CALD Executive Committee meets President Chen in Taipei

(March 18, 2005/ Taipei, Taiwan) H.E. Chen Shui-bian, President of Taiwan and Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD), received today the members of the CALD Executive Committee at the Green Room of the Presidential Palace in the Taiwanese capital.

During the hour-long meeting, President Chen discussed the increased cooperation between the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan (DPP) and the other members of CALD. He noted that he and his party had been monitoring developments in neighboring countries that affect CALD parties. He mentioned that DPP had sent observer missions to Bangkok to show its support to the Thai democrats during its parliamentary elections.

President Chen also spoke of his concern regarding the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Sam Rainsy, MP, leader of the Cambodian opposition and former CALD Chair. After the tsunami had wrought havoc in Asia, DPP gave donations to the victims in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia.

President Chen then expressed his warm anticipation of the forthcoming conference in Taipei towards the end of the year that would also coincide with the transfer of the CALD leadership from DPP to the Liberal Party of the Philippines.

President Chen then shared to the members of the CALD Executive Committee his thoughts and sentiments regarding the controversial Anti-Succession Law which was passed last March 14 by the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The law stipulated that China shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures in the event of Taiwan’s succession from China.

President Chen remarked that the 2,000 members of the Chinese Congress have no right to speak in behalf of the 23 million Taiwanese who have the right to speak their concern and voice their opposition to violence. He stated that there would be a peaceful rally across Taiwan on March 26 to demonstrate the Taiwanese people’s desire for peace. He offered his “peaceful, moderate and humble way” of resolving cross-straits conflicts.

In response to the President, Dr. Nereus Acosta, MP, Executive Vice President of the Liberal Party of the Philippines and head of the delegation, spoke in behalf the CALD Executive Committee. Dr. Acosta narrated that only a year ago, they were together in Kaohsiung for the Liberal International Asia Conference that coincided with the turn-over of the CALD chairmanship from Prince Sukhumbhand Paribatra, MP, of the Democrat Party of Thailand to President Chen.

Dr. Acosta remarked that since then dramatic developments had occurred in the region including a record-breaking number of elections held in Asia. Dr. Acosta noted that the victory of DPP in the presidential elections was replicated by CALD member and observer parties including the notable increase of liberal parliamentarians in Malaysia, Philippines, Korea and Japan through the victories of the Parti Gerakan, Liberal Party, Uri Party and Democrat Party, respectively, and the election of the new democratic governor of Bangkok.

Dr. Acosta also underscored the need to remain vigilant as there had been imminent threats to democracy in Asia. He reiterated the case of the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Sam Rainsy.

Dr. Acosta also expressed his concern about the “cloud of uncertainty shrouding the Taiwanese straits” in reference to the Anti-Secession Law and expressed CALD’s desire for peaceful cross-straits relations characterized by open and constructive dialogue free from the use of force, threat and intimidation.

The international delegates include Dr. Buranaj Smuthraks, MP, of the Democrat Party of Thailand; Senator Ung Bun Ang of the Sam Rainsy Party of Cambodia; Dr. Chua Peng Song, MP, of the Malaysian People’s Movement Party (Gerakan); Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party; Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha, President of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka and Mr. Maung Maung of the National Council of the Union of Burma.

They were accompanied by Ms. Bi-Khim Hsiao, MP, CALD Secretary-General and DPP Director for International Affairs; and Taiwanese Foreign Affairs Vice Minister and CALD Executive Committee member, Ms. Maysing Yang.

The Manila-based CALD Secretariat was represented by Mr. John Joseph S. Coronel, CALD Executive Director, and Program Officers, Mr. Brian Gonzales and Ms. Andrea Yang. Members of the DPP secretariat including Ms. Huai Hui Hsieh, Deputy Director for International Affairs, were also present.  The Friedrich Naumann Foundation was represented by Mr. Uwe Johannen, Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia and Dr. Ronald Meinardus, Resident Representative (Manila).

After the meeting at the Presidential Palace, the delegation proceeded to the Taiwan Democracy Foundation where they were received by the Hon. Yao Chia-wen, President of Taiwan’s Examination Yuan and former CALD Secretary General. The group then proceeded to the Dinner Reception hosted by DPP Chairman, the Hon. Su Tseng-chang.

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This post was written by CALD