CALD & FNF |
Sim Democracy, an educational board game, is teaching students across Asia about law, budget spending and representative government
22 January 2014 Sim Democracy was created in 2011 for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Southeast and East Asia, a non-profit organisation that aims to promote liberal democracy, rule of law, economic freedom and respect for human rights. With Sim Democracy, FNF aims to help students aged 16-18 gain a better understanding of the basic function of democratic community and public policy before they are old enough to vote. http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/family/390786/classroom-politics |
BURMA |
Speaker backs four-way talks
24 January 2014 Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann has backed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s call for four-way talks on the 2008 constitution. The government has already rejected the proposal, which would bring together the National League for Democracy leader, U Shwe Mann, President U Thein Sein and Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on the grounds it would undermine the process underway in parliament. But Thura U Shwe Mann said on January 23 that he supported the idea. “I welcome any meeting that can contribute to the development of our country,” the speaker said. “I’ve already told her that I welcome and support it … If she tries again I will accept the proposal.” http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/9340-speaker-backs-four-way-talks.html
Working Group Trains Officers and Staff of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission 23 January 2014 Thirty-one participants, including some members, officers and staff of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission and lecturers from three universities of Myanmar, attended the Training Workshop on Capacity Building for Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) Officers and Academia on 13-17 January 2014 at the Hotel Yangon in Myanmar. http://aseanhrmech.org/news/working-group-trains-officers-and-staff-mnhrc.html Rule of law the key to domestic peace: Suu Kyi 22 January 2014
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CAMBODIA |
Key demand lingers: Rainsy
23 January 2014 While the opposition and ruling parties have been shuffling negotiating proposals back and forth to break the political deadlock over recent weeks, one main contentious point remains unresolved: an early election, Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy said yesterday. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/key-demand-lingers-rainsy |
INDONESIA |
PDI-P admits Jokowi’s
popularity boosts its chances
26 January 2014 Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Charles Honoris has acknowledged that the popularity of Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has increased that of the party, which is led by Megawati Soekarnoputri. “We are grateful that we have a figure like Jokowi,” he said in a discussion in Jakarta on Sunday, as quoted by Antara news agency. Jokowi pushes for tunnel 25 January 2014 Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo revealed on Friday that he would meet Banten Deputy Governor Rano Karno on Saturday to seek the latter’s support for the construction of a big tunnel connecting the Ciliwung River in Jakarta with Tangerang’s Cisadane River. He declined to give the location of the meeting, but he said he was optimistic that Rano would listen and eventually support the plan since the two were both members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Jokowi, who has been working to tackle the problem of annual flooding in the city, said Banten officials had opposed the tunnel project mainly because they had yet to fully understand the details. “If Banten Deputy Governor Rano Karno and the Tangerang regent and mayor and I have a face-to-face meeting tomorrow, they will likely approve the plan,” he said. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/25/jokowi-pushes-tunnel.html Megawati celebrates 67th birthday 24 January 2014 Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri celebrated her 67th birthday on Thursday. PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo said that Megawati had marked her birthday by staying at home with members of her family. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/24/megawati-celebrates-67th-birthday.html |
PHILIPPINES |
4th quarter GDP growth seen at 6.6%
28 January 2014 Moody’s Analytics expects the Philippine economy to have grown by 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, saying the impact of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” was likely more moderate than initially expected.
Should the think tank’s forecast prove correct, the economy’s full-year growth for 2013 settled at 7.2 percent, exceeding the government’s official target of between 6 and 7 percent. The Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA), the newly created agency consolidating all the government’s statistics agencies into one, will announce the official gross domestic product (GDP) growth figure for 2013 on Thursday.
“We anticipate a modest economic impact in the fourth quarter of 2013 and the opening quarter of 2014, although we see few long-term implications as the structure of the Philippine economy remains sound and downside risks remain contained,” Moody’s Analytics said in its latest outlook report for Asia-Pacific economies. http://business.inquirer.net/161929/4th-quarter-gdp-growth-seen-at-6-6
MNLF factions laud peace deal between gov’t, MILF 27 January 2014 Rival leaderships of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) lauded the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the completion of the 43rd Exploratory talks, describing it as a breakthrough in the peace negotiation. Jimmy Labawan, MNLF central committee vice chairman under the faction of Nur Misuari, in his statement Monday, hailed the signing of the annex on normalization. In a copy of the statement obtained by the STAR, Labawan also welcomed the call of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the GPH, MNLF, and the MILF to find common ground and develop a mechanism to ensure that the gains of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) on the implementation of the 1976 Peace Agreement are preserved and the Framework of Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its annexes are fully implemented with the aim of consolidating the gains achieved by all of these agreements. http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/01/27/1283610/mnlf-factions-laud-peace-deal-between-govt-milf Gov’t, MILF seal peace deal 25 January 2014 The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have signed the last annex of the Bangsamoro framework, sealing the peace pact that seeks to end the decades-long Muslim secessionist movement in the country. The government panel also signed the addendum on the Bangsamoro Waters on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, which has been brokering the negotiations. Earlier in the day, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda tweeted: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an agreement.” http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/569191/govt-milf-seal-peace-deal |
SINGAPORE |
Better policies. Brighter future.
http://yoursdp.org/news/2014-01-27-5770 What does the SDP stand for? http://yoursdp.org/publ/about_the_party/what_we_stand_for/7-1-0-5 [Party video]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61aRlF0qoX0 SDP – Competent. Constructive. Compassionate. SDP is Competent: SDP is Constructive: SDP is Compassionate:
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TAIWAN |
DPP’s Su touts ‘best candidate’ for Taichung
28 January 2014 The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has chosen the best possible candidate to run for Taichung Mayor, DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday. The main opposition party announced that Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) would be its nominee for Taichung mayor at the end of 2013 after Lin won the DPP primaries. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taichung/2014/01/28/399408/DPPs-Su.htm
DPP calls for taxation justice 27 January 2014 The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said yesterday that a proposed amendment to the Income Tax Act (所得稅法) would be the party’s main focus in the extra session that begins tomorrow, saying that it is the most important bill to address the issue of “tax justice” in the wake of the revelation of Taiwanese businesspeople’s exploitation of tax havens to avoid paying taxes. “[The DPP] is proposing this to highlight our call for tax justice and as another test for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s [KMT] core values,” DPP caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) told a press conference. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/01/27/2003582255 DPP delegation presents party’s China policy to EU 24 January 2014 The ideals and policies Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) shared with European Union (EU) members yesterday were well-received, the DPP’s Department of International Affairs Director Liu Shih-chung (劉世忠) said. Su paid a visit to the EU Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium to share the party’s goals and discuss Taiwan’s regional safety and cross-strait policies with think tanks founded by different countries and EU councilors. Both Liu and the DPP’s former representative to the United States, Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), were part of Su’s delegation to Europe. The group met with the councilors on Wednesday and later dined with Taipei’s representatives to the EU. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/01/24/399125/DPP-delegation.htm DPP Taiwan discuss increased cooperation at LI headquarters 24 January 2014 A 12-member Taiwanese delegation from LI full member DPP Taiwan, led by Chair Su Tseng-Chang, has met with LI Treasurer on the Bureau Robert Woodthorpe Browne MBE and members of the Secretariat at LI headquarters at the National Liberal Club, London. Treasurer Woodthorpe Browne informed the Taiwanese liberal leader of the work that LI was able to achieve over the past year, in part thanks to their generous support. Chair Su responded: “I am honoured to be the first DPP chairman to visit the LI offices. Since I became Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, DPP has passed 3 resolutions and the most recent, in Antigua, was very timely.” Chair Su explained that the adoption of DPP’s resolution on respect for judicial independence by the LI Executive Committee in Antigua last year, resulted in the indictment of a senior government official and a new act being passed in Taiwan’s legislature to address the issue of wire-tapping.
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INTERNATIONAL |
Liberales Forum and NEOS merge – a strong liberal voice in Austria
25 January 2014 Commenting in reaction to the vote on Saturday 25 January 2014 by members of the Liberales Forum and NEOS in Austria to formally merge the two parties, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson said: “I welcome the decision by the joint party convention to consolidate the liberal forces in Austria and to continue their excellent work to date and to strengthen the presence of Liberals in Austria. Heide Schmidt laid the foundations for the liberal journey 21 years ago and today there is a strong liberal voice in Austria for an open society and a liberal Europe.” Envoys discuss ways to boost ties among ASEAN members 24 January 2014 Foreign ambassadors and diplomats from 15 countries attended a two-day outreach program to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) dialogue in the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. The ASEAN-Korea Center, a Seoul-based inter-governmental organization, said it hosted the event to assess Korea’s relations with the regional bloc ahead of the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Envoys from non-ASEAN member countries ― Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and Russia ― joined the program. http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=150465 VIDEO: Act, React and make an Impact 24 January 2014 Maybe you know that in May across the European Union – EU, we’ll elect new members of the European Parliament? Which impact does this institution REALLY have on our day-to-day lives? This short video explains some of the initiatives the European Parliament takes to improve our quality of life. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153937974620107 Liberal International weekly e-news – Issue 364 Top Stories: Guy Verhofstadt and Olli Rehn to jointly lead ALDE in European Elections LI President addresses FDP congress Croatian Minister for Economy welcomed to LI Headquarters Inspiring speeches formally open the ALDE-PAC Conference #SouthAfrica Saad Hariri: Lebanon’s special tribunal “very important for the Arab World” “Liberal Values have finally triumphed”, says LDP IFLRY PRESS RELEASE – IFLRY Freedom Award Given to Russian LGBT Network 25 January 2014 Inspired by Russian LGBT+ activists who fight for personal freedoms in their country, despite government repression and the continuing threat of persecution, IFLRY – International Federation of Liberal Youth decided to award the 3rd IFLRY Freedom Award to the “Russian LGBT Network”. A ceremony was held prior to the 36th IFLRY General Assembly in Krakow (Poland). The Russian LGBT network has fought for access to Human Rights for the LGBT+ community within Russia since 2006. The Russian LGBT Network consists of Russian local, national and international groups and organizations that seek to promote the LGBT+ cause within Russia. Being an NGO itself, the Russian LGBT Network tries to lobby and disseminate information on the LGBT situation. The network has already gained tremendous credibility with international institutions, such as the UN, OSCE and CoE. Via its regional divisions it works across sixteen Russian regions. Since the Russian Authorities adopted a law in 2013 which criminalizes the spread of information on LGBT+ issues, the Russian LGBT Network is put in a difficult position. The network tries to continue fighting for their cause while facing the new law’s consequences. IFLRY, by means of awarding the IFLRY Freedom Award, wants to underline where the liberal youth of the world stands on this matter – together with the Russian LGBT Network. “IFLRY supports the Russian LGBT Network and with that the Russian LGBT+ community as a whole. Freedom of expression and of sexual orientation are two essential individual freedoms and both are under threat in Russia. The previous work of the Russian LGBT Network needs praise, while their future work is greatly challenged, as the Russian authorities break their international Human Rights commitments. The international community needs to show full support for the Russian LGBT Network in the struggle they face”, says IFLRY President, Thomas Leys. IFLRY is the worldwide federation of liberal youth organizations. In connection with its 36th General Assembly meeting in the Polish city of Krakow this weekend, the Russian LGBT Network was announced as the third IFLRY Freedom Award recipient during a formal ceremony on Friday 24th of January 2014. The co-chair of the Russian LGBT Network, Tatiana Vinnichenko, was present to accept the award. Earlier recipients were the Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil in 2011 and the Azerbaijani campaign ‘Sing for Democracy’ in 2012. The International Democratic Initiative, connected to the Dutch party D66, has made it possible to have the Russian LGBT Network present at the IFLRY Freedom Award ceremony. IDI’s generous contribution shows their dedication to a more tolerant and more free Russia. |
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