Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

The crisis that Covid-19 has provoked globally presents a crossroads to the peoples of Abya Yala - Latin America. The popular organizations are the first line of resistance against the worst expressions of the decomposing system.

We are going through a complete crisis that threatens life in all its forms. The Covid-19 has become a pandemic at a time when the capitalist crisis is intensifying and economic forces repeatedly try to make the working class bear the onus of restoring the corporate profit Profit The positive gain yielded from a company’s activity. Net profit is profit after tax. Distributable profit is the part of the net profit which can be distributed to the shareholders. rate. This coincides with the weakening of health systems, the deterioration of living conditions and the destruction of the public sector as a result of the neoliberal shift. Asphyxiated by foreign debt, international organisations and the permanent oppression of imperialism against our sovereignty, we are heading for a scenario with very serious consequences.

In an America where we refuse to accept structural adjustment Structural Adjustment Economic policies imposed by the IMF in exchange of new loans or the rescheduling of old loans.

Structural Adjustments policies were enforced in the early 1980 to qualify countries for new loans or for debt rescheduling by the IMF and the World Bank. The requested kind of adjustment aims at ensuring that the country can again service its external debt. Structural adjustment usually combines the following elements : devaluation of the national currency (in order to bring down the prices of exported goods and attract strong currencies), rise in interest rates (in order to attract international capital), reduction of public expenditure (’streamlining’ of public services staff, reduction of budgets devoted to education and the health sector, etc.), massive privatisations, reduction of public subsidies to some companies or products, freezing of salaries (to avoid inflation as a consequence of deflation). These SAPs have not only substantially contributed to higher and higher levels of indebtedness in the affected countries ; they have simultaneously led to higher prices (because of a high VAT rate and of the free market prices) and to a dramatic fall in the income of local populations (as a consequence of rising unemployment and of the dismantling of public services, among other factors).

IMF : http://www.worldbank.org/ and the imposition of new imperialist policies, and where our peoples have had first hand experience of major popular uprisings in recent months, the pandemic has become a pretext to legitimize the presence of the armed forces on our territories and to implement adjustment measures along with the deterioration of living conditions for the working class. Likewise, this crisis has once again revealed the brutality of patriarchal violence against women and sexual dissidents, as well as the historical exclusion of indigenous peoples and people of African descent, who are forced to face the pandemic in conditions of extreme vulnerability.

In the best tradition of our people, we are organizations representing the people, workers, peasants, indigenous peoples, feminists, Afro-descendants, piqueteras/ros and neighbours. All are putting their bodies, heads and hearts to work out immediate responses, but also to project a way out of this crisis through a path towards a better society instead of returning to capitalist normalcy. This will be possible if we give of our best as peoples. The community ties and the popular, territorial and regional unity that we maintain during this battle will be part of the fabric that will build the horizons of transformation of our Abya Yala America.

Faced with housing shortages, we occupy territories and build houses; faced with a lack of work, we organize cooperatives, recover factories and tackle closures and layoffs; faced with the bosses’ attacks, we fight for better working conditions; faced with the lack of education, we create schools; faced with the oppression of women and dissidents, we build popular feminism; faced with exploitation, we build grassroots trade union organisations and fight against job insecurity and for decent wages; faced with the climate crisis, we develop agro-ecology; faced with monoculture Monoculture When one crop alone is cultivated. Many countries of the South have been induced to specialize in the production of a commodity for export (cotton, coffee, cocoa, groundnuts, tobacco, etc.) to procure hard currency for debt repayments. and food monopolies, we build peasant agro-food territories to guarantee food sovereignty and autonomy; faced with militarisation, paramilitarism and drug trafficking, we substitute cultures and fight for peace. Our alternative is life against those who offer us death.

In the face of the policy of closing borders and fragmentation, and in the face of xenophobia and neo-fascism proposed from above, we return to the horizon of continental solidarity and the unity of peoples.

Faced with the policies of capitalists aiming to use the crisis as a cover for adjustment, let us intensify and rethink our historical struggles for the defence of territories, life and the socialisation of wealth, let us build popular and community power.

Therefore, we demand from the governments and we call on the people to:

1. Give priority to life over debt. No to the payment of external debt. We need thorough investigation (full audit) and cancellation of the external debt. It is criminal to skimp on health and rights to repay the IMF IMF
   International Monetary Fund Along with the World Bank, the IMF was founded on the day the Bretton Woods Agreements were signed. Its first mission was to support the new system of standard exchange rates.
   
   When the Bretton Wood fixed rates system came to an end in 1971, the main function of the IMF became that of being both policeman and fireman for global capital: it acts as policeman when it enforces its Structural Adjustment Policies and as fireman when it steps in to help out governments in risk of defaulting on debt repayments.
   
   As for the World Bank, a weighted voting system operates: depending on the amount paid as contribution by each member state. 85% of the votes is required to modify the IMF Charter (which means that the USA with 17,68% % of the votes has a de facto veto on any change).
   
   The institution is dominated by five countries: the United States (16,74%), Japan (6,23%), Germany (5,81%), France (4,29%) and the UK (4,29%).
   The other 183 member countries are divided into groups led by one country. The most important one (6,57% of the votes) is led by Belgium. The least important group of countries (1,55% of the votes) is led by Gabon and brings together African countries.
   
   http://imf.org and other creditors. Health and social protection systems to cope with the pandemic are the priority. We must recover our strategic wealth and the management of our banks and foreign trade, the permanent source of economic leakage from Latin American countries. Only a policy of economic sovereignty, stemming from the advance of popular power, can mitigate the economic and global crisis we are beginning to experience.
2. Fight inequality. Exceptional taxation of the rich, of the profits of banks and big business,of those who organised the flight of capital. That Governments must take on the role of eliminating market-induced inequalities. The necessary investments in emergency policies must be financed by confronting the concentration of wealth, and not by reducing workers’ wages. The production chains of large corporations must be reoriented to produce what is needed to combat the Coronavirus, as well as the diseases we endure without state attention, such as malnutrition, dengue fever, sleeping sickness (Chagas disease) and tuberculosis.
3. Urgently strengthen public health systems: urgent and priority investment in the public health system, nationalization of private health and strengthening of state measures to contain the pandemic. The pandemic reaffirms the need for universal health care Care Le concept de « care work » (travail de soin) fait référence à un ensemble de pratiques matérielles et psychologiques destinées à apporter une réponse concrète aux besoins des autres et d’une communauté (dont des écosystèmes). On préfère le concept de care à celui de travail « domestique » ou de « reproduction » car il intègre les dimensions émotionnelles et psychologiques (charge mentale, affection, soutien), et il ne se limite pas aux aspects « privés » et gratuit en englobant également les activités rémunérées nécessaires à la reproduction de la vie humaine. for all, strengthening public promotion of these services. States must take control of the production and administration of all goods needed to address the crisis with the participation and control of workers. The patent system on medicines must be eliminated in order to fully develop research and scientific applications to solve human problems. Original and traditional medicine must be recognised.
4. Ensure that every job entitles the worker to full rights. Guarantee a universal income for all, prohibit dismissals and suspensions. It is essential to recognize workers’ rights of so that they can live in dignified confinement. Let this urgency not serve as a pretext to continue developing job insecurity. No to the closure of companies. The state must support the occupation and recovery of companies by the workers.
5. Instigate housing and dignified living as a social right; confinement can only be achieved under a roof, with guaranteed basic services and in a healthy neighbourhood. Evictions, payment of rents and services must be suspended; housing policies must be oriented towards a comprehensive urban reform that guarantees Guarantees Acts that provide a creditor with security in complement to the debtor’s commitment. A distinction is made between real guarantees (lien, pledge, mortgage, prior charge) and personal guarantees (surety, aval, letter of intent, independent guarantee). access to housing in decent neighbourhoods for all working families. Universal access to water, light and gas and improvement of working-class neighbourhoods: there can be no fight against the pandemic unless all inhabitants have access to drinking water, gas and electricity at home, in the neighbourhood or in the community. No house left without a person, no person without a house. Requisitioning of empty properties for the homeless population and for temporary shelters.
6. Fight hunger and guarantee universal access to food. Give priority to funding of cooperative, community and family-based agro-ecological agriculture enabling them to play a major role in the food supply of populations, canteens, picnic areas and community kitchens. Progress is needed in providing access to food, as a means of reviving the economy and avoiding a supply crisis. Guarantee a basic food basket with regulated and tax-free prices. Demand sanctions against price speculation and monopolisation by supermarkets and middlemen. Cancel peasants’ debt, redistribute productive land and establish protection systems and agro-ecological colonies financed by the state.
7. Against the commodification of nature, reclaim sovereignty over our common goods Common goods In economics, common goods are characterized by being collectively owned, as opposed to either privately or publicly owned. In philosophy, the term denotes what is shared by the members of one community, whether a town or indeed all humanity, from a juridical, political or moral standpoint. such as water, gas, oil, land, strategic wealth that is usurped by economic vampires with the collusion of local governments and entrepreneurs. Demand full respect for the territories of the original peoples and reconsider the economic and extractive model. The exploitation of natural resources must respect the mother earth and the peoples who inhabit it.
8. Strengthen health protection and humanitarian aid with a guarantee of sovereignty for the territories of the original peoples, indigenous and African nationalities, especially those whose habitat is in vital ecosystems such as the Amazon, for whom the epidemiological threat could mean ethnocide. Strengthenself-government and its systems for the territorial and cultural survival of the lives of indigenous and Afro peoples. Prohibit evictions and actions that violate the sovereignty of indigenous peoples.
9. Enact genuine policies to deal with male violence. With social isolation measures, domestic violence and other forms of violence against women may increase. For women, both cissexual and transgender, the use of information technology is not enough to combat violence against women. It must be prevented and eradicated. Budget for the prevention of femicides and trans-femicides. Provide shelters for people in situations of violence, and special economic subsidies for survivors. Make employment and education plans for women and dissidents.
10. Carry out more prevention, not repression: Many governments have used the context of the coronavirus to intensify the logic of repression and surveillance and to increase the imprisonment of the very poor, of community leaders, human rights defenders and defenders of mother earth. It is time to reduce the prison population as a public health problem. There is also a need to upgrade the authorities themselves and the community guards who take care of ancestral territories and are an effective community body entrusted with preserving life.
11. Say no to imperialist political, economic and military intervention: we categorically reject the use of the crisis as an excuse for military interference in Venezuela by Yankee imperialism and its partners, the constant murders of indigenous and popular leaders in Colombia, the fierce repression of the putschist regimes in Bolivia and Honduras and the anti-popular government of Piñera in Chile, the expansion of extraction projects in indigenous and peasant territories. We demand the lifting of the blockades against Cuba and Venezuela.
12. Bring in Internationalist Humanitarian Aid: We call on governments to request humanitarian aid from Cuba and other countries that have technical experience in the fight against the pandemic and that can help contain the Covid-19 epidemic in the cities where the pandemic has spread the most, such as Guayaquil and São Paulo.

Against the wealth of a few, for the sovereignty of the people!For life! No to the IMF!

While the peoples of Latin America struggle on:

Internationalist solidarity!
List of signatory organisations :

CONAIE Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador-Ecuador
Congreso de los Pueblos-Colombia
MTST Movimiento de Trabajadores Sin Techo-Brasil
CONFENIAE Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana-Ecuador
FPDS Frente Popular Darío Santillán-Argentina
ONIC Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia-Colombia
FOL Frente de Organizaciones en Lucha- Argentina
Ukamau-Chile
Comité por la Abolición de las deuda ilegítimas CADTM Abya Yala Nuestra América (Colombia, Haití, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Brasil y Puerto Rico)
CRBZ Corriente Revolucionaria Bolívar y Zamora-Venezuela
CNTE-SNTE Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación-México
AUTE sindicato electricista-Uruguay
Coordinación y Convergencia Nacional Maya Waqib’Kej- Guatemala
CNA Coordinador Nacional Agrario-Colombia
Movimiento de los Pueblos/por un socialismo feminista desde abajo.(Frente Popular Darío Santillán Corriente Nacional-Movimiento por la Unidad Latinoamericana y el Cambio Social -Izquierda Latinoamericana Socialista-Movimiento 8 de Abril)-Argentina
CLOC (ANAMURI, Ranquil, Conaproch, Red Apícola Nacional, ANMI)-Chile
FENASIBANCOL Federación Nacional de Sindicatos Bancarios Colombianos-Colombia
MPA Movimiento de Pequeños Agricultores -Brasil
CRIC Consejo Regional Indígena del Cauca-Colombia
UTT Union de Trabajadores de la Tierra-Argentina
PCN Proceso de Comunidades Negras-Colombia
CONAMURI Organización de Mujeres Campesinas e Indígenas - Paraguay
União Nacional de Trabaladoras(es) Camelôs, Feirantes e Ambulantes do Brasil-Brasil
MICC Movimiento Indigena y Campesino de Cotopaxi - Ecuador
PAPDA Plate-forme haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement Alternatif-Haiti
Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz-Colombia
Feminismo Comunitario Antipatriarcal - Bolivia
Movimiento Insurgente - Bolivia.
MNCI Movimiento Nacional Campesino Indígena “Somos Tierra”- Argentina
CENPAZ Coordinación Nacional de Paz-Colombia
MBL Movimiento de Barrios en Lucha-Ecuador
Brigadas Populares-Brasil
Zona humanitaria de San pedro del Ingara Chocó Territorio de paz-Colombia
UNORCAC - Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas de Cotacachi - Ecuador
MTD Aníbal Verón-Argentina
FOB Autónoma-Argentina
FOB La Libertaria-Argentina
MTR por la democracia directa-Argentina
FAR Frente Arde Rojo/COPA-Argentina
Frente Popular - Ecuador
Coordinadora Simón Bolívar-Venezuela
Radio al Son del 23-Venezuela
Plataforma de Lucha Campesina- Venezuela
Colectivo Caminos Verdes-Venezuela
FNL Frente Nacional de Lutas -Brasil
Movimiento de Mujeres por la Vida de Cajibio y Popayán-Colombia
Red Emancipa de Educación Popular-Brasil
Feministas del Abya Yala
MPLT Movimiento Pueblo Lucha y Trabajo-Argentina
Pañuelos en Rebeldía-Argentina
Red de la Diversidad-Bolivia
Escuela Popular Permanente-Chile
Juntos! - Juventud en Lucha-Brasil
Fabrika Zurda - Ecuador
FECAOL Movimiento Nacional Campesino - Ecuador
Asociación de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras del Transporte (ASOTRASET) - Ecuador
Corriente Sindical Carlos Chile-Argentina
Colectivo Whipala-Bolivia
Plataforma por la Auditoría Ciudadana de la Deuda de Colombia
OLP Resistir y Luchar-Argentina
Colectivo Alexis Vive-Venezuela
Venceremos Partido de Trabajadores-Argentina
Corriente Social y Política Marabunta-Argentina
Convergencia 2 de Abril-Chile
Democracia Socialista-Argentina
ASL Accion Socialista Libertaria-Argentina
La Junta-Peru.
Venceremos Abriendo Caminos-Argentina
ORG Organización Revolucionaria Guevaristas-Argentina
Organización Política Presentes por el Socialismo «PPS» - Colombia
CPI Corriente Política de Izquierda -Argentina
Secretaria Migrantes y Refugiados UTEP-Argentina
Asamblea Pachamama-Uruguay
Comunidad Mapuche Los Toldos-Argentina
Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios del Ecuador-Ecuador
Movimiento Mujeres Por la Vida-Venezuela
Unión Comunera-Venezuela
Voces Urgentes-Venezuela
Espacio Pedagógico Cultural Fenix-Argentina
Movimiento de Jóvenes por la Patria (JPP-PPT)-Venezuela
Amigos da Terra-Brasil
Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales CDES-Ecuador
Red Feminista Ecosocialista de Ecuador-Ecuador
Coordinadora de Pueblos y Organizaciones del Oriente del Estado de México en Defensa de la Tierra, el Agua y su Cultura (CPOOEM)-México
Red de Medios Digitales de comunicación comunitaria y alternativa del Ecuador Infórmate Pueblo-Ecuador
FURIA TRAVA colectiva de travestis feministas abolicionistas-Argentina
Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME)-Mexico
Nueva Central de Trabajadores (NCT)-Mexico
ANUEE (Asamblea Nacional de Usuarios de Energía Eléctrica)-Mexico
Confederación de Jubilados, Pensionados y Adultos Mayores-Mexico
Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores (PRT)-Mexico
Organización Política del Pueblo y los Trabajadores (OPT)-Mexico
Frente Socialista-Mexico
Confederación Unitaria de Comerciantes Minoristas y Trabajadores Autónomos del Ecuador CUCOMITAE-Ecuador
Fórum da Amazônia Oriental FAOR-Brasil
ICA Iglesia Cristiana Ágape-Honduras
Comité de Solidaridad Latinoamericana de Mendoza-Argentina
Asamblea Vecinal ( vecinos en lucha)-Argentina
Fuera la subestación Rigolleau ( contra la contaminación de los campos CEM)-Argentina
Red de barrios irradiados de la R. A.-Argentina
FUNDACIÓN AUDIOVISUAL INDÍGENA WAYAAKUA-Venezuela
MUESTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINE INDÍGENA DE VENEZUELA MICIV-Venezuela
FUNDACIÓN PUEBLO INDIO DEL ECUADOR-Ecuador
Amigos da Terra America Latina e Caribe-ATALC
Conselho indigenista Milionário-CIMI-Brasil
UNIDAD POPULAR DE ECUADOR-Ecuador
Grupo Carta de Belém-Brasil
Jubileo Sur/Américas
Jubileu Sul Brasil
Asociación Colombiana de Educación al Consumidor-Colombia
Tatagua Colectiva Feminista Conurbano sur Bs.As- Argentina
Comité Oscar Romero de Cádiz-España
Espacio cultural, político y social La Casita en Marabunta-Argentina
Comité Oscar Romero-SICSAL-Chile.
Fundación Helmut Frenz de Educación en Derechos Humanos-Chile.
Observatorio por el Cierre de la Escuela de las Américas-Chile.
Colectivo de Geografía Crítica del Ecuador-Ecuador
TALLER DE “J”ORMACIÓN ESTUDIANTIL RAÍCES - TJER-Colombia
Coordinadora indígena Popular Autónoma (CINPA) Oaxaca -Mexico
Colectivo de mujeres en Resistencia “Sinchi Warmi” - Ecuador
SOA Watch - Observatorio de la Escuela de las Américas
Propuesta TATU
VÓRTICE ESTUDIANTIL ALTERNATIVO
Red Intercontinental de Promoción de la Economía Social Solidaria para Latinoamérica (RIPESS LAC)
Instituto de Desarrollo de la Economía Asociativa (IDEAC)-Republica Dominicana
La Red Nacional de Organizaciones de Economía Solidaria (REDESOL)-Republica Dominicana.
Movimiento Rebelión o Extinción-Argentina
Observatorio Minero Ambiental y Social del Norte del Ecuador OMASNE-Ecuador
Fuerza de Bases-Chile 
MPL (Movimiento Popular Liberación)-Argentina
CCRS (Corriente Clasista René Salamanca)-Argentina

Translated by Sushovan Dhar (CADTM India) with the assistance of Vicki Briault Manus