By Norman Bordadora
Inquirer
Last updated 06:04pm (Mla time) 09/11/2006
FAIR trade activists in the Philippines on Monday called economic tiger Singapore an "immature state" that can't stand public debate after its government banned 20 persons and five groups from entering the territory in connection with the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) conference this week.
Walden Bello, a sociologist and professor at the University of the Philippines, said the IMF and WB have actually accredited the individuals and groups banned by Singapore in its conference on, ironically, governance, corruption and transparency.
"After a long while of not having protests, Singapore conjures up images of violent protests," Bello said.
Bello, executive director of the Focus on the Global South, is one of the individuals banned by the city-state and his group, one of the organizations prohibited.
"Singapore is showing its dark side. One that does not respect civil rights, one that treats people like children," Bello said.
Bello said the IMF-WB has already sent notice to the Singaporean government that they disagree with the banning of civil society representatives that have been accredited to attend the conference scheduled September 14 to September 18.
"But the communication came from minor officials of the IMF-World Bank. We have to hear from people like(WB president) Paul Wolfowitz," Bello said.
Bello said the IMF-WB officials should also be held accountable for holding the meet in Singapore when they know fully well that the city-state does not allow any form of protest in its territory.
Also banned was the Freedom from Debt Coalition and its president Ana Maria Nemenzo.
"News has reached me in the Netherlands that I have been banned by Singapore authorities from entering their country to attend the WB-IMF Annual Meeting `based on security and law and order considerations.' This, despite my accreditation as a representative of the Freedom from Debt Coalition," Nemenzo said in a statement.
3 comments:
those NGOs should open up their eyes. Singapore is known to be STRICT. NO means NO. The NGOs should trash it out with the IMF and World Bank instead. Those two org chose Singapore anyway, knowing that it would be a safe haven
The NGO's have the opportunity to take it to a new level.
For example, I consider myself an ASI or AGI — Anti State Individual or Anti Government Individual.
When NGO's get the testosterone boost they so sorely need, grow some balls and show some teeth, they might be able to transform themselves into ASO's — Anti State Organisations.
Every state to varying degrees exhibits "immaturity". A state can never, and has never been able to guarantee freedom — whatever a state does it does by force and legal aggression because of its territorial monopoly on decision making.
A typical example: the states in most western democracies (so-called "free societies", based in principle on individual rights) openly persecute people of Muslim faith, due to the belief that terrorists are Muslims.
The reasoning goes like this: "Terrorists are Muslims. You are Muslim, therefore you are a terrorist".
Similar "reasoning" from the lunatic fringe — e.g. FemiNazis: "Men are liars and brutes. You are a man, therefore you are a lying brute".
Do any of the NGO's have what it takes to be openly Anti Government, and call for the dismantling of ALL states?
Only time will tell.
Unauthorised anti-corruption probe, Feb 1997
'D' Division
Subject: Soh Wai Wah
Rank: ASP (currently Chief of Staff)
Subject is married, childless.
Subject lives at unit of Leedon Heights condo at junction of Holland Rd and Farrer Rd.
Subject owns no other property and does not appear to have excessive sources of income.
Subject: Jaswant Singh
Rank: Unknown
17 Singapore residents share the same name, from court officials to factory workers. However, only subject is a policeman.
Subject appears to hold junior rank.
Subject appears well-connected and to have excessive sources of income.
Subject holds directorships in countless security related companies and a number of properties including a bungalow along Mountbatten Rd.
Investigation suspended due to arrest. Of the two subjects, number 2 holds promise. Probe to resume when situation permits, like when there's a regime change.
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