CALD-DPP Asian liberal political parties observation mission to the Taiwanese legislative election ends

(December 12, 2004/Taipei, Taiwan) The four-day election observation mission of Asian liberal political parties to the Taiwanese legislative elections ends today. The mission, jointly sponsored by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan and the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD), enabled the international observers  to witness first hand democracy in Taiwan (as manifested by this elections), and also to exchange valuable experiences and share best practices during their visit.

DPP is one of the founding members of CALD, which serves as a platform of interaction and exchanges among Asian liberal and democratic parties since its foundation eleven years ago. DPP is currently the chair party of CALD.

The mission consisted of 18 staff members of CALD observer and member parties from Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand as well as a representative from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation East & Southeast Asia Regional Office. The mission visited the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Tainan. This is the first CALD activity in Taiwan since Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian assumed the chairmanship of CALD in Kaohsiung last March. The delegation had the opportunity to meet Their Excellencies Chen-shui Bian and Annette Lu.

The delegation met with DPP candidates running for the elections and experienced first-hand a campaign rally with DPP supporters. Aside from observing campaigns, the observers had the opportunity to visit Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DPP branches in northern and southern Taiwan.

Additionally, the delegation also paid a visit to former DPP Chairman Mr. Yao Chia-Wen, who consolidated the DPP’s participation as founding member of CALD and currently serves as President of the Examination Yuan, the branch of government that oversees civil servant examinations. They also had a chance to meet with CALD’s Secretary General, Bi-khim Hsiao, MP (herself a candidate forTaipei), Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen, and former Secretary General to the Office of the President, Liu Shyh-fang.

Greeted by DPP Secretary General Chang, the delegation visited the DPP Headquarters on their first day of the election observation tour. “This program enhances understanding of Taiwan and its elections, and follows the long-term policy of the DPP to cultivate young people for leadership,” Mr. Chang said.

“This year, we have seen the rise in economic and military power from China, which has caused concern in all the countries of the Asian rim. The DPP hopes that with the platform established by CALD and the collaboration of its Asian parties, we can all work together into promoting democracy and its values, and share together the values of freedom and peace for stability in the Asia region.”

The mission working secretariat consisted of Huia-hui Hsieh, Hsinyi Luo, and Michael Fonte of the DPP International Affairs Department and Andrea Yi-shan Yang and Paolo Zamora of the CALD Secretariat.

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This post was written by CALD