Demonstrators stopped near IMF meeting venue

Protesters say IMF and World Bank policies support projects that hurt communities

Demonstrators gathered on Thursday morning near the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the venue of IMF-World Bank Group meetings, but were prevented by police from advancing.

About 200 people from “The People’s Network Against the World Bank and IMF” gathered at an intersection near the Customs Department at 8am and then marched along Sunthorn Kosa Road to the five-way Na Ranong intersection before turning toward the Rama IV intersection near the convention centre.

There they encountered policemen with batons who blocked them from marching on Ratchadaphisek Road to reach the meeting venue.

A section of Ratchadaphisek Road in front of the convention centre has been closed to traffic.

After negotiations with police, the demonstrators agreed to withdraw to a designated location nearby.

Rally representative Supaporn Malailoy, 50, said the demonstrators planned to stay there until Friday night to follow the meetings and express their opposition to the policies of the IMF and the World Bank, which favour big businesses and projects such as the Eastern Economic Corridor.

They say the Thai government has allowed foreign investment to damage the environment and deepen public debt.

Protest leaders said development projects and economic policies backed by the institutions had harmed communities and livelihoods.

Throughout the day they will monitor the proceedings while seeking to engage with participants attending the meetings to express their concerns, according to the group’s representative.

A brief tussle happened when demonstrators hung banners on a pedestrian bridge.

“Police officer ‘Manun’ agreed to let the protesters hang a banner,” said Pranom Somwong, a legal representative of the group.

“However, just as we were about to put it up, police climbed onto the pedestrian overpass to stop them, kicking, grabbing, dragging and pulling them away from the banner despite the prior agreement and their pledge to hold a peaceful protest.”

She said protesters were exercising their rights under Section 34 of the Constitution, which guaranteed freedom of expression.

“The police action therefore constituted a violation of the Constitution,” Ms Pranom said, adding that the group did not intend to disrupt the IMF meetings.

“We wanted to convey the perspectives of people affected by the meeting.”

Police with batons await the arrival of demonstrators. (Photo: Charoen Kittikanya)