The Liberal International (LI), in cooperation with the Democrat Party of Thailand (DP) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), proceeded with a fact finding mission to Bangkok and the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sot last December 11-14, 2008 following the postponement of the CALD anniversary celebrations. The LI Executive Mission was a conference with the theme “Safeguarding Democracy: the case of Thailand and its regional and global impacts.” Top leaders of the DP hosted the one-day meeting at the DP headquarters. The meeting between the party and the liberal network focused on the role of the opposition in safeguarding democracy.
Recently elected Thai Prime Minister, H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva gave his keynote address and opened the conference. He said “If we become the government, we want to reach out to everyone and be government of everyone. In our government the policies will be made for everyone to benefit. Every citizen will get an assurance of being justly treated. That’s our understanding of true real democracy.” Hon. Hans van Baalen, MP, LI Deputy President, also addressed fellow liberals during the conference and said “For us, democracy is not only an election of a government. For the liberals world-wide democracy represents a functioning governing system which works to the benefit of each and every individual and which is based on openness, transparency and accountability…”
The first session discussed democratic representation and electoral systems. Among the speakers were Mr. Ivan Doherty, director of political party programs of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Hon. Johan Pehrson, MP from the Liberal Party of Sweden and Mohammed Nosseir, international officer from the Democratic Front Party of Egypt. The chair of the session was Ms. Bi-khim Hsiao, LI Vice President and former Member of Parliament from the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan.
The second session tackled the international impact of the developments in Thailand. Chaired by Mr. Harald Klein, head of the Department for International Politics of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the session included speakers James Gomez from Singapore, Jonathan Fryer from the UK Liberal Democrats and Ambassador Kasit Piromya, head of the DP international affairs department.
The Liberal International (LI), in cooperation with the Democrat Party of Thailand (DP) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), proceeded with a fact finding mission to Bangkok and the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sot last December 11-14, 2008 following the postponement of the CALD anniversary celebrations. The LI Executive Mission was a conference with the theme “Safeguarding Democracy: the case of Thailand and its regional and global impacts.” Top leaders of the DP hosted the one-day meeting at the DP headquarters. The meeting between the party and the liberal network focused on the role of the opposition in safeguarding democracy.
Recently elected Thai Prime Minister, H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva gave his keynote address and opened the conference. He said “If we become the government, we want to reach out to everyone and be government of everyone. In our government the policies will be made for everyone to benefit. Every citizen will get an assurance of being justly treated. That’s our understanding of true real democracy.” Hon. Hans van Baalen, MP, LI Deputy President, also addressed fellow liberals during the conference and said “For us, democracy is not only an election of a government. For the liberals world-wide democracy represents a functioning governing system which works to the benefit of each and every individual and which is based on openness, transparency and accountability…”
The first session discussed democratic representation and electoral systems. Among the speakers were Mr. Ivan Doherty, director of political party programs of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Hon. Johan Pehrson, MP from the Liberal Party of Sweden and Mohammed Nosseir, international officer from the Democratic Front Party of Egypt. The chair of the session was Ms. Bi-khim Hsiao, LI Vice President and former Member of Parliament from the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan.
The second session tackled the international impact of the developments in Thailand. Chaired by Mr. Harald Klein, head of the Department for International Politics of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the session included speakers James Gomez from Singapore, Jonathan Fryer from the UK Liberal Democrats and Ambassador Kasit Piromya, head of the DP international affairs department.
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