“Politics continues with or without COVID-19” – Pangilinan

“Politics continues with or without COVID-19” – Pangilinan

There were the words of Philippine Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairperson of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), as he opened the virtual 43^rd Executive Committee Meeting of the regional network last July 22. “Despite the still grim pandemic circumstances, we, as Liberals and Democrats, should be more committed to our cause of advancing freedom and democracy”, he added.

The CALD Chairperson’s appeal was based on the continuing challenges that several Southeast and East Asian countries confront. In Cambodia, exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy reported that “The Hun Sen Regime has become more and more repressive, and COVID-19 is a pretense to increase this repression… There is also a vicious cycle where Hun Sen is becoming more dependent on China.” After more than five years in power, Philippine strongman, Rodrigo Duterte, doesn’t have much to show in terms of benefits for Filipinos according to John Coronel, president of the Liberal Party’s think tank. “The situation in the country has changed little since last year. The pandemic merely exacerbating five years of incompetence, economic mismanagement, corruption, tyranny, treason, and intolerance.” In Hong Kong, former legislator Emily Lau said that “Since the protests, over 10,000 people have been arrested and about a quarter have been persecuted. Several members from my party are now in prison, waiting for trials… There is also self-censorship among academics. The freedoms and the rule of law that we have known for so many years have deteriorated so rapidly. But we will continue the struggle. We will try to be bold, careful, and wise.”

Apart from representatives of Cambodia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, officials from CALD member-parties in the following countries also attended the meeting: Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Japan. Moreover, representatives from CALD partners Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Southeast and East Asia, Liberal International, and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party were also present.

While the country and political party updates were the highlight of the gathering, the Executive Committee was also able to tackle some administrative matters such as the revisions to its remaining 2021 activities, and CALD’S external engagements.

In his closing, Senator Pangilinan expressed his gratitude to the members and partners for their attendance and participation. He also thanked them “for never giving up on the liberal and democratic principles… despite the ongoing challenges to democratic governance, and the continuing difficulties imposed by the pandemic.”