WORLD DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT BANNED FROM G20

Right up to the last minute The World Development Movement had been allowed to attend the G20.

But for whatever reason they have now been banned.

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From http://www.wdm.org.uk/news/no10bansWDM01042009.htm

Number 10 bans World Development Movement from G20 summit at last minute

Minutes ago, the World Development Movement learnt that its accreditation, as part of the Put People First alliance, to enter the G20 summit has been revoked. The reason is unclear but a member of the accreditation team told the World Development Movement that the decision came after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had received a note from 'Number 10' to decline the organisation's director, Benedict Southworth's accreditation.

Benedict Southworth, director of the World Development Movement said:

"I am outraged that we have apparently been banned at last minute from attending the G20 summit. We hope it's not what it appears to be – an attempt to stage manage events and prevent voices of dissent and disagreement from being heard.

"The only other government in the world that has banned the World Development Movement from attending a global summit is the Singapore government which has a track record of stifling voices of opposition. A ban that was subsequently overturned after protests from around the world.

"On Saturday, I was part of the Put People First delegation that met with Ed Miliband, Gareth Thomas and Steven Simms at 'Number 11'. On behalf of my members and the people who we work with around the world, I will be demanding to know why this ludicrous decision has been made."

ENDS

WDM's briefing on what we want from the G20

For creative commons photos from the London march see WDM's page on Flickr

For twitter reports from the g20 conference visit @wdmuk

For more information, please call:

Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email: kate.blagojevic@wdm.org.uk