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(December 4, 2005/ Taipei, Taiwan) The Council of Asian Liberals
& Democrats (CALD) successfully completed today its election
observation mission in Taiwan. The mission, jointly sponsored by
the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan and CALD, gave
the delegates the opportunity to observe first hand the
democracy in Taiwan through elections. It was also a venue for
them to exchange campaign strategies and share best practices
during their visit.
Last December 2004, CALD sent delegates to observe Taiwan’s
legislative election. This year, a new set of observers from
CALD member and observer parties have witnessed the 3-in-1 local
elections for mayors, magistrates, and city council, a first in
Taiwan’s history. The mission consisted of 15 representatives
from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The delegates
visited Taipei city and county as well as Changhua and Taichung
counties. They met with the campaign managers, rally
coordinators, party workers, and volunteers of DPP candidates
running for election.
On the first day, the delegation visited the DPP Headquarters
and was received by Mr. Lee Yi-yang, DPP Secretary-General and
Hon. Bi-Khim Hsiao, MP, Director of DPP’s Department of
International Affairs and former CALD Secretary-General. They
were also given a briefing about Taiwan’s election procedures at
the Central Election Commission.
DPP’s magistrate seat has trickled down to 6 from their original
10 in the previous local election. Mr. Su Tseng-chang stepped
down as DPP Chairman after the defeat. “The party should humbly
accept the outcome, modestly face it, honestly reflect, and
bravely push new reforms” Mr. Su said. The Liberal Party of the
Philippines which assumed the CALD chairmanship from DPP sent a
message of continued support for DPP despite the election turn
out.
The mission secretariat consisted of Huai Hui Hsieh, Vincent Su,
Lisa Tsai and Connie Chung of the DPP International Affairs
Department and Paolo Zamora of CALD
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