What more can I say, but - LPPL!
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Sep 14, 12:49 AM EDT
World Bank criticizes Singapore for barring entry of some
activists
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press Writer
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore breached an agreement by barring 28
activists from entering the country to attend the annual meetings
of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the
institutions said Thursday.
"We're very displeased with the current state of affairs," said
Kevin Shaw Kellems, senior adviser to World Bank chief Paul
Wolfowitz. "There was not an indication until late in the game that
there was going to be a problem."
The dispute highlighted tension between Singapore's strict controls
on politics and expression, and efforts by the IMF and the World
Bank to be more open to the views of grassroots groups that have
accused them of elitism. It also threatened to taint Singapore's
efforts as host of the Washington-based groups to showcase its
economy and hospitality on a global stage.
Singaporean police had said the activists would not be allowed
entry for the IMF and World Bank meetings on Monday and Tuesday
because they had been involved in "disruptive activities" in other
nations. They did not identify the activists, but said some had
participated in anti-globalization protests that turned violent in
Seattle, Italy and Mexico.
Kellems, however, said the IMF and the World Bank had accredited
the activists, and that Singapore's rationale for denying entry was
unclear.
"There's insufficient clarity. I see on-the-record comments from
various (Singaporean) officials on various days," he said at a news
conference at the convention center where the meetings will be
held.
"You may have seen some of the flavor of those comments; words like
'security,' words like 'undesirable,' words like 'troublemaker,'
that sort of general characterization, but never have I seen a
consistent coherent explanation," Kellems said.
The World Bank official read a statement accusing Singapore of
violating a Sept. 23, 2003, agreement on the attendance of
accredited activists at the meetings, and he urged Singapore to let
them come.
"We work with these representatives of civil societies, and we
value their role - even when we disagree with what they say," the
statement said.
Singapore's police said it objected to the accreditation of the
activists for the meetings, The Straits Times newspaper
reported.
"If they decide to come to Singapore, we will assess their
suitability to enter Singapore subject to a set of security
criteria," a police statement said. "If they meet the criteria,
they will be allowed into Singapore."
Singapore's police said it deported two Filipino activists and one
Indian activist who arrived at the airport but were not
accredited.
"Following interviews, and after full consideration of the
circumstances, it was decided that the three persons should be
deported as it was assessed that they posed a potential security
and public order threat to the annual meetings," a police statement
said.
The Filipino activists were China Leah Ramos of the Jubilee South
and Global Call to Action Against Poverty, and Bobbie Diciembre of
the Freedom from Debt Coalition. Marivic Raquiza, another Filipino
activist, said her colleagues were interrogated and detained for
five hours and slept in an airport barracks before
deportation.
The European Union urged Singapore to allow accredited activists
into the country for the conference of the IMF and World
Bank.
"The (EU) presidency attaches great importance to an open and
constructive dialogue between civil society and the World Bank
institutions," said a statement issued by Finland, which currently
holds the rotating EU presidency.
Singapore banned outdoor demonstrations during the IMF-World Bank
meetings, saying they could lead to violence and damage to
property. It set aside an indoor area where activists can gather to
express their views.
In Indonesia, media said the government will allow activists to
gather on Batam island, a short ferry ride from Singapore.
