Related Post

Peoples’ Global Conference Statement on Bali Ban on Political Activities for IMF-WB Meeting

We, concerned individuals and organisations, are deeply alarmed by Bali authorities’ maneuvers to stifle peoples’ independent initiatives parallel to the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (IMF-WBG). We denounce the unjust attempt at banning public gatherings and the Indonesian government’s overblown “security” measures. While the Bali Police had earlier verbally retracted in a dialog with the organizers earlier this morning the prohibition of holding the Peoples’ Global Conference at Radio Republik Indonesia in Denpasar, Bali, they have yet to issue a written confirmation.

The PGC is a collective effort of people’s movements in response to the very limited space provided to the people and their organizations to air their grievances and critical voices in this important policymaking arena.

We join the people’s movements and CSOs in Bali collectively asserting their rights that, in many instances, have been violated by IMF-WBG policies and projects.

The underhanded attempts of Indonesian authorities only further marginalises voices that only desire to reclaim their right to chart their own path to development. The US-dominated IMF-WBG has facilitated the corporations’ capture of the development agenda, making it a billion-dollar business at the expense of the people and the environment.

This act of political repression imposed by the Indonesian authorities will not stop the people from reclaiming our rights and our future.

We demand the Indonesian authorities and the IMF-WB to respect the people’s right – to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and meaningful participation in the development process. We expect the local security forces to remain true to their commitment to respect our assertion to hold the Peoples’ Global Conference at Radio Republik Indonesia, in Denpasar, Bali on October 8 – 14.

We call on grassroots organisations, social movements, CSOs, and policymakers from around the world to remain vigilant and stand in solidarity with the peoples opposing the repressive attempts of the Indonesian authorities and the undemocratic and anti-people IMF-WB.

It is only through our courageous resolve that we could create a strong force to take back our future away from the corporate-led “development” and other neoliberal schemes.

Reclaim our rights and future!
Fight the Corporate Takeover of Development!


Signatories:

Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN)
Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)
IBON International
Indigenous People’s Movement for Self-determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS)
Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES)
International Women’s Alliance (IWA)
ILPS Indonesia
PAN Asia Pacific (PAN AP)
People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS)
People Over Profit (POP)
Reality of Aid – Asia Pacific (RoA-AP)
Youth for Food Sovereignty (YFS)

Email peoplesglobalconference@gmail.com if you or your organization wish to endorse the statement.