CAMBODIA

13 February 2014

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) voiced confidence Thursday that they can end a seven-month-old post-election political crisis but provided no details.

The fresh round of optimism came as CNRP president Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha attended a large party rally that was probably the first unhindered by security forces or ruling-party hecklers since a violent government crackdown on protests last month.

“I appeal to all Khmers to unite,” Sam Rainsy, who just returned from a foreign trip to muster opposition support, told supporters at the gathering in Kampong Speu province south of the capital Phnom Penh.

“The political deadlock will be resolved soon in order to allow Cambodia to have national unity,” he said, without elaborating.

Kem Sokha echoed his sentiments, saying CNRP leaders would “sacrifice their lives” for the national interest.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/deadlock-02132014154420.html

MALAYSIA

10 February 2014

Gerakan Youth today reiterated its stand for firm action to be taken against elected representatives who vacate their seats without valid reasons.

Its leader, Tan Keng Liang, said the resignation of the elected representatives would lead to wastage of public funds as a by-election had to be held.

He proposed that the Election Commission (EC) amend the law to provide for a fine of RM100,000 and RM200,000 for state assemblymen and MPs, respectively, who resigned without valid reasons.

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1013307

PHILIPPINES

17 February 2014

A senior administration lawmaker on Sunday prodded the Supreme Court (SC) to immediately rule on the controversial reproductive health or family planning law as he warned the delay was impeding the government programme of reducing the alarming increase in maternal and infant deaths in the Philippines.

In a statement, Senate President Franklin Drilon warned “More than 14 months have passed since the historic passage of the law. The government hands are still tied down when it comes to attending fully the needs for the care of millions of Filipino mothers.”

http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=news&id=161861&heading=Asia

ARMM reports record-breaking P1.451 B investments in 1st Quarter

17 February 2014

The  Regional Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) is  likely  to break its investment  record  in  2013, an official of the agency said.

In its meeting  last  week  in  Zamboanga  City, RBOI-ARRM  approved  for registration P1.451 billion worth of investments in the ARMM in the 1st quarter 2014 alone.

RBOI Chairman and Managing Head, Atty.  Ishak Mastura  noted, this is   a record for the ARMM since it is almost equal to investments registered with the RBOI in  2013, which stood at P1.463 billion by year end.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1611392610928

Obama visit to boost ‘enduring alliance’

16 February 2014

US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Philippines in April is expected to further boost the enduring treaty alliance between the two countries, one which currently stands as “our deepest bilateral engagement,” according to the country’s top diplomat.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Obama’s first visit to Manila, after a postponement in October, would underscore the strong ties between the two allies—a relationship the Philippines has been counting on as it faces Chinese provocations in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“President Barack Obama’s visit reaffirms the enduring treaty alliance and the strategic and economic partnership between the Philippines and the United States,” Del Rosario told the Inquirer via text.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/99071/obama-visit-to-boost-enduring-alliance

SINGAPORE

17 February 2014

Years ago, the PAP and its supporters portrayed the SDP as an opposition party that opposed for opposition’s sake. In other words, we did not have anything constructive to propose but, according to DPM Teo Chee Hean, only knew how to “throw stones”.

That was before the advent of the Internet when the PAP had a field day painting the SDP as it wished through the state media without us having any means to counter the smears.

Today, we have, at least, the new media to inform the voting public of our views and ideas. As a result, not only has Singaporeans been able to see the truth but our ideas are beginning to gain traction – even among PAP leaders.

http://yoursdp.org/news/sdp_s_ideas_gaining_traction/2014-02-17-5778

TAIWAN

16 February 2014

The question of who will be the next chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) may also be related to who will be the DPP candidate for the presidential election of 2016.

Analysts consider current party Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) as the most likely candidates to win the position.

Former Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) has already announced his intention to run for DPP chair, while Su and Tsai have both hinted at a possible bid for the post.

If Su and Tsai both decide to participate in the DPP chair election, the competition between the “two suns” of the party could be a preview of the fight for the DPP nomination to run for president in 2016.

How this power struggle will develop has quickly become a hot topic among political analysts.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/02/16/400710/New-DPP.htm

 DPP mayoral candidate leads in Taichung: poll

16 February 2014

The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Greater Taichung mayoral candidate, Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), is leading Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) with a support rate of 45.8 percent against the latter’s 30.8 percent, according to a poll conducted by the Central Taiwan Society.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/02/16/2003583637

Hsieh unveils his DPP campaign platform

14 February 2014

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday unveiled his campaign platform for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairmanship election in May, focusing on three key areas — a feasible China policy, party reform and central government reform.

“I believe that the ‘two constitutions, different interpretations’ (憲法各表) initiative I’ve been advocating for more than three years is a feasible China policy that should help the party cross ‘the last mile’ and return to power [in 2016],” Hsieh said during a meeting with reporters.

While the initiative has not yet been well-received in the party, Hsieh said he welcomed the challenge from anyone who can beat his proposal and satisfy the “three ultimate requirements for the DPP’s China policy” — that it be accepted by Taiwanese, supported by Washington and viewed tolerable by Beijing.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/02/14/2003583485

DPP head praises title-use in Wang-Zhang meeting

11 February 2014

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang said Tuesday the fact that the top officials from Taiwan and China responsible for cross-Taiwan Strait affairs addressed each other by their official titles in their historic meeting earlier in the day was “a kind of progress.”

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201402110056.aspx

INTERNATIONAL

Citizen-led democracy assessments around the world – International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance’s (International IDEA) State of Democracy assessment frameworks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdw9G1ZXCpM

The Liberal International’s (LI) 59th Congress in Rotterdam

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1425107454385912/?ref=22

Video teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etb7k_0f9gc