CALD holds back-to-back workshops on Party Management and Grassroots Organizing in Phnom Penh

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), in cooperation with the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), held back-to-back workshops on party finance and grassroots organizing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from the 1^st to the 6^th of October 2010. Delegates from CALD member parties, including observer and associate members, participated in the activities.

The party management workshop allowed participants to understand the key issues and problems regarding political finance and how these affect political parties. Participants were given the opportunity to share and learn from experience and best practices on how the participants’ respective political parties address issues and problems relating to political finance. The workshop also aimed to assess the performance of the participants’ respective political parties with regard to the institutionalization of transparency and accountability in the management and use of party funds; and to identify possible and specific policy recommendations on how the participants can promote or increase transparency and accountability in their respective political parties.

Hon. Sam Rainsy, MP and Leader of the Cambodian opposition, addressed the participants of the workshop through live streaming on October 3.  In his message, Hon. Rainsy expressed his regret that he could not personally welcome the workshop delegates in Phnom Penh because of the government-orchestrated legal and political intimidation against him and his political party.  At the same time, he pointed out that the SRP is pleased to host these workshops, as they assist in strengthening not only political parties, but also other democratic institutions and processes.

On the topic of party finance, participants forwarded recommendations, including the necessity of legislation, institution and mechanisms that promote transparency and accountability. State funding for political parties should also be instituted in order to provide parties with the financial base needed to support political party activities, especially in-between elections. At the same time, political parties must have their own internal mechanisms to guarantee transparency and accountability in the use and management of party funds.

The grassroots organizing workshop, on the other hand, aimed to discuss the nature and importance of grassroots organizing, including the constraints to its successful execution. Participants were able to share and learn from experiences and best practices on how their respective political parties address the constraints to successful grassroots organizing. Other objectives of the workshop were to appreciate the significance of including the women sector in the grassroots organization of political parties; to examine the track record of the participants’ respective political parties with regard to the grassroots organizing, particularly the inclusion of women in the process; and to identify techniques on how the participants can identify, research and target specific sectors, particularly women, in their grassroots organizing.

“With change coming from the grassroots level, change will be pushed forward at the highest levels, with more demands made for stronger women’s rights and freedom of expression,” said Hon. Mu Sochua, MP, Chair of the CALD Women’s Caucus and Head of the Sam Rainsy Party Women’s Wing, stressing the importance of the Women’s Caucus workshop.

Participants shared that grassroots organization should be prioritized by political parties, as this not only ensures that parties are grounded with the issues and concerns of their constituency, but that they also contribute to the political education of the citizenry and democratization of the polity. Political parties should also tap into the characteristics and ways of women, as these, while perceived as weaknesses by some, may actually be used by parties in achieving their organizational goals and objectives. In line with these observations, the participants agreed that political parties should establish or strengthen their respective women’s wings.

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This post was written by CALD