Issue 126

 

Lord Alderdice encourages newly elected Bangladeshi Jatiyo Sangsad to work constructively together

Addressing a large gathering of newly elected parliamentarians of the 9th Bangladeshi Parliament in Dhaka, LI President and former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Parliament, Lord Alderdice, encouraged the landslide majority Government of Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, to work constructively with the Opposition, even though their massive majority does not require it in strictly numerical terms.  Speaking to a crowded meeting of MPs, where he was giving the closing key-note speech of the NDI organized post-election orientation programme, Lord Alderdice also appealed to the Opposition to do all possible to make the parliament work, because, he said ' [P]arliaments are not just talking shops, they are in a very real way the alternative to and bulwark against violence in the community.' At the very time he was speaking there was a mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (the BDR are the country's border guards), in which many officers and others were killed.  

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LI Patron Simone Veil awarded LiD Prize for Freedom by Women’s Group

On 24 February, LI patron Simone Veil was awarded the 2009 Prize for Freedom by the Women's Group of LI full member Llibertat i Democràcia from Catalonia for her “capacity for compassion” and “particular sensitivity” for suffering. Mrs Veil served as the first female cabinet minister in the French government (1974-1979) and the first President of the European Union (1979-1982), elected by universal suffrage. Minister Juli Minoves from Andorra, LI Vice-President on the Bureau, who was present at the event, stated that 'Simone Veil's courage against adversity and barbarism in World War II, her task as a woman magistrate, her hard work as a minister and as president of the European parliament and her commitment to gender equality are examples of a life dedicated to furthering liberal ideas and ideals throughout the European continent. She is a towering figure in Europe and the world and the latest prize she has received is but a small token of gratitude for being a pioneer in furthering women's rights and an inspiration for generations of men and women.'

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LI Patron Lord Steel tours Africa

Lord Steel, former LI President and Patron of LI, has just completed a five-week trip to Africa, which he used to strengthen contacts with LI members throughout the continent. In Dakar, he hosted a meeting with prominent members of LI full member from Senegal, the Senegalese Democratic Party (SPD), headed by Lamine Ba, LI Bureau Member and President of the Africa Liberal Network. In Cape Town, members of LI's full member in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (DA), organized an event in Lord Steel's honour, at which LI patron Colin Eglin was also present. The reunion in South Africa preceded last week's announcement of DA that the party leader, Helen Zille, is nominated as its candidate for Western Cape Premier in the April elections. In Dar-es-Salaam, Lord Steel met the leader and the Secretary General of LI full member Civic United Front (CUF) from Tanzania, Professor Ibrahim Lipumba and Ismael Jussa. The efforts of Lord Steel were followed up by LI President Lord Alderdice and Secretary General Emil Kirjas, who visited Africa last week and met with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as well as with the new [liberal] deputy Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe, Moses Mzila-Ndlovu.

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LI Human Rights Committee leadership in Geneva

Gordon Lishman and Andy Sundberg, the new Chair and Deputy Chair of the Liberal International Human Rights Committee (who took office in January 2009), were in Geneva last week to attend meetings related to the NGO work within the UN. During their visit to the UN Palais des Nations they talked to lawyers specializing in the development and promotion of human rights, including a representative of the Legal Affairs Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross. Mr Lishman also met key contacts in the World Health Organisation. On 16 February, Mr Sundberg attended the UN Human Rights Council 10th special session on the “Impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis on the Universal Realization and Effective Enjoyment of Human Rights” in Geneva. The leadership of the LI Human Rights Committee is looking forward to their “close collaboration and to new initiatives to bring together liberal parties on the key issue of human rights”, said LI HRC Chairman Gordon Lishman.

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Millions of new Moroccan voters register ahead of local elections

Ahead of the country's local elections on 12 June, Morocco has launched an initiative to update its voter list, resulting in the registration of 1.5 million new voters, bringing the total number to around 14 million. The Ministry of the Interior said that the number of newly registered voters exceeded any numbers previously recorded. Representatives of Morocco's political parties welcomed the government's efforts to set up a registration campaign, but said that the number of newly registered voters still fell short of their expectations. Mohand Laenser, former Vice-President on the LI Bureau and Secretary General of LI full member Mouvement Populaire, said that 'while there were a number of positive aspects about the exercise, some people who meet the required criteria have not yet been registered, and there are many of them.' The most recent general elections in Morocco, held on 7 September 2007, were marked by a record low turnout of only 37%.

 

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ASEAN Parliamentarians form caucus on Rights and Free Expression

Gathering in in Cha-am, Thailand, last week, parliamentarians from the different member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) initiated an ASEAN Legislative Caucus on Rights and Free Expression, to push for a meaningful realisation of the ASEAN Charter's commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. Among the six initiators were four legislators from LI member parties in Southeast Asia — Francis Pangilinan from the Liberal Party of the Philippines, Yim Sovann from the Sam Rainsy Party of Cambodia, as well as Burabaj Smutharaks and Kraisak Choonhaven from the Democrat Party of Thailand. They called on ASEAN governments to uphold the rights of the people of ASEAN. “We commit ourselves to actively push for the full realisation of the spirit of the ASEAN Charter, as well as the establishment of an effective and responsive ASEAN Human Rights Body. We invite our colleagues in the region to join us in this movement that will help defend, enshrine, promote, and strengthen human rights, press freedom, and free expression in the ASEAN community.” For the full statement, click here. 

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Exclusive party system focus of Italian Radical's Congress

Under the slogan 'From Resistance to the Liberation of the Italian Exclusive Party System', LI member Radicali Italiani organized its 7th Congress in Tuscany, Italy, last weekend. Party leader Marco Pannella urged that Italy 'is in need of a change after sixty years of an exclusive party system. [It needs] to look for an open party that is inclusive, not exclusive.' Mr Pannella said that the Italian Radical Party must be ready to peacefully 'fight' the corruption surrounding the Italian government, and emphasized that 'a change is needed, as it was needed after twenty years of fascism, it is needed now after 60 years of an exclusive party system.' The Italian Radical Party considers the political and democratic situation in Italy 'not normal', and one of its objectives, raised at the Congress, is to 'liberate Italy from the exclusive and non-democratic regime.' Furthermore, Mr Pannella highlighted the fact that if the media provided alternative parties, such as Radicali Italiani, with more coverage, they would have a greater number of supporters. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi owns three of the six major TV channels in Italy.

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IFLRY debates and prepares campaign on LGBTQ rights

Young liberals convened in Strasbourg, France, for an IFLRY (LI full member) seminar on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) rights last week. Evaluating the week-long discussions, IFLRY Vice-President Jelena Spasovic was satisfied as the 'study session provided essential input from young liberals from around the world'. As follow-up of the seminar, in the next few months, IFLRY will be launching a new campaign on the promotion of LGBTQ rights. 'As liberals, we should strive to help people from countries where there are problems when it comes to recognition of LGBTQ rights and support them in fight for equal rights for everyone', said Ms Spasovic. IFLRY defines itself as an organization striving “for a free and tolerant society without any form of discrimination.” LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas spoke on the international, liberal perspective of LGBTQ rights at the event: 'LI has always been vigorously fighting against any kind of discrimination, including sexual orientation. At the Belfast Congress, LI adopted clear policies on LGBT rights, which we work on implementing in close cooperation with our member parties'.

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Vancouver LI Executive in conjunction with LPC Convention

The upcoming LI Executive Committee meeting in Vancouver, Canada, scheduled for 1-3 May, 2009 will be integrated into the biennial Convention of LI full member the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC). During his recent visit to Ottawa, LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas was welcomed by LPC President Doug Ferguson and LPC National Director Rocco Rossi at the party headquarters to finalize the political agenda of the events. LI delegates will have the unique opportunity to join various caucus meetings, and to fully engage in policy debates on issues related to the essence of liberalism, the financial crisis, international security and human rights. Opportunities for an in depth understanding of Canadian liberalism as well as an address by LPC leader Michael Ignatieff will welcome LI delegates. 'We are glad that we are going to add an international dimension to our Convention; an event which will provide over 3000 liberal delegates from across Canada the chance to develop a genuine liberal platform that will bring the LPC back into government after the next elections', said LPC President Doug Ferguson. The registration process for the LI Executive Committee will start tomorrow. For more information, please check the LI website.

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