CLOSING REMARKS 

Hon. Rene C. Villa

Secretary (Minister), Department of Land Reform

Liberal Party of the Philippines

Mr. Graham Watson and all the members of the European Parliament who are part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE); Dr. Irmgard Schwaetzer, Dr. Wickert, Mr Johannen and other officials of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation; the Members of Parliament from Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, India, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and my colleagues from the Philippines; other parliamentarians and officials of the member parties of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Your Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Our stay here in Brussels has been a most enlightening one. We came to Brussels at an exciting time in your history as a people amidst the momentous signing of the EU Constitution and the controversy surrounding the composition of the new European Commission. I have been impressed by the dynamism of the European Parliament and how democracy works in this part of the world.

We are, I believe , at the right place. At the right time. Personally it has been an honor to be in the company of such learned and insightful individuals such as yourselves and I have learned a great deal.

So in behalf of the Asian contingent, allow me first to thank you for welcoming us in Brussels in these very interesting times!

Asia has been no less interesting this year. Nowhere else in our history had there been so many elections in the region— India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. We all had elections in these countries and we are all glad to note that CALD members and observer parties that participated in these elections all won handily.

CALD Chairman Chen Chui-bian won his second term as Taiwanese president; the Gerakan increased seats in the Malaysian parliament; Bangkok has a democrat governor; and Aprirak’s victory, many consider, is a preview of Thailand’s next national elections where we expect the Democrat Party to regain power. Our liberal friends in Korea meanwhile made history with their victory that marked the first time that liberals had a clear majority in parliament.

My own Liberal Party in the Philippines, which is part of the ruling coealition, is now the second biggest political party in the country after being stuck for quite some time in being the third.

Despite these changes, there are still many conservative politicians in the region who claim that liberal democracy is a western concept that is not suitable to Asian. But history tells us that dictatorships and strongman rule were never spared the harsh economic crises and social unrests of the changing times.

We at the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats believe tin the universality of human rights. We believe democracy is no just a Western value concept. Democracy is compatible with traditional Asian beliefs, religions and traditions because people in Asia, as in the rest of the world, have always wanted to be heard, to be taken seriously, to participate in decision-making and have a realistic chance to remedy their point.

In developed societies such as Western Europe, we see how strong democratic institutions have been successful in maintaining peace and progress. In closed societies such as those found in Asia, particularly in Burma and North Korea, we see democracy not only as the next option to take, but it is the only just, viable and sustainable course of action.

In the Philippines, the 1983 assassination of our Liberal party secretary general, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, triggered a popular people’s revolution. From then on, we have learned that democracy is the only way to go if we were to heal the divisive wounds of our nation and to bring back to its feet a troubled economy crippled by a 20-year dictatorship.

Back home, our Liberal Party has consolidated after the Marcos era and is now in the forefront of vigorously implementing land reform, dismantling monopolies towards a freer market, building a sound industrial base, and promotion of local industries.

Political parties in Asia continue to be a vital ingredient in the democratic process. The electorate relies on parties for the choices of candidates and alternative platforms at election time. After elections, parties determine and organize the government and serve as the principal vehicle for placing issues on the public agenda.

Unfortunately, elections in much of Asia are still being centered in personalities and popularity, and not issue-oriented. But whether motivated by a principled commitment to good governance or by political survival, there is no doubt in mind that a desire to reform a country, the yearning to help people is still foremost in the mind of almost every political leader.

Concrete steps must now be taken by parties to earn the public’s trust. But this can be done when the people are assured that the rhetoric of political leaders during the campaign are now supported by meaningful actions and reforms when he finally sits as an incumbent.

The development of political parties is therefore also essential in democracy. Right now, we are proud to claim that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is not only an organization of liberal parties in Asia, but it is the only organization of political parties in Asia.

CALD strives to make the political party relevant to out people; to make the party and its leaders more accountable, more responsive. We aim to make political parties no jus vehicles to be elected into power, but a catalyst for social and economic change.

For the Council to exist, and more and more to succeed, is indeed an accomplishment given the political culture that exists in Asia where parties are formed based on personalities, patronage and convenience.

And with the common interest of Asian and European liberals and democrats shared through the continued interaction of CALD and ALDE in meetings such as these, we hope to employ hat we have learned here in outlining, concrete steps to make our political parties back home more relevant, dynamic and ever-responsive to the challenges of our times.

Globalization and the end of the cold war brought about revolutionary changes not just politics but also in our economy and society as a whole. The emergence of a truly global market, though a predominantly economic phenomenon, involves an assault on local, national and regional political and cultural practices.

But economic cooperation and fair trade among nations, characterized by the opening up of borders and the free flow of goods and services, is not the only ingredient for a successful democracy.  There is also a need for a free flow of ideas as well as more convergence in the political and social development of global players.

Philippine Liberals remain uncompromisingly internationalists. We know that there is a limit to what the Philippines can achieve alone and we are committed to building in our global village the sort of society we strive for a home.

And this we hope to achieve by pursuing the ideals of CALD and ALDE—founded on the principles of mutual cooperation, political liberty and shared prosperity.

Unlike in Europe where political forces are united along common ideologies, such is not the case in Asia. But as a Chinese saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

Ten years ago, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats learned how to walk. Now it is taking strides towards the promotion of liberalism in Asia, with this meeting, we have even leapt beyond our shores.

Liberal democracy has no boundaries and the bridge we have to build to link Asian and European liberals and democrats will serve as one of our greatest legacies for generations to come.  

In behalf of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, we would like to thank our partners—the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. We would also like to thank the Government of Belgium, the European parliament and the European Commission for their hospitality.

Despite the coldness of the weather that we in tropical countries are not used to, we felt the warmth of your welcome.  

As we bring this meeting to a close, we are not ending it, but continuing an effort to spread worldwide liberal democracy. The development of international and multilateral cooperation is in a concrete response to the biggest challenges as all face.

With the success of this meeting, I see another one coming after having done this first in Seoul, Korea and then in Brussels.

Therefore, I will not say farewell but rather see you all again during the CALD-ALDE meeting in the next year or so—this time in Asia again.

Together, let us continue our commitment to uphold human rights, individual freedoms, democratic governments, and citizen involvement towards a common goal of a free, just democratic and progressive society.

Thank you and good day.