JOINED BY APNED, THE PEOPLE’S GLOBAL CONFERENCE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES
October 14, 2018
Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders participated in the People’s Global Conference (PCG) Against International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) held at Radio Republic of Indonesia, Jl. Melati, Dangin Puri Kangin, Denpasar Utara, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia, October 12-14, 2018.
Themed with “Reclaim our rights and future: Fight corporate takeover of development,” the Conference led by the broad alliance of Indonesian movements under the umbrella of Gerakan Rakyat Menentang IMF-WB and 10 global networks and civil organizations was successfully held despite repressive actions of the Indonesia government of Joko Widodo in complicity with the IMF-WB.
The Conference was an independent, people-led initiative that discussed the political economic contexts of the world today that shapes IMF-WB Group’s role as an economic governance tool used by imperialist states and their governments. It also looked into the experiences of peoples’ movements from various countries in struggling against IMF-WBG’s policies and put forward strategies for resistance and alternative models and practices drawn from the concrete experiences of grassroots communities.
The Conference was conducted in parallel with the IMF-WB Group Annual Meetings (AM), October 8-14, 2018, the largest gathering of Central Bank governors and Finance Ministers. The IMF-WBG AM had the theme “Maximizing Finance for Development,” centering on mobilizing private finance and engaging big business to invest in lucrative infrastructure projects, especially in underdeveloped countries.
On October 11, participants conducted a study conference probing the impacts of IMF-WB on sectors such as peasants, migrants, workers, and indigenous people. Key points of the discussions were presented on a plenary session attended by over a hundred international and Indonesian groups on October 12. Also packed with cultural presentations and decentralized workshops and mass mobilizations, the multiple-day conference was highlighted with a discussion and adoption of the PCG Declaration.
According to Rafael Mariano of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles International Coordinating Committee, “the PCG was just the beginning of a wider movement led by peoples from the South against international financing institutions.” The PCG then vows to develop wider movements against IMF-WB.#
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