National Coalition Jubilee 3000, Mali
P.O. Box 2603,
Bamako.

Contacts: Sada Diarra - Bamako, Mali, tel: 223 23 18 78
e-mail: conf.jub.bko@cefib.com
Kwesi Owusu – Bamako, Mali, tel: 223 22 12 00
Ann Pettifor – Bamako, Mali, tel: 223 22 12 00
London (from 26^th April) (44) 207 407 7447 x 253
Mobile (44) 07770 886 146
info.jubilee@neweconomics.org

International Jubilee 2000 movement regroups.

From 21-23^rd April, in Mali, Bamako, 50 representatives from 27 national Jubilee 2000 campaigns in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe met in Bamako, Mali to evaluate their work of the last five years, and to consider the future. The event was held at the Palais des Congres and was hosted by Sada Diarra, chair of the Malian Jubilee 3000 campaign and Madame Diop, vice-chair, a leading human rights lawyer in Bamako.

While celebrating their achievements, the delegates issued a communiqué (enclosed) which deplores the inadequacy of the debt relief on offer by international creditors. They noted that "as a result of their campaign, the IMF, World Bank and Paris Club had been forced first, to address the question of debt, and second to give some concessions to a small group of the poorest countries". Delegates condemned the approach of the creditors who had "taken advantage of the campaign to intensify the extraction and transfer of resources from poor countries to rich countries". At the same time creditors like the World Bank and the IMF had used the campaign as a way of replenishing their own resources.

The delegates resolved that the "challenge of liberating debtor nations from foreign exploitation and domination was now even greater". After agreeing a collective vision, delegates resolved to transform the specific debt campaign into a long-term international movement for economic transformation and global justice. They agreed to name this nascent movement, the Jubilee Movement International - for Economic and Social Justice. (JMI).

Sada Diarra, convenor of the International Conference said: "Because of our campaigning creditors were forced to reduce Mali’s debt from $105 million in 1999, to $64 million this year. That has released $40 million for the Malian government to use for social programmes, in partnership with civil society. This is no small achievement.

"But, thanks to the collapse in cotton prices, and the increase in oil prices, Mali’s debt, according to the World Bank, is due to quickly rise to unsustainable levels again.

"Far from alleviating the debt burden, western governments and financial institutions are intensifying the agony of poor nations, by accelerating the extraction and transfer of wealth - from poor to rich. This is a brutal form of injustice, comparable to slavery.

"But we, the people, have shown through international solidarity and grassroots mobilisation, that it is possible to challenge the huge power of financial institutions. Here, at the International Jubilee 2000 Conference we have resolved on a bold step for the next stage in our common struggle. We will now begin to build "Jubilee Movement International" – for the transformation of the global economic system, and for global justice.

"The extraordinary diversity, both culturally, linguistically, organisationally, politically and socially, of our international movement, has been reflected at this conference in Mali. We have celebrated that diversity; but above all we have celebrated our unity, and our clarity of purpose.

"We have taken the first, historic steps towards economic transformation. We have begun the slow process of giving hope to all of our people, not just those in rich countries."

Notes for editors:

The international Jubilee 2000 campaign had as its goal "the cancellation of the unpayable debts of the poorest countries" by the year 2000. By the end of 2000, only 22 countries had benefited from limited debt relief.

27 countries were represented at the Bamako meeting, which was hosted by the Malian campaign.

The new steering group of the campaign has asked the Malian Jubilee 3000 group to act as an interim facilitator and clearing house for the movement, until its next meeting in Milan, Italy, in July, 2001. Jubilee Plus in London will continue to provide logistical support for the movement, and will assist in the dissemination of information and communication within the movement.

Statement of the Jubilee International Movement For Economic and Social Justice. Bamako, mali, 21-23 April, 2001 Español French

Final Communique of the International Jubilee 2000 Conference Español French