From: Margaret Bowman <bowhunt@igc.apc.org>
Subject: Rondonia Forum Letter/PLANAFLORO UPDATE
The following is a translation of a letter sent to James Wolfensohn and
the World Bank executive directors by the Rondonia NGO Forum and the
Brazil Network on Multilateral Financial Institituions. The letter,
originally in Portugese, requests that the executive directors support a
full inspection in the claim.
Others should contact their executive directors in support of the claim.
The executive directors are scheduled to discuss the issue on Thursday,
January 25.
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF ANY CORRESPONDENCE TO THE RONDONIA NGO FORUM:
tel/fax: 069-223-1116 or email:ax.apc.org
DAVID HUNTER/CIEL
******
THE RONDONIA NGO FORUM AND THE BRAZIL NETWORK ON
MULTILATERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Porto Velho-Rondonia, January 18 1996
Dear Sirs:
We are writing to you regarding the request for an investigation
of the PLANAFLORO, made to the Inspection Panel of the World Bank
by twenty-five non-governmental organizations and social
movements, in behalf of small agricultural farmers, rubber tapers
and indigenous communities, in the environmental field as well as
education, research, population and defense of Human Rights.
The request for investigation was motivated by the failures in the
execution of the PLANAFLORO, and actions by the World Bank
inconsistent with its own policies, that caused damages to the
local communities and to the environment in Rondonia. Along with
presenting detailed information on the violations in the execution
of PLANAFLORO, the request of investigation also suggests that
some corrective measures should be taken so that the project meets
effectively its social, economical and environmental objectives.
In the request for investigation, we review exhaustively all the
irregularities in the execution of PLANAFLORO. Besides, other
letters were sent to the Inspection panel in the last months
providing additional information- especially on the omissions of
the Bank and the damages caused to the local communities. We had
to make an investigation to confirm the need for a formal
investigation! We remind you that the Inspection Panel has
already presented to the Executive Directors, in two hearings, its
favorable recommendation for an investigation of the PLANAFLORO.
From reading news published by the Brazilian press, we learned
that in an interview at the end of the last Annual Assembly of the
BIRD-FMI last October, Mr. Wolfensohn recognized that the World
Bank had committed mistakes in the projects financed in the
Brazilian Amazon, but that he was ready to address them.
According to an article published in the Correio Braziliense, Mr.
Wolfensohn said that: "All my colleagues are trying to do
everything they can to address the situation. If we could have
the help of people who could tell us how to do it, we would take
this help." ("BIRD pede desculpe por causar danos a Amazonia"
Correio Brazilienze, 10/13/95).
On the specific case of the PLANAFLORO, the article mentioned
cited the following words from Mr. Wolfensohn: "I think we have a
big problem in Rondonia, and I never denied it. I am very anxious
to get all the help I can to fix the Rondonia project. The Amazon
is a very complicated area, and we already have committed a lots
of mistakes over there."
A few days after, another article was published in the national
press, saying that the Brazilian government was satisfied with the
declarations of Mr. Wolfensohn and committed itself to work with
the World Bank on projects that "reconcile the development with
the protection of the environment, which is the actual policy of
the government today." ("Mea culpa do BIRD satisfaz FHC", Gazeta
Mercantil, 10/16/95.)
We praise the position of the World Bank, expressed in the
declaration of Mr. Wolfensohn, but we are concerned with the
strong opposition to the request for investigation of PLANAFLORO
that has risen among members of the Board and the Executive
Directors. Although technical arguments are presented, we believe
that such opposition has risen for political or personal reasons
which, in our opinion does not meet the global interests of the
Brazilian civil society, neither World Bank~s as an International
Organization.
Recently, we were informed that the Management sent to the
Executive Directors of the Bank a report on implementation of the
PLANAFLORO, arguing that according to a new Action Plan made by
the Management and the governmental authorities, there is no need
for a formal investigation by the Panel. We were also informed
that the investigation on the PLANAFLORO would be voted at the
next meeting of executive directors, which will be held next
January 25.
Mr. President and Directors, we disagree with the attempt by the
management to neutralize the work of the Inspection Panel,
apparently based on the argument that their Plan of Action, which
we are unaware of, is sufficient to negate the need for an
independent investigation into the long story of failures and
omissions in the implementation of PLANAFLORO.
We believe that a formal investigation by the Inspection Panel is
essential to correct the errors in the execution of the
PLANAFLORO, and at the same time to help the World Bank and the
Brazilian government on the practical implementation of a new
generation of projects of "sustainable development".
In conclusion, there is no substantial reason to justify why an
independent investigation on the PLANAFLORO should not be
authorized, on the contrary it should be welcomed by the
World(Bcnk.
On the other hand, an eventual negative decision by the board of
Directors on the request for an investigation of the PLANAFLORO,
would be a serious contradiction, especially considering the
recent public statements of the President of the World Bank and
the Brazilian government. Without doubt, serious questions on the
independence of the Inspection Panel would be raised, and the
commitment of the Bank to increase the transparency and improve
efficiency in the execution of its projects.
Thus, we are counting on the diligence of your honors, to
authorize in the next meeting of the Board of Directors, the
organization of an independent investigation on the PLANAFLORO by
the Inspection Panel.
Assured that we can count with your collaboration on this
important matter,
Best Regards.
Luiz Rodrigues de Oliveira Executive Secretary of the Forum of
NGOs and social movements which act in Rondonia.
Maria Clara Couto Soares Coordination of the Brazilian network on
Multilateral Financial Institutions