CALD

March 28 2015

Liberal members of parliament from all over the world gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam on 27 March 2015 on the sidelines of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Organized by Liberal International (LI) and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the dinner reception was attended by liberal parliamentarians from Belgium, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Philippines and South Africa.

http://cald.org/site/cald/?p=9189

Liberal Gathering During the IPU Assembly Photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.865137340199880.1073741941.167155769998044&type=3

FRIEDRICH NAUMANN FOUNDATION

March 25 2015

The Freedom Flame was presented to Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao on 17 March 2015. The award was given to her in recognition of her tireless work as leader of Mamamayang Liberal (ML), consolidating the marginalized sectors and ensuring that their concerns are reflected in the liberal agenda.

http://fnf.org.ph/news/fnfnews.php?id=155&article=Kaka_Bag-ao%3A_Service_Over_Selfishness

BURMA

March 28 2015

The National League for Democracy (NLD), the main opposition party, yesterday pledged on the Armed Forces Day that it would continue to uphold the rule of law, help promote domestic peace and harmony, and push for the constitutional amendment.

In a statement, NLD also pledged to cooperate with the military for national reconciliation without grudge.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9472%3Anld-vows-accomplishing-unfinished-missions&catid=32%3Apolitics&Itemid=354

CAMBODIA

March 25 2015

The Senate unanimously approved the country’s two new election laws in a special session Monday, with the laws now only requiring review by the Constitutional Council and assent by King Norodom Sihamoni to be enacted.

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/senate-passes-reformed-election-laws-in-quick-vote-80564/

Election Law Sail Through

March 23 2015

Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties yesterday passed two controversial election-related laws without any debate at the National Assembly.

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers voted with the government to pass an amended election law and a new law governing the National Election Committee, despite the last-ditch efforts of election reform groups to have controversial provisions scrapped.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/election-laws-sail-through

INDONESIA

March 25 2015

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday reaffirmed the two countries’ plan to hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in a bid to boost bilateral security cooperation.

Abe and Widodo also agreed to strengthen economic collaboration between Japan and Indonesia.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002028557

PHILIPPINES

PNoy to Investors: Philippines Poised for Even More Success

March 25 2015

“You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

This was President Benigno Aquino III’s message to investors on Tuesday as he boasted the country’s economic growth under his watch, claiming that the best is yet to come.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/03/24/1437049/pnoy-investors-philippines-poised-even-more-success

PH Pays Tribute to Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew

March 23 2015

The Philippines joined the international community in honoring former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died Monday, March 23.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/87677-philippines-tribute-singapore-s-lee-kuan-yew?utm_content=buffer7b040&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

TAIWAN

March 30 2015

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said Sunday that her party is committed to maintaining stability in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing recent concerns raised by a senior U.S. adviser.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2015/03/30/432394/DPP-chairwoman.htm

DPP Lawmakers Urge EPA to Fix Emissions-Capping Bill 

March 26 2015

Amid growing public demand for action to combat air pollution, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) yesterday called on the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to address issues in a draft bill for an emissions-capping system targeting factories and science parks in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung air quality zone.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/24/2003614300