[A-List] Brazil: Report from IDB Protests

[Sabri Oncu <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

What I found particularly interesting in this report is the
welcoming of the "offical" left by the "autonomists". Let us hope
that this feeling is mutual. I expect that Gunder will like this,
as it is a call for "unity in diversity".

Best,
Sabri

++++++++++++++++++++

Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 1:17 PM
To: pga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [pga] Report from Inter-Amer. Dev't Bank protests,
Fortaleza,
Brazil


Report from Fortaleza, Brazil
Mobilizations at Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) meetings
March 7-14, 2002

A couple highlights:
--a game of soccer occupying the street, activists dressed as
delegates (in suits with masks) kicked the globe-painted ball
around at their will.

--a large banner went up on a tall building downtown denouncing
the meetings that were going on just accross the street.

--a student occupation took place at the university where some of
the officials conviened.

--social movements such as MST (landless workers movement) and
MAB (dam-displaced peoples movement), along with NGOs, students,
leftist parties, unions, and environmentalists marched together
in significant numbers for Northern Brazil.

--Monday, March 11th, youth marching by the meetings were blocked
off by hundreds of riot police.  A conflict insued with strong
resistance by the demonstrators until police staged a
full-fledged cavalry, baton, tear gas, concussion grenade (here
called "moral effect bombs"), and rubber bullet attack,
splintering the protesters and causing them to retreat. Several
youth were injured, no arrests were reported.

--Also on Monday, March 11th, one march of the Peoples' Global
Action coalition went to rally in solidarity with people from the
area's poorest neighboorhood (a favela) who are being pushed out
of their homes by a IBD-funded tourism program.

--a media action to "sweep IBD out of down" in a symbolic
cleaning in a central square, followed by a snake march to
reclaim a street that was marked with banners reading: "IBD
PARTICIPANTS: THIS ROAD CLEARED FOR YOU". The banners were then
burned in the middle of a street celebration.


General comments/lessons learned:

I was impressed with the ability of many Brazilian groups,
especially MST, to link the demonstrations and IDB issues to
local issues.  One example was MST's focus on a dam project in
this state, and the way they planned actions that put the
anti-dam fight in a larger context of neoliberal "development".
The Peoples' Global Action coalition also did this sucessfully by
denouncing IDB's tourism policies by staging a major action in a
favela that is being trampled by a BID-funded tourist resort
expansion and highway project.  The point of these large
mobilizations has extended beyond disrupting the meetings,
towards furthuring local struggles and at the same time offering
them as examples of the ongoing resistance.

Maybe it was because this mobilization did not draw such a large
international contingent that it was easier to notice the effects
that the joint action had on regional organizing.  This regional
coordinating effect of large demonstrations is often overlooked,
but I saw many regional groups come together against the IDB over
this past month, and I see those new or revived links lasting
well into the future.  Regional solidarity is so essential at
this point where flying large distances to maintain frequent
contact is reserved for the Banks and International Financial
Institutions. Face to face contacts were made here in Fortaleza
and the relationships will remain if the effort is made.

There is another lesson that can be learned from the Fortaleza
actions. Despite the deep split existing between two youth
coalitions (1. the official left -- political party affiliates --
and 2. the autonomists here linked up by Peoples' Global Action)
there were brief moments where unity prevailed and when it did,
it was beautiful and effective.  The first time was when the
police attacked protesters on Monday, March 11th.  People from
both coalitions were involved in the conflict and the following
process of making sure everyone was accounted for and it was safe
to disperse.  The second instance was an informal, yet well
attended (by individuals from both groups), Manu Chao "concert of
resistance" with a festive atmosphere in the park just accross
the street from the IDB delegates' cocktail party.  We must look
to increase these instances of unity, not only on the
"battlefield" and in concerts, but in planning sessions and
spokes councils (or as they are called here, assemblies).

more information:
www.indymedia.org
www.midiaindependente.org
GLOBAL SOLIDARITY!
Matt