The Pensioner Bondholders Forum suspended picketing at the Finance Ministry on June 27.
This follows the resumption of payments of the coupons by the government on June 27.
On June 22, the pensioner Bondholders began a third round of picketing at the Finance Ministry to demand the payment of seven outstanding coupons following which the government began payment.
The group, however, warned that if the government does not consistently pay the rest of the coupons duly expected in July 2023, its members will resume picketing at the Finance Ministry.
The pensioners say a planned protest scheduled for today, June 29 has been suspended due to the latest show of commitment by the government.
Background
Members of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum began picketing at the premises of the Finance Ministry earlier in 2023 following the government’s decision to include its members in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
The DDEP was part of the requirements to secure a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Several affected groups including the pensioner bondholders forum put pressure on the government to exempt them from the programme.
After some picketing, the government succumbed to the pressure and offered the pensioners’ issue exemption but defaulted many times in paying their matured coupons.
