CALD Projects

CALD PROJECTS 2023

CALD Thailand Election Observation Mission & 47 th CALD Executive Committee Meeting

In May, for the frst time, CALD organized an election observation mission in Thailand. The mission aimed to learn from the country’s experience in administering elections, as well as to witness frsthand one of the most crucial polls yet in the country’s postwar history.

5th CALD Youth Political Academy

With the support of the Liberal Youth of the Philippines, the ffth installment of CYPA focused on strategic communications and digital democracy. Held in midJune, it also brought together previous and new participants to help ensure the continuity and expansion of the network.

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop Jakarta

Hosted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), this Smart Mobility workshop had the theme “Building Networks and Fostering Smart Mobility Solutions in Local Governments in Asia.” The workshop, held in July, aimed to discuss avenues in building sustainable and people-centric transport systems and the emerging technologies that can help the public sector deliver social, environmental, and economic outcomes to communities.

CALD Leaders’ Meeting

With the theme, “CALD @ 30: Toward the Next Phase,” this leaders’ meeting on 23 August looked at CALD’s past achievements, assessed its current standing, and set its future directions so that the organization can remain true to its commitment to advancing a society based on personal liberty and responsibility, social justice, the rule of law, and free market economy.

CALD 30 th Anniversary Events

Taiwan’s democratic credentials made it natural for CALD to choose its capital Taipei as the venue for the Council’s 30th Anniversary Events that lasted for several days in early September. Taiwan also happened to be where preparatory meetings that led to CALD’s founding took place three decades ago. Hosted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan, these 30th Anniversary Events had the theme “The Future of Democracy in Asia,” as CALD deemed it appropriate to have a platform where liberals and democrats could come together to understand the causes of democratic recession, learn best practices on how to address them, and build democratic networks to counter authoritarian populists.

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop Bohol

Panglao was the frst stop for the CALD Smart Mobility Project’s aim to extend technical assistance in developing smart-mobility plans to local governments. With the theme “Transforming Smart Mobility Ideas into Local Government Solutions,” CALD, in cooperation with AltMobility PH, convened in mid-October the local ofcials and stakeholders to discuss ways to improve the coastal Philippine resort town’s tourism and transportation system through smart mobility planning.

8 th CALD Party Management Workshop

Before October ended, CALD organized its 8th CALD Party Management Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, a choice that holds signifcance as the very frst such workshop conducted by CALD was in Indonesia in 2007. With the theme “From Opposition to Ruling Party: Best Practices in Party Management,” CALD members got to learn from PDI-P’s story, including how the party was able to manage the transition from being an opposition party to becoming the most successful governing party in post-Soeharto Indonesia.

Given Timor-Leste’s status as the most democratic country in Southeast Asia, CALD deemed it important to include representation from the country in its roster of member parties. But the CALD executive mission to Timor-Leste in July was not only explore the possibility of inviting major political parties to become CALD members, it also aimed to gain insights from the young nation’s impressive democratic development and facilitate knowledge exchange with key political leaders.

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop San Mateo

The CALD Smart Mobility Workshop’s fnal stop for 2023 was San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines, a town right next to Metro Manila’s Quezon City. Together with AltMobility PH, CALD in November provided technical advice and aided the municipality of San Mateo in identifying the appropriate and concrete steps in building mobility plans.

CALD Executive Mission to East Timor

CALD Thailand Election Observation Mission & 47th CALD Executive Committee Meeting

It was described as “generation-defining” election. In a number of ways, it was—and CALD was there to witness it.

Thailand’s 14 May general election saw a record turnout exceeding 75 percent or around 39 million people. Of the registered voters, around 14.7 percent or 7.7 million people belong to the so-called Generation Z, or those who are 18 to 26 years old. More importantly, among these Gen Z voters, around 90 percent had expected to see change due to their political engagement.

“May 14 is indeed a momentous occasion for the Thai people as these elections can determine the direction of this country – whether it would be trapped in the past or would look forward to the future,” CALD Secretary General Francis Gerald Abaya who was part of the CALD observer mission in Bangkok, said early on. “Thailand…(and) Malaysia are currently the region’s democratic bright spots, and their success — not only in holding elections but also sustaining reforms – could push the region back on the democratic track.”

Change indeed seemed to be in the horizon when the unofcial election results showed opposition Move

Forward Party (MFP) and the Pheu Thai Party winning 152 and 141 seats, respectively, in the 500-member House of Representatives. But many believed that the battle to bring power back to the people had just started.

It was the frst time that CALD had organized an election observation mission in Thailand. With delegates from Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia, the mission aimed primarily to understand the key actors, issues and problems in the Thai elections, and to learn from the country’s experience in administering the electoral process.

The mission’s frst full day in Thailand focused on disinformation and misinformation, particularly in the context of the Thai elections. The delegates visited the Meta/Facebook ofce in Bangkok, where Clare Amador, country head for public policy (Thailand and the Philippines), discussed the “three-way approach to misinformation”; that is, remove, reduce, and inform. Afterward, the delegates received a briefng from Asia Centre’s Korbkusol Neelapaichi on online disinformation and its impact on electoral integrity in Thailand. Cofact Thailand Co-Founder Supinya Klangnarong also met with the CALD mission to share the fact-checking platform’s initiatives to engage Thai civil society during elections. Radu Magdin, CEO of Smartlink Communications, meanwhile discussed the different ways to ensure smooth communication before and after the elections, stressing that communication is key in countering disinformation and misinformation.

Day One included a briefng as well from former CALD Secretary General and Democrat Party (DP)

candidate Kiat Sittheeamorn, who even treated the delegates to a tour of the party premises. On Day Two, the delegates were off to an early start to observe the DP candidates’ caravan. But the afternoon was devoted to the 47th CALD Executive Committee Meeting, where internal organizational issues were discussed.

The mission’s third and last day was Election Day, which had the delegates putting on another hat as ofcial international election observers. They observed the opening of the polling station, and the vote-casting process both in Bangkok and in nearby Pathum Thani, and then on to the closing of the polling station, as well as the vote counting process. Some delegates were even able to discuss possible post-election outcomes and scenarios representatives of the national research organization King Prajadhipok’s Institute and the Thai media company Workpoint.

Refecting on the mission and the election results, one of the delegates said, “We need to have political parties and candidates who actually listen to what the people want. Change is difcult, but not impossible.”

5th CALD Youth Political Academy

14-17 JUNE | CAVITE, PHILIPPINES

When it comes to digital technology, the youth have always been the primary innovators and users. With digital democracy, who else would be more fit to take the lead but the youth?

And so for the 2023 edition of the CALD Youth Political Academy (CYPA), CALD Youth chose as theme “Youth-centric Leadership in the Age of Digitalization.” Organized in collaboration with the Liberal Youth of the Philippines and with FNF support, the latest CYPA was held in mid-June at the Hotel Casiana in Cavite, Philippines. Acting as moderators were Jiggy Calucag and Jobelle Domingo from the Liberal Youth of the Philippines.

Participants from all over Asia had four days of jampacked sessions aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and effectively engaging in the

digital realm. CYPA 2023 also made it a point to foster both continuity and network expansion by bringing together previous participants and new faces. Said CALD Youth Secretary General Jeremiah Tomas in his opening remarks: “CYPA is not just about workshops and themes. It’s about building connections, embracing the diversity of ideas, challenging assumptions, and growing together.”

Since 2017, CYPA has provided a platform for Asian youth leasers to come together to foster collaboration that will help safeguard liberal and democratic values. Through interactive workshops, lively discussions, and exciting networking activities, CYPA creates an atmosphere where young leaders learn and collaborate while having a great time together. This combination of youth-centric leadership and a fun-flled approach makes CYPA an unforgettable experience for all participants, nurturing lifelong connections and inspiring a new generation of liberal and democratic changemakers.

For the ffth CYPA, the aims included providing a refresher session on liberal democracy; harnessing an open space for CALD Youth political socialization through online civic and political engagement; building stronger bonds among the CALD Youth networks; and identifying the qualities needed of the next CALD Youth ofcials.

Setting the foundation for later activities and lessons were the frst day’s farm tour and a refresher session on liberal democracy. The farm tour, which had no less than CALD Chairperson Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan as guide, allowed participants to experience frsthand the importance of sustainable agriculture, food security, and its implications for socio-political development. The refresher session,

Democracy Program Ofcer Philipp Leynes, focused on liberal democracy’s fundamental principles and values.

In Module 2, Kwankaow Kongdecha of the Ofce of Innovation for Democracy of King Prajadhipok’s Institute in Thailand emphasized the signifcance of civic and political engagement in the digital age. She discussed the importance of the youth’s political participation, which she said allows them to have a voice, infuence decision-making processes, and shape the policies and direction of their society. Kwankaow pointed out, “Liberalism and democracy go hand in hand… Political participation is

Communications, revolved around strategic communication in leadership. By recognizing the pivotal role of effective communication and storytelling in the digital age, participants gained insights into key concepts and techniques to shape public discourse and mobilize support for their causes. This module also tackled how technology can be

In his closing remarks at the event, Pangilinan said that young leaders today can transform and create a brighter society.

“Even if it’s just a ficker, we cannot allow the fre to die out,” he said. “Because that fre—that fame of democracy, that fame of truth, that fame of human rights—must continue to burn. Because one day, that ficker of a fame will become a wildfre. Democracy will spread far and wide – and that’s the challenge

“You are the catalysts for change, for your respective societies,” he continued. “You have the energy, you have the passion, you have the

CALD Youth Chairperson Siripa Intavichein echoed this, saying, “Throughout this workshop, you have witnessed the tremendous potential and energy that resides within each of you. It is this collective power that empowers us to drive positive change in our communities and beyond.”

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop Jakarta

Whether one is a private or public commuter, getting from one place to another in an Asian city or town can be a struggle. CALD has long recognized this, which is why in 2022 it launched the Smart Mobility Project to showcase smart-mobility solutions in Asia and assist local governments in coming up and implementing their own.

The project includes a series of workshops, of which two had already been conducted in 2022. The 2023 series began in Jakarta, arguably among the cities in Southeast Asia with the worst trafc. Held in mid-July and hosted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), with FNF support, the workshop had the theme “Building Networks and Fostering Smart Mobility Solutions.”

A highlight of the event was the signing of the Mobility for All Manifesto, a framework that aims to guide local governments in developing smart mobility plans that: commit to building sustainable cities; call for urgent action to radically reform transportation; and provide people from all walks of life access to high-quality public transportation.

Recognizing that “urban mobility is an essential public good,” local leaders belonging to CALD member-parties signed the manifesto. Among them were Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu, Mayor of Semarang, Indonesia, PDIP; Mochamad Nur Arifn, Mayor of Trenggalek, PDIP; Romtham Khumnurak, Member of Parliament, Democrat Party Thailand (DP); Bartolome ‘Omie’ Rivera Jr., Mayor of San Mateo, Rizal, Liberal Party of the Philippines,; and Dennis Hora, Councilor of Panglao, Bohol, LP. CALD member-party leaders and liberal partners from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore also endorsed the document.

MOBILITY FOR ALL A Manifesto of Local Government Leaders of Asia

Our Duty for the Welfare of All – Building

Sustainable

Cities

We, local government leaders of Asia, are committed to the advancement of our constituent’s welfare and development. We strive to build cities and communities where people can live safely, healthily, and happily, and to achieve this, we recognize the crucial role of mobility. We believe that people are entitled to accessible, inclusive, safe, efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation options in order to enjoy quality and prosperous lives in the city. We therefore declare mobility as an essential public good.

Urgent Action for Mobility for All

We acknowledge that our cities today continue to face challenges stemming from unequal access to mobility; a pressing concern for our constituents as our cities grow and become denser. We also acknowledge that many other social and urban issues are deeply intertwined with mobility. Addressing present mobility gaps will help improve people’s access to vital basic services, employment, and other social opportunities. Consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, we recognize the urgency to radically reform transportation toward building sustainable cities and communities.

Mainstreaming Mobility for All – Our Call to Action

To that end, we believe in building urban and rural mobility systems that put people at the heart of the solution. We commit to making this a reality by taking the following actions:

Mobility as a Right – we declare mobility as a right of each and every individual. We assert that mobility is integral to other policy areas such as climate change, housing, and inclusive economic development.

Environmental Sustainability and Decarbonization – we commit to developing urban and rural mobility systems that move towards lesser use of fossil fuels and overall lower carbon footprints.

Public Transportation as a Backbone of Mobility Services – we shall prioritize public transportation and will allocate the necessary space, resources, and legal and fiscal support to provide quality services for our constituents.

Building Safe and Walkable Residential Neighborhoods – we shall develop vibrant neighborhoods that promote walking, cycling, and other non-motorized modes. As such, we will invest in the requisite infrastructure and amenities towards this end. We will take steps to reduce dependency on private automobiles and motorcycles to improve air quality and reduce traffic fatalities.

Judicious Use of Digital Technology – we shall make the most out of digital technology to improve our mobility systems and make transaction platforms more inclusive while making sure that the user’s right to privacy is never compromised.

Closing Statement

As leaders, we hold ourselves accountable to ensure the implementation of this 5-point action plan into concrete and contextualized policies, programs, and investments within our respective jurisdictions. We are committed to articulating measurable outcomes as a way to make clear our goals and track our progress in delivering our promise of a sustainable and more livable city for our constituents. We commit to ensuring that people are properly consulted and engaged in the process of improving their cities and communities.

We believe progressive cities are ones where people from all walks of life are afforded access to high-quality public transportation and not cars. Only then can we truly achieve Mobility for All.

The workshop included a study visit on 15 July to the Jakarta Smart City Lounge, a co-working space and a CCTV command center for public servants and innovators to work together and meet the needs of the Smart City efforts. Workshop participants made courtesy visits as well to the Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, and the DPP PDI Perjuangan Headquarters.

The workshop proper, however, consisted of two sessions with workshop components that were both held on 14 July. Acting as workshop facilitators were Dr. Harya S. Dillon, transport sector public private partnership (PPP) specialist, and AltMobility PH Ofcer Karlo Abadines.

Session 1 on focused on mobility developments in Indonesia and discussed the experiences of institutions, organizations, and private businesses in providing accessible, effective, equitable, and secure

public transport systems. Session 2 zeroed in on best practices and challenges of local governments, and explored their ideas and plans particularly in tackling urban mobility problems.

Speaking in Session 1, Yoga Adiwinarto, vice president for policy engagement and advocacy of the nonproft Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Indonesia, said that TransJakarta, one of the largest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the world, was a result of strong political will, efciency, and vision of local leaders to attain good public transport. The former TransJakarta operations added, “Integration, infrastructure, and the operational system make TransJakarta seamless and useful.”

At present, TransJakarta operates more than 4,000 buses in 230 routes and 13 corridors, and caters to 192 million passengers annually. Yoga said that by 2030, the government plans to electrify all public transport.

Aditya Brahmana, vice president for Mobility NeXT Products of GoJek, Indonesia’s biggest ride-hailing app, meanwhile shared that GoJek’s goal is to increase public transport ridership by adding commuter-centric features and industry collaborations in digital transactions. In fact, GoJek had already partnered up with public transport operators TransJakarta and KAI Commuter or the Greater Jakarta Commuter Rail in providing unifed online ticket systems. As a result, online transactions on KCI or commuter tickets had grown three times.

Aditya also said, “We want to really help customers to get exposed to public transport as much as possible.”

First, though, “we need to shift our paradigm from prioritizing cars to prioritizing people,” said Gonggomtua E. Sitanggang, interim director of another nonproft, the Institute for Transportation and Development (ITDP) Indonesia. He said that doing so would ensure that public transport is accessible and that inclusivity is mainstreamed in

the public transport system. This in turn would help reduce carbon emissions.

Gonggom stressed that “we should give priority in terms of facility provisions to transport modes based on its energy usage and emissions per passenger… We should give the highest priority on non-motorized transport such as walking, cycling, and followed by mass public transport system, and the last priority should be given to private vehicles.”

Notably, these will be addressed by a fve-point action plan that is part of the manifesto signed at the event. The plan emphasizes: mobility as a right; public transportation as a backbone of mobility services; building safe and walkable residential neighborhoods; judicious use of digital technology; and environmental sustainability and decarbonization.

The local leaders committed to ensure the action plan’s implementation through concrete and contextualized policies, programs, and investments within their respective jurisdictions.

CALD Executive Mission to Timor-Leste

Freedom House had described its democratic institutions as “fragile” and its politics as being dominated by “disputes among leaders from its independence struggle.” But in the global rights monitor’s 2023 “Freedom in the World” report, Timor-Leste was the only Southeast Asian country it rated as “free.”.

Taking note of this and the fact that the country was closer than ever to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, CALD thought it high time to have representation from Timor-Leste in its roster of member-parties.

Mid-July thus found CALD heading for Dili, Timor-Leste’s capital on an executive mission to understand the background, ideology, and policies/ advocacies of major political parties and explore the possibility of inviting them to become CALD members. At the same time, it sought to learn from Timor-Leste’s impressive democratic development, and to exchange views with key political leaders regarding the country’s lingering issues and problems that affect its democratic institutions and processes. In addition, it hoped to discuss with civil society and media representatives current political issues and developments in the country.

Leading the CALD delegation was CALD Chairperson Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, former Philippine Senator and incumbent Chairperson of the Liberal Party of the Philippines. Also part of the mission were CALD Secretary General Francis ‘Blue’ Abaya, former

Member of Parliament; CALD Program Manager Paolo Zamora; and FNF East and Southeast Asia head Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff.

The CALD delegation met with Nobel Peace Laureate and Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta at the Presidential Ofce, and discussed with him political developments in the country, the results of the

parliamentary elections, possible partnerships, and pressing issues that need regional cooperation.

Pangilinan raised the political situation in Myanmar and invited President Horta to join future initiatives of CALD to strengthen regional efforts in helping address the ongoing confict. The Timor-Leste chief executive said that he was closely working with the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, the government-in-exile, and agreed to receive the frst group of 100 refugees – people in agriculture, IT, medicine, education — who would be granted full privileges and freedom to travel in Timor-Leste.

With regards to CALD’s expansion efforts, Horta suggested that the Council engage the Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) and Democratic Party (PD), current coalition partners of the new government.

The delegation was able to establish initial contacts with these two parties when it visited the National Parliament during the plenary hearing of the

government’s national program. CNRT even agreed to set up a meeting online to discuss collaborative next steps.

CALD met as well with Fretilin, the current opposition party, represented by Deputada Lídia Norberta Dos Santos Martins and Deputada Cristina Yuri Rebelo Dos S. Costa. Its discussion with Fretilin was mostly on the party’s role as a fscalizer to make sure priority programs will beneft the people.

Making most of its brief visit to Dili, CALD met with António De Sá Benevides, former Member of Parliament, representing the Party of Unity for Democratic Development (PUDD). Benevides gave CALD an overview of the political party dynamics in parliament and the role of President Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in pushing for economic policies while balancing talks with coalition partners.

During a press briefng at the Presidential Ofce, Pangilinan said the visit to Timor-Leste was inspiring, noting the unwavering aspiration of its people to achieve peace and a more democratic society despite the challenges. He invited political parties to join and work with CALD and use the network not just to talk about local and regional issues, but to fnd common areas for cooperation in strengthening freedom and democracy.

CALD Leaders’ Meeting

Has CALD outlived its usefulness?

This was the key question raised during the one-day CALD Leaders’ Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand in August. With the theme “CALD@30: Toward the Next Phase,” the Meeting aimed to take stock of CALD achievements in the past, assess its current standing, and set its future directions in order for the organization to remain true to its commitment of advancing a society based on personal liberty and responsibility, social justice, the rule of law and social market economy.

More specifcally, the Meeting hoped to: examine the opportunities and constraints that characterize the political, economic, social, and technological environments where CALD operates; assess CALD’s organizational performance in the past and its standing at present in order to reveal its strengths and weaknesses; discuss structural, procedural, and programmatic reforms or changes the organization should undertake in order to maintain and expand

its relevance at present and in the future; identify key areas the organization should concentrate on to continuously advance the cause of liberal democracy and social market economy in Asia and the rest of the world; and come up with a set of concrete recommendations that would be presented to the next CALD Executive Committee Meeting in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Meeting was structured to ensure full participant ownership and management, and the organizers played primarily consultative and facilitative roles. Emil Kirjas, former secretary general of Liberal International and founder of Kirjas Global, facilitated the event.

“Democracy and market capitalism were the unquestionable operating system of global politics and economy in the past,” said CALD Founder Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad at the Meeting. “However, there were serious questions about this system now: What are the alternatives to it, or what are the possible reforms that could be done to address the ills of the system?”

23 AUGUST BANGKOK, THAILAND

Past and present CALD leaders provided their views regarding this question all throughout the Meeting. But there was an agreement that the models represented by China, Russia, Vietnam, and Singapore present themselves as alternatives to the once dominant democratic capitalist system. The CALD leaders also noted that emergence of alternative models was a product of the decline of the United States and Europe, and the resultant changed attitude toward them. Moreover, they were all of the opinion that democracy and market capitalism marginalized a signifcant segment of the population, which in turn made them a target of authoritarian and populist leaders.

After analyzing how the international and regional contexts changed in the past 30 years, the CALD leaders came up with several concrete recommendations on what the network could do as it enters its fourth decade:

Continue to emphasize the importance of liberal and democratic values and principles;

Translate these principles and values to actual policies that are proven to work for the general public, particularly the marginalized;

Adopt a pilot project that showcases these principles and values, with the support of other actors, including the business community;

Consider the election of CALD Chairperson, expansion of CALD membership, and rebranding of CALD;

Hold more issue-based workshops, targeted activities and mentorship programs to project CALD as a training ground for future leaders; and

Ensure that those who participated in CALD programs share what they learned through replication activities.

Work across the board and pursue the unifcation or constructive engagement of democratic forces from various sectors and persuasions;

Identify issues where democratic forces across ideologies can work together such as technology, artifcial intelligence, social media, disinformation, youth empowerment, among others;

Engage more with various actors in Japan and Korea, as well as IGOs, INGOs and the business community;

“Dictators lost, they learned, they come up with new tricks,” observed former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who had also been chairperson of CALD. “The game has changed, and we liberals and democrats have become complacent.”

But he also noted that “liberal and democratic values match the innate human nature… and for this reason, liberal democracy may become vibrant again.”

CALD 30th Anniversary Events

Three decades after the founding of CALD, democracy has been in retreat, both globally and regionally. In Southeast Asia in particular, democratic regression has been accompanied by rising inequality, as evidenced by the subregion’s lack of progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UNESCAP has said that in the Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia is the only subregion with widening inequalities within and between countries.

Yet even in the broader Asian region, the interplay between democratic recession and rising inequalities has put the future of democracy and development on shaky ground. Combined with China’s growing infuence, populism, ethno-nationalism, religious fundamentalism, disinformation, electoral authoritarianism, militarization of politics, and systemic corruption, the prospects for institutionalization and consolidation of liberal democracy in this part of the world appears grim.

Taiwan, however, has been one of Asia’s democratic bright spots, which is why it was the ideal venue for CALD’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Also, CALD had been sanctioned by China for its alleged involvement in “promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges.” That CALD’s Anniversary Events took place in Taipei therefore represented a signifcant milestone in the network’s unwavering efforts to strengthen democracy,

preserve peace in Asia. At the same time, it embodied the spirit of cooperation and determination that unites nations in their quest for a freer and more democratic future, even in the face of threats and intimidation.

No anniversary commemoration would probably be complete without a grand party, of course. But CALD also marked its 30th year with a series of forums, with the crown jewel being the Public Conference on “The Future of Democracy in Asia” held on 9 September.

The conference kicked off with opening remarks from CALD Chairperson Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, Liberal International Vice President Henrik Bach Mortensen, FNF Southeast and East Asia Ofce Regional Director

MEP and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Co-President Ilhan Khuckyuk. Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-Te delivered the keynote address.

The morning’s highlight was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Current State and Future of Democracy in Asia by CALD leaders and partners. Among other things, the declaration had CALD and its partners reiterating their “unwavering commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law as fundamental to achieving peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacifc region.” They also declared their “dedication to advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law through collaborative efforts among like-minded parties,” and “recommitted to strengthening

Joint Statement on the Current State and Future of Democracy in Asia

We, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and its partners, on the occasion of CALD 30th Anniversary Events in Taipei, Taiwan on 6-11 September 2023;

Acknowledging that CALD has evolved from its humble beginnings in the 1990s to becoming the region’s foremost political party network today;

Emphasizing that for the past thirty years, CALD has been committed to advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law for all people of Asia, with the understanding that these are universal values that transcend borders and cultures;

Aware that democratic norms face growing challenges from authoritarianism, illiberalism, and populism, with this being the root cause behind increased instability and geopolitical tension in Asia;

Underscoring that Taiwan’s resilience in upholding democratic principles, even in the face of external challenges, serves as an inspiration to countries around the world and is crucial to maintaining peace and stability in the region; and

Recognizing that as a community of like-minded parties, CALD will continue to support the people of Taiwan in their ongoing efforts to preserve regional peace and stability, while upholding their democracy, freedom, and way of life.

Do hereby:

1. Reiterate our unwavering commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law as fundamental to achieving peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacifc region;

2. Pledge to stand with the people of Taiwan against all challenges and threats on their freedom, democratic way of life and human rights;

3. Highlight peace as being in the common interest and objective of all people across Asia, and support the people of Taiwan in their ongoing efforts to preserve the cross-strait status quo;

Red Liberal de America Latina

PEDRO URRUCHURTU

International Federation of the Liberal Youth

YEVHENIIA FEDOTOVA

Liberal International

WILLIAM TOWNSEND

Incoming Chairperson

MARDI SENG

Friedrich Naumann Foundation

MORITZ KLEINE-BROCKHOFF

Chairperson Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

FRANCIS PANGILINAN

Chairperson

Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan

LAI CHING-TE

International Network of Liberal Women

JAYANTHI DEVI BALAGURU

The conference then went on to have a high-panel discussion on factors contributing to the erosion of democratic freedoms in Asia, as well as the conditions that still prove conducive for democratic governance. The afternoon of the conference meanwhile featured a freside chat on leadership qualities that are needed to respond to the rise of authoritarians, populists, and illiberal. Capping all these was a gala dinner that included the launch of CALD’s 30th anniversary book.

Bookending the conference, though, were workshops and forums aimed at stimulating discussions on what can be done to keep democracy from fagging in Asia.

The 2nd Asian Women/Youth Education for Transformative Leadership, for instance, was held on 7 and 8 September. The workshop was designed to lay the foundational knowledge, transformative attitude, and critical skills deemed strategic for strengthening leadership among the members of the CALD Women’s Caucus and CALD Youth. It also

On 10 September was the hybrid

The CALD Chair-Party Handover from the Liberal Party of the Philippines to the Candlelight Party of Cambodia was also conducted on 10 September during a special luncheon. The day included a democracy tour of Taipei in

CALD was indeed busy during its time in Taipei in September. But all the activities it put together with its partners and friends could perhaps be summarized in the same way that Taiwan Vice President Lai described the CALD conference in his keynote speech: “This conference proves that we can stand together with purpose and agency. More broadly, we can work together as societies and countries that are bound by shared values and interests.”

“This is our greatest strength,” Lai said, “and it is also the reason democracies will prevail.”

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop Bohol

12-15 OCTOBER PANGLAO, BOHOL PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES

CALD always puts its words into action, and even the groundbreaking Mobility for All Manifesto would not be any different.

One of its October trips had CALD off to Panglao, a resort town in the central Philippine province of Bohol, as part of its activities to address and aid local governments in developing smart-mobility plans. Resisting the allure of nature in the coastal town, CALD held a two-day workshop using the vision of the Manifesto as guide to help local ofcials craft plans to reform transformation in Panglao and provide high-quality public transportation to residents and visitors alike.

Organized with FNF support and in partnership with the people-centered transport advocacy group AltMobility PH, the workshop took as theme “Transforming Smart Mobility Ideas into Local Government Solutions.” Councilor Dennis Hora of the Liberal Party of the Philippines helped CALD convene local ofcials and stakeholders for the workshop.

The frst order of business included site visits and sectoral consultations to observe the state of transportation in the locality and to identify “hot spots” or areas where transportation issues were most present. Vice Mayor Noel Hormachuelos pointed out, “Despite the fact that tourism is the primary driver of our economy, we cannot draw in more visitors if our transportation system is inefcient, inconvenient, or ineffective.”

Before the pandemic struck, Panglao was already attracting more than a million visitors a year. That fgure declined signifcantly during the lockdowns, but by 2022, the number of annual visitors was already more than half a million, and climbing.

Hormachuelos attributed this to Panglao’s “stunning beaches, an incredible marine biodiversity, exquisite corals and sea life, and hard-to-discover schools of tropical fsh.” Transport specialist Sarah Arrojado observed, though, “Panglao has the potential to further boost its economy by enabling better access to places of interest and attracting more tourists through improving its transport system.”

Indeed, the community consultations that the workshop participants conducted on the frst day of the workshop yielded key concerns such as the lack of regular and reliable public transport; lack of designated stops for public transport; lack of pedestrian infrastructure; lack of a comprehensive transportation network plan; poor knowledge of public transport drivers of trafc laws, rules, and regulations; and inconvenient and unroadworthy public-utility vehicles.

The participants discussed all these during the workshop proper. Later, through the input and guidance of experts on public transportation, active transportation, as well as local government and policy for

“As a start, making walking and cycling easier can already unlock several economic, health, and environmental benefts for everyone, whether you’re a local or a tourist,” Arrojado also said. “Integrating these in the long run to achieve an intermodal transport system can transform Panglao into a world-class destination that will set it apart from other tourist spots in the country.”

In her presentation on the ideal public-transport system during the workshop’s Day Two, Arrojado emphasized reliability, safety, accessibility, affordability, as well as convenience and comfort – all of which could help increase access to goods and services and therefore stimulate economic growth.

The workshop was part of the CALD Smart Mobility Project that serves as a platform for local governments to push for urban and rural mobility systems that put people at the heart of the solution. Apart from the municipality of Panglao, the Philippine municipality of San Mateo, Rizal was also on the CALD list of smart-mobility workshops for local governments, along with those in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

“What transpired here in Panglao in the past two days is crucial,” CALD Secretary General Francis ‘Blue’ Abaya said in his closing message at the workshop. “It’s an important milestone in our Smart Mobility Project, which we launched last year, to push for opportunities to consolidate ideas and efforts in providing inclusive, safe, efcient, equitable, accessible, and sustainable transportation for the people.”

He added, “This event, I hope, is a frst of many discussions to come to further develop mobility plans and to sustain the exchange of ideas on new and revolutionary approaches to transportation.”

8th CALD Party Management Workshop

A party management workshop that was one for the books – made possible by a political party whose management practices deserve to be turned into a book.

This, in essence, is how the 8th CALD Party Management Workshop hosted by Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDI-Perjuangan) can be best described. Held on 27-30 October in Jakarta, Indonesia, the event became one of the most instructive and enjoyable workshops that CALD has had the pleasure of co-organizing.

The event would not have been possible without the impeccable support and assistance extended by PDI-Perjuangan, which ensured that workshop participants were well taken care of — from the time they arrived in Jakarta until their departure from the Indonesian capital. PDI-Perjuangan also ensured that the program was substantive in terms of highlighting best practices in party management based on its experiences, and looking at whether these could be replicated by political parties in other countries.

members. In particular, CALD thought that it would be instructive to know how the party was able to manage the transition from being an opposition party to becoming the most successful governing party in post-Soeharto Indonesia.

“Imagination is more powerful than knowledge,” said PDI-Perjuangan Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto, while explaining how the party handled the transition. Indeed, the imagination of PDI-Perjuangan ofcials led them to introduce a foating hospital that now provides medical services to communities of Indonesia’s remote islands. But PDI-Perjuangan also made it a point to tap the talents at the grassroots. It constructed a total of 127 party ofces all over the country that have become centers for grassroots democracy and cultural engagement.

Pak Hasto stressed as well the importance PDIPerjuangan places on educating its cadres. The party even has a dedicated party school where, Pak Hasto said, party cadres “are trained to become future leaders and public servants in accordance with the party’s ideology.”

As a result of its efforts and innovations, PDI-Perjuangan has received several awards, including the top award given by Indonesia’s Central Information Commission (KIP). Testaments to how well-managed the party is in terms of administration and human resources have also come in the form of ISO Certifcates 55001 in 2014 and 9001 in 2015 — making PDI-Perjuangan the only party in the Asia Pacifc to receive such distinction.

But the party’s most signifcant achievement so far is its contribution to the fourishing of Indonesian democracy.

“This journey of Indonesia to becoming one of the world’s most outstanding democratic success

stories would not have been possible without the PDI-Perjuangan,” said CALD Secretary General Francis Abaya. And while he acknowledged that, like all parties in power, PDI-Perjuangan has been at the receiving end of criticisms, Abaya said that such are part and parcel of governance. After all, Abaya said, “winning is easy, governing is harder.”

The workshop proper also had a number of leaders and experts from both PDI-Perjuangan and the broader CALD network sharing their experiences and knowledge with the participants.

Ganjar Pranowo, PDI-Perjuangan presidential candidate and former Central Java governor, highlighted the role of Pancasila not only as Indonesia’s national ideology and as a way of life, but also as the party’s compass.

CALD had decided on Jakarta as the venue for the workshop after noting that PDI-Perjuangan has had a wealth of experience — both as an opposition and governing party — which could be useful to other CALD

Pancasila consists of fve principles: belief in one God; just and civilized humanity; unity; democracy; and social justice.

“The party’s strategy has always been rooted in our national ideology,” Pak Ganjar said, “regardless of whether we are in opposition or government.” He said that this was the reason that in the then upcoming presidential campaign, PDI-Perjuangan pledged not to use identity politics, group-based politics, black propaganda, and radical separatism.

Apart from its commitment to Pancasila, PDIPerjuangan is also known for its capability to turn crisis into an opportunity. According Bonnie Triyana, historian and PDI-Perjuangan candidate, the party used the years when it was in opposition to

reorganize and consolidate. It did this by organizing a task force to evaluate the party’s electoral performance, recruiting intellectuals, forging relations between old and young party members, training party leaders, among others.

One of these leaders is Mochamad Nur Arifn, currently bupati (mayor) of Trenggalek in southern Java. At the workshop, Pak Mochamad tackled the role of afliated party organizations, particularly those coming from different sectors like youth and women, as well as those set up for specifc purposes such as responding to natural disasters. He also discussed how he incorporated Pancasila and processes like gotong royong (mutual assistance) in his governance style.

PDI-Perjuangan’s success in the last two general elections was the focus of the presentations of party campaign strategist Kiki Taher and communications expert Putra Nababan. Pak Kiki talked about the “rise, fall and resurrection of the PDI-Perjuangan brand” and the role of artifcial intelligence (AI). He reckoned that the 2024 elections, like the previous elections, would be a data-based battle. Given the potentials (and pitfalls) of AI, he hinted that it would be a gamechanger in terms of managing and analyzing big data in future elections.

Pak Putra, an incumbent member of parliament, recounted PDI-Perjuangan’s journey from being a party that relied heavily on conventional communication to what it is today. He emphasized the role of the party leadership in facilitating this journey, particularly that of the chairperson and the secretary general. He credited PDI-Perjuangan Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri for her moral leadership and for always reminding them that “winning or losing (in elections) is not the main goal.” At the same time, he underlined the importance of Pak Hasto, the secretary general, as the party’s center of political communication.

All these were put into perspective by Dr. Julio C. Teehankee’s presentation on the role of political parties in democratizing Asia. Citing examples drawn from PDI-Perjuangan’s experience, Teehankee highlighted the importance of party institutionalization, defned as the “process in which individual political parties that participate in elections experience an increase in organizational stability and value.” Needless to say, more institutionalized parties like the PDI-Perjuangan have greater potential to contribute to consolidating and deepening democracy.

The workshop proper culminated with the participants sharing the key lessons they learned from the event. With Participate PH Training Manager Lambert Ramirez as facilitator, participants from Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste refected on the PDIPerjuangan practices and analyzed how these could be applied in their respective contexts. A tour of the mangrove ecotourism center and dinner cruise later brought the two-day workshop activities to a close.

Earlier, FNF Indonesia Project Director Stefan Diederich had remarked that knowledge-sharing on the “importance of parties within a democracy, and also democracy within parties, on institutionalization… on best practices… is a very important process.”

“Taking Indonesia and the PDI-P as an example of a working democracy,” he also said, “we all hope for a better democratic situation in Asia in the future.”

“Indonesia has been an inspiration to many of us in Southeast Asia,” CALD Chairperson Mardi Seng had said as well. “Considering the state of democracy in many countries in the sub-region, Indonesia should be proud of what it was able to achieve in a short period of time. We in CALD are also proud to be associated with the political party which contributed so much in Indonesia’s successful transition to democracy — the PDI-Perjuangan.”

CALD Smart Mobility Workshop San Mateo

15 AND 23-24 NOVEMBER SAN MATEO, RIZAL, PHILIPPINES

CALD’s last smart mobility workshop for 2023 had it traveling just outside Metro Manila, Philippines to San Mateo, a municipality in Rizal province. Located next to bustling Quezon City, the town of San Mateo is popular with local tourists for its fresh, clean air and breathtaking mountain views. But much like its next-door urban neighbor, San Mateo also has transportation challenges, albeit on a smaller scale.

Among the things the experts looked at were the conditions of roads and sidewalks, signages, parking areas, and transportation stops, as well as the mobility of people and the fow of public transportation.

The workshop then took a break, picking up again on 23 November for two days of discussions and activities aimed at the town coming up with concrete transportation action plans.

For the local government, its priorities included more and wider sidewalks, PWD-accessible walkways, more connected transportation routes, clearer road signs, better loading and unloading zones, stricter implementation of trafc rules and regulations, and alternative roads and bridges. Its goal was to mainstream mobility and address present mobility gaps to help improve people’s access to vital basic services, employment, and other social opportunities.

CALD Secretary General Francis ‘Blue’ Abaya, who previously served

is about thinking-forward and thinking out of the box for the welfare of the people by enhancing our transport systems, developing public transport infrastructures, and expanding pedestrian and cycling infrastructures.”

AltMobility PH Director Ira Cruz meanwhile remarked, “Transportation is the nervous system of cities where roads act as arteries that empower people to take advantage of its many opportunities. But judging from the way the roads are congested, our cities are primed for a heart attack.”

San Mateo Mayor Bartolome ‘Omie’ N. Rivera Jr. said that smart mobility falls under their local government platform to transform the municipality into a happy and vibrant community.

“As we welcome developments and a growing population,” he said, “San Mateo needs to adapt to smart mobility concepts and systems not only to attract new businesses, but help build healthier and more livable communities.”

“We’ve seen that when we all participate, ideas fourish,” Rivera added, “and we can all look forward together toward progress.”

District of Cavite - another

Mateo’s smart – mobility initiatives and plans were way the public perceives

Through the help of CALD and AltMobility PH, San Mateo was able to take the frst step in studying its transportation situation and make plans so that it could address mobility concerns and needs with the appropriate ordinances and legislation, as well as coordinate and cooperate with neighboring municipalities and cities, and engage various sectors. Its bigger goal was to mainstream mobility and address present mobility gaps to help improve people’s access to vital basic services, employment, and other social opportunities.

Moving forward, San Mateo envisioned building sustainable communities with