[stop-imf] AP on A16 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

To see the original, including a wonderful picture of Kevin Danaher
scratching his head, go to
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000314/us/imf_world_bank_2.html>

Protesters threaten to shut down World Bank-IMF meeting
By HARRY DUNPHY=
Associated Press Writer=
March 14, 2000

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Opponents of global financial powers
threatened Tuesday to shut down World Bank and International
Monetary Fund meetings next month, but pledged to avoid the
violence that paralyzed Seattle during world trade talks.


Both financial institutions said they were ready for discussions
with the protest groups but were drawing up contingency plans to
prevent disruptions of the April 9-17 sessions, which draw finance
ministers, central bank governors and other officials from 182
nations.


District of Columbia police said they have put together a team
to prepare for the demonstrators and will not allow the capital to
be shut down.


Representatives of the Mobilization for Global Justice said at a
news conference that they expect tens of thousands of protesters
from around the United States and abroad to come to the U.S.
capital for demonstrations that will include blocking streets or
buildings in an effort to prevent officials from attending their
meetings.


Previous semiannual meetings of the banking institutions have
seen only small protests. But the December World Trade Organizaton
protests in Seattle set a confrontational tone for global financial
issues. The WTO attracted mass protests that resulted in broken
windows and in scuffles between protesters and police.


In addition to human blockades, labor groups and others said
they will hold teach-ins, parades with giant puppets ridiculing the
IMF and World Bank to build on the momentum they said they
established in Seattle against the increasing globalization of the
world economy.


They will lobby members of Congress as well on such issues as
debt forgiveness for the world's poorest nations.


The protest groups view the IMF and the World Bank, both based
in Washington, as institutions whose programs have failed these
countries while enriching corporations and degrading the
environment.


Demonstrators, including U.S. labor unions, will use the
occasion to challenge the Clinton administration's efforts to
secure congressional approval of normal trade relations with China.


Nadine Black, an organizer of the Mobilization for Global
Justice, umbrella group for more than 250 organizations, said ,
``nonviolence and no property destruction are guidelines being
emphasized in training sessions'' for those who will lead the
protests.


Asked at a news conference if officials would be blocked in
their hotels as they were in Seattle, Black replied, ``It's
possible.''


Graylan Hagler, a minister at the Plymouth Congregation of the
United Church of Christ in Washington, said he was concerned about
reports metropolitan police had received riot control equipment and
training.


``We are committed to nonviolence but we hope the police are
equally committed to protecting the rights of free speech.''


In a speech Tuesday at the National Press Club World Bank
President James Wolfensohn defended the record of his organization,
admitting some mistakes had been made but a lot of good had been
done as well.


Replying to a question about the planned protests, he said,
``Demonstrating is useful but I would prefer sorting things out in
discussions.'' He has met several times in the past with
nongovernment organizations critical of the bank.


IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson said, ``We are reaching out and look
forward to talking to anyone who wants to talk to us. We have
attempted to maintain a dialogue and some do respond.''