CGI Lobbied to Write Off Indonesia’s Debts



7th November, 2001.

As the Consultative Group for Indonesia (CGI) session opened in Jakarta today (7/11), about 500 people from the Anti-Debt Coalition (KAU) staged a rally at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout. "We reject the government’s policy to agree to new debts with the CGI," Emi Hafild from KAU said. The demonstrators also demanded that the CGI be disbanded.

The demonstrators then made their way to the Bank of Indonesia (BI) building, where the CGI session was to be held. They said that President Megawati Soekarnoputri need not pay Indonesian debts accumulated in the New Order period. The demonstrators also demanded CGI members to exempt Indonesia from all debts in the interests of the Indonesian people.

"We are demanding that state officials involved in the session devote their attention to the people’s suffering and poverty," Hening Parlan, the spokesperson of Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said to Tempo News Room.

The demonstrators displayed banners saying ‘Reject the Foregin Debt, Write Off Old Debts’, ‘People are always Exploited by the Powerful’. In the view of the demonstrators the Indonesian government lacked the confidence to refuse payment of these unfair debts or even to request that these debts be lightened by the donor countries party to the CGI. "This is because they (the donor countries – Ed) have been engaging in evil monetary practices with Indonesian officials in the past," said one orator wearing the bandana of the United Coalition for Indonesian Independence and Prosperity (KBKKI).

The demonstration took place until the discussions ended and the officials sat for lunch. Apart from orations, the demonstrators also placed pamphlets around the BI building and signs reading, ‘Reject Foreign Debt, Write Off Old Debts.’

(Nurakhmayani/ Ebnu Yufriadi-Tempo News Room)