FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peoples' Trial of IMF-WB to Continue Despite Ban on Critics

Despite the banning, detention and deportation of delegates to the International People’s Forum versus the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the policies and practices of the IMF-WB will be put on trial at the Poverty and Debt Tribunal that will take place on the 17th of September in Batam, Indonesia.

Marivic Raquiza, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)-Asia Convener, noted that most participants who were en route to Batam, narrated their ordeal with the immigration and police authorities of Singapore where the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank will be held.

“The GCAP-Asia participants flew to Singapore in good faith, armed only with stories of the harmful effect of IMF-WB policies. In return, they were treated like common thugs. But the forces of repression have not succeeded, the Poverty and Debt Tribunal will continue. Our voices will be heard,” Raquiza said.

In contrast, delegates to the annual meet were given VIP treatment while those destined for Batam faced either immediate deportation or endured endless interrogation with the longest session running for almost 12 hours. This was corroborated by Ashok Bharti, Coordinator of the National Conference of Dalit Organisations, representing Wada no Todo - GCAP campaign in India, held for 5 hours without any explanation: “As a witness of the People’s Tribunal, I feel that they were trying to block us from getting to Batam”.

South Korean Hyekyung Kim, Chairperson of the International Affairs Committee of the Citizens Coalition of Economic Justice, together with a handful of other delegates was interrogated by no less than 20 police officers.

She added: “They interviewed me about my education, occupation, history of detention and even participation in any kinds of protests. They searched my baggage. They examined all my documents and asked to photocopy seven documents, related to GCAP activities and the tribunal.”

Hyekyung Kim along with 3 other GCAP delegates were detained and deported back to their respective countries.

Immigration authorities took their fingerprints after forcing them to answer questions related to both their presence in Genoa, Cancun or Hong Kong and key WTO and G8 meetings where anti-globalization activists were very critical of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), according to GCAP delegates.

Some were forced to sign statements committing them not to undertake activities which would break unspecified Singapore laws.

GCAP participants present in Batam have expressed their solidarity with NGOs calling for the boycott of all civil society meetings organized in Singapore for the annual IMF-WB gathering.

“These events will not prevent us from bringing the issues we’ve come to Batam to raise, which is poverty and debt,” Lidy Nacpil, International Coordinator of Asia and the Pacific Movement for Debt and Development-Jubilee South (APMDD).

GCAP-Asia and Jubilee South are the organizers of the Asian People’s Tribunal on Poverty and Debt, as a platform for people’s organizations, citizens groups, social movements and NGOs seeking justice for the impact of debts on their lives, livelihood and well-being, human rights of the peoples of Asia, on the environment, ecological systems, economies and political affairs of many countries in the region.


The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a world-wide alliance, present in 112 countries. It calls for accountability of governments and multilateral institutions, trade justice, unconditional debt cancellation and more and better aid. Its symbol is the white band. The GCAP month of mobilisation starts today – 16 September 2006 -, and will culminate on 17 October 2006, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.


Contact persons:

Marivic Raquiza
GCAP Asia Convenor
Tel: +63 918 913 6619
mraquiza@yahoo.com

Thomas Deve
GCAP-Africa
thomasdeve@yahoo.co.uk

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