We are not in the wrong

I always find it amazing that the local media usually try to write that Singapore's gahmen has done the right thing. The champions for the gahmen, the non-partisan newspaper that we are so proud of, since they NEVER take sides and only report the truth and never sensationalise.

It is funny because in this IMF/World Bank summit all the media in the world (the ones that have freedom of speech) have hyped of Singapore being ridged and authoritarian.

Intelligent Singaporean has a number of the links to it.

And yet our local news network (Channel News Asia (CNA)) seems to be the only one that reports that "S2006 organising committee says it has not breached agreement with IMF/World Bank". Who are they trying to convince? Singaporeans? It is odd, when the only thing that we ever hear about this summit is how 'bad' Singapore is as a host country. This report by CNA will go un-noticed by the world at large but then again we don't care what the world thinks about us as our Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said, "I am not at all concerned at all about what the foreign media thinks." (taken from Dairy of a Singaporean Mind)

So this article is just to convince the 4 million people on the island that the gahmen has done the right thing.

S2006 organising committee says it has not breached agreement with IMF/World Bank
By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 September 2006 1852 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore 2006 organising committee says it is aware of its obligations to an agreement signed with the IMF/World Bank three years ago, and will continue to honour them.

This comes after leaders of the two institutions claimed that Singapore had gone back on its word.

The IMF and World Bank have spoken up against Singapore objecting to the accreditation of 27 civil society activists for the meetings.

"I certainly hope their opinions are not the reason they're being excluded. If their opinions are critical of our institutions, it's all the more critical for us to hear them. If this is censorship based on alleged views of people, then it's an even more serious problem," said Paul Wolfowitz, World Bank President.

"We believe that all the organisations that have been accredited by us should be here. We will make all our efforts to make sure they can participate in the dialogue," said Rodrigo de Rato, International Monetary Fund Chief.

The IMF and World Bank leaders have reinforced the importance for civil society organisations to be engaged in this high-level dialogue.

That is because it is the civil society groups which will communicate to the beneficiaries on how they will receive help from the IMF and World Bank.

Responding, the Singapore 2006 organising committee says it takes its duty as HOST country seriously.

The memorandum of understanding with the IMF-World Bank obliges Singapore to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of delegates.

It also explained that Singapore highlighted concerns about 27 out of the 500 activists, because of law and order concerns.

Some of the affected activists were previously involved in violent activities at other international meetings.

One had broken into the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC to steal confidential papers. On another occasion, he had taken over a Consulate in San Francisco.

The IMF/World Bank have asked the government to allow in the 27 activists.

Singapore has said that if they do travel here, they will be assessed at entry, whether they pose a security risk.

If the risk is acceptable, that person will be let in, but Singapore cannot guarantee that all 27 activists will be admitted.

In fact the number of such activists has dropped from 28 to 27, because one has been dropped from the list after security considerations. - CNA /dt