The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Unions take out anti-ADB rally in Hyderabad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 04, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Unions take out anti-ADB rally in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Bureau

Groups from Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma participate; development model of bank comes in for criticism

CREATIVE PROTEST: A paper anaconda depicting the Asian Development Bank being taken through the streets of Hyderabad on Wednesday by CITU and Central Government Employees Unions in protest against the 39th AGM of the bank. — Photo: P. V. Sivak umar

HYDERABAD: Protests galore by civil society groups and trade unions marked the inauguration of the four-day 39th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank here on Wednesday.

An impressive anti-ADB rally was taken out under the leadership of Centre for Indian Trade Unions from Sundarayya Park to Indira Park. Members of the United Forum of Employees, Workers and Teachers, All India Insurance Employees Association and Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers participated.

Slogans rent the air

As the rally wound its way the agitators broke into Telugu songs to the accompaniment of `dappus' (drums). A huge effigy representing the ADB was later burnt near Indira Park. As the flames leaped into the air, agitators raised slogans of "Go back, ADB", and "Down, down, World Bank and ADB". TRS MLA, N. Narasimha Reddy, CITU state president, R. Sudha Bhaskar, and general secretary, S. Veeraiah, addressed the rally.

Peoples Forum Against ADB, a rainbow coalition of 97 people's movements and civil society groups across Asia, organised a protest meeting at Indira Priyadarshini Hall where the development model followed by the Bank came in for sharp criticism.

Besides India, representatives of these groups from Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma highlighted experiences with ADB projects. It was not merely speeches. Delegations from different Indian states made their anti-ADB protests known in the form of colourful banners, placards, full-throated slogans and songs.

Smithu Kothari of the Forum said the ADB loans were destructive in nature, the overarching objective being privatisation of critical sectors like water supply, education and health. "Where is the space for the poor in the model pursued by the ADB?" asked Kousalya of the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Hakk, a struggle group from Mumbai.

Speakers were especially critical of the Bank's plans for the North Eastern States of India "The nexus between `militarisation' and so-called development is proven here", said M. Kikon of the Naga Peoples Movement. Lidy Nacpil of Philippines and Toe Zaw Latt of Thailand spoke.

At a separate meeting organised by the Platform Against ADB, Suresh Gawali, Secretary, National Centre for Labour, said ADB and other funding agencies were making the loanee countries change their policies to suit its interests.

The three-day meeting is being attended by a fisherwoman from Thailand, Darwin Chantarahesdee, who was among protestors who aborted a meeting of ADB at Bangkok six years ago.

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