Asian Liberals cite solutions to security problems
By Jude C. Galford III

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) yesterday urged governments to tackle security problems within the bounds of civil rights.

CALD participants gave insightful lectures on terrorism at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Taft Ave., Manila at the start of a four-day conference on the subject and other issues, including international migration.

During the academic conference called "Liberal Perspectives on Terrorism and Civil Liberties," participants proposed ways on how governments could avoid creating a fertile ground for breeding terrorists.

Sri Lankan Liberal Party President Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha pointed out that terrorism has roots and causes and that an effective means to cut its source is for governments to abide by libertarian principles.

He said governments trying to stamp out terrorism by resorting to similar terroristic means are only worsening the problem.

During the forum, the Sri Lankan libertarian thinker said a primary error in addressing terrorism is by curtailing certain civil liberties of the people so that the government could respond to a crisis. He said this tack has been proven wrong and serves no purpose in being repeated.

He also lectured that governments around the world could not choose by themselves what civil liberties are to be allowed because this process, in effect, breeds terrorism. Wijesinha called this "state terrorism" which he said is no less worse than the other forms of terrorism.

Filipino academic and DLSU associate professor Dr. Renato de Castro noted that governments have produced mixed results when they address terrorism by instituting a strong military response. He said it would be better if the problem is tackled using a global perspective rather than having a parochial approach.

This observation was shared by the other panelists at the academic discussions. According to a participant, civil liberties are universal and that problems would arise if each country would adopt definitions of its own regarding these liberties.

Another noted that in the fight against state criminals, no government would be justified to curtail press freedom and institute warrantless arrests and other forms of threats to liberty simply because the state has a problem with terrorists.

"Liberalism is under attack," Wijesinha said as he urged Asian and European Liberals and Democrats to be vigilant against those curtailing basic civil rights.

The participants as well as DLSU political science students were convinced that the best way to fight terrorism is by upholding the people’s civil rights.

Although the CALD participants were one in expressing disgust over acts of terrorism, they nonetheless warned governments not to fall victim to it by resorting to terroristic methods in trying to address the problem.

Drilon: Accountability needed in fight  against corruption

Fighting corruption can only be effective in a democracy when accountability is made mandatory for public officials and when there is a strong and independent judiciary and a resolute and vigilant media, outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon said the other night at a dinner for more than 100 international Liberal leaders who are here in the Philippines for the conference of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD)-Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)-Liberal International (LI).

"In my country, corruption is the root of bad governance. Indeed, to assert that corruption harms Philippine society is an understatement. Corruption robs our children and generations yet unborn of a bright future. It deprives people of choices," Drilon said.

"Bad governance, the root of all economic ills can be squarely addressed only in a democracy because of the presence of institutions and legal environment that make governments and corporations accountable," said Drilon, who is chairman of CALD.

Drilon said corruption has impeded Philippine economic development, forcing over eight million Filipinos, or nearly 10 percent of the entire Philippine population, to migrate to almost every corner of the globe, looking for jobs which the national economy cannot provide.

In his speech, Drilon called on authoritarian governments across the globe "not to hide under the cloak of economic progress to justify authoritarianism," adding that economic success does not necessarily translate to political success.

He appealed to democratic leaders to collectively promote democracy and to support those who are suffering political persecution because of their relentless fight for democracy and freedom in their home country.

This year’s meeting of Liberal leaders focuses on issues concerning migration, population and the globalization of labor.

Former President Corazon Aquino was the keynote speaker during the Thursday morning opening ceremonies held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Among prominent Liberal leaders present were the Lord Alderdice, president of the Liberal International and member of the British Parliament; Member of the European Parliament Graham Watson, who is also ALDE leader; Dr. Wolfgang Gerhart, former leader of the German Liberal Party and current Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) chairman; former International Labor Organization (ILO) Chairman Chung Eui-yong, MP; Dr. Yoo Jay Kun, MP of the ruling Uri Party of Korea; Malaysian Senator Dr. S. Vijayaratnam; Italian MEP Lappo Pistelli; and MP Sam Rainsy, leader of the Cambodian National Opposition and president of the Cambodian Sam Rainsy Party.