LFP’s Board Member, and National Treasurer, recently attended a Workshop organized by CALD in Hong Kong in September 2009. The core objectives of the Workshop were:

To understand Web 2.0 and the new technologies shaping political communication and campaign strategies

To build capacities of CALD members;
To asses and tap and use new media more extensively and effectively.

Mr. Manuel Quezon, TV Host and a blogger, during his speech emphasized on the significant role of blogs and communicating political messages by using the tools of web 2.0 in this age of technology. He quoted the example of President Obama in the recent US elections who reached the majority of his voters through Facebook, Twitter and blogs and website marketing strategies. He even raised a significant share of funds for his election campaign by reaching through web 2.0 to his target and potential supporters.

The moderator Dr.Neric Acosta , Secretary General, CALD, started the Workshop session by showing a short film titled “Did you know“. The film was sensational and at the same time informative. It unveiled shocking and amazing statistical facts regarding horrifying psycho-socio effects of new technologies on political animal (The human being).

During coffee break Dr Neric shared that short film with Mr Irfan which he can share with anybody interested in it.

In the next session, mutual learning on the impacts of Web 2.0 in their respective parties and countries was an interesting experience. Participants shared their findings regarding using Web 2.0 tools. The speech of the Vice Chairperson, Democratic Party of Hong Kong, was one of the highlights of first day. Her presence and communication skills were very audience oriented and she thus won the hearts of her listeners from the beginning of her speech. Like a seasoned politician she knew the art of expressing herself in a dramatic, entertaining and impressive way. She shared her personal as well as party struggle for the democratization in HK throughout the years.

On the third day, the participants visited the headquarters of the host political party of HK. It was a brief roundtable meeting with the key leaders .A great opportunity for everyone to study the party at organizational level in comparison to their own respective political backgrounds. It was a good opportunity for all to understand the socio-political infrastructure of a democratic liberal political party that belongs to a society which is far more ahead than Pakistan in certain respects.

During discussion, the participants learnt that Democratic Party of HK is well-organized on professional grounds. Their financial system and funding criteria has an audit check and transparent at the same time. There is a power transfer tradition on pure democratic terms on regular basis in accordance to their charter. They are working hard to mobilize the youth and women of the country to actively participate in politics. They keep on working at grass root level to increase their membership. There is a well organized and well scheduled program of capacity building and awareness spreading on board at a professional level. They are clear minded in respect of their manifesto and targets of future., The personal ego culture at leaders / workers and volunteers level is so ideological that no emotional bonding is encouraged. Rather an open exchange of dialogue is a recognized norm for the organization as well as political survival at all levels.

Party leaders hosted a lunch across the street in one of the busiest local restaurant of the city.

After the lunch CALD ExeCom meeting was held in the headquarters of DPHK.
Meeting was moderated by Dr Neric Acosta.

The highlight of the meeting was transfer of CALD chairmanship to the next member party. Right now chair is with Singapore Democratic Party and as per rotation next candidate was Liberal Party of Sri Lanka. As per agenda of the meeting ,the hand-over ceremony was supposed to have taken place. However, Singapore requested the members to extend the chairmanship to it for another one year.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka was not agreeing to withdraw its turn of holding the chair of CALD for next year .There was an open discussion on this issue .

After a long discussion, it was decided to postpone the matter till General Body meeting, expected to be held in third week of November either in Manila or in Singapore.

While proposing resolution, Mr Irfan asked for inviting Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh to join CALD in order to strengthen the South Asian / SAARC countries presence on such an international platform .

Mr Irfan also raised the issue of Gojra in perspective of LFP’s stance of advocating tolerance, pluralism and secularism in Pakistan. He added that blasphemy law must be reviewed.

Outcomes
After this trip, Mr Irfan Urfi made the following observations and conclusions.

Only a free trade economy (across the border) can open the minds and ways of prosperity of a common citizen in the region.

Individual freedom, without social responsibility, is not useful. Individual freedom with a sense of social responsibility can empower the citizens at grass root level and these traits can never be merged in a true spirit unless a plural and secular mind set among individuals is flourished.
Liberalism is an attitude, an outlook to see the world and society that is only possible if emotionalism is eliminated from the psyche of the citizens. I would like to use the word emotionalism instead of extremism or fundamentalism, because to me understanding is always beyond judgment and how can one understand the root cause of a problem if she/he is emotional and sentimental about it.

Liberalism is a lifestyle and not a revolution. It is a gradual process towards a more civilized human society. Either you are liberal or you are not .There is no grey area in between. But even than doors of capacity building of the citizens can always be knocked to give them a wake up call.

LFP Attends the 15th CALD Anniversary Conference in Bangkok

The CALD (Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats) celebrated its 15th anniversary by holding a conference, at the historic Chulalongkorn University on March 28, 2009, in Bangkok. It was attended by members of CALD, including the LFP Chairman; and members of parliament and party officials from member parties, individual members, and international and regional partners. With the theme “Liberal Responses to the Global Economic Crisis”, the conference aimed to create a dialogue between policy makers and economists that focus on the policy responses needed today and to develop ideas of what a liberal policy response could look like – both in government and in opposition. This event was hosted by the Democrat Party (DP) Thailand and supported the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF).

In the welcome remarks, members of the convening organizations gave their brief insight and expectations on the conference. Dr. Rainer Adam, FNF regional director for East and Southeast Asia, said “We believe that liberals have to work together from across the globe to preserve and strengthen what we have achieved -- the idea of universality of basic human rights, the belief in participatory democracy…and an open world market that enriches us all through trade and investment.” H.E. Kasit Piromya, minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, said that “...with determination and with liberal ideas and responses, we could contribute to the world at large and make liberal democracy to blossom fully.”

Through a video telecast, Dr. Chee Soon Juan, chair of CALD and secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party, conveyed his anniversary message to CALD and shared his thoughts on the theme of the conference. “…As we tackle the questions of stimulus packages and financial reforms in this conference, let us not forget the political impact of a crisis. In Asia, there are still a number of countries that use the argument of economic development as a shield against political progress…Asian liberals and democrats must be attuned, sensitized even, to signals of political restlessness. Such an approach is even more essential now that democratic governments are mired in their own economic concerns…Every crisis brings forth opportunities -- opportunities to advance democracy in this region that we cannot afford to miss”, Dr. Chee said.

The conference proper was formally opened by H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, prime minister of Thailand. In his keynote address, PM Abhisit laid down the priorities of the current Thai government to bring Thailand into normalcy after months of political instability and social struggle. He noted that the hosting of the ASEAN Summit and the effort to push for a number of significant measures and policies in parliament is a testimony to the fact that Thailand is back in business, functioning and swiftly moving to respond to the global financial crisis. He underscored that “For many of (us), we are on familiar turf where our societies continue to find that right balance between how to make sure the market economy and democracy continue to function when there is instability both in the economic and political realms. And how we could continue to apply the very ideology that we all believe in which is the right and freedom of people to choose.”

Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, former president of Indonesia, was accepted as CALD’s third individual member. Gus Dur, as he is more popularly known in Indonesia, was also presented with a plaque recognizing his lifetime achievement in the service of his country and people and for his exemplary and selfless leadership embodying the highest ideals of liberty and the promotion of democracy and human rights in Asia and beyond.

The conference focused on three sessions with Session I tackling stimulus packages in Asia. This session examined the structure of proposed stimulus packages in Asia and whether these packages were appropriate to the quality of governance in their respective countries.

Session II explored ways to forge a balance and reconcile the political need for action with maintaining economically sound policies. Members of this panel discussed the challenges of the government vis-à-vis the pressure of providing populist projects and the wiser decision of sustaining investments and enhancing productivity in the long run.

The members of Session III shared their views towards the challenges held by governments and political parties in responding effectively to the difficulties of people’s daily living amidst the crisis. In the discussion of stimulus and financial reforms, the impact of the crisis on the people is often neglected. The speakers provided insight that would help liberals face the challenges of allowing democracy to secure the trust of the people in democratic processes.

The conference, in the end, provided an overview of how liberals should view the challenges posed by the current global financial crisis and how CALD, as an alliance of liberal and democratic political parties, should play the role of providing sound alternative policies and responses.

The secretary general of CALD, said “This conference has been a timely meeting of minds to grapple with general pressing economic and social issues that confront our parties and countries, and to offer creative solutions to problems.”

On March 28, 2009, after a full day of sessions discussing the liberal responses to the global economic crisis, CALD concluded its anniversary celebration in a dinner reception held at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The festivity started with members and partners conveying their best wishes and toasting the continued success of the CALD, the sole alliance of liberal and democratic parties in Asia and the first regional organization of political parties.

The secretariat presented the CALD 15th anniversary multimedia prepared especially for the dinner event. The video production traces the path where CALD started and shows how it grew from a small group of like-minded liberals seeking an Asian agenda to a well-established organization providing a venue for the promotion of democracy and liberal principles. The video also includes a collection of interviews with liberal friends worldwide gathered to give value and to show CALD’s appreciation to the people who were part of making CALD a success throughout the years.