Debt campaigners expose flaws in G8 debt proposals

Campaigners from five continents gathered in Edinburgh are saying that the G8 debt relief proposals do not go far enough and have strings attached.

Under pressure from campaigners the G8 has tabled a new debt cancellation proposal. Campaigners say it goes further than previous schemes but is by no means the comprehensive solution that the G8 is claiming. It will not make poverty history.

The proposals cover only a limited number of countries, home to just 5% of the world’s poor.

Governments in many of the countries included in the proposal will continue paying debt service to some creditors.

Lidy Nacpil, international coordinator of Jubilee South, said, "The conditionalities attached to debt cancellation will exacerbate poverty rather than end it."

Charity Musamba of Jubilee Zambia said, "Debt cancellation is no longer an economic issue but more of a political one. All it requires is the political will of the G8 for it to be achieved."

Ben Young of Jubilee Scotland said: "This deal will leave millions in poverty. The hundreds of thousands of people mobilised on these issues are being cheated by the G8 leaders".

The press conference is co-sponsored by:

Jubilee South

CADTM International Network

Jubilee Zambia

Debt and Development Coalition Ireland

Jubilee South Africa

Freedom from Debt Coalition Philippines

African Forum on Alternatives

Red Jubilee Perú

Jubilee Debt Campaign UK

Jubilee Scotland

Jubilee USA Network

EURODAD

Jubilee Norway

ATTAC Germany

For interviews with international debt campaigners, please contact: Caroline Pearce (00 44) (0)7791 971 890, or Ben Young on (00 44) (0)7913 040 877.