Source: Acción Ecológica
Date: 5 September 2003

What follows is a press release from Ecuadorian organizations demanding the deportation of the representative of the International Monetary Fund. We believe that the reasons raised for demanding such action are applicable to most southern countries, where IMF policies are resulting in widespread social and environmental impacts, among which deforestation and forest degradation (see IMF section in WRM web page http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/IMF/index.html)

PRESS RELEASE: Quito 4th September 2003

Ecuadorian Social Organizations Present Demand for Deportation of IMF Representative

At 3.30 on the afternoon of Thursday the 4th of September a demand was presented to the Superintendent of Police for the deportation of BOB TRAA, Head of the IMF mission in Ecuador for improper use of his visitor’s status and for inciting national authorities to adopt measures prejudicial to the public interest and national security.

The demand was signed by various personalities and organisational leaders such as Humberto Cholango, Ecuarunari; Cesar Cabrera, CONFEUNASSC; Luis Maldonado Lince, Elsie Monge, CEDHU; Edgar Ponce, Red Enlace; Nidia Arrobo, Fundación Pueblo Indio; Elizabeth Bravo, Acción Ecológica; Bladimir Reyes, Comité Interuniversitario de Lucha contra el ALCA; amongst others.

The plaintiffs accuse Bob Traa of “inciting the authorities to make cuts in social spending, privatise and sell state goods and companies at bargain basement prices, reduce salaries, raise the cost of public services, and construct the Heavy Crude Pipeline”. The latter is about to begin operations and as foretold does not have enough oil to transport. All these measures “undermine national security in that they feed discontent, protest, and confrontation between social actors”.

The 13 Letters of Intent signed with the IMF during the last twenty years have only served to deteriorate social, economic and environmental conditions in Ecuador. On its part the IMF admitted to having encouraged the Ecuadorian authorities to use a major portion of oil income to pay the external debt while also admitting that the country was “on the verge of an Argentinean style crisis” and in order to avoid it must strengthen the structural adjustment policies recommended by the multilateral organization: the same recommendations made to Argentina up to the very day of that country’s financial collapse.

The accused has arrived at this time with “the express intention of interfering in the distribution of the state budget, thus influencing public finances”.

The request for deportation is based on Article 19.II of the Migration Act, and on Articles 1,2,3,23.6 and 242 of the Constitution, and on the chapters on Collective and Environmental Rights.

The organizations declared that neoliberal and adjustment policies imposed by the IMF deepen internal inequality; give rise to environmental contamination and destruction; spread a market culture empty of solidarity; strengthen a system of exclusion; undermine the foundations of the national productive apparatus by exposing it to the unfair subsidised competition of foreign goods and services, along the lines promoted globally by the WTO and on a continental level by the FTAA, both Horsemen of the Apocalypse of Globalisation.

For further information:
Cecilia Chérrez
Acción Ecológica, Quito
Verde@accionecologica.org
593-2-254-7516