The Hyderabad Pledge Adb Quit Asia And The Pacific!

THE HYDERABAD PLEDGE ADB QUIT ASIA AND THE PACIFIC!

6th May 2006

We are over 100 struggle groups, peoples movements and organisations who gathered together in Hyderabad for 4 days to protest the 39th Annual Governors Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB, along with other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the World Trade Organisation, is one of numerous institutional instruments of imperialism.

Colonisation is today pursued through the neo-liberal model of development, which has accelerated the appropriation and commodification of natural resources in the resource-rich countries of the South. This model forces nation states into indebtedness and to accept aid with harmful policy reform conditionalities, and widens trade imbalances. It mutilates our democratic institutions, processes and spaces. It perpetrates untold violence on our societies in the name of national and public security. It is the main cause of continuing marginalization and pauperization of our peoples. It fuels the militarization of our polity, legitimizes suppression by the State of peoples struggles for self-determination, and exacerbates the violation of human rights. Worst affected by these are women, children, indigenous communities, dalits, minority communities and the poor.

We pledge to:
1. Unite struggle groups, peoples movements and communities to broaden and intensify the fight against imperialism.
2. Halt the intrusion of IFIs in our communities, societies, economies, institutions and governments; we condemn the ADB President's opposition to the issue of reservation in private industry.
3. Fight against privatization of the commons and the imperialist principle of Eminent Domain.
4. Prevent the undermining of national and public institutions which are at the core of our growth and development.
5. Uphold people's rights to determine their own diversified forms and pace of development and governance.
6. Protect the safety and security of women, indigenous, dalit, marginalised and vulnerable communities, and future generations.
7. Strengthen peoples rights to environmental and livelihood resources; those who depend on these resources for survival must have right of governance over them.
8. Strive towards democratising the State and markets so that they serve and become accountable to the aspirations and priorities of peoples.
9. Support peoples movements and organisations across the region in their efforts to reclaim peoples democracy, sovereignty, self-determination and self-rule to create a better world.
10. Oppose an economic order which feeds the military war machinery and bloated defense budgets, and strengthen de-militarisation processes including the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (APSFA) and other draconian laws from IndiaÂ's Northeast and elsewhere; we also call for the withdrawal of military forces from Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, the Indian Northeast and elsewhere in Asia.
11. Reject the criminal and wasteful finance-capital lifestyle and uphold value based sustainable economies and cultures.
12. Move away from debt financed development and promote alternative ways of using our environmental, social and economic wealth, so that all peoples can achieve freedom from debt at local and global levels; we demand that the ADB cancel the debts of its borrowing countries.

SIGNED: National Alliance of Peoples Movements, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (APMMD), Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Equations, Nadi Ghati Morcha, River Basin Friends, Environment Support Group, ADB Quit Kerala Campaign, INSAF, CORE, Urban Research Centre, Focus on the Global South, Citizens Concern for Dams & Development, Delhi Forum, Samata, National Forum of Forest People & Forest Workers, mines minerals & People, Shaheen Centre, Consumer Protection Forum, Water Initiatives, Consumer Protection Forum, Civil Society Initiative on IFIs (NE), DICE Foundation (Foundation for Dialogues on Indigenous Culture & Environment), Intercultural Resources, NGO Task Force on ADB, Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi, Balakedarara Hitharakshana Vedike, Anikethana Trust, India Centre for Human Rights and Law (ICHRL), Palni Hills Conservation Council, National Fishworkers Forum, Polavaram Project Andolana Samithi, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Movement Against Uranium Projects, Centre for Environment Concerns, Aman Vedika, ITDS, Peoples Alliance Central East India, Japan Centre for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), Center for Economic Justice, PAIRVI, Jharkhand Jangal Bachao Andolan, Bureau for Human Rights, Adivasi Mukthi Sangathan, Peoples Movement in Subansiri Valley, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samithi, Arunachal Citizens Rights, Indigenous/Tribal Peoples Development Center, Rural Volunteers Centre, Human Rights Tamil Nadu Initiative,Parisava Badokidara Vedika, Human Rights Law Network, SAKSHI Human Rights Watch, Chatri, Jharkand Labour Union, Dalit Women Forum, National Hawkers Federation, Net Work of Persons with Disabilities Organisation (NPDO), Lok Raj Sangathan, Consumer Protection Council, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers & People, Grassroot Options, FIMCOTN, Dwarf PeopleÂ's Organisation, Chatri, New Trade Union Initiative, SEVA, SABALA, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Women's Collective, Bangla Praxis, Nagarik Udyog, Corporate Accountability Desk of The Other Media, Chasma Lok Sath, National Centre for Advocacy Studies, Open Space, Peoples Voice, Gangpur Adivasi Forum, Dalit Mukti Morcha, Plachimada Solidarity Committee, Pani Committee, Kaselu Palu Group (PNG), Uttaran, AOSED, Save Chara River Campaign, Gono Udyog Forum, Green Movement of Sri Lanka & many others. http://www.asianpeoplesforum.net