CALD

Attending this year’s CALD 20th Anniversary events in Manila, Philippines on 8-11 November 2013 are prominent European Liberals Hans van Baalen, President of Liberal International (LI), Sir Graham Watson, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party, Niccolo Rinaldi, ALDE Group Vice President and Maria Leissner, Secretary General of Community of Democracies (CD). Mr. van Baalen, Sir Watson and Mr. Rinaldi are regular attendees of CALD events, while CALD first met Ms. Leissner in this year’s CD meeting in Mongolia.

Prominent European Liberals to attend CALD 20th Anniversary Events

BURMA

20th of December

Myanmar opposition leader Aung Suu Kyi on Saturday said the 2015 elections in her country will not be democratic without constitutional changes. Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech at the National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Yangon on September 27, 2013. “The constitution must be amended,” the Nobel laureate said as she met European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels. “If the constitution is not amended, the 2015 election cannot be free or fair.” Myanmar will hold parliamentary polls in 2015, with the new parliament then choosing a president and Suu Kyi has said she wants to run for the presidency.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/375459/myanmar-constitution-must-be-changed-before-2015-polls-suu-kyi

Preparing for success

19th of October

SQUATTING on the bare floor of a sparsely furnished flat in central Yangon, a handful of 20-somethings tap furiously on battered old laptops, occasionally glancing at pieces of paper scattered around them. They could easily pass for a group of teenagers trawling Facebook. In fact, this is the research unit of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myanmar’s main opposition party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. They are racing to meet a deadline to produce a weekly media-monitoring report, providing links to all the main references to the NLD and Myanmar in the international press. It is sent to NLD MPs and party leaders.

http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21588115-younger-generation-emerges-aung-san-suu-kyis-shadow-and-tries-turn-her-party

Aung San Suu Kyi urged to place human rights, anti-Muslim violence at the top of the agenda

18th of October

Legislators from across Southeast Asia today called on Aung San Suu Kyi and European Parliamentarians and leaders to use the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader’s visit to Europe to secure greater commitments to tackle persistent human rights concerns in Myanmar, and draw particular focus on growing sectarian conflict and anti-Muslim violence there. “The underlying tensions that stem from discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities pose a threat to Myanmar’s democratic transition and stability,” said ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) President and Indonesian Member of Parliament Eva Kusuma Sundari.

http://www.asiantribune.com/node/65447

CAMBODIA

17th of October

PHNOM PENH & WASHINGTON DC – Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties remain at odds over negotiations for a new government. The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party wants to negotiate for election reforms, following irregularities opposition leaders say cost them the election in July.

http://www.voacambodia.com/content/political-parties-remain-at-odds-over-election-government/1770988.html

Reforming the Cambodian People’s Party

14th of October

The results of the Cambodian election of July 28 this year shocked many. The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won just 68 out of 123 seats, losing 22 seats. The situation quickly became tense as hundreds of soldiers and heavily armored vehicles were deployed in the capital city following a violent clashbetween police and voters, in which two military police vehicles were attacked and set on fire. Several major roads and districts surrounding Prime Minister Hun Sen’s residence were blocked. The nation was beset by confusion and uncertainty.

http://thediplomat.com/2013/10/14/reforming-the-cambodian-peoples-party/

INDONESIA

18th of October

The leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is split over who will succeed Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah if she is named a suspect in a bribery case currently being pursued by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Chairwoman of the PDI-P Banten chapter, Ribka Tjiptaning, rejected the proposal that current Deputy Governor Rano Karno should succeed Atut, arguing that Rano lacked the ability to lead the province.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/18/pdi-p-split-banten-succession.html

Poor Preparation for 2014 Election May Endanger Democracy: PDI-P

17th of October

One of Indonesia’s major political parties says problems related to poor preparations for next year’s elections are threatening the country’s democracy. “It is clear that the 2014 legislative and presidential elections will repeat all the weaknesses of the 2009 election,” Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary general Tjahjo Kumolo told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/poor-preparation-for-2014-election-may-endanger-democracy-pdi-p/

PDI-P targets 27 percent of votes

17th of October

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has pledged to garner at least 27 percent of votes in the 2014 legislative election. “We will at least get 27.2 percent of the popular votes or roughly 152 seats in the House of Representatives,” PDI-P central board member Puan Maharani said on Wednesday.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/17/pdi-p-targets-27-percent-votes.html

MALAYSIA

16th of October

In view of the announcement yesterday by Gerakan’s Acting President, Dato’ Chang Ko Youn on his decision not to contest the presidency of the party, I have received many phone calls and text messages enquiring about my future political plans. I sincerely would like to thank everyone for their concern. Before I make any decision, I will consult Dato’ Chang, Immediate Past President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, state and grassroots leaders as well. My decision will be anchored on what is best for the party and in the interest of party unity.

http://www.gerakan.org.my/my_press_details.asp?pid=3373&ccid=71

SINGAPORE

17th of October

Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan outlined the SDP’s ideology of building a caring and fairer system which puts people first at the recently held party conference.

http://yoursdp.org/news/2013-10-17-5726

Party activists keep up Road to 2016 campaign

14th of October

Costly COEs, stressful jobs, worries that the younger generation can’t afford housing. These were some of the issues that residents raised during our visit to the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC yesterday. As party activists trekked through nearly 20 blocks of flats in the area, several residents opened their gates and came out to chat.

http://yoursdp.org/news/party_activists_keep_up_road_to_2016_campaign/2013-10-14-5725

TAIWAN

17th of October

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) collected itself after a no-confidence vote to overthrow Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) fell flat and announced yesterday that it is determined to uproot the Special Investigation Division (SID).

https://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/10/17/391481/DPP-reshuffles.htm

DPP refuses cross-party talks after losing no-confidence vote

16th of October

After losing a no-confidence vote against Taiwan’s premier Jiang Yi-huah on Tuesday, opposition Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers said they will not enter cross-party consultations in the Legislature from that day on, which could mean further delays for Jiang to make a policy report. The motion lost 67-45 in the Legislature, which is controlled by the ruling Kuomintang. The motion was initiated by the DPP, which blames President Ma Ying-jeou and Jiang for the recent political turmoil and “illegal wiretapping of the Legislature” following a high-profile influence-peddling case.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131016000049&cid=1101&MainCatID=11

Legislators debate no-confidence move

15th of October

Legislators yesterday spent almost six-and-a-half hours at the Legislative Yuan debating a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, but ended with no consensus. Seventy-five of the 112 lawmakers were given five minutes each in the plenary session to opine on the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) proposal before the motion is put to a vote this morning.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/10/15/2003574552

THAILAND

15th of October

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to speak the truth regarding how Thai rice is being sold to China in exchange for the high-speed rail service. Mr. Abhisit has insisted that the Prime Minister disclosed the facts about whether or not Thai rice was being sold to China in exchange for the much-talked-about high-speed train.

http://www.pattayamail.com/news/abhisit-calls-on-pm-to-reveal-truth-on-bartering-rice-for-high-speed-train-31128