Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

The recent tragedy in Haiti shocked the people of the world for its destructive impact, the environmental and social consequences, and especially for the loss of human lives. Unfortunately, natural disasters are not new in that Caribbean country, which was impacted in 2008 by hurricanes Hanna and Ike.

Nor is it the first time we have watched the international community make pledges of cooperation and assistance to Haiti. We are concerned, as organizations and social movements, that the international response be coordinated on the basis of respect for their sovereignty and in full accordance with the needs and demands of the Haitian people.

Now is the moment for the governments that form part of the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH), the United Nations, and especially the U.S., Canada, and France, to reasses the many mistaken policies they have implemented in Haiti. The country’s condition of vulnerability to natural disasters - in large part caused by the devastation of the environment, the lack of basic infrastructure and the weak capacity of state social action - is not unrelated to these policies, which have historically undermined the sovereignty of the people and their country, thus generating a historical, social, environmental, and cultural debt in which these same countries and institutions have a major share Share A unit of ownership interest in a corporation or financial asset, representing one part of the total capital stock. Its owner (a shareholder) is entitled to receive an equal distribution of any profits distributed (a dividend) and to attend shareholder meetings. of responsibility. Reparations must be made to the Haitian people for these debts, and all the more so in the face of the present situation affecting the country.
 

In this regard, we reject the militarization of the country as a false response to the recent disaster, including in particular U.S. unilateral action to send an additional 10,000 troops to safeguard its economic and geopolitical interests. The occupation troops of the MINUSTAH, over the past six years, did not contribute effectively to the stabilization or the provision of infrastructure and public goods, and nothing indicates that maintaining this policy would be effective from now on.

We call on governments and international organizations to immediately and unconditionally cancel the external debt claimed of Haiti, the servicing of which affects millions of lives. We also demand that the resources allocated for relief and reconstruction do not create new debt, or conditionalities that are imposed or any other form of external imposition which vitiates this goal, as is the practice of international financial institutions like the World Bank World Bank
WB The World Bank was founded as part of the new international monetary system set up at Bretton Woods in 1944. Its capital is provided by member states’ contributions and loans on the international money markets. It financed public and private projects in Third World and East European countries.

It consists of several closely associated institutions, among which :

1. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, 189 members in 2017), which provides loans in productive sectors such as farming or energy ;

2. The International Development Association (IDA, 159 members in 1997), which provides less advanced countries with long-term loans (35-40 years) at very low interest (1%) ;

3. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which provides both loan and equity finance for business ventures in developing countries.

As Third World Debt gets worse, the World Bank (along with the IMF) tends to adopt a macro-economic perspective. For instance, it enforces adjustment policies that are intended to balance heavily indebted countries’ payments. The World Bank advises those countries that have to undergo the IMF’s therapy on such matters as how to reduce budget deficits, round up savings, enduce foreign investors to settle within their borders, or free prices and exchange rates.

, the Interamerican Development Bank, 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 the so-called donor countries. We also reject the intervention of private multinational companies who seek to take advantage of this tragedy to reap multibillion dollar profits in the reconstruction of Haiti, as happened in Iraq, or to exploit cheap labor and continue to plunder the country’s natural resources.

 
Haitian society, its organizations, social movements and state representatives should be the protagonists of the international effort to rebuild their country: the first to be heard and the final and sovereign decision over their destiny. The Haitian people have lifted themselves up many times on the basis of their own will, with the strength and conviction of their historical example of having been the first people to free themselves in America. Any cooperation can be effective only if it is based in this commitment and full popular participation.

We are alert, and following developments in dialogue with Haitian organizations, in order to ensure that international cooperation takes place on the basis of this kind of solidarity and that the errors of past policies are not repeated. For a free and sovereign Haiti!

Please send endorsements to jubileo at wamani.apc.org

 SIGNATORIES:

 International and regional organizations and netwoks

Jubileo Sur/Jubilee South
Marcha Mundial de Mujeres/World March of Women
Via Campesina
Amigos de la Tierra Internacional/Friends of the Earth International
Alianza de Pueblos del Sur Acreedores de Deuda Ecológica/ Southern _ Peoples’ Ecological Debt Creditors Alliance
LDC Least Developed Countries
LDC A notion defined by the UN on the following criteria: low per capita income, poor human resources and little diversification in the economy. The list includes 49 countries at present, the most recent addition being Senegal in July 2000. 30 years ago there were only 25 LDC. Watch
Alianza Internacional de Habitantes (IAI)
Coordinación Regional de America Latina
Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de las Americas (CSA) / Trade Union Confederation of the Americas
Alianza Social Continental / Hemispheric Social Alliance
Jubileo Sur/Américas / Jubilee South/Americas
Confederación Latinoamericana de Organizaciones del Campo (CLOC)
Programa de Incidencia sobre Deuda Ilegítima de la Federación Luterana Mundial / Program on Illegitimate Debt of the Lutheran World Federation
Réseau CADTM mondial / CADTM International Network
Red Latinoamericana Mujeres Transformando la Economía (REMTE) /Latin American Network of Women Transforming the Economy
Latindadd
CEAAL
Kairos Europa
Africa Jubilee South
CADTM Afrique
Caribbean Policy Development Centre
Grito de los/las Excluidos Mesoamérica
Jubilee South Asia-Pacific Movement on Debt and Developmnt APMDD CADTM South Asia Network

 National and local organizations and networks

Argentina
Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos
ATTAC
Central de los Trabajadores de la Argentina (CTA), Secretarías de Relaciones Internacionales y Derechos Humanos
Centro Cultural la Muralla
Centro de Políticas Públicas para el Socialismo (CEPPAS)
Comisión Justicia y Paz Misioneros Claretianos
Congregación La Santa Unión de los Sagrados Corazones
Dialogo 2000
Equipo de Educación Popular Pañuelos en Rebeldía
Espacio Ecuménico
Estudiantes Haitianos en Argentina
Frente Democrático para la liberación de Palestina
Fuerza Obrera Socialista FOS
Fundación para la defensa del ambiente
El Grito Argentino
Grupo Ecológico 9 de Julio Valles del Carmen
Iglesia de Fátima de Isla Maciel
Iglesia Evangélica del Río de la Plata
Instituto de Relaciones Ecuménicas (IRE)
Liga Argentina por los Derechos del Hombre
MOCASE-V.C
Movimiento de Víctimas de crímenes de Estado en Colombia, Capit. Arg. _ Movimiento por la Paz, la Soberanía y la Solidaridad entre los Pueblos (Mopassol)
Movimiento por la Soberanía y la Integración de los Pueblos MoSIP
Movimiento Social Misiones
Multisectorial de Solidaridad con Cuba
Organización Feministas
Parroquía de Santa Cruz
Partido Comunista
Partido Humanista
Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo Capit. Arg Programa de Incidencia sobre Deuda Externa Ilegítima de la Federación Luterana Mundial
Red por el Uso Responsable del Agua de Traslasierra
Revista "La Resistencia- Servicio Paz y Justicia
Bachillerato UST
Vecinos Autoconvocados de Villa de las Rosas
Bangladesh
EquityBD
_ Coastal Association for Social Tranformation Trust
Belgium/Bélgica
Centre Tricontinental
CADTM
MWB-FGTB
Bolivia
Capitulo Boliviano de Derechos Humanos (CBDHDD)
Brasil
Rede Jubileu Sul
PACS
Central Unica dos Trabalhadores (CUT) Brasil
Comitê Pró-Haiti Brasil
CONLUTAS
Auditoria Ciudadana de la Deuda
Centro de Pesquisa e Assessoria
Grito de los Excluídos
Pastoral da Mulher Marginalizada, Regional Norte
Casa da Mulher Oito de Março
Organização Feminista do Tocantins
Red Brasileira por la Integración de los Pueblos
Rede Social de Justica e Direitos Humanos
Rede Brasil sobre Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais
Canadá Québec
Federation de Femmes de Québec
Public Service Alliance of Canada / Alliance de la fonction publique du Canada
Common Frontiers
Canadians for Action on Climate Change
The Social Justice Committee of Montreal
Council of Canadians
Simple Living (Burlington, ON)
Cataluyna
Asociación Ciudadana anti-SIDA
Educació per a l’Acció Crítica
Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización
Veterinarios sin fronteras
Comité Óscar Romero de Santa Margarida de Montbui
Colectivo RETS: Respuestas a las empresas transnacionales
ARAGUAIA amb el bisbe Casaldàliga
Chile
Amigas de Los Vilos
Movimiento Teología de la Liberación
Internacional Bandera de los Niños
Enrique Orellana, Somos Iglesia
Colombia
Red Colombiana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio (RECALCA)
CADTM Colombia- Campaña Colombiana “En Deuda con los Derechos”
_ FENASIBANCOL
Fundau Puica
Mesa Mujeres y Economía
UNEB Colombia
Proceso de Comunidades Negras
PCN Cuba Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Movimiento por la Paz
Ecuador
Acción Ecológica
CADTM
Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (Cdes)
Colectivo Feminista
FEDAEPS
Movimiento Tohalli
Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.” (CSMM)
El Salvador
Colectivo de Comunicadores y Estudiantes Roque Dalton
Francia
Confédération paysanne
Attac
Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF)
Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt
Guatemala
Pastoral Social
Diócesis de San Marcos
Haití
Plateforme Haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement Alternatif (PAPDA)
Plate forme des Organisations Haïtiennes des Droits Humains (POHDH)
Solidarite Fanm Ayisyèn (SOFA)
India
Vikas Adhyayan Kendra/Cadtm
Irlanda
Debt and Development Coalition
Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC)
Italia
Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale / Mani Tese
Observatorio sobre Latinoamerica SELVAS
Mali
Comité pour la Abolition de la Dette
México
Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio
Observatorio Latinoamericano de Geopolítica
Morocco/Marruecos
Attac
Nicaragua
Ecumenical Committee of English Speaking Church Personnel in Nicaragua (CEPRHI)
Paraguay
Foro de Mujeres del Mercosur Capítulo Paraguay
Servicio Paz y Justicia
Perú
Grupo Red de Economía Solidaria del Perú (GRESP)
Jubileo Perú
Museo Afroperuano
Puerto Rico
Comité Pro Niñez Dominico Haitiana
Grito de las/os Excluidas/os
Proyecto Caribeño de Justicia y Paz
República Dominicana
Consejo de Desarrollo Comunitario de La Caleta
CODECOC
Unión Pro Desarrollo de Brisas del Este
Scotland/Escocia
Jubilee Scotland Spanish
State/Estado Español
Coordinadora Estatal de Solidaridad con Cuba Madrid
ATTAC
Colectivo de Solidaridad por la Justicia y Dignidad de los Pueblos
Ecologistas en Acción
Plataforma Simón Bolívar de Granada
Proyecto Cultura Y Solidaridad
Sotermun
Campaña ¿Quién debe a Quién?
Centro de acción Internacional
Asociación canaria de economía alternativa y de alternativa antimilitarista.moc de Canarias
Colectivo de Solidaridad por la Justicia y Dignidad de los Pueblos (COLICHE), La Rioja
Switzerland/Suiza
Solidarité Suisse Trinidad y Tobago
Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN)
UK/Reino Unido
Haiti Support Group
Jubilee Debt Campaign
No Sweat
Kyoto2, Oliver Trickell
USA/Estados Unidos
United Methodist Church
General Board of Church and Society
Gender Action
New Rules for Global Finance
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Quixote Center
Foreign Policy In Focus
Office of the Americas (Los Angeles)
St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America
Just Foreign Policy (Robert Naiman, Policy Director)
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
Puerto Rican Studies Association
Committee in Solidarity with Honduras (Boston)
Uruguay
REDES/Amigos de la Tierra
Venezuela Red Venezolana contra la Deuda – CADTM Venezuela

 Individuals

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Premio Nobel de la Paz
Nora Cortiñas, Madre de Plaza de Mayo Línea Fundadora
Professor Norman Girvan, University of the West Indies
Anibal Quijano
Raúl Zibechi
Enrique Leff
Alicia Villolde de Botana
ANAHIT AHARONIAN
Antonio Gustavo Gomez
Carlos Walter Porto-Gonçalcves
Cecilia Fernandez
Catherine Walsh
Cesar Garcia Garcia-Conde
Cristina Arnulphi
Denise Comanne
Dolores Soto
Domènec Haro Muñoz
Dragutin Lauric
Eduardo D. Polo
Fernando Coronil
Flor Nayeli Grajales Martínez
Francisco A. Scarano
Graciela Ferrario
James B. Luken
Jesus Muñoz Pastor
Kelvin Santiago
María Isabel Magallón
María Estela Ríos González
Mary García Bravo
Miguel Esquirol
Nayla Azzinnari
Obed Juan Vizcaíno Nájera
Oscar Revilla Alguacil
Patricia Cahill
Rodrigo Ibáñez
Ruben Elías
Silvia Martinez
Susana Aparicio
Walter Mignolo