Lethal force may be used against violent IMF protestors
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Plenty of Singaporean tourists visiting the Riau islands throughout the year, especially retirees for you know what.
Seeing that they already suffer from a high risk of heart attack, given the type of recreational activity they engage in, would you want to compound their stress by allowing the protests to take place in Bantam and Bintan?
Think of the poor cikopeks.
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Friday, 8 September 2006, 23:05 GMT 00:05 UK
Singapore rapped over protest ban
World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz has criticised Singapore for banning accredited activists from its annual general meeting in the country.
Singapore authorities have blocked the 19 civil society representatives from attending the event amid claims that they pose a security risk.
Mr Wolfowitz told BBC World he hoped Singapore would reconsider its stance.
On the agenda for next week's meeting are plans to tackle corruption and reform of the bank's voting structure.
In an interview with BBC World Business Report, Mr Wolfowitz said Singapore had made a "bad" decision when it blocked activists that had been invited to the event.
"I hope Singapore's authorities will change their minds and allow the people in that we have accredited as originally agreed," he added.
He added that was important for the organisation to hold a "strong dialogue" with such groups.
"We may not always agree with what they have to say, but it is very important to have that discussion," Mr Wolfowitz said.
Protest ban
The comments followed Singapore's refusal to lift a ban on public protests.
Following the ban, pressure groups and non-governmental organisations decided they would demonstrate on Batam Island instead - an Indonesian island located close to Singapore by boat.
But now Indonesian police have decided to ban international NGOs from protesting there as well, saying the demonstrations could become violent and act as a deterrent to tourists.
The local organisers of protests - the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) - have said they will continue their Indonesia-based protests regardless, despite receiving a letter from the police asking them not to.
During the next week's talks the Bank and member nations plan to push on with developing new plans to help poor countries tackle corruption, as part of a wider initiative to address corruption and improve governance.
Mr Wolfowitz has argued that fighting corruption is a key step for developing countries to perform well economically.
Controversial plans
However, some countries are worried that tackling corruption may slow down the speed at which aid is delivered.
There had been fears that some World Bank schemes might be cut off suddenly at Mr Wolfowitz's behest however he now seems to have assuaged many concerns.
One World Bank official said Mr Wolfowitz had "come far since the beginning of the year, when he went forward on his own and got into a big fight with the board".
At a World Bank meeting in April Mr Wolfowitz stressed his concerns about corruption, saying that the bank would reinforce its governance and anti-corruption measures on all bank projects including loans, grants, research and technical assistance.
The bank recently announced an amnesty to those who had committed corruption in the past by defrauding the bank, if they admit their wrongdoing and declared a commitment to rules in future.
In announcing the Voluntary Disclosure Program in August Mr Wolfowitz said it would "prevent and deter corruption".
Other issues to be discussed at the World Bank and IMF's annual meeting in Singapore will include the structure of both organisations, voting reform and the role played by developing nations -
Indonesia has said that protestors will be allowed to demonstrate in Batam.
"Last Updated 09/09/2006, 13:07:03
Anti-globalisation activists say they have received approval from Indonesia to hold a forum on the margins of World Bank-IMF meetings in Singapore.
Indonesia's foreign ministry has denied it's been pressured by Singapore to ban the gathering of over 700 activists campaigning for reform of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
They arn't allowed to demonstrate in Singapore and want to hold their protest on the nearby Indonesian island of Bantam which is a ferry ride away.
A coalition of campaign groups says official sources in Jakarta have confirmed it can go ahead.
They say Singapore's government put pressure on the administration of Batam in an effort to stop the demonstration.
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Has he government even considered the possibility that Al-Qaeda might hijack a SIA plane and crash it into Suntec during IMF? Do they have any anti-aircraft measures in place? Have they even thought of this scenario? If not I should be taking over their job.
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WKS did mention the risk of a terror attack.Originally posted by mrwonderful:Has he government even considered the possibility that Al-Qaeda might hijack a SIA plane and crash it into Suntec during IMF? Do they have any anti-aircraft measures in place? Have they even thought of this scenario? If not I should be taking over their job.
I'd rather see more Lake Como style air defenses and CAP patrols as deployed during the G8 meetings .. -
measures n precautions have always been in place in case these kind of situation occurs irregardless of the IMF anot.Originally posted by mrwonderful:Has he government even considered the possibility that Al-Qaeda might hijack a SIA plane and crash it into Suntec during IMF? Do they have any anti-aircraft measures in place? Have they even thought of this scenario? If not I should be taking over their job.
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armed air mashals on board the planes whatOriginally posted by mrwonderful:Has he government even considered the possibility that Al-Qaeda might hijack a SIA plane and crash it into Suntec during IMF? Do they have any anti-aircraft measures in place? Have they even thought of this scenario? If not I should be taking over their job. -
Do something about the "auto pilot"Originally posted by oxford mushroom:armed air mashals on board the planes what
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Singapore cited "terrorist" threat in activist ban: World Bank
Singapore has cited concern about "terrorist acts" as its reason for blacklisting some foreign activists from a global financial meeting next week, according to the World Bank.
The city-state's police said Friday that "those who are deemed undesirable will not be eligible for entry into Singapore," provoking outrage from activists and a protest from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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"The explanation they gave to us ... is that they are concerned about terrorist acts, that security is their first priority," World Bank managing director Juan Jose Daboub said Saturday during a visit to Vietnam.
The ban on activists already approved by the IMF and the bank sparked anger from non-governmental organisations. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz later told the BBC he hoped Singapore would reverse it.
Daboub said the bank had discussed the matter with the Singaporean ambassador to the United States and other high-level officials.
He said the bank and the IMF had to respect the decisions of sovereign countries but added: "We are asking them to reconsider their position and allow for more participation from civil society."
The issue would be discussed at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings on September 19-20 in Singapore, said Daboub, adding: "I think for the future it's an experience that should not be repeated."
Singapore has mounted its biggest-ever security operation to police the event set to draw thousands of delegates from over 180 countries.
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Looks like we might have said goodbye to future such meetings.. -
What? Paul 'Guantanamo' Wolferwitz telling us to observe civil liberties and human rights? He must be kidding.
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choppers? haha might as well use the army..Originally posted by LazerLordz:Security stepped up in Singapore ahead of major IMF conference
Aug 31, 2006, 3:33 GMT
Singapore - Security has been tightened in Singapore ahead of a major international conference, with a warning issued Thursday that police will take all appropriate measures against protestors threatening the life or health of others, including the use of firearms.
More than 10,000 police officers are working with the military and other agencies to ensure the largest international gathering ever held in the city-state - hosted by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank from September 13 to 20 - goes without a hitch.
'If anybody behaves in a way that threatens the life of another or threatens serious injury to another, then the police will use all necessary means to prevent that from happening,' The Straits Times quoted Senior Assistant Commissioner Aubeck Kam as saying.
'In appropriate situations, this may extend to the use of firearms and the possibility of death,' he said.
'We will not entertain any notion of allowing groups of people to gather and form into larger and larger groups,' he added.
The public has also been advised to expect random checks at shopping centres, commercial buildings and transit points.
Sixteen-thousand delegates are due to attend the conference and run-up meetings.
Despite the World Bank's call for advocates of different causes to be allowed at outside venues, police reiterated the only venue for engagement with the delegates is a section of the lobby in Suntec City, where the meetings will be held.
'We are prepared to deal with protesters in a firm, decisive, but fair manner,' Kam said.
Additional police are coming to help from Indonesia, the Antara News Agency reported.
A warning on Australia's travel advisory Web site cited potential civil unrest and political tension in the city-state.
'Penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment,' the Australian government said in advising its citizens.
Thousands of protestors have indicated they will confine their activities to the Indonesian island of Bintan, a short ferry ride away from Singapore, where authorities warned earlier that violent protesters could be caned.
Only 400 people from groups outside Singapore will be allowed at Suntec City to assure that the scenario at last December's World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong is not repeated. Police had fired tear gas at violent protest groups and arrested more than 1,000 people.
Apart from plainclothes police officers, video cameras and air force helicopters will also monitor crowds. Officers armed with intelligence from foreign police forces have started looking out for known troublemakers at immigration checkpoints.
The ongoing security sweep caps more than five years of planning and rehearsals, which started in 2001 after Singapore was selected as host city for this year's IMF/World Bank session.
'We examined security street by street, floor by floor of all the venues affected,' Kam said.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/business/article_1196333.php/Security_stepped_up_in_Singapore_ahead_of_major_IMF_conference -
Originally posted by Quincey:What? Paul 'Guantanamo' Wolferwitz telling us to observe civil liberties and human rights? He must be kidding.
but if you want me to choose between two competing hypocritical platforms , I'd take his over ours. -
That some indolent Korean rice farmer is upset that globalisation will result in his over-priced produce losing its subsidies, does not concern me in the slightest; nor whatever dispute he may have with the IMF. That man is a foreigner, and his situation does not oblige in me the sense of empathy I would feel towards a fellow Singaporean. Were the Korean to stay in his own sh1t-hole of a country, he could protest in comfort, eating all the bloody dogs he pleases, directing his RIGHTEOUS KOREAN FURY against the chaebols and the government responsible for putting South Korea at the mercy of the IMF in 1997.
But no. He comes here to Singapore, on the flimsy pretext of defending his rights, to riot, destroy and kill. And does this burden fall on the IMF, or the Singapore government? No. It falls on the ordinary Singaporean, who has a hard enough life as it is, and had no say in inviting the IMF into his country.
How civil were those so-called "civil" societies in Genoa, Seattle and Hong Kong? How much damage did they cause to the lives and businesses of ordinary citizens in those cities, just to send their farking message to some international organisation? And now they want to bring this here to Singapore. What for? So they can turn Singapore into their battleground?
They complain that we don't roll out the red carpet for them to protest here. Why should some foreigner enjoy a right denied to the Singaporean in his own country?
If even one hair on a Singaporean's head is touched, be it bystander or directly involved in the IMF summit, then they will suffer the consequences. Its time we realised that the well-being of our citizens is worth more than the boost in reputation we may gain from holding a successful summit. -
If you cite possible terrorist attacks as reason for banning something, then we might as well all stay at home and watch "Days of our Lives" 24/7.
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That's why I hope we give them a black eye if they decide to tear up our stuff.Originally posted by Typhoon:That some indolent Korean rice farmer is upset that globalisation will result in his over-priced produce losing its subsidies, does not concern me in the slightest; nor whatever dispute he may have with the IMF. That man is a foreigner, and his situation does not oblige in me the sense of empathy I would feel towards a fellow Singaporean. Were the Korean to stay in his own sh1t-hole of a country, he could protest in comfort, eating all the bloody dogs he pleases, directing his RIGHTEOUS KOREAN FURY against the chaebols and the government responsible for putting South Korea at the mercy of the IMF in 1997.
But no. He comes here to Singapore, on the flimsy pretext of defending his rights, to riot, destroy and kill. And does this burden fall on the IMF, or the Singapore government? No. It falls on the ordinary Singaporean, who has a hard enough life as it is, and had no say in inviting the IMF into his country.
How civil were those so-called "civil" societies in Genoa, Seattle and Hong Kong? How much damage did they cause to the lives and businesses of ordinary citizens in those cities, just to send their farking message to some international organisation? And now they want to bring this here to Singapore. What for? So they can turn Singapore into their battleground?
They complain that we don't roll out the red carpet for them to protest here. Why should some foreigner enjoy a right denied to the Singaporean in his own country?
If even one hair on a Singaporean's head is touched, be it bystander or directly involved in the IMF summit, then they will suffer the consequences. Its time we realised that the well-being of our citizens is worth more than the boost in reputation we may gain from holding a successful summit.
Peaceful sit-ins are fine by me, but the minute they get violent. Just taser them. -
Originally posted by LazerLordz:
how many can u taser??
That's why I hope we give them a black eye if they decide to tear up our stuff.
Peaceful sit-ins are fine by me, but the minute they get violent. Just taser them. 
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now THAT show should be bannedOriginally posted by charlize:If you cite possible terrorist attacks as reason for banning something, then we might as well all stay at home and watch "Days of our Lives" 24/7. -
heh, why not use that as a non-lethal weapon.Originally posted by Hellraiza:now THAT show should be banned
Blare Days of Our Lives at the rioters. -
Hey, I watch that everyday.Originally posted by Hellraiza:now THAT show should be banned -
1. Spray water on them.Originally posted by monoslayer:how many can u taser??
2. Taser one of them.
Voila - domino effect! -
Ahh, those tikopeks can FOAD.Originally posted by Typhoon:Plenty of Singaporean tourists visiting the Riau islands throughout the year, especially retirees for you know what. Seeing that they already suffer from a high risk of heart attack, given the type of recreational activity they engage in, would you want to compound their stress by allowing the protests to take place in Bantam and Bintan?
Think of the poor cikopeks. The less of them the better. -
We don't need to listen to hypocrites.Originally posted by Quincey:What? Paul 'Guantanamo' Wolferwitz telling us to observe civil liberties and human rights? He must be kidding.
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Just like we don't need to hear anymore of that HP shit from you.Originally posted by iveco:We don't need to listen to hypocrites. -
are you by chance a middle aged housewife?Originally posted by charlize:Hey, I watch that everyday. -
wah lau, my thread becomes one on MILFs?Originally posted by Hellraiza:are you by chance a middle aged housewife?