11 February 2008
In a press release, members of the Manila-based NGO Forum on ADB ask the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to stop its public consultations and revise the draft document known as the Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS) released in October 2007. The coalition demands ADB re-draft the policy before resuming consultations because the SPS is an “unacceptable and unsuitable basis for public review and consultation.”
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from different parts of the world have halted their on-going consultative talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over the latter’s egregiously prepared consultation paper on its environment, involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples policies.
The coalition of civil society organizations from Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States urged ADB to resume public consultations only after it has issued a re-written its Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS), that no longer promotes “weak protective measures” for the environment and people affected by its operations.
The move to cease discussions builds on actions taken by South Asian NGOs that boycotted the New Delhi consultation on January 16- 18. Oxfam Australia also decided not to participate in the Australia/Pacific consultations on January 30 – 31, stating that the draft SPS was too compromised to represent a valid basis for discussions. Bank Information Center has also not attended any consultations.
Read the letters submitted by NGO Forum on ADB which elaborate on their decision:
NGO Forum on ADB Disengagement Letter Feb 7, 2008, NGO Forum on ADB, February 7, 2008. (Acrobat pdf, 30 KB)
NGO Forum Letter to ADB President Kuroda Regarding Disengagement, Feb 7, 2008, NGO Forum on ADB, February 7, 2008. (Acrobat pdf, 23 KB)
Read the letters submitted by Bank Information Center and Oxfam Australia:
BIC and Oxfam Australia call for halt in ADB safeguards consultations, February 6, 2008. (BIC website)
Press
Press Release-NGOs Cease Talks with ADB, Feb 8, 2008, Press Release, NGO Forum on ADB, February 8, 2008. (Acrobat pdf, 26 KB)
NGO Forum urges ADB to revise draft document, The Rising Nepal, February 8, 2008. (The Rising Nepal website)
NGOs cease talks with ADB on SPU, Times of India, February 8, 2008. (Times of India website)
NGOs to boycott ADB’s South Asia Consultation, The Hindu, January 12, 2008. (The Hindu website)
ADB FACES BOYCOTT AS IT SUBVERTS ENVIRONMENT, RESETTLEMENT AND INDIGENOUS SAFEGUARD POLICIES Press Release, January 15, 2008 (BIC website)