CALD Study Visit & Seminar

Freedom: The primordial desire of humanity. The inviolable right of every human being. the heart and soul of liberalism.

For a few days in late May, members of the CALD family found themselves under the expansive skies of Mongolia where they discussed, debated and experienced freedom. Indeed, during the “Liberalism: It’s All About Freedom” Seminar and Study Visit that took place 23-27 May, liberals from Asia and beyond reexamined liberalism’s fundamental principles and experienced the Mongolian notion of freedom.

First off was a one-day seminar on the liberal ideology that was held, quite aptly, at the Government House, in a room that was once office of Mongolian President but is now open for use of the general public. After the opening remarks of officials of the Civil Will Green Party (CWGP), CALD, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), and Liberal International (LI) the CALD multimedia presentation was shown to familiarize local seminar participants with the regional network, CWGP being CALD’s newest CALD and the seminar being the first CALD event in Mongolia.

The seminar proper then began with Session One, chaired by Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) Jaslyn Go, which focused on liberal ideology and how it shapes political practice. Tasked with discussing liberalism in Asia, FNF Regional Director for Southeast Asia Rainer Adam decided to address in particular in particular the most contentious topic in the practice of liberalism: the role of the state. Remarked Adam: “(W)e do not want government to be overbearing or to take freedoms and responsibilities away from its citizenry, but we do want government to make sure that the players stick to the rules of the game and that there is a level playing field.”

CALD Executive Director Lito Arlegue meanwhile took up the “3Rs” of liberalism (Reason, Rights and Representation) during his presentation, and walked participants through the relationship of these to each other, and how they apply to the liberal conception of international affairs. The session’s last part, however, brought the host country to the fore with CWGP Co-Chair Oyun Sanjaasuren looking at the political dynamics and economic realities in Mongolia and how these had pushed CWGP to its current position in the political spectrum: “We will be the voice for moderate policies. We will be the voice for government participation (in the market) to a necessary degree. We’re also not calling to leave everything to the market, but we also don’t want government to decide to be too much part of business.

CWGP Political Council Member Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren chaired he second session, which focused on liberalism and the challenge of the development. Thai MP Ong-Art Klampaiboon of the Democrat Party examined the connection of liberalism to socio-political development. In particular, he discussed the importance of strengthening political institution ad the rule of law in building and sustaining democracy, and how efforts should be exerted toward this direction. CWGP Co-Chair Demberel Sambuu then tackled economic freedom and business environment in Mongolia. After looking at the ranking of Mongolia in different economic freedom indicators, he concluded that the country is still finding the balance in its “love of the market and of the state.”

The last session, chaired by Mardi Seng, deputy treasurer of the Cambodian opposition Sam Rainsy Party, scrutinized liberalism’s responses to key global issues such as globalization, global terrorism, and sustainable development. LI Treasurer and Bureau Member Robert Woodthorpe Browne stated clearly the liberal position on globalization. “We believe,” he said, “that the phenomenon of globalization is at root a force for progress: increased trade, development, migration and green capitalism all have the potential to make the world richer – financially, ecologically and culturally.” Liberal Party of Sri Lanka (LPSL) Leader Rajiva Wijesinha, for his part, remarked, “the Liberal response to terrorism must be both sensitive and principled. It must recognize that, given the importance of the right to life, and the obvious fact that terrorists on principle do not uphold this right for citizens’ governments must protect, governments have an obligation to combat terrorism forcefully. This can lead to special measures that might take away from the freedoms we can enjoy, but such measures must be clearly enunciated, and enforced with accountability, justiciability and, where feasible, transparency.” Finally, CALD Climate Change Committee Member Ng Lip Yong discussed the relationship between economic growth and sustainable development. According to Ng, countries should be aware of the ecological cost of its pursuit of economic development, and should carefully balance these with their developmental goals.

The next day had members of the CALD delegation attending a briefing about the 28 June general elections in Mongolia, during which they learned about voters’ profile, new election laws, electoral issues, and the current level of voters’ support for the major parties, among other things. CWGP Secretary General Gankhuu Gendendaram and CWGP Election Headquarters Manager Tungalag Davaa also pointed out that the then upcoming polls were different not only because of the new election law combining first-pass-the-post and party-list systems, but also because the levels of support of the two dominant parties were much lower and the percentage of swing votes was almost 60 percent. In other words, opposition parties like CWGP no had a bigger change to increase their electoral base.

Capping CALD’s visit to the Central Asian state was an opportunity to experience Mongolian life during the reign of Great Mongol Emperor Chinggis Khaan.  In a resort camp appropriately named “13th Century,” the CALD delegates had a taste of the nomadic lifestyle, which has been described as attuned to liberalism’s core principles of freedom and individualism. The delegates freely enjoyed the vast open spaces of the Mongolian countryside – riding camels and horses, watching a cultural performance and the gazing at millions of the stars in the clear Mongolian sky.

The delegates were also treated with performances that showed how Mongolians effortlessly blend the old and the new – among the a spectacular traditional cultural program during the dinner hosted by CWGP Co-Chair Sambuu and an upbeat live band performance of no less that CWGP Secretary General Gendendaram during the farewell dinner at an Irish pub.

Freedom, it is said, is the fundamental principle of liberalism. In Mongolia, the CALD delegates not only discussed it within the four corners of a seminar room, but actually experienced it in the frontier-less countryside and in trying out the nomadic tradition of their gracious Mongolian hosts.

Categorised in: Conferences & Workshops

This post was written by CALD