CALD Conference on Democratic Transitions

UNCERTAINTY. With this word, former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva provided the link between the seemingly disconnected themes of two events that CALD held back-to-back in Bangkok in mid-November.

CALD had partnered a half-day seminar on climate change with a longer conference on Burma’s political transition and Khun Abhisit was the keynote speaker for the twin events. Anyone still scratching his or her head over what looked like an odd pairing probably thanked the astute Democrat Party of Thailand stalwart when he observed: “Uncertainty, whether we like it or not, is just part of our lives, and increasingly so, man contribution such as climate change and its effects, as well as political uncertainties (such as) democratic transitions… which unsurprisingly, in a world of rapid changes, is likely to arise not just in countries moving toward democracy but also in established democracies…”

The climate change seminar took place in the morning of 16 November (See in Focus section). By the afternoon of the same day, delegates were ready for Event Two: a one-day conference on “Managing Burma’s Political Transition: The Challenges Ahead.”

CALD Chairperson Sam Rainsy and DP Foreign Affairs Chair Kiat Sitheeamorn gave the welcome remarks. Dr. Myo Aung of the National League for Democracy of Burma (NLD) the gave the first presentation for Session One, which focused on crafting a political pact between competing forces. The Burmese legislator, who talked about the transition and contextual problems faced by Burma, said that while the NLD is not considering a “formal pact with party” at present, “this is not to be excluded in future policy.”

Hong Kong lawmaker Sin Chung Kai of the Democratic Party followed this up with a look at the operation of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council or LegCo. While he noted that there had been small successes in making LegCo more democratic and inclusive, he pointed out that the influence of China remains a stumbling block in Hong Kong’s transition to democracy.

Session Two had speakers from Burma, Thailand, and Singapore sharing their thoughts on establishing democratic institutions and the rule of law. NLD’s U Naing Ngan Lin had a practical suggestion, commenting, “(In) order to promote sustainable development, public participation, transparency and accountability, and also in order to uphold the rule of law, (democratic) institutions still require to be strengthened. In Strengthening these institutions, capacity building training, workshops, seminars, and the like are necessary.”

DP Director General Nataphol Teepsuwan meanwhile turned the issue on its head by pointing out that institutions and the law could also be used against democracy, particularly by persecuting the political opposition such as what was happening in Thailand. The session was concluded by Dr. James Gomez, policy unit head of the Singapore Democratic Party. Although he began by talking about the challenges to building democratic institutions and the rule of law in his country, Gomez wound up his presentation with such a discussion on the role of civil-society organization in the development of nascent ASEAN human rights regime.

The Third Session featured speakers with first-hand experience on peace negotiations and peace-building – just the thing for the focus on forging ethnic harmony and a democratic union. Nyo Ohn panel, updated the participants on the progress of peace negotiations with Burma’s ethnic groups. Philippine Undersecretary Chito Gascon, member of the Technical Working Group on Power Sharing in the peace negotiations in his country, shared some lessons learnt in the ongoing peace talks.

Participants

Burma:
Myo Aung
Naing Ngan Lin
Nyo Ohn Myint

Cambodia:
Sok Hour Hong
Ry Long
Sam Rainsy
Saumura Tioulong

Hong Kong:
Sin Chung-kai

Indonesia:
Hanjaya Setiawan
Ihsan Yunus

Malaysia:
Lau Chin Hoon
Ng Lip Yong

Mongolia:
Kh. Bat-Yalalt
Demberel B.

Pakistan:
Sobia Kazim

Philippines:
Neric Acosta
Nancy Catamco
Chito Gascon
Carla Paz Manto

Singapore:
Surayah Akbar
Solange Chee
James Gomez

Sri Lanka:
Kamal Nissanka
Selyna Peiris
Rajiva Wijesinha

Taiwan:
Anne Chen
Kuang-Jung Hsu
Sophie Ping-Ya Hsu
Shih-Chung Liu
Yi-Jin Yeh

Thailand:
Nutt Bantadtan
Kiat Sittheeamorn
Nataphol Teepsuwan
Abhisit Vejjajiva

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom:
Katrin Bannach
Poraporn
Chatramongkhol
Pimrapaat
Dusadeeisariyakul
Jules Maaten
Juliane Schmucker

Categorised in: Conferences & Workshops

This post was written by CALD