Issue 118

 

New date for LI's 181st EC: 25 January 2009 in Strasbourg

The Liberal International Executive Committee meeting originally scheduled for mid-December 2008 will now take place on 25 January 2009 in Strasbourg, France. In cooperation with LI's full member the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (ALDE-PACE), participants of the 181st Executive Committee meeting are invited to join one-day Conference on “The impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Democracy and Human Rights”. The event will involve two panels debating the roots of the ongoing global economic crisis and recession, as well as the implications of the financial turmoil for the protection of human rights. The Human Rights Committee will discuss how democracy can be safeguarded in times of economic recession. With the European Court for Human Rights in its framework, the Council of Europe is known as one the leading intergovernmental institutions in the world for the protection of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Please click here for the registration form, the conference provisional program as well for regular updates on the 181st Executive Committee meeting.

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LI Patron Helen Suzman dies at 91

Helen Suzman, Liberal International Patron and laureate of 2002 LI's Prize for Freedom, died on 01 January 2009. Mrs Suzman, was a courageous champion of human rights, who in the dark days of apartheid did more than any other person to keep liberal values alive in South Africa. During her 36 years in parliament she was a politician and tenacious fighter for the causes in which she believed. She had a straightforward political creed: hate bullies. “I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity, and human rights. These are the indispensable elements in a democratic society and are well worth fighting for” she had stated previously at an Liberal International event. In a letter of condolence to her family and the party she was member of, LI's full member Democratic Alliance, LI President Lord Alderdice wrote: “Mrs. Suzman will be deeply missed by liberals around the world, who are forever indebted to her contributions to furthering liberalism not only in South Africa and the African continent, but around the world.”

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Graham Watson announces bid to the European Parliament Presidency

ALDE Group Leader and LI Vice President Graham Watson launched on 6 January his campaign for the presidency of the European Parliament following the June 2009 elections. Commenting on the future of the Parliament under his administration, Mr. Watson said: 'For too long, Presidents of Parliament have been chosen through backroom deals in smoke-filled rooms. Mine will be the first ever public campaign for the presidency: in this I hope that I will set a precedent…We need a proper debate about the role and priorities of the next President. This is what European democracy should be about.' Graham Watson has had a long and distinguished career in liberal politics. For over two decades he has been actively involved in the work of Liberal International. Among many positions, he previously served as the Secretary General of the International Federation of Liberal Youth, council member of the Party of European Liberals and Democrats and as the head of the private office of former Liberal leader in the UK, and LI President, David, Lord Steel.

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Democrat Party forms new Thai government

Thailand's new government was sworn in on 22 December amid promises to work on building reconciliation and reviving the economy. The newly-elected Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Democrat Party of Thailand (DP), an LI member party, has promised to bring back unity and harmony and to restore peace, stability and people's confidence in the country. The outspoken democrat Ambassador Kasit Piromya was appointed to the post of Foreign Minister. Mr. Kasit emphasised the party's commitment to working with ASEAN members in ensuring the protection of human rights. He also revealed the party's new foreign policy approach. “We are a democratic society, an open society, and our foreign policy should reflect this”, he said. At a massively attended press conference following a successful LI-FNF Conference on Safeguarding Democracy, held in the DP headquarters in Bangkok last December, Liberal International Deputy President Hans van Baalen expressed LI's support to the new democratic government. “We trust the Democrat Party to lead a clean new government of Thailand. Liberal International is here to express its clear support to the Democrat Party and to the Thai people.” 

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MR and OPEN VLD to ensure Belgian fiscal stability

Belgium has its third new government in 12 months after the worsening global economy and the collapse of Fortisbank led to the dissolution of parliament in December 2008. According to Dider Reynders (from LI full member Mouvement Reformateur) “le MR, la famille libérale, avec l'Open VLD, qui reste la première du pays, fera tout pour aller jusqu'au bout de la legislature.” Combined LI full members the Open VLD and Mouvement Reformateur hold 41 seats in the Belgian parliament. Speaking of the global financial crisis and its particular ramifications in Belgium, Mr. Reynders (who served as Deputy Prime Minister and continues to serve as Finance Minister) said : “On pouvait le faire immédiatement, nous étions prêts pour la gestion de la crise, pour mettre en place le plan de relance, mais nous avons vécu quinze jours de psychodrame au sein de la famille sociale-chrétienne flamande, on a dû attendre qu'il sorte de sa crise interne, s'il en est sorti.." Fortisbank, a large Belgian bank that provoked the government crisis, has been under government control for over a month. 

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Singapore democrat jailed immediately after LI Bangkok conference

John Tan, Assistant Secretary-General of the Singapore Democrat Party (SDP) and one the participants of the LI-FNF Conference in Bangkok last December, served 15 days in jail for contempt of court instantly after attending the conference. Mr. Tan was convicted with two other activists for wearing a t-shirt featuring a picture of a kangaroo on a judge's gown outside the Supreme Court, during the defamation hearing between SDP and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Despite claiming that his intention was merely to express hope for the independence of justice, he was found guilty and sentenced. Mr Tan noted that the court ruling confirmed what the t-shirt is trying to express. “There is no democracy, no freedom, no respect for human rights in Singapore. We have to unveil the nakedness of the authoritarian regime currently disguised as a modern democracy.” Following an email that was sent by a 'Collin Lim', James Cook University (JCU) has suspended Mr Tan from his position as a lecturer. He was released on 30 December and stays vocal in fighting for greater freedom in Singapore.

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CALD launches new website

Seeking to expand their footprint in the digital world and engage even more with their members, partners and the vast liberal family worldwide, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) has launched its new and revitalized website (www.cald.org). This fresh and dynamic site includes information, photos and videos of their activities as well as news regarding its members and the growing liberal community in Asia and beyond. CALD has also established a presence on Facebook through the CALD group account, which will offer updates on their activities as well as current affairs on a daily-basis. “We will continue to seek out and tap into the wealth of possibilities and technologies available to us to build and expand the networks of freedoms, the nodes from and through which we connect to each other as liberals — from Burma to Bangkok, from Singapore to Siem Reap, from the Kaohsiung to Kuala Lumpur, from Manila to Mae Sot” they wrote on the webpage.

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Liberal International welcomes new researchers

In preparation for the upcoming LI's Executive Committee Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, the secretariat welcomes two new researchers to the office. Minna Kovanen, from Finland, has a Masters degree in German (combined with English, International Organizations and American Politics) and has also studied in Germany and the USA. Given her deep interest in international politics and human rights, Minna is looking forward to gaining more experience throughout her internship. “Having studied International Organizations as a minor subject and taken courses in international relations in the US, I expect to learn a lot about how an international organization works. I am confident it will be a great learning experience”. Gaia Arzilli is finishing her BA in International Politics at University of East London and has previously volunteered in the UK and Ecuador. Originally from Italy, Gaya is thrilled at the opportunity to work at LI. “It is my first real opportunity to work closely with a professional team and I m looking forward to the wonderful experience that this workplace can bring.” The Liberal International secretariat warmly welcomes them to the team.

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