MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Amnesty warns IMF

Amnesty International requested the International Monetary Fund, IMF, delegation currently working in Buenos Aires to “ensure that its procedures are coherent with human rights rules”.

In an open letter addressed to Mr. Anoop Singh, head of the IMF delegation in Buenos Aires, the humanitarian non government organization insists on "a proper and previous assessment of policies and programs to avoid an escalation of the abuse and violation of minimum individual and community guarantees as conceived according to the 1948 Universal Human Rights Declaration".

The IMF delegation in Buenos Aires is assessing Argentina's policies and budget before deciding further aid disbursements frozen since November 2001 when former president Fernando De la Rúa administration was unable to prompt sufficient political power to implement a package of sound financial measures. IMF attitude was the kiss of death for a government that was condemned before hand.

Amnesty International recalled that international financial organisations have an unavoidable responsibility regarding "situations of unfairness and lack of protection which many of its recommendations generate in sovereign economic and social policies".

In the letter AI insists in the increasing poverty and social inequality in Argentina which "has 16 million Argentines (45% of the population) living in poverty and with no real options to cover daily basic subsistence needs".

AI also calls its members and sympathizers to send letters and faxes to the hotel where the IMF delegation is living, to make the IMF and its representatives remember that they have a duty and obligation "to ensure human rights are respected".

IMF delegates have also had to endure the classical protest in Buenos Aires, banging of pots and pans.