US Group notifies IMF, US Treasury of filing complaint

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 March 2009, 13:42 GMT]
Counsel for the US-based activist group, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), in a letter addressed to Secretary of the US Treasury, Timothy Geithner, and to the US Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Meg Lundsager, Friday, said that TAG will be filing a complaint Monday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia "to obtain a declaratory judgment that a failure of the United States to oppose Sri Lanka’s pending $1.9 billion IMF loan application would constitute a violation of 22 U.S.C. 262d."

The letter further said: "[t]he lawsuit will be withdrawn at any time the Plaintiff receives a written commitment from you that the United States will oppose Sri Lanka’s pending $1.9 billion IMF loan request."

The complaint asserts: "[i]f Sri Lanka is denied its $1.9 billion loan request by the IMF, it is reasonably likely that its pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights will diminish or end in order to qualify for IMF funding under section 262d; or, the GOSL would be financially disabled from continuing its pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. The GOSL is especially vulnerable to economic sanctions at present because its economy is severely ailing."

"The IMF team would present a report on its review mission to the board of the Fund by the middle of next month [April] and, once approved, the first tranche would be released on the same day," Sri Lanka's weekly Sunday Times said last week, quoting a senior Central Bank official.

But, Inner City Press in a report said Sri Lanka officials have requested the IMF to make the decision on the loan by the 31st of March.

Chronology:


Related Articles:
21.03.09   US Tamils protest against IMF loan to Sri Lanka
19.03.09   US support to IMF's Sri Lanka loan illegal – Prof. Boyle
24.02.09   US Subcommittee to hear genocide charges against Sri Lanka
19.01.09   Sri Lanka denies FX crisis, banks on 'patriotic Diaspora'
10.10.08   Sri Lanka fiscally vulnerable, says World Bank


External Links:

BBC:		Sri Lanka plays hardball with IMF
ICP:		On Sri Lanka, UN Official Describes "Nightmare Scenario," Treaty Official "Knows Better"
ICP:		Sri Lanka Set for Security Council Dialogue in UN Basement, Beslan Analogy
ICP:		At Sri Lanka Dialogue of UN Council, Photos on Wall, Press in the Hall
HRW:		Letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sri Lanka's Emergency Support Loan Request
ICP:		At UN, Sri Lanka Accused of Shelling Civilians, "Friendly Censure," LTTE Condemned