Controversy marred the start of one of the most important financial meetings of the year with the blocking of delegates, activists and journalists trying to enter Singapore for the annual IMF-World Bank Conference.
The ban on all outdoor protests, and the barring of 27 representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and two Malaysian Epoch Times reporters by the Singapore authorities have left officials from the IMF, the World Bank and CSOs up in arms. As the delegates from 184 countries get down to debating the issues facing the global economy, some NGOs at the Conference, which opened on Thursday, are considering boycotting meetings.
With the CSOs—whose members are invited by the World Bank and IMF—playing a vital role in the meetings, World Bank Chief Paul Wolfowitz is urging the Singapore authorities to reverse their decision.
His concerns were echoed by IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato: "Three years ago Singapore authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding which they seemed to have gone back on," he said. He also stated that while they did not agree with the views of those blocked, everyone has the right to be heard.
It has been said that the IMF will not consider Singapore for future conferences due to all the controversy and that they actually regret the decision to hold it here in the first place.
Police Ask Media Not to Report
In a bid to curb the media backlash, Singapore police handed out a somewhat glib press release in the IMF press centre. In the release they stated that they have not barred these activists but have 'raised objections to their accreditation'. If they meet the security criteria they will be allowed into Singapore, but only if they have been accredited by the IMF. They requested media to retract their reports on the basis of inaccurate reporting.
In Singapore the police are not used to bad press and are quite comfortable making demands on the press to toe the line.
A much talked-about protest area—Singapore's only concession to its ban on demonstrations in the city—measures about 8 by 8 metres (26 by 26 feet). Red and green tape neatly section off the area at the back entrance of the cavernous convention centre where the meetings' nearly 24,000 delegates will congregate.
At the official start of the meeting on Wednesday, the protest area was conspicuously empty, surrounded by officials and police. Civil rights activists said they were shocked that the area was so small.
Protests are planned to be held by organisations such as the Singapore Democratic Party, at speakers' corner in Singapore. Although orators there rarely attract a crowd, SDP Secretary-General Dr. Chee Soon Juan plans to use the venue on Saturday.
Police Will Use Deadly Force to Stop Protests
Police have rejected Chee's request for a permit to stage a protest march, which is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and to make its way to Suntec City, according to the Web site of Chee's Singapore Democratic Party.
Dr. Chee vows that the protest will take place despite threats from the police, "Yes, we will go ahead... The world must know about this," he said, criticising a blanket ban on public demonstrations and other political restrictions in the city-state. Dr. Chee, who has served three jail terms —a total of about two months— for speaking publicly without a permit, said he is prepared to risk arrest again.
"It is our right to be able to do that (hold a protest). They (police) will just have to do what they have to do. We will continue to fight for our right as citizens of this country," he told AFP.
Dr. Chee is currently being taken to court again by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in what many regard as an obviously politically motivated move to cripple Dr Chee's part in the movement against the currently governing party.
In a past action he was declared bankrupt in February for failing to pay 500,000 Singapore dollars (318,000 USD) in defamation damages to former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong. [ Editor's Note: The People's Action Party (PAP) has held power in purportedly democratic Singapore since 1959. ]
Local Falun Gong adherents—two of whom are currently on trial for a peaceful demonstration that contained an 'alleged' insulting statement to the Chinese Embassy—have also been contacted by the police and warned that if they make any protests the consequences will be serious. They currently have not given any indication as to whether they will oppose the warnings from the police.
The authorities have made it clear that they will use firearms if they feel it is necessary, should any protests take place. Approximately 10,000 police and military troops are on duty around the clock.
Rights activists point out that the government's actions are in stark contrast with the ideals expressed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on the 50th Anniversary of the People's Action Party in 2004, "No group is oppressed, suppressed or depressed. Instead we have a political culture that values integrity, meritocracy and fairness."
The atmosphere in Singapore is tense as the question of whether the protests will take place and the nature of the subsequent police response hangs in the air. What is clear for the time-being is that the rights of many, including non-Singaporeans, are being curtailed, and they are eager to let the world know.