Press Statement
December 6, 2013
‘Stand by the truth and lead from the front’: Religious leaders tell World Bank President
Calling World Bank President Jim Kim’s inaction on a scathing report on Tata Mundra power project a “disappointment”, religious leaders wrote to him an open letter (full text appended), urging him to take “bold actions and put the Bank on right track”.
Jesuit priests, who have long association with various people’s struggles to protect their rights, wrote to President Kim in the wake of a report published by World Bank’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO). The report confirms various policy violations of World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), while financing the project.
Stating that they “were concerned about the colossal social and environmental costs of the project, particularly on the poor fishing communities” the letter says that “despite high hopes on appropriate actions on the findings, to our disappointment, we learn that there has been no action taken on it”.
The letter was signed by Fr. Walter Fernandes SJ, Founder Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Fr. Prakash Louis SJ, Director of the Bihar Social Institute, Patna, Fr. Joseph Xavier SJ, Director Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, Fr. George Mutholil SJ, Director Indian Social Institute, Bangalore, Fr. Benny Chiramel SJ, Fr. Tintus Dungdung SJ and Fr. Anthony Herbert SJ of Jesuits in Social Action.
They warn President Kim that “at a time when the climate change is a reality, putting thousands of lives and property at risk, we are afraid that the cost of this inaction would be too high”.
The letter concluded hoping that Dr. Kim “will not hesitate to stand by the truth and lead from the front”.
————————————
Letter to Dr. Kim: Full Text
Dear Dr. Jim Kim,
We have been following the developments at Tata Mundra for some time. We were concerned about the colossal social and environmental costs of the project, particularly on the poor fishing communities.
We were very happy to learn that your independent recourse mechanism Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) is investigating International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) compliance of its social and environmental policies. We were hoping that the findings will help the fisherfolk and other communities affected by the project to address their concerns.
The CAO findings point to serious lapses in the compliance. The findings point to the fact that neither the IFC nor the company have done a serious and steadfast impact assessment, or, informed or consulted the affected communities before risking their livelihoods, or developed plans to mitigate the impacts. Apart from a serious threat to their livelihood, the health impacts of the project on people, especially the children, is reported to be very grim. This, Dr. Kim, is very serious for a project of this magnitude.
Despite high hopes on appropriate actions on the findings, to our disappointment, we learn that there has been no action taken on it. At a time when the climate change is a reality, putting thousands of lives and property at risk, we are afraid that the cost of this inaction would be too high.
We believe that God as appointed you as the President of World Bank Group to take some bold actions and put the Bank on right track. This is one opportunity for you to do that. We hope you will not hesitate to stand by the truth and lead from the front.
May the God continue to bless you.
Sincerely,
Fr. Walter Fernandes SJ, Founder Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, <walter.nesrc@gmail.com>
Fr. Prakash Louis SJ, Director of the Bihar Social Institute, Patna <prakashlouis2010@gmail.com>
Fr. Joseph Xavier SJ, Director Indian Social Institute, New Delhi <edisi@isidelhi.org.in>
Fr. George Mutholil SJ, Director Indian Social Institute, Bangalore <gmutholil@gmail.com>
Fr. Benny Chiramel SJ, Jesuits in Social Action, <benchiramel@yahoo.co.in>
Fr. Tintus Dungdung SJ, Jesuits in Social Action, <tintusdung2@gmail.com>
Fr. Anthony Herbert SJ, Jesuits in Social Action, <atherbert@gmail.com>