Activists protest against IMF meeting restrictions

Hundreds of activists have today gathered on an Indonesian island near Singapore ahead of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Singapore has banned outdoor demonstrations during the meetings, saying they could lead to violence and damage to property. It set aside a small indoor area where activists can gather to express their views.

“We are deeply disappointed with the Singaporean authorities, who did not give us seats at the IMF meeting,” said Walden Bello, a Thai activist on the island of Bantam. “We are not terrorists, we are not a security threat. We only wanted to give our input on how developing countries should avoid debt.”

Dozens of Indonesian police, including anti-terror officers, guarded the indoor demonstration site, a large hostel, where the activists gathered.

Yesterday, the IMF and the World Bank said Singapore breached an agreement by barring at least two dozen accredited activists from entering the country to attend their meetings.

Singapore said it would honour its obligations, but noted that it would take measures to ensure security during the meetings, which are expected to draw 16,000 participants.