A number of international microfinance organisations and civil society groups in Italy, Peru, Philippines and Pakistan have issued statements expressing support in solidarity with Prof Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. Mario Baccini MP, President of the Italian Committee for Microcredit, Prof Luisa Brunori of Bologna University, Sam Daley-Harris and European Member of Parliament Sylvia Cost said Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank have made an important contribution to social development in Bangladesh through microfinance. They said Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank are leading actors in the fight against poverty.
“This is why we express deep solidarity with Professor Yunus, with the wish that there can be a solution to the situation,” they said.
A statement of the Global Center for Development and Democracy (CGDD) and on behalf of President Alejando Toledo of Peru said “our organization, which cares about international development, has been following very closely the happenings, and is very much concerned about the progress which could be lost if the country’s leaders fail to appreciate what makes the Grameen Bank work.”
“Inspired in your visit to Perú, and the important lessons you left to us, president Toledo, who is again running for president of Perú, has included among his government proposals, the launching of ‘The Bank of Hope’,” the statement signed by GGDD’s executive director Ana Maria said.
It said “If he (Toledo) becomes our next president, we expect to extend microloans to the poorest in our country in order to lift all Peruvians who are living below poverty conditions, out of it.”
Another letter to Prof Yunus from CARD MRI Family of Philippine said “our more than 1.5 million members and clients would like to assure you of our unwavering support to you as the Managing Director of Grameen Bank.”
The letter said: “We have witnessed your strong commitment for poverty eradication. We have witnessed how you have inspired many individuals of various professions, different institutions, donor agencies, cooperatives, all sorts of banks including commercial and international, to adopt and implement microfinance as an effective and strong tool for poverty eradication worldwide. You have inspired all of us at CARD MRI and that inspiration will continue and will become even more stronger no matter what your critics say about you.”
It continued: “As we firmly believe in your selfless mission for the poor and the poorest, we stand firm in our support for you and your capacity to manage and carry this mission and to keep this alive in the hearts and minds of all the Grameen people all over the world.”
An open letter from Kashf Foundation of Pakistan said Dr Yunus and Grameen Bank are today global icons and torch-bearers for the mission to eradicate poverty, as well as to provide sustainable choices to poor households across the world.
It said the work of Grameen Bank has been replicated across 100 countries and has benefited over 170 million poor women globally.
“We are opposed to the current campaign to maliciously malign the reputation of Dr Yunus and the government’s attempt to remove him from office,” it said and urged the Bangladesh government to resolve the issue and allow Dr Yunus and the Grameen Bank to continue their work in the field of dignity building.

News: the independent/ Bangladesh/ Mar-29-2011