CALD

Around 200 liberals from all over the world convened in Hong Kong for the international conference “Liberalism: Promoting Growth, Reducing Inequality”.

Organized by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Liberal International (LI) and the Economic Freedom Network Asia (EFN Asia), the event took place on 7-9 November 2014 with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).  It brought together government officials, political party leaders, businessmen, academics, policy advisors, among others, to discuss how the liberal economy relates to wealth creation and inequality.
http://cald.org/site/cald/?p=9102

CALD Statement No. 5
November 10 2014

At the conclusion of CALD’s Hong Kong Conference, the CALD Executive Committee releases a strongly-worded statement declaring its full support for full, universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
http://cald.org/oldsitefiles/site/cald/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CALD-Statement-No.-5-2014.pdf

2014 EFN: Asia CALD-EFN Asia Joint Session – Keynote Address by Hon. Emily Lau, MP
November 18 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIGUnkiaoYU

2014 EFN Asia: CALD-EFN Asia Joint Session Welcoming Remarks
November 18 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S69J2SDVT6A

193^rd Liberal International Executive Committee
November 18 2014

From 7 – 10 November 2014, Liberal International (LI) hosted its 193^rd Executive Committee Meeting in Hong Kong in collaboration with LI co-operating organizations Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats and Friedrich Naumann Foundation fur die Freiheit, and LI’s only individual member Martin Lee.

https://storify.com/liberalinternat/liberal-international-executive-committee-hong-kon

The Business of Climate Change Event Series Puerto Princesa | 3^rd Economic Outlook Breakfast and Symposium
November 15 2014

http://cald.org/site/cald/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/10628530_794533940593554_8591204241732509486_n.jpg

Hong Kong Authorities Plan to Take Action At Protest Site
November 12 2014

Hong Kong bailiffs and police are planning to take action at pro-democracy protest sites in the city, as pressure grows on demonstrators to leave, the government said Tuesday, November 11.
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/74722-hong-kong-authorities-action-protest-sites

A recap of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement in 5 minutes
November 11 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKUzBf24tes

50 Liberal International Members Visit Occupiers in Admiralty
November 10 2014

Around 50 Liberal International members from UK, Finland, Philippines and Thailand etc. who attended meetings for Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats in Hong Kong visited and interacted with the occupiers in Admiralty today. The members include consuls and members of the parliament. The chairperson Juli Minoves expressed his appreciation and support to the means of the students fighting for democracy. He further praised their bravery and perseverance.
http://umbrellarevolutionnews.com/videos/entry/106-20141108-50-liberal-international-members-visit-occupiers-in-admiralty.html

Anticipation Builds Ahead of EC Opening
November 5 2014

Little more than one week remains until Liberal International’s 193^rd Executive Committee meeting opens in Hong Kong, where over 100 delegates representing 35 political parties and organisations will convene to debate the theme ‘Liberalism: promoting growth, reducing inequality’.
http://www.liberal-international.org/site/Anticipation_builds_ahead_of_EC_opening.html

FRIEDRICH NAUMANN FOUNDATION

3,768 Corruption-Fighters Sprinted Their Way to Better Governance
October 23 2014

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex turned bright yellow as 3,768 participants took part in the fourth national Freedom Run on October 19, 2014 in Pasay City. 33 government agencies, 8 groups from the private sector and over 1000 individuals from all over Metro Manila and nearby provinces gathered to continue the journey to fight corruption.
http://fnf.org.ph/news/fnfnews.php?id=144&article=3%2C768_Corruption-Fighters_Sprinted_Their_Way_to_Better_Governance

BURMA

Be Prepared for Distractions Ahead of Elections: Suu Kyi
October 30 2014

Suu Kyi says distractions will be used to confuse voters, calls on party members to focus on ‘two most crucial issues’.
National League of Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi warned her party’s members to be prepared for attempts to sow confusion and create distraction in the run up next year’s general electon, urging them to remain focused on the two key issues she said would determine whether or not the vote would be a genuine step towards democracy.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Be-prepared-for-distractions-ahead-of-elections-Su-30246451.html

‘Massive’ Numbers of Rohingya Fleeing Myanmar by Boat
October 28 2014

A climate of fear in Myanmar’s Rakhine state is pushing stateless Rohingya Muslims to flee in “unprecedented” numbers, with almost 10,000 people taking to boats in the region in just two weeks, activists said Monday, October 27.
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/73276-massive-numbers-rohingya-fleeing-myanmar?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rappler+%28Rappler%29

One Year From Now: Myanmar Sets Provisional Date for 2014 Elections
October 23 2014

Landmark elections in Myanmar have been provisionally scheduled for late next year, electoral officials said October 21.
http://www.mizzima.com/mizzima-news/politics/item/13968-one-year-from-now-myanmar-sets-provisional-date-for-2015-elections

CAMBODIA

HONGKONG

Student leaders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests are officially persona non grata on the Chinese mainland after they were not allowed to board a flight to Beijing where they planned to press their demands for free local elections.
http://time.com/3585254/hong-kong-students-hkfs-occupy-umbrella-revolution-beijing/

Hong Kong Protest Leaders Halt Planning Vote, Concede Mistake
October 27 2014

In a move that highlighted the difficulty of consolidating Hong Kong’s “umbrella movement,” protest leaders on Sunday scrapped plans to conduct a poll asking supporters to vote on what the democracy movement’s next move should be as the sit-ins entered their fifth week.
http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-hong-kong-democracy-protest-scrap-plan-20141026-story.html#page=1

INDONESIA

Indonesia President Appoints Technocrats to Top Economic Post
October 28 2014

Indonesia’s new president on Sunday named professional technocrats to lead the top economic ministries and implement much-needed reforms that address costly fuel subsidies, cooling investment and creaky infrastructure in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

Indonesian Leader in Global Spotlight
October 23 2014

In his previous life as a small-time furniture exporter and exhibitor, Joko Widodo was used to erecting stages. But in early November, just days after being sworn in as the president of Indonesia, he will now be sharing a stage with the world’s most powerful leaders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/21/business/international/many-hope-joko-widodo-indonesias-new-leader-will-raise-countrys-regional-stature.html?_r=0

TAIWAN

Candidates vying for public office in the Nov. 29 elections are running a fierce race for votes and to get an edge on their competitors, many are seeking to get a boost by picking theme songs for their campaigns they hope will resonate with voters.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/11/03/2003603577

SINGAPORE

Full Democracy Needed for Legal System, Freedom of Expression
October 27 2014

Dr Chee Soon Juan said Singapore needs to adopt full democratic best practices and widen the rules on freedom of expression, in order to become an international legal centre, in a speech he made at the International Bar Association conference in Tokyo today.
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/10/full-democracy-needed-for-legal-system-freedom-of-expression-chee/

Freedom of Expression Important Now More Than Ever
October 27 2014

Many Singaporeans have, in years past, questioned the SDP’s fight for political freedom for our people. They say that these ideas have little to do with their everyday lives. Fortunately, such thinking is on the wane.

It must be reiterated that without such freedoms, especially the freedom of expression, citizens cannot hold those who rule over us accountable and make them serve the people instead of themselves.
http://yoursdp.org/news/freedom_of_expression_important_now_more_than_ever/2014-10-22-5894

ALDE

More than 100 prominent liberals from around the world met in Hong Kong for a three day conference organised by Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).

The ALDE Party was represented by President Sir Graham Watson and Vice President Lousewies van der Laan and Treasurer Roman Jakic – as well as Vice President Olle Schmidt, who was part of the delegation of the Swedish liberal party Folkpartiet Liberalerna – who participated in visits to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and visited the ‘Occupy Central’ site where local citizens have been demonstrating on the streets for democratic electoral reform since 26 September.
http://www.aldeparty.eu/en/news/liberals-around-world-meet-hong-kong