CHRONOLOGY/269countries to lobby their governments and the Bank for real
reforms.
1984 Zambia. Riots break out in response to a doubling in the
price of flour and corn, caused by the elimination of subsidies.
Government repression causes 15 deaths. The government is
forced to reinstate subsidies.
1984 Burkina Faso. The government cuts teachers' salaries by
25 per cent. Teachers go on strike.
1984 Tunisia. Riots break out in the south in response to a
doubling in the price of bread and semolina. Dozens of people
die as a result of the ensuing government repression. The
Minister of the Interior is forced to resign, the state of
emergency is lifted, bread and semolina subsidies are
reinstated and rent control remains in place.
1985 Latin America. Fidel Castro calls for the non-payment of
the debt and for the establishment of a continental common
front between the countries of Latin America and the
Caribbean.
1985 Ecuador. The government increases the price of petrol by 6 7
per cent and bus fares by 50 per cent to reduce the budget
deficit. The main trade union calls for a two-day general
strike; seven people die in the resulting clashes. Two months
later, there is another wave of strikes and demonstrations.
President Cordero stays in power thanks to military backing.
1985 India. The Bank provides financing for the Sardar Sarovar
dam in the Narmada valley, which threatens to displace
some 200,000 people. Mass demonstrations and court
challenges drag on for years, finally leading to the first
independent evaluation of a Bank project. The Morse
Commission condemns nearly every aspect of the Bank's
involvement in the Narmada project.
1985 Bolivia. Huge price increases in food and petrol lead to 15
days of strikes and riots. The increases are carried out in line
with the structural adjustment programme drawn up and
financed by the World Bank and the IMF.
1986 Zambia. Hunger riots break out in the copper-belt towns, in
response to a 120 per cent increase in the price of basic goods.
President Kaunda declares that the conditions placed on
structural adjustment loans are intolerable.