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(July 8, 2008/ Manila, Philippines) CALD organized a dinner
reception yesterday in honor of H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan,
secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and founding chair of CALD. Dr. Surin was the Thai
Foreign Minister under the leadership of former Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai. Dr. Surin is a member of the Democrat Party of
Thailand which is a founding member of CALD.
Senator Manuel A. Roxas II, president of the Liberal Party of
the Philippines (LP), and Hon. Franklin M. Drilon, former senate
president of the Philippines, former chair of CALD, and current
chair of LP gave the welcome remarks.
Senator Roxas expressed optimism to the leadership of Dr. Surin,
ensuring that the ASEAN concept of decision making by consensus
is preserved given the fact that within the ten nations of ASEAN
there is a wide disparity in the economic, political and social
development of each of these nations. Senator Roxas added that
the leaders are comforted that Dr. Surin will be at the
forefront of these efforts in the approval of and in the
processing of the ASEAN charter.
According to Hon. Drilon: “While the contexts and practice of
diplomacy and outreach may be different for the ASEAN, we
believe that the work of the ASEAN Secretary-General, as
exemplified by the unique dynamism and rich foreign affairs
experience of Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, mirrors in no small measure
the ideals and mandate of CALD – which is fundamentally about
building a just, progressive, and uncompromisingly democratic
Asia. We are ever confident in the capacity, commitment and
vision of Dr. Surin to help move our region towards this
brighter horizon.”
Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta, former deputy secretary general of
ASEAN and former chair of the National Institute for Policy
Studies (NIPS), introduced the guest of honor.
Dr. Surin expressed his gratitude to be among old friends of
CALD in the Philippines and to see them still very much engaged
and very much involved in the promotion of liberalism, of
democratic ideals, of social justice and of the expansion of
human liberty.
As the keynote speaker, Dr. Surin talked about “Forwarding the
Democratic Agenda: Challenges for ASEAN.” He gave a brief
background on the struggles that ASEAN faced over the years -
especially after the Asian financial crisis and on the
challenges it strives to conquer until this very day. He further
added that with the rise of globalization and the current
competition with China and India, ASEAN, with such vast
diversity, needs to consolidate in order to form its own
foundation for bargaining and for competition with the outside
world – to revalidate its driver’s license to get back on the
driver’s seat, to once again serve as the fulcrum of power play
in Asia and as the cornerstone of community building. Dr. Surin
presented the ASEAN Charter, a document which he strongly
believes will give ASEAN its legal personality, as the start of
further strengthening the cooperation among members and finding
the appropriate solutions to the common challenges in the
region.
According to him, “For the first time, it [the ASEAN Charter] is
going to consolidate us as an organization. For the first time
it is going to be built as a community based on three pillars:
political security, economic integration and socio-cultural
[solidarity]. Three pillars building our ASEAN community with
the support, with the cooperation, with the collaboration of our
dialogue partners worldwide. This document gives us that sense
of hope, gives us that sense of confidence, gives us a roadmap
into the future that from now on, we are building a community
together.”
He wants to promote ASEAN as a household name, unlike before
when ASEAN has only been the architecture and the words of the
leaders and of the diplomats. He said that ASEAN will be able to
deliver the kind of issues that CALD is concerned about, issues
that CALD values - individual freedom, liberty, democracy,
participation, the rule of law and good governance. He explained
that only a strong ASEAN can deliver these things to a diverse
ASEAN, only a relevant ASEAN can respond to the challenges that
us liberals and democrats are committed to respond.
Among those who also graced the occasion were former LP
presidents - in addition to Senator Roxas and Hon. Drilon: Hon.
Butch Abad, former Secretary of the Department of Education,
Gov. Raul Daza, former chair of CALD, and Hon. Bobby Tañada,
former senator and current chair of the Philippine Working Group
for an ASEAN Human Rights.
Also present were liberal members of the congress: Hon. Jun
Abaya, MP, LP Secretary General and Hon. Erin Tañada, MP,
chair of the Committee on Human Rights of the 14th
Congress of the Philippines.
Other liberal leaders who attended were Dr. Florangel Braid,
senior adviser and trustee of the Asian Institute of Journalism
and Communication, Dr. King Doromal, former chair of NIPS, Gov.
Antonio Gallardo, Atty. Arturo Tiu, Mr. Mario Taguiwalo, former
president of NIPS, Atty. Bong Montesa, LP director general of LP
and Ms. Chit Asis, former LP director general.
Former Trade Secretary Jose Concepcion, Jr. and H.E. Marilyn
Alarilla, director general of the Department of Foreign Affairs
in charge of ASEAN relations also attended.
Dr. Neric Acosta, secretary general of CALD and Hon. Jun Abaya,
MP served as emcees of the event.
Dr. Pitsuwan is in Manila to also attend the 8th ASEAN Science
and Technology (S&T) Week which is being held from July 1-11,
2008 and meet with editors and columnists from the Philippines
at a breakfast forum held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel. |
