Pressemitteilung zur IWF-Weltbank-Jahrestagung von WEED, IRN und urgewald

12.09.2006: Unterdrückung von Meinungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit im Kontext der IWF-Weltbank Jahrestagung * Nichtregierungsorganisationen fordern klare Konsequenzen

Ende letzter Woche hat die Regierung von Singapur ein Einreiseverbot für über 20 Vertreter von Entwicklungs NROs für die Zeit der WB/IWF-Jahrestagung verhängt. Als Grund gaben die Behörden die Bedrohung der nationalen Sicherheit und von Recht und Gesetz an.

"Solche Vorwürfe sind völlig unhaltbar und dienen allein der Unterdrückung von kritischer Meinungsäußerung und friedlichem Protest" kritisiert Knud Vöcking von Urgewald. "In der Presse Singapurs wurde explizit Walden Bello als potenzieller Gewalttäter denunziert. Dabei ist Bello einer derjenigen, die den Dialog zwischen der Zivilgesellschaft und der Weltbank seit Jahren voran gebracht haben."

In einem Brief (s. u.) an Weltbank-Präsident Paul Wolfowitz und IWF-Direktor Rodrigo de Rato fordern Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NRO) klare Konsequenzen aus der Weigerung der Regierung von Singapur, ordnungsgemäß akkreditierten NRO-Vertretern den Zugang zur IWF-Weltbank Jahrestagung zu gewähren. Es reiche nicht aus, ‚Good Governance’ und Demokratie als Lippenbekenntnis zu betreiben.

"Eine solche Verletzung von grundlegenden demokratischen Rechten darf nicht einfach so hingenommen werden. Sollte das Einreiseverbot nicht aufgehoben und allen akreditierten NRO ungehindert Zugang gewährt werden, darf es keinen ‚business as usual’ geben. Es muss ernsthaft erwägt werden, das Treffen so nicht stattfinden zu lassen." Fordert Daniela Setton von WEED. "Wenn es der Weltbank mit Dialog und guter Regierungsführung ernst ist, muss sie das Treffen abblasen," so Ann Kathrin Schneider vom International Rivers Network.

Es gibt Anzeichen, dass neben dem Einreiseverbot für 19 Vertreter von INFID (Indonesien), CRBM, Freedom from Debt Coalition (Philippinen), World Development Movement (UK) und Focus on the Global South auch anderen NRO-Vertretern keine Visa für Singapur erteilt werden. "Wenn Weltbank und IWF einem Polizeistaat den Zuschlag für die Jahrestagung erteilen, dann dürfen sie sich nicht überrascht geben, wenn Übereinkommen gebrochen werden," meint Knud Vöcking. "Besonders peinlich für die Weltbank ist, dass gute Regierungsführung (good governance) eins der Hauptthemen der Konferenz ist."

Erst letzte Woche wurde Singapur von der Weltbank als Firmenstandort Nr. 1 auf der Welt gekürt. "Dies zeigt, wo die Weltbank wirklich ihre Prioritäten setzt. Wo Demokratie unterdrückt wird, um Investitionen nicht zu behindern, muss die Toleranz aufhören." Fordert Setton.

Für Rückfragen:

Knud Vöcking (urgewald) : 0171 - 2832408

Daniela Setton (WEED): 0179 - 7102094 (in Singapur/Batam vom 14.9 -

Ann Kathrin Schneider (IRN): 0163 475 1284

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Mr. Paul Wolfowitz President The World Bank Group 1818 H Street, NW 20433 Washington, DC USA

Mr. Rodrigo de Rato Managing Director The International Monetary Fund 900 19th Street, NW 20433 Washington, DC USA

11th September 2006

SUBJECT: Request of cancellation of 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.

Charges 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.

Knud Vöcking (Urgewald) Daniela Setton (Word Economy, Ecology & Development - WEED) Ann Kathrin Schneider (International Rivers Network - IRN) Peter Lanzet (EED)