CALD Chair Keynotes LI Congress

CALD Chair Sam Rainsy delivered one of the keynote speeches in the 58th Congress of Liberal International (LI). Held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on 17-21 October 2012 with the theme Politics of Economic Development: Promoting Private Investment, Enhancing Social Responsibility, the Congress was opened by SEM Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, and H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal.

In his keynote speech, Sam Rainsy drew attention to the contrast between the rise of liberalism in Asia and suppression of democracy in his country Cambodia. He then proceeded to discuss how the corruption of democratic institutions and processes negatively impacts on economic development.

On the sidelines of the Congress, the CALD Chair also received the Freedom Prize from an international women’s group affiliated with LI and based in Spain, Dones Per La Libertat I La Democracia (Women for Freedom and Democracy). The Prize was meant to recognize Sam Rainsy’s contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly the rights of women, children and ethnic minorities.

Prior to his attendance in the Congress, the Cambodian opposition leader visited a number of countries across continents to rally international support for the conduct of free, fair and inclusive elections in Cambodia. Earlier this month, he spent ten days in Australia and New Zealand to meet government officials and overseas party supporters.

Last September, he met with government officials and members of parliament in France, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands where he was received by Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal (the ruling party in the Netherlands “VVD” is also affiliated with LI). He also visited the Philippines and Indonesia, where he was warmly welcomed by Filipino and Indonesian legislators. A meeting between the Cambodian opposition leader and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa also took place.

On 22-26 October, Sam Rainsy will be in Quebec City (Canada) to take part in the 127th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). He will notably testify before the IPU Committee on the human rights of parliamentarians. From there, he is scheduled to make visits to other Canadian cities and the United States.

Over a five-week period, therefore, the CALD Chair would have travelled several countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and America – all for the cause of democracy and human rights.