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Groups plan protest for 60th IMF anniversary { April 8 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/04/08/national1752EDT0766.DTLhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/04/08/national1752EDT0766.DTL
Groups plan protests on 60th anniversary of IMF, World Bank
KATA KERTESZ, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, April 8, 2004
©2004 Associated Press
(04-08) 14:59 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
Anti-globalization groups announced plans Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund with marches, rallies and speeches against the policies of the institutions.
Mobilization for Global Justice called for "Days of Actions" in Washington on April 21-25 to coincide with the spring meeting of the two financial organizations.
David Levy, an organizer with the Mobilization group, declined to estimate how many protesters would participate, saying, "We are expecting a large boisterous, vigorous demonstration and series of events." He said buses would be coming to Washington from several cities.
Njoki Njoroge Njehu, director of 50 Years is Enough, a coalition of organizations aimed at transforming the IMF and World Bank, said organizers did not expect the number of protesters to reach the levels of the 2000 protests in Washington, when about 1,300 people were arrested.
"These are international days of action that are happening around the world," Njehu said. "The protests and resistance to the policies of the World Bank and the IMF have never been really centered in the United States, they have been centered in the countries where people are directly affected, and those are happening in many, many countries around the world."
Njehu's group was created in 1994, the 50th anniversary of the World Bank and the IMF.
Mobilization for Global Justice is calling for the IMF and World Bank to hold meetings open to the public, cancel debts from impoverished countries and eliminate certain policies that MGJ claims are destructive.
IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson said in a news briefing: "Security is certainly a matter of concern whenever you have a meeting of this sort. We are in touch with U.S. authorities who are our hosts and they have indicated they will make the necessary arrangements and precautions," Dawson said.
District of Columbia park police did not return a call seeking comment on the protest plans.
Njehu's group also is co-sponsoring the March for Women's Lives, which will be held April 25 in Washington.
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On the Net:
Mobilization for Global Justice: sept.globalizethis.org/
50 Years is Enough: www.50years.org/
©2004 Associated Press
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