The Hindu Business Line : Only `non-answers' from ADB chief for activists

The anti-ADB activists reached their concerns and demands to the bank's top brass. Several NGO leaders worldwide could meet the bank's President, Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, and pose a volley of questions on violations of statutory environmental safeguards, corruption charges and displacement problems.

Presenting him an eight-point poser at the main venue of the 39th annual meeting of ADB's board of governors, which got under way, the protestors wondered why the bank did not care to halt loan disbursements even in cases of blatant violations of safeguards.

The President did spend about an hour, but all the activists got from him were "non-answers" and "general philosophical statements". No promises were made, the activists said.

Ms Mishka Zaman, Manager (Asia Programme) of Bank Information Centre, criticised the bank for letting such violations go unpunished. While this was the fate of the existing norms, efforts were on to weaken them further.

"The major emphasis during the ADB Safeguard Policy Review seems to be on streamlining safeguards so that money can be pushed out with even less oversight," the questionnaire said.

Not consulted

Representatives of the Kathmandu-based Water and Energy Users' Federation said inspite of their repeated allegations of corruption in ADB-sponsored programmes in Nepal, they were not consulted.

Mr Bruce Rich, Director of the International Programme of the Washington-based Environmental Defense, said what the protestors got from the President were "non-answers" and some "philosophical statements".

Ms Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, President of Freedom from Debt Coalition (the Philippines), said the bank was indifferent to pleas of the poor countries on debt relief.

"Some countries are in real serious problem," she said.

Communities affected

The memorandum had alluded to some specific queries from the communities affected by projects supported by the bank.

Representatives from Thailand presented a bowl of coal to the President symbolising the impact of coal plants on their lives in the region.

They demanded that the bank withdraw financing of a coal plant and order a full-scale environmental audit.

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