CALD Delegates in Terelj, Mongolia

Freedom.  The primordial desire of humanity.  The inviolable right of every human being.  The heart and soul of liberalism.

Members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) traveled to picturesque Mongolia to discuss, debate and experience freedom. In the "Liberalism: It's All About Freedom" Seminar and Study Visit held on 23-27 May 2012, liberals from Asia and beyond reexamined liberalism's fundamental principle and experienced the Mongolian notion of freedom.

The one-day seminar on the liberal ideology was symbolically held in the Government House, in a room which was previously office of the Mongolian President but is now open for use of the general public.  After the opening remarks of officials of the Civil Will Green Party (CWGP), CALD, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) and Liberal International (LI), the CALD multimedia presentation was shown to familiarize local seminar participants with the regional network, CWGP being the newest CALD member and the seminar being the first CALD event in Mongolia.

In the first session chaired by Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Jaslyn Go, the speakers tackled the theoretical claims of the liberal ideology and how it shapes political practice.  FNF Regional Director for Southeast and East Asia Rainer Adam discussed liberalism in Asia and the issues and challenges associated with it.  He addressed, in particular, the most contentious topic in the practice of liberalism – the role of the state.  "(W)e do not want government to be overbearing or to take freedoms and responsibilities away from its citizenry, but we do want government to make sure that the players stick to the rules of the game and that there is a level playing field", he argued.  CALD Executive Director Lito Arlegue framed his presentation by looking at the theoretical claims and arguments of liberalism.  Specifically, he discussed the "3Rs" of liberalism (reason, rights and representation), their relationship to each other, and how they apply to the liberal conception of international affairs.  The first session was concluded by the presentation of CWGP Co-Chair Oyun Sanjaasuren, which looked at the political dynamics and economic realities in Mongolia and how it pushes CWGP to its current position in the political spectrum. "We will be the voice for moderate policies," she said. "We will be the voice for government participation [in the market] to a necessary degree. We're also not for calling to leave everything to the market, but we also don't want government to decide to be too much part of businesses."

CWGP Political Council Member Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren chaired the second session, which focused on liberalism and the challenge of development. A Member of Parliament from the Democrat Party of Thailand, Ong-Art Klampaiboon, examined the connection of liberalism to socio-political development.  In particular, he discussed the importance of strengthening political institutions and the rule of law in building and sustaining democracy, and how efforts should be exerted toward this direction.  The next presentation was made by CWGP Co-Chair Demberel Sambuu, who tackled economic freedom and business environment in Mongolia.  After looking at the ranking of Mongolia in different economic freedom indicators, he came to the conclusion that the country is still finding the balance in its "love of the market and of the state."       

The last session, chaired by Sam Rainsy Party of Cambodia's Deputy Treasurer Mardi Seng, scrutinized liberalism's responses to key global issues such as globalisation, global terrorism and sustainable development. LI Treasurer and Bureau Member Robert Woodthorpe Browne stated clearly the liberal position on globalisation: "We believe that the phenomenon of globalisation is at root a force for progress: increased trade, development, migration and green capitalism all have the potential to make the World richer – financially, ecologically and culturally." As regards global terrorism, Liberal Party of Sri Lanka (LPSL) Leader Rajiva Wijesinha argued that "the Liberal response to terrorism must be both sensitive and principled. It must recognize that, given the importance of the right to life, and the obvious fact that terrorists on principle do not uphold this right for the citizens' governments must protect, governments have an obligation to combat terrorism forcefully. This can lead to special measures that might take away from the freedoms we enjoy, but such measures must be clearly enunciated, and enforced with accountability, justiciability and, where feasible, transparency."  Finally, CALD Climate Change Committee Member Ng Lip Yong discussed the relationship between economic growth and sustainable development.  He said that countries should be aware of the ecological costs of its pursuit of economic development, and to carefully balance these with their developmental goals.          

On the following day, members of the CALD delegation attended a briefing about the general elections in Mongolia on 28 June.  They were informed of the population and demographics, voters' profile, new election laws, electoral issues, and the current level of voters' support for the major parties.  CWGP Secretary General Gankhuu Gendendaram and CWGP Election Headquarters Manager Tungalag Davaa pointed out that the upcoming elections are different not only because of the new election law combining first-pass-the-post and party-list systems, but also because the levels of support of the two dominant parties are much lower and the percentage of swing votes is almost 60 percent.  These give opposition parties like the CWGP a bigger chance to increase its electoral base, they observed.             

After the briefing, the delegation was given the opportunity to experience Mongolian life during the reign of Great Mongol Emperor Chinggis Khaan. In a resort camp appropriately named "13^th Century", CALD members lived through the nomadic lifestyle, which has been described as attuned to liberalism's core principles of freedom and individualism.  The delegates therefore, freely enjoyed the vast open spaces of the Mongolian countryside – riding camels and horses, watching a cultural performance, and gazing at millions of stars in the clear Mongolian sky.

The delegates were also treated with dinner performances that show how Mongolians effortlessly blend the old and the new -  a spectacular traditional cultural program during  the dinner hosted by CWGP Co-Chair Sambuu and an upbeat live band performance of CWGP Secretary General Gendendaram during the farewell dinner in an Irish pub.

Freedom, it is said, is the fundamental principle of liberalism.  In Mongolia, CALD members not only discussed it within the four corners of the seminar room, but actually experienced it by visiting the frontierless countryside and trying out the nomadic tradition of their gracious Mongolian hosts.