ELITISM, finally the word I long to hear!
And indeed they just want the money but not the risks that comes
with it...
Hokkien saying;"Ai sng, mai kia. Ai Kia, mai sng"
English;"Want to play, don't be afraid. Afraid, then don't
play."
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Singapore Assailed for Barring Activists
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press Writer
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore breached an agreement by barring at
least two dozen 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 President 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 authorities said the city-state was "aware of its
obligations under the MOU (memorandum of understanding) and would
continue to honor them."
"However, the MOU also obliges Singapore to take all necessary
measures for the safe passage of all persons in and out of
Singapore and for their personal security and the safety of their
property and the property of the organizations and delegations," a
government statement said.
Singaporean police had earlier said 28 activists would not be
allowed entry for the IMF and World Bank meetings on Monday and
Tuesday, but the government said Thursday the number was 27.
Singapore said the activists 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 said the IMF and the World Bank had accredited the
activists, and that Singapore's rationale for denying entry was
unclear.
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Singapore Assailed for Barring Activists
"I see on-the-record comments from various (Singaporean) officials
on various days," he said at a news conference.
"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.
He 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.
Some foreign activists already in Singapore for the meetings said
they planned to boycott some official events in protest.
"It's such a shame that Singapore hasn't opened its arms to
everyday people who just want to talk about the World Bank meetings
and state their cases," said Sandy Krawitz, spokeswoman for South
Africa-based ActionAid International.
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.
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