The Straits Times (Singapore)
September 9, 2006 Saturday
By Tracy Sua & Tanya Fong
SINGAPORE authorities yesterday stood by their decision to deny entry to foreign activists deemed 'undesirable' for the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings.
So far, some 20 individuals will be barred from entering Singapore if they turn up at any of the border checkpoints, The Straits Times understands.
Among them is anti-globalisation activist Walden Bello, the executive director of the Focus on the Global South.
He has been a regular at protests held during World Trade Organisation meetings, such as the 1999 conference in Seattle which was eventually known as the 'Battle in Seattle' because of the violence that took place there.
Mr Bello was also jailed in 1978 for taking over a Philippine consulate in San Francisco.
Police would not provide details of individuals barred from Singapore but said that 'every country reserves the right to determine whether a foreigner would be eligible for entry into the country''.
'Under the current security environment, we will be cautious on who we allow into our borders, especially when a high-profile event like the IMF and World Bank meetings are held here.''
The spokesman added that the meetings will attract the attention of many, 'not least those who may want to use the ready platform and presence of the international media to stage events that will pose a security threat to Singapore and compromise the level of security arrangements we have put in place'.
The police were responding to protests from the IMF and World Bank, over Singapore's decision not to allow representatives of some accredited civil society organisations from attending the meetings.
In a joint statement, the IMF and World Bank said: 'In the interest of good governance, transparency and accountability, we urge the Government of Singapore to allow all properly accredited civil society representatives to attend our meetings.''
They added: 'We have consistently opposed any restrictions on full participation and peaceful expression of views.
'Open dialogue and civil society are also important for the effective operation of our institutions.''
So far, a record number of nearly 500 civil society organisations from more than 45 countries have been accredited to attend the meetings starting next week.
At about the same time, more than 700 international activists had intended to gather in Batam, because of Singapore's ban on outdoor demonstrations.
But this too seems in doubt now, as the Indonesian police were reported as saying they would not allow it to go ahead.
An Indonesian Foreign Ministry official yesterday brushed aside suggestions by some non-governmental organisations that the Indonesian decision to stop the Batam gathering was taken after diplomatic pressure from Singapore.
