French rally for Prof Yunus
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Five French personalities including former premier Michel Rocard have extended support for Grameen Bank and denounced the government's attempt to remove Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus from the country's most prestigious institution.
"We do not accept the ousting of a man of conviction, a giant in the fight against extreme poverty," reads an op-ed titled "We must save Grameen Bank and microcredit in Bangladesh" on March 16 in the French newspaper Le Monde by former prime minister Rocard, former International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Michel Camdessus, Member of Parliament Jérôme Chartier, Friends of Grameen Executive President Maria Nowak and Vice-President Martin Hirsch.
"We do not accept that Grameen Bank will become a state-owned tool or, even worse, a tool of propaganda," the article reads, according to a statement of Friends of Grameen.
The opinions came as supporters of the Nobel laureate are increasingly voicing concern that the government, which owns less than 5 percent of Grameen Bank, is plotting to take full control of the bank -- a charge the authorities deny.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed for two weeks a hearing on the petition of Prof Yunus, who faces removal from Grameen Bank after the central bank relieved him of the post of managing director for holding the position without approval.
"It appears the delay is primarily due to increasing divisions within the Government of Bangladesh regarding Muhammad Yunus and independence of Grameen Bank," says Friends of Grameen.
Famous Brazilian author Paulo Coelho also expressed his support for Dr Yunus. In an article styled "Ignorance and Greed" on his blog (paulocoelhoblog.com), he said, "The only weapon that we currently have and that the government doesn't, is international awareness and presence in media and people's heads."
Similarly, 26 members of the US Congress last week appealed to the Bangladesh government to ensure independence of Grameen Bank.
In a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus said Washington and Dhaka have championed solid ties in areas ranging from economic cooperation to defence.
"Unfortunately the situation with Dr Yunus is beginning to overshadow these concrete gains and introduce uncertainty regarding one of Bangladesh's most visible and beloved institutions," it said, urging the government to resolve the matter through a mutually satisfactory compromise.
In a gesture of support, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also telephoned Prof Yunus.
"Friends of Grameen", headed by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, is an international platform set up to promote microcredit and social business, in particular, the microcredit activities of Grameen Bank.
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