|
(March 18,
2005/ Taipei, Taiwan) H.E. Chen Shui-bian, President of Taiwan
and Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats
(CALD), received today the members of the CALD Executive
Committee at the Green Room of the Presidential Palace in the
Taiwanese capital.
During the
hour-long meeting, President Chen discussed the increased
cooperation between the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan (DPP)
and the other members of CALD. He noted that he and his party
had been monitoring developments in neighboring countries that
affect CALD parties. He mentioned that DPP had sent observer
missions to
Bangkok
to show its support to the Thai democrats during its
parliamentary elections.
President
Chen also spoke of his concern regarding the lifting of the
parliamentary immunity of Sam Rainsy, MP, leader of the
Cambodian opposition and former CALD Chair. After the tsunami
had wrought havoc in Asia, DPP gave donations to the victims in
Sri
Lanka,
Thailand and Indonesia.
President
Chen then expressed his warm anticipation of the forthcoming
conference in Taipei towards the end of the year that would also
coincide with the transfer of the CALD leadership from DPP to
the Liberal Party of the Philippines.
President
Chen then shared to the members of the CALD Executive Committee
his thoughts and sentiments regarding the controversial
Anti-Succession Law which was passed last March 14 by the
National People’s Congress in Beijing. The law stipulated that
China shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary
measures in the event of Taiwan’s succession from China.
President
Chen remarked that the 2,000 members of the Chinese Congress
have no right to speak in behalf of the 23 million Taiwanese who
have the right to speak their concern and voice their opposition
to violence. He stated that there would be a peaceful rally
across Taiwan on March 26 to demonstrate the Taiwanese people’s
desire for peace. He offered his “peaceful, moderate and humble
way” of resolving cross-straits conflicts.
In response
to the President, Dr. Nereus Acosta, MP, Executive Vice
President of the Liberal Party of the Philippines and head of
the delegation, spoke in behalf the CALD Executive Committee.
Dr. Acosta narrated that only a year ago, they were together in
Kaohsiung
for the Liberal International Asia Conference that coincided
with the turn-over of the CALD chairmanship from Prince
Sukhumbhand Paribatra, MP, of the Democrat Party of Thailand to
President Chen.
Dr. Acosta
remarked that since then dramatic developments had occurred in
the region including a record-breaking number of elections held
in Asia. Dr. Acosta noted that the victory of DPP in the
presidential elections was replicated by CALD member and
observer parties including the notable increase of liberal
parliamentarians in Malaysia, Philippines, Korea and Japan
through the victories of the Parti Gerakan, Liberal Party, Uri
Party and Democrat Party, respectively, and the election of the
new democratic governor of Bangkok.
Dr. Acosta
also underscored the need to remain vigilant as there had been
imminent threats to democracy in
Asia.
He reiterated the case of the lifting of the parliamentary
immunity of Sam Rainsy.
Dr. Acosta
also expressed his concern about the “cloud of uncertainty
shrouding the Taiwanese straits” in reference to the
Anti-Secession Law and expressed CALD’s desire for peaceful
cross-straits relations characterized by open and constructive
dialogue free from the use of force, threat and intimidation.
The
international delegates include Dr. Buranaj Smuthraks, MP, of
the Democrat Party of Thailand; Senator Ung Bun Ang of the Sam
Rainsy Party of Cambodia; Dr. Chua Peng Song, MP, of the
Malaysian People’s Movement Party (Gerakan); Dr. Chee Soon Juan,
Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party; Dr. Rajiva
Wijesinha, President of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka and Mr.
Maung Maung of the National Council of the Union of Burma.
They were
accompanied by Ms. Bi-Khim Hsiao, MP, CALD Secretary-General and
DPP Director for International Affairs; and Taiwanese Foreign
Affairs Vice Minister and CALD Executive Committee member, Ms.
Maysing Yang.
The
Manila-based CALD Secretariat was represented by Mr. John Joseph
S. Coronel, CALD Executive Director, and Program Officers, Mr.
Brian Gonzales and Ms. Andrea Yang. Members of the DPP
secretariat including Ms. Huai Hui Hsieh, Deputy Director for
International Affairs, were also present. The Friedrich Naumann
Foundation was represented by Mr. Uwe Johannen, Regional
Director for East and Southeast Asia and Dr. Ronald Meinardus,
Resident Representative (Manila).
After the
meeting at the Presidential Palace, the delegation proceeded to
the Taiwan Democracy Foundation where they were received by the
Hon. Yao Chia-wen, President of Taiwan’s Examination Yuan and
former CALD Secretary General. The group then proceeded to the
Dinner Reception hosted by DPP Chairman, the Hon. Su Tseng-chang. |
