Singapore branded 'authoritarian'

Mr Wolfowitz believes it is important to hear the views of
activistsWorld Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has described Singapore's
restrictions on activists for meetings of the Bank and IMF as
"authoritarian".

He said the decision to ban the entry of 27 accredited activists
violated a previous agreement with Singapore.

Other activists have been deported ahead of the next week's meetings,
which begin on 19 September.

Mr Wolfowitz's comments add further fuel to the row between the two
sides on how to deal with activists.

The bank and IMF argue the presence of pressure groups is key to
improving the work of financial institutions.

But Singapore says it has banned the group of 27 because all had taken
part in disruptive protests in other nations and posed a threat to law
and order.

'Self-inflicted'

Mr Wolfowitz said Singapore's move had harmed its image.

"Enormous damage has been done and a lot of that damage is done to
Singapore and self-inflicted," he told a meeting in Singapore.

"I would argue whether it has to be as authoritarian as it has been
and I would certainly argue that ... they would do much better for
themselves with a more visionary approach to the process," he said.

IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato echoed his comments.

"We have urged the Singapore authorities to reconsider their position
and I hope they will," he said.

"The people who have been accredited by us are people who work with us
regularly and we don't have any doubt about their capacity to behave
and to be respectful of the country's laws."

Mr Wolfowitz said he had raised the issue with Singaporean Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

'No Voice'

Singapore had banned public protests for the duration of the IMF and
World Bank meetings amid concerns they could lead to violence and
damage to property.

A small area has now been set aside for designated protests

Following the ban, pressure groups and non-governmental organisations
decided they would demonstrate on Batam Island instead - an Indonesian
island located close to Singapore.

Singapore has set aside an indoor area where activists can gather to
express their views, but it is only an eight metre by eight metre
square.

Around two dozen activists held a protest in the area, wearing gags
saying "No Voice".

"These limits are ridiculous," Reuters news agency quoted Haidy
Ear-Dupuy of NGO Forum on Cambodia as saying. "Singapore is a
developed country; it needs a developed perspective on citizens
speaking up."