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(February 6,
2005/ Bangkok, Thailand) Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
finishes today its three day mission to monitor Thailand’s
parliamentary elections. DPP is the current Chairparty of the
Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD).
Headed by
legislator Lan Mei-Chin, the delegation visited the Asian
Research Center of Chulalongkorn
University; The Thai Rak Thai MP, Sukhum Laowansiri, who is
also an advisor to the Thai PM, Thaksin Shinawatra; the Campaign
Rally organized by the Democrat Party (DP); Dr. Buranaj
Smutharaks, MP, Mr. Somphon
Wongchanglaw, Mr. Tarradon Piamphongsant, Mr. Chatchai
Bhatiasevi, Mr. Somkiat Krongwatanasuk and Ms. Joy Sirinun
Senakan from the DP Headquarters; Mr. Somchart Jasrichat,
Director-General of Public Participation in Election Process
(The Thai National Election Commission); Mr. Uwe Johannen and
Mr. Wilfried Herrmann from Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Regional Office; Senators Sompong Sakawee, Anuchat
Banchongsupmit; and Nipattha Amornratmetha; Vice Minister for
Interior, Kwang Robkob; Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong from
National Institute of Development Administration; Prof. Dr.
Kradse Chanawongse (the Advisor to the PM); and two polling
stations.
The
delegation consisted of three legislators, four deputy directors
from the DPP headquarters, three chairmen from the DPP local
branches, two conveners from the Review committees of both
Taipei and Kaohsiung City, two Associate Researchers from the
Department of International Affairs and CALD Program Officer
Andrea Yang.
DPP notes
its interests in
Thailand’s
constitutional and electoral reforms. The 2005 election is only
the second Thai elections since the Constitutional Amendment of
1997. DPP observes further that the so-called ‘single district,
two votes’ was perceived by the Thai politicians as the most
fair and most democratic system for Thailand. This system became
a key focus of the delegation.
Despite the
short visit, the DPP delegates claim that the mission has been a
constructive trip, and they have exchanged many valuable
opinions and political ideas with the Thai politicians in
Bangkok.
The DPP delegation believes the recent democratic achievements
in
Asia
have made more promising the future of regional security and
economic prosperity. The DPP asserts that it will remain a close
observer of democratic developments in
Asia.
The DPP has
previously formed two delegations to observe the Philippines’
Presidential Election in May 2004, and the first Indonesian
Presidential Election in September 2004. In December, the DPP
further sponsored a CALD delegation to watch the parliamentary
election in
Taiwan. |
