THE ASSEMBLY of the Poor ended their peaceful demonstration against the IMF-World Bank meetings yesterday (Oct. 16) by outlining six demands among which are ending state subsidisation of big business and urging the authorities to recognise the needs of ordinary, marginalised people, PPTVHD36 said.
During the day-long demonstration participants took turns in delivering speeches in both Thai and English, reflecting on the lessons and past impacts of Thailand’s foreign borrowing, as well as the influence of international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF in shaping Thailand’s economic policy.
The event also featured songs and symbolic activities within a designated area, culminating in the presentation of the six key demands for structural economic reform in the interest of the people:
These demands are as follows:
1/ Cancel debts for low- and middle-income nations: Call for the cancellation of 60% of the debt held by low-income countries and 30% of the debt held by middle-income countries, allowing these nations to redirect budgets toward food security and social services rather than remaining trapped in a cycle of inequality.
2/ Allow public oversight of foreign borrowing: Ensure that civil society can scrutinise why the state borrows money, who benefits from it, and hold those responsible accountable if policies cause harm to communities.
3/ Stop subsidising corporations and shift support toward agroecology: Cease the use of public funds to subsidise large-scale agribusinesses and allocate funds toward promoting agroecological systems and establishing food sovereignty.
Food sovereignty is the right of people and communities to define their own sustainable, culturally appropriate food, farming, fishing, and land policies rather than letting global markets and corporations dictate food systems, according to Wikipedia.
4/ Reform the tax system: Generate revenue from the ultra-wealthy through progressive taxation, corporate profit taxes, and wealth taxes, and use these funds for national development.
5/ Democratise the central bank: The central bank must be transparent, accountable, and dedicated to protecting the interests of working people, rather than serving the interests of capitalists.
6/ Prioritise people and the environment: Governments are urged to move beyond a fixation on GDP figures and instead evaluate policies based on their actual impact on people’s livelihoods, hunger, and inequality.
In their concluding remarks, the leaders of the Assembly of the Poor called on the government to prioritise small-scale farmers and ordinary, marginalised citizens, rather than pursuing policies that favour capitalists. They then officially declared an end to the protest at 4.25 p.m.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Scenes from the Assembly of the Poor’s demonstration against IMF-World Bank meetings. Photos – PPTVHD36
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