since Electoral College system elects the president and vice-president, it undermines the universal democratic principle of one-man-one-vote. Second, the system leaves enough scope for political parties to manipulate election. Also, these electors cast votes in December after the countrywide general elections on November 02 every fourth year.
As the Florida and Ohio in 2004 showed, the Republicans also hold down the number of opposition votes. The 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) may actually facilitate Republican intimidation of minority voters and reduce Democratic turn-out. It was money and politics that dominated the elections like that of Bangladesh. HAVA has done nothing to change the situation of the 2004 presidential elections, except perhaps change for the worse by encouraging states and localities to purchase new equipment such as touch-screen voting machines for which no standards have been established. Many complaints were received from different states about voting machines. Some Democrats demanded introduction of transparent voting machine, but of no avail.
The undemocratic Electoral College system has been continuing in spite of as many as 700 amendments of the constitution in the Congress was proposed. The opinion polls over the last 53 years have consistently shown a majority of Americans favoring alternative like direct popular elections.
The present president, George Bush, has violated the constitution time and again, but the Congress failed to take action against the president. The Republican-dominated Congress has ignored its oversight responsibilities and become a rubber stamp. Lawmakers remain silent when the president wrote his own military law to designate individuals as enemy combatants and deny them due process of law before sending them to limbo. Under the constitution, Congress has been empowered to make law. The Congress does not defend its own law enacted in 1978.
It is an irony that the Congress has chosen to remain mum as the president signed clarifying statements on more than 700 laws signaling rather loudly that the White House would ignore whatever parts of these laws it seems unworthy of following. Here the president flagrantly violated the constitutional provisions. The opinion of the people on domestic and international issues has no place in the present US administration.
I would like to conclude this article by quoting a statement of conscience by 15000 American citizens in 2005 which says: ‘In our name, the Bush government holds in contempt international law and world opinion. It carries out torture and detentions without trial around the world and proposes new assaults on our rights of privacy, speech and assembly at home. It strips the rights of Arabs, Muslims and south Asians in the US, denies them legal counsel, stigmatizes and holds them without cause.’ It appeared in the New York Times of January 23, San Francisco Chronicle of February 3 and Los Angeles Times of February 15, 2005.
Do you call this functioning democracy? There is no need for further elaboration. There are many things happening in America which are not good to the people of America.
In view of the undemocratic trend in America, the Congress should consider abolishing electoral college system and introduce transparent voting machine to conduct the congressional and presidential elections, which will truly reflect the words of Abraham Lincoln: the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former diplomat, writes from Virginia, US
Pope Benedict on Islam
As always, Islam has once again been brought down the road. Whatever the Pope said was his own feeling which showed how low his mentality is. And his apology was a quick step to pacify the Muslims, but does not really mean that he has changed his mind about Islam.
As a Muslim, I feel that we have never explained our religion and its stance on terrorism as loudly as the Pope expressed his views. So, the Muslim leaders should rather start explaining Islam to others than blasting the Pope. Remember, we are condemning this Pope now, but never praised Pope John Paul for his peace efforts and no Muslim leader ever cooperated with him to bring people and religions together.
And the killing of a nun in Somalia and Al-Qaeda’s declaration of war against the Pope and Christians only prove that we ourselves don’t know Islam well enough. I condemn these deeds as they misinterpret Islam.
Anik Iqbal
On e-mail
* * *
I’m shocked to witness the mute response from the Christian religious groups around the world to the Pope’s remarks against Islam. I recall quite clearly that Muslims around the world showed solidarity with the denouncers of terrorist activities and paid their condolences to the families of the 9/11 victims. I find it quite disturbing to observe such mute response from the Christian community to the Pope’s provocative remarks. Can lack of response (except for the apology of a sort made by the papal office) be interpreted as a sign of affirmation of the comments made by the Pope? I sure hope not. I hope the Christian community harbours the same amount of tolerance and understanding that the Muslim community showed in the wake of terrorist activities five years ago.
Ishita Kabir
Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
* * *
We really do not know in what context the Pope quoted an ancient emperor. Whatever was the context, it was a crude criticism of another’s faith. Quoting another person’s comment amounts to endorsing that comment unless the context proves it otherwise. It was an irresponsible act from someone of the Pope’s profile. However, we do not live in the age of that ancient emperor. The world has changed a lot since then. We learned about tolerance and questioning many facts and events. Hence, overreaction will not be a matching response. The Pope’s regret, a compromised apology, should be accepted as a good gesture, by considering his profile and position in the world community.
Look at the bright side of the episode. People of the world started talking on this issue in blogs and other platforms. Many from the Christian community are expressing their disapproval of the Pope’s act and many from the Muslim community are exercising wisdom and tolerance in pacifying the agitated. It looks like; the Pope initiated a dialogue unwittingly.
MH Khan
On e-mail
* * *
Radical Islam is generally prevalent with communities with less income than the contemporary societies in the advanced world. Their absolute dependence on religion gets them going through the social injustices they meet in their life everyday. If any oblique remark, however scholarly, demeans his faith, it virtually tends to nullify his total belief.
He reacts violently for mare survival. The point is why to instigate him to react in the name of democracy or in the name of a quote made by the pontiff himself.
Akhtar Ahmed
Dhaka
* * *
I have nothing to say on the recent comment of the wise German Pope. I am just wondering whether the Pope would quote the British historian.
David Irving or Iranian president Ahmedanejad in his future lectures.
M Emad
Oxford, UK
* * *
What harm the Pope has done been done, we have heard the pathetic and unconvincing apologies issued by his spokesmen and finally the Pope himself. Though these were only to pacify the infuriated Muslims worldwide, the usual things have happened –– the shooting of a nun in Somalia and the vandalism of Christian churches in Palestine. I didn’t want but couldn’t help to write that it was the Catholic crusaders, not the Muslims, who burned Christian Byzantium on their way to Palestine, and that was only after they had methodically set about the Jews. So the Muslim world was actually only the third victim. All the words the Pope could have chosen instead that religion should break its old connection with conquest, intolerance, and subjugation.
Sirajul Islam
Dhaka
* * *
The Pope did not have to apologise, this issue should have been handled through diplomatic channels and not through street protests and violence.
I am shocked that five years after September 11, there has been no serious dialogue between religions. We, the Christians, Muslims and Jews have allowed extremists to widen the gap between religions. We are all responsible for maintaining open channels for communications, understanding and tolerance.
Bill
USA
* * *
It is very unfortunate that a person who is the head of the largest church in the world should make such a remark. In his official capacity he should not have made such a remark for which he has to apologies for once the damage is done. Was he not aware that this kind of remark would hurt the feeling and further deepen the divide between the Catholic Church and the Muslim world? I think he should first apologise to his church and God who he is supposed to represent in this world.
Franz
Toronto, Canada
Opposition grand rally and
ruling party’s mass arrest
Can we feel the misery of the poor people who were dragged to jail for no fault of their own? It’s a brutal way of handling the issue.
And nothing to comment on our unscrupulous politicians, be it the ruling or the opposition, who are making our life hell and looking after their own selfish interest.
Atiq
DU
* * *
The common people are fed up with the frequent and totally unnecessary rallies, demonstrations, hartals and siege programmes against a democratically elected government whose term will end in a few weeks’ time. These so-called political leaders should be tried for incurring enormous damage and destruction on this impoverished country. The country cannot be dictated and be held hostage to the whims of these so-called politicians who are only interested to make their personal fortunes and want just to grab state power. If reforms are so necessary, why didn’t they do it during their own term?
Nasir
Canada
PM approves power price hike
That it was a matter of time to see a hike in power price was well understood by the people. This is what our politicians are very prompt doing at. With only two months left in their tenure, this decision by the government is absolutely absurd. Had any of our government, whether it’s AL or BNP, ever were sincere about it, they would have privatised our power sector. One such example is Summit Power that regardless of the government’s support has done extremely well ever since it started functioning. As long as it is a public sector, as long as corruption continues unabated, no sort of initiative will alleviate people from power crisis. I wonder when our politicians will realise this simple fact.
Syed Nazmul Alam
Gulshan, Dhaka
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Next on Quick Comments
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a. CG will be made dysfunctional if no reforms made, warns Hasina: Blockade on Wednesday, countrywide hartal on Thursday (New Age, Front Page, September 19)
b. More than 30 teenage killing squads infest capital (New Age, Front Page, September 19)
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