WORLD BANK GOES UNDER SCANNER AT PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL

In his deposition to the jury Supreme Court Advocate Prashant Bhushan presented evidence on how, since 1991, most of the key influential economic policy makers in India, including members of the planning commission, secretaries of the Finance Ministry and Economic Advisors to the Government have been people who have had stints at the World Bank. ‘They have moved seamlessly between the World Bank and the Government of India as if the latter were just a division of the former’, he said. Bhushan singled out the case of the current czar of economic policy Montek Singh Ahluwalia who spent the first 11 years of his career at the World Bank. Since then he has been Commerce Secretary, Finance Secretary and now Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. ‘There are several dozen such instances and it should be of little surprise that the Bank has been able to easily impose its ideology and policies in India’, added Bhushan.

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These are Crocodile Tears

A news item appeared in various news papers including The Gaurdian of London and 'The Hindu' of India which evoked good sense of readers but simultaneously put them in a quandary. First see the news.
On August 23, in a public meeting to celebrate 200th anniversary of slave trade abolition, mayor of London Ken Livingstone with his eyes full of tears beged pardon on behalf of citizens of capital for atrocities committed on Black Slaves.

London mayor virtually wept while describing to the memorial meeting the atrocities committed on slaves transported from African continent during colonial period US human right activist and black leader Rev. Jasse Jackson had to console the mayor.
Anyone who will read this news, will say it is never too late. If progeny of those who did outragious deeds and committed untold atrocities not only on Africaners but also on Asians and Indians, for centuries realises its blunderous mistakes, pardon them and forget the history. Let a new chapter of relation begins.

However, has the mind of white man's child really changed, his heart reformed? The events occuring in our country and the world indicate otherwise. The tears of Ken seems to us the tears of a erocodile. Why?
Because, on these very same days a team of Englishmen is visiting India to commemorate what their encestors did in 1857. After having quelled our First War of Independence, Britishers massacred nearly 10 million unarmed people in North and Central India in 1857. Rememberance of these atrocities still causes quiver in our hearts. In our Allahabad, people were hanged on the trees and dead bodies were left there for days in the middle of the town. The visiting Englishmen have not come here to apologise for those crimes. Instead, they are here to offer floral tributes to those who committed that crime. If they were only to remember their encestors they could come at any time. But they have come at a time when whole nation is observing 150th aniversiry of our First War of Independence. Is it not like sprinkling salt on burn sore. London's Mayor should have stopped these Englishman from visiting India at this sensitive juncture.

But this is a minor event. These are the same Englishman who with Americans have killed millions in Iraq. Nearly 4.2 million Iraq families are rendered homeless and forced to go to other countries as refugee. These are the same Englishman who faught with Iraq people in 1991 too, and afterward forced UN to impose economic sanctions on Iraq which claimed another 8 lakhs children due to paucity of essential drugs. All the allegations put against Iraq were later found to be utterly baseless and false. The atrocities committed on Iraq are in no way less than those committed on slaves.

In fact the mindset of Englishmen, Europeans or Americans is not basically different from what it was at the time of slave trade. Two things are deeply sattled in their nimdset. First is, that all those who live outside Europe or America are uncivilised or barbarian and whitemen have a burdon to make them civilised. Second , all resources and money outside of Europe must come under their control. Earlier they attacked, their armies looted. Although they have changed their outer manners, inner spirit is still unchanged. Jasse Jackson rightly observes "they have stopped using ropes and bullets. Instead, they use World Bank, IMF (and WTO)." Aims are the same. Earlier it was state colonialism now it is corporate colonialism. These old colonialists make only 15% population of the world, but they consume 85% resources of the world. Where these resource will come from? Countries like us will sustain their affluence. By showing to us crocodile tears and false sympathy, they have entered into and are eating the vitals like industry, servieces and agriculture of our economy.

We mistook their motives. Even people like Raja Ram Mohan Rai believed english language a boon to the country. What we got in return was slavery and hunger. Today, in the same manner country's so called elite believe corporate system to be a boon to the country. However, they do'nt know what mistake they are committing. Country man, specially the youth should not, however, make the mistake.

Developing nations sidelined for IMF top job By Emad Mekay

The statement by the Group of 24 (G24), which operates as an association of minority shareholders in the IMF and the World Bank and which has previously complained about the lack of democracy at the IMF, was also seen as one of the clearest signals of distrust in how the IMF is being run.
It came as sources at the IMF tell IPS that highly qualified candidates from developing nations are hesitating to apply for the managing director position because they see the process as skewed in favour of the European candidate, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. They say that the near-unanimous agreement among European finance ministers to back Strauss-Kahn makes the successful outcome of his nomination a done deal.

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Developing nations sidelined for IMF top job By Emad Mekay

{Developing country members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reiterated the call for openness and transparency in deciding on the next Fund chief, as concerns persist that the selection process is skewed in favour of the European candidate}
A coalition of developing countries at the International Monetary Fund issued a tacit warning on 23 July that the highly political process of selecting the next IMF chief may be intimidating non-European countries from putting forth candidates, and further discrediting the institution.
The statement by the Group of 24 (G24), which operates as an association of minority shareholders in the IMF and the World Bank and which has previously complained about the lack of democracy at the IMF, was also seen as one of the clearest signals of distrust in how the IMF is being run.

It came as sources at the IMF tell IPS that highly qualified candidates from developing nations are hesitating to apply for the managing director position because they see the process as skewed in favour of the European candidate, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. They say that the near-unanimous agreement among European finance ministers to back Strauss-Kahn makes the successful outcome of his nomination a done deal.
A source inside the Fund, who wished to remain anonymous, says that South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel is a favourite of some countries, even though he has not publicly expressed interest. They have confided that they do not want to put his name forward before receiving guarantees that transparency and democracy pledges by rich nations will be honoured.

Sources say that Manuel would be a highly competitive candidate given his long-term tenure as chairman of the Joint Development Committee which coordinates activities of the IMF and the World Bank, and his credibility in dealing with many of the issues facing poor nations.
The 24 member Board of Executive Directors that helps run the day-to-day affairs of the Washington based IMF recently asserted that the selection of the next managing director would be transparent and democratic and that all 185 members of the Fund were free to nominate candidates. The board vowed that this time around, it would be a merit-based process with clear criteria, no geographic preference, and the objective of selecting the managing director by consensus rather than by a simple majority of votes. But on 10 July, the European nations, who together have the largest bloc of votes on the board, quickly rallied behind the French candidate, former finance minister Strauss-Kahn, effectively declaring that they will not even consider others.
“A strong commitment to an open, transparent and multilateral selection process will greatly enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of the next Managing Director and of the institution at a time when the IMF is confronted with fundamental challenges to its relevance and viability,” said the statement.

Under an unwritten agreement with the United States, European countries choose the head of the IMF in return for Washington naming the president of the Fund’s sister institution, the World Bank. The G24 has consistently called for a change of this practice.
Civil society groups, think-tanks, some economists and developing nations have long urged a followup of recommendations made in April 2001 by a joint World Bank-IMF working group on how to choose the managing director. The recommendations called for opening up the process. But although the two institutions’ executive boards adopted the recommendations as guidance for the future, they were never implemented.

Corporate invasion is in full swing, only people's power can overthrow it

The nation is under attack from multinational corporations. They are occupying space every where displacing the people and the state. Our life, livelihood and freedom are at stake. Governments are lying prostrate at the feet of corporate colonialism Wherever the masses are up in arms against it, the entire state machinary comes down heavily on them with a view to crush their voice and upsurge. Foreign companies and forces are operating here with no police or military force of their own. Instead, governments are working as their loyal security guards. Corporate invasion is manifold, from all sides and on all fronts.
During 15-16 years of corporate-led global economic regime, specially under the dictates of World Bank, IMF and WTO, the multinational corporations took over country's industrial, service and finance sectors and are now engaged with full vigour to do the same with agriculture and retail also, the two most vital and largest job-providing sectors in Indian economy. The agriculture is under severe attack on four fronts. First, multicrop fertile farmland is being acquired on a large scale for setting up mega industrial projects and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for the benefit of corporate giants. Second, free export-import of foodgrains and other farm produce is destroying the fabric of our rural and agrarian econmy and life. Government policies are designed so as to subsidise agri-business corporations at the cost of the lives of our farmers, who are thus forced to committ suicide. Third, agriculture has become unremunerative and loss-making as supply of inputs like seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, etc. are in the hands of big corporations, government subsidies are negetive, and minimum support prices of agricultural commodities are much below the total costs incurred therein. Fourth, in the name of launching second green revolution, India and US joint agreement—Indo-US Knowledge Initiative in Agricultural Research, Education and Training will completely hand-over entire farming to multinational corporations displacing millions and millions of farmers, and farm-related workers.
Retail is next to agriculture. Wal-Marti sation of Indian retail business is on the anvil. Retail provides bread to 40 million households and now their very survival is threatened due to the entry of domestic and foreign big corporate houses in this sector. Government is making conducive environment for them.
The state has succumbed to them but the people have not. It is really a healthy sign that people everywhere are opposing on their own the establishment of corporate enclaves. They are spontaneously getting united and are providing leadership to protest movements. More or less, they have identified their first immediate enemy-multinational corporation Multinationals should be forced to realise that it is now not safe to continue their operations here. This is possible if these grass-roots protest movements consolidete and converge into a nationwide mass movement against corporate colonialism. They have the tested and tried weapons-weapons of non-cooperation and civil disobedience. Farmers, small retailers and youths should come forward and take the lead in this new freedom movement.

World Bank Prescriptions and Structural Changes in Higher Education in India By Dr. Madhu Prasad

The crisis in higher education is endemic. Higher education requires to be greatly expanded – currently only about 10% of the relevant age group is engaged in higher studies. From 1950-51 to 2004-05, the number of universities increased from 28 to 348, colleges from 578 to 17,625. Although enrolment in higher education has registered a steep hike from 0.17 million to 10.48 million, in comparison the Chinese higher education system caters to nearly 23 million students. It is estimated that India needs at least 3,000 more post secondary institutions with an enrolment capacity of not less than 10,000 students to meet the increasing demand for higher learning. [Bhargava, P. (2006) `Knowledge and National Developement’, paper presented at the National Seminar on the Education Commission organized by NUEPA. New Delhi Dec. 2006] .............Read More

‘TRIBUNAL CHARGES BANK WITH SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOVEREIGNTY’

World Bank Officials Refuse to be Held Accountable

New Delhi: The four day Independent Peoples Tribunal (IPT) on the World Bank in India concluded here today hearing numerous depositions indicting the Bank’s policy and project interventions in India. Over six hundred people from communities, social movements, research institutes, NGOs and universities attended the proceedings. The Tribunal, supported by the Jawaharlal University’s Teachers Association and Students’ Union was held in the university premises.

The IPT invited the World Bank two weeks ago and while they did agree to make a presentation responding to some of the evidence, they failed to show up despite provision of adequate space and time by the organisers. They stated on their website that they had taken this decision because they are not accountable to the Tribunal process. We must record our shock at their blatant disregard of any need to be accountable to civil society and to a Jury comprising retired justices of the Supreme and High Courts as well as leading writers, academics, religious leaders and activists. .........Read More

Preliminary Findings by the Jury of the Independent People’s Tribunal on the World Bank Group in India

We, the twelve jury members, have listened to four days of testimony and depositions from affected people, experts and academics from some 60 grass roots, civil society groups and communities from all over India. The presentations covered 26 different sectors of economic and social development, ranging in scope from the macro-economic impact of wide ranging economic policies to testimony from representatives of communities said to have been harmed and impoverished by specific World Bank financed projects. Our members include former justices of the Indian Supreme Court and High Courts, lawyers, writers, scientists, economists, religious leaders, and former Indian government officials. We note that the World Bank Delhi office received an invitation to attend the Tribunal two weeks in advance, but did not wish to participate in the proceedings..........Read More

The IMF, The World Bank, and Structural Adjustment

What are the IMF and World Bank?
The IMF and World Bank are controlled by the wealthy governments of the world, led by the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Germany, France, Canada, and Italy – the "Group of 7," which holds over 40% of the votes on their boards. Their function is to impose economic austerity policies in the countries of the so-called “Third World” or “global South” and the “transition economies” of the former Soviet bloc.

Once countries build up large external debts, as most of those in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have, they cannot get credit or cash anywhere else and are forced to go to these international institutions and accept whatever conditions are demanded of them. None of the countries has emerged from their debt problems; indeed most countries now have much higher levels of debt than when they first accepted IMF/World Bank “assistance.” .........Read More

THE REVOLVING DOOR OF THE WORLD BANK

Suborning policy and decision makers by its pocketbook
By Prashant Bhushan

Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel laureate and former Chief Economist of the World Bank in his frank critique of the World Bank and IMF, “Globalisation and its discontents”, notes that “The institutions are dominated not just by the wealthiest industrial countries but also by commercial and financial interests in those countries, and the policies of the institutions naturally reflect this”. This, he says, happens because the World Bank and other Multi-lateral financial institutions are controlled by the wealthy countries. For the WB/IMF, these countries are represented by their Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. He goes on to say, “The Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors typically have close ties with the financial community; they come from financial firms, and after their period in government service, that is where they return. These individuals naturally see the world through the eyes of the financial community. The decisions of any institution naturally reflect the perspectives and interests of those who make the decisions; not surprisingly, the policies of the international financial institutions are all too often closely aligned with the commercial ........Read More

World Bank on trial

On September 21, 2007, hundreds of people will assemble in New Delhi to put the World Bank Group on trial. In four days of parallel sessions in front of more than a dozen judges, people from all walks of life will air their grievances against one of the world's most powerful institutions. In convening an Independent People's Tribunal on the World Bank Group in India, they are attempting to do more than simply chalk up another protest against injustice. The People's Tribunal is also a shrewd political strategy, aimed at renewing a silenced debate over neo-liberalism and economic policy. But most profoundly, it is a direct assault on one of the Bank's (and the elites') most powerful tools: the monopoly of knowledge. By bringing into the limelight the testimony and personal experiences of the poor, adivasis, Dalits, women, and other marginalised people, it is in direct conflict with the World Bank's own means of understanding economic and social policy. That challenge is not one the World Bank can afford to ignore. ..........Read More