NGO Forum on ADB, an Asian led network of over
250 organizations has expressed its disappointment on how Asian Development
Bank (ADB) sees their lending activity as ‘politically neutral.’
In the meeting between the Management and the
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Forum Executive Director Rayyan Hassan
directly asked the question to ADB President Takehiko Nakao, “How will ADB
ensure the poorest people in the middle of an oppressive regime or in the face
of conflict derive development outcomes, have access to transparency, dignity,
human rights and accountability from ADB–financed development projects.”
Hassan made mention of the current situation in
the Pacific, where local people are fighting for rights to self - determination
including West Papua. He stated that 80 countries in Asia where ADB is lending
are in some form of conflict e.g. Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Pakistan etc.
Although ADB says its development loans are politically neutral, NGO Forum on
ADB disagrees. Hassan added, “Mr. President in a state of conflict development
finance is never politically neutral - within authoritarian regimes, ADB loans
are not politically neutral; in junta rule, ADB loans are not politically
neutral”.
“These are being hyped as development, but even
the private sector is hesitating to consider it as asset class” Titi Soentoro
of Aksi Indonesia. There are a couple of projects as an evidence of ADB’s
co-financed projects falling under bundled infrastructure and emphasized that
these de-risks projects’ bankability, while the true risk is being born by the
natural environment, the local people living by the project sites, and even
future generations.
ADB
President Nakao in his remarks also said, “I would like to ensure that
ADB makes better use of ICT to expedite the disclosure and consultation
process. It will make consultation more effective.” This statement is alarming
as an actual face – to – face consultation might be reduced further to pave way
for video – conferencing type of consultation process. This mechanism is being
pushed for in the guise of efficiency but it often results to a less meaningful
consultation process.
According to Mr. Apolinar Tolentino of Building
and Wood Workers International – Asia Pacific, “The ADB up to now fails to have
a stronger commitment and protection of workers. It does not have a standalone
labor safeguards policy which falls short as compared with World Bank and the
International Finance Corporation at least in policy principles.” As the ADB is
scaling up to large infrastructure projects, workers’ health and safety remain
to be appallingly weak.
In response, Pres. Nakao retorted that “We can
consider (the demand for stand-alone safeguards on labor).” This forceless
response to the ADB President himself is unacceptable.
Project concerns on Myanmar, Mongolia, and
Georgia were also brought to the attention of ADB President Nakao during the
meeting with CSOs. “In Ulaanbaatar, people are increasingly getting homeless.
They are losing their lands and livelihoods and health problems are getting
rampant,” according to Sukhgerel Dugersuren of OT Watch. The ADB is supporting
a USD 104 million loans to Mongolia on Ulaanbaatar Urban Services and Ger Areas
Development Investment Program. A complaint is currently lodged at ADB’s Accountability
Mechanism now.
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