Posted by Leo van Mulekom, Oxfam Novib.

Today proved again to be an interesting day at the International People's Forum meeting in Batam, a short ferry trip away from Singapore where the IMF and World Bank are meeting.

The Government of Singapore started our day by issuing a press release that 22 people that were first barred from entering Singapore had now been cleared, but 5 blacklisted names remained. It was clear to us that this statements missed some vital elements, eg no reference of unofficial blacklists being used, the fact that even these 5 were accredited by the World Bank / IMF, and the hardships we know from first-hand accounts some of the deported had faced. For example the Head of Action Aid from Brazil was held for 30 hours in Singapore airport in one room, with bright lights that could not be switched off, before being deported back to Brazil.

In lifting the bar the Government of Singapore didn't even provide an official communication to the IPF. Obviously we decided to continue the boycott and issue a response titled "too little too late".

The controversy between campaigners, the Government of Singapore, the World Bank and the IMF is picked up by the press worldwide. The press loves this! And the International Peoples Forum loves the attention of the press! We still need to see how much press coverage will actually also include talking about the issues, but it is clear to all of us that one vitally important point has been made: civil society deserves the space to assemble and speak out, and civil society can do so without causing threats to security! The IPF shows how dynamic, peaceful, diverse, yet capable civil society can be.

While immediate frustration and indignation dominates the IPF press releases, some of us in the organizing committee are beginning to consider the long-term opportunities this global attention on the 'freedom to assemble' may have. Singapore lost face yesterday, but this may also help Singapore understand that it is safe to relax its controls a little. It may also help to create more space for civil society within Singapore. And the Indonesian government may have gotten a sense of pride out of this, as they positively interfered and resisted pressure from Singapore put on the local provincial authorities in Batam. And as I started this paragraph, some of us are beginning to consider how this may actually help ASEAN as a whole to become more open to civil society.

Then there are also the many and colourful sessions, presentations, displays, and quick spontaneous actions. I myself attended various GCAP sessions, while my colleague Jessica Rosien 'did' the Asian Development Bank bits. Meanwhile, during, in-between, and after, we liaise with civil society representatives from inside and outside the region, and have short 'off the record' chats with press mosquitoes.