Update on World Bank China/Tibet Project

 

March 28, 2000

The China Western Poverty Reduction Project has been the subject of public scrutiny since April 27, 1999, when the Tibet Information Network first published an article describing a "controversial population transfer scheme." The project involves the resettlement of 58,000 Chinese farmers into an area that is traditionally considered to be a part of Tibet. In addition, the project appears to be in clear violation of many important World Bank policies, including information disclosure, environmental and social assessments, indigenous peoples, resettlement and agricultural pest management.

In June, 1999 the International Campaign for Tibet filed a claim to the World Bank Inspection Panel asking for an investigation into the Bank’s role in the project. As of late March, 2000, the Inspection Panel is still preparing its report of its investigation. The report is expected to be forthcoming within the next few weeks. Once the Panel’s report is released, Bank management has an opportunity to respond. Organizations that have been monitoring this project continue to call for Bank management to withdraw its support for the China Western Poverty Reduction Project, particularly if the Panel report confirms that Bank policies have been violated.

As of March 1^st, there is a new Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific region. Jean-Michel Severino has left the Bank, and his position has been filled by Jamel ud-din Kassum. Mr. Kassum had been Vice President for Investment Operations at the International Finance Corporation (the private sector side of the World Bank Group). Mr. Kassum and Mr. Wolfensohn will be the key decision-makers from the side of Bank management in deciding how to respond to the Inspection Panel’s findings.

We would like to encourage Bank management to stand on the side of the people, and to affirm the importance and integrity of the World Bank’s social and environmental policies. This case is an important test of whether these policies, that were designed to mitigate the negative impacts of World Bank activities and help move the Bank towards sustainable development, have meaning in the context of powerful borrowing countries. The case is also an important test of the Bank’s respect for its independent Inspection Panel.

What you can do:

Though of course we cannot know in advance what the Panel’s report will say, we can let the Bank know that we are watching and that we continue to be concerned about this project. If you would like to take action, please write/fax/email Jamel Kassum and your Executive Director. Tell them that you expect the Bank to cancel any further support for the CWPRP if the Panel report comes back with findings of policy violations. Note the importance of the China/Tibet project to the credibility of the World Bank.

• Jamel Kassum: jkassum@worldbank.org, phone 202.473.7723, fax 202.477.0169.
• Contact you Executive Director. If you live in the US, your Executive Director is Jan Piercy; email jpiercy@worldbank.org; phone 202.458.0110; fax 202.477.2967. If you live outisde of the US, click here to find out who you Executive Director is and how to contact him or her.
• Send a copy of your letter to Peter Stephens, who is responsible for External Affairs for the region; pstephens1@worldbank.org; phone 202.458.2281; fax 202.477.0169.

Timeline of Important Dates

• June 18, 1999 International Campaign for Tibet files claim to Inspection Panel on behalf of locally affected people.
• June 24, 1999 Board of Executive Directors approves project but withholds funding for the Qinghai component until after the Inspection Panel had completed its review.
• June 25, 1999 Students for a Free Tibet hang protest banner: "World Bank approves China’s genocide in Tibet." The climbers and other concerned NGOs are invited inside for a meeting with senior Bank management, including President Wolfensohn. Assurances are given regarding access to the site and access to project information.

 Students for a Free Tibet hang protest banner on the World Bank Building

• August 15, 1999. Daja Meston, Gabriel Lafitte and Tsering Dorjee are detained in the project area and held and interrogated without consular access. Meston and Lafitte are independent researchers who went to the project area based on public assurances of access.
• August 18, 1999. While under the control of Chinese security forces, Daja Meston falls from a third-floor window and suffers life-threatening injuries including a broken back. 
• August 21, 1999. Gabriel Lafitte deported to Australia.
• August 24, 1999. Inspection Panel recommends to the Board of Executive Directors that there be a full investigation into the project, based on its preliminary evaluation of the evidence.
• August 30, 1999. Hundreds of people rally in front of the World Bank, calling attention to the broken promises relating to access and transparency, calling for the Bank to approve the Panel’s recommendation for an investigation, and expressing concern about the fate of Tsering Dorjee.
• Tsering Dorjee was reportedly detained for one month before being released.
• September 9, 1999. Board of Executive Directors authorizes the Panel to investigate the project.
• October 2-21, 1999. Inspection Panel travels to project area to conduct its investigation.

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