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World Forum for Democracy in Asia (WFDA) update

September 1, 2008

First of all, we send our greetings for the start of Ramadan, in the hopes that this year it will truly be a month of peace for the whole region.

Second, WFDA recently completed a Solidarity Mission to one area where a lasting and just peace is urgently desired: Mindanao in the southern Philippines. After an intensive round of visits and consultation, the mission released its preliminary findings. Please find the full statement attached (Document #1).

Third, earlier in August, WFDA co-sponsored the 2008 International Conference on Global Support for Democratization in China and Asia (GSDCA). For information about conference events, please view the attached GSDCA Declaration (Document #2), visit http://www.supportdca.net, and read Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Fellow James Gomez's Asia Times Online op-ed, "New strategies for 'democratizing' China."

Please find updates on regional democracy developments for the month of August below.

In solidarity,
WFDA Secretariat

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Cambodia:
The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), which contested the outcome of the 27 July elections, issued an 18 August statement regarding Sam Rainsy's summons to the Constitutional Council on 19 August. Please view the statement as well a brief outline of SRP election complaints below (Document #3).

China:
8 August marked the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In violation of its pledge to improve human rights conditions for the Olympics, the Chinese government has continued to crackdown on journalistic freedom. For more information, please read the 19 August article released by Reporters Without Borders, in addition to the 14 August statement issued by Olympic Watch, as well as Spanish newspaper El Mundo's special interview with Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng (Document #4).

In light of the Olympics, China has also come under increasing pressure to stop providing support to Burma's repressive military regime. For more on this story, please see the joint statement issued by activist groups on 8 August: "China must Act on Burma as Olympics Kick Off."

Indonesia:
The Indonesian Constitutional Court upheld the constitutionality of criminal defamation in a 15 August decision. According to the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), this constitutes a "serious blow" to the country's press freedom.

Malaysia:
Congratulations to Dr. Anwar Ibrahim, 2007 WFDA Biennial keynote speaker, returned to parliament after a resounding victory in a by-election on 26 August, and promptly took the mantle of official leader of the opposition! Emotions ran high in the election campaign, which featured harsh negative campaigning. The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) reports that supporters of the People's Justice Party attacked two news photographers on 16 August. To read more, please visit the SEAPA website. As for the election process in general, Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) made a number of recommendations for further improvement in its statement.

Philippines:
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released a report praising Philippines security forces for the calm lead-up to the ARMM elections. The report, "ARMM Elections: Improved process but serious concerns remain," also criticizes irregularities and anomalies concerning polling stations and political party adherence to electoral regulations.

Singapore:
On 19 August, SEAPA reported that the Prime Minister of Singapore is considering easing nationwide restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly. For details, please view the article on the SEAPA website.

Tibet:
The Tibetan Youth Congress released a 16 August statement about the Indefinite Fast for Tibet "Without Food & Water." To read more about the activities of the Tibetan People's Mass Movement, please visit the Tibetan Youth Congress website.

Vietnam:
The International Buddhist Information Bureau issued a 17 August statement regarding the appointment of the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do as the new Head of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Please see the press release on the website of Que Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam.


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Document #1

STATEMENT of the INTERNATIONAL MISSION TO MINDANAO

August 24 - 28, 2008

Never give up on peace!

The Mindanao conflict has reached another crossroads in its long history. After years of difficult negotiations, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reached a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which was intended to be a major breakthrough in the peace process. However, the document raised both serious concerns as well as high expectations among various communities in Mindanao and Sulu, as well as the nation at large. The abortive signing, following the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court, then triggered local conflicts in two areas of Central Mindanao, raising tensions across the region.

In response, the World Forum for Democratizatation in Asia (WFDA) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) sent a Solidarity Mission to Mindanao from August 24-28. Consisting of 11 international and 8 Filipino members, the mission visited a wide variety of stakeholders in two regions. One team visited Central Mindanao, and the second Western Mindanao and Sulu.

As civil society organizations, we approached this mission based on two fundamental principles. First, we affirm all human rights for all peoples in Mindanao, notably the right to self-determination of the Bangsamoro people as well as that of the indigenous peoples. Second, we reject all forms of violence, and insist on non-violent and democratic solutions to political conflict, as in the words of Nobel Peace Laureate and Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi: "It is no longer acceptable to resolve political disputes through the use of force."

The following are our initial findings and recommendations:

  1. The spectre of war hangs over Mindanao once again. Active hostilities have reignited in two areas in the heartland of the conflict, while most of the island, as well as the Sulu Archipelago, are still in a state of relative calm (despite ongoing military operations in Sulu, which sadly have become a part of life for the people there). However, tensions are rising, and the potential for expansion of the conflict is significant. Therefore, we call for urgent measures to contain the conflict, to prevent its spread or its transformation into a communal conflict. Among these, we may cite:

    The extension of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), which has performed well up to the present crisis, and which even now is maintaining the ceasefire in most of its coverage area. Both the GRP and MILF should move immediately to invite the IMT to continue its work, rather than pulling out on August 31. Moreover, the IMT should if anything be strengthened in mandate and resources. For example, the IMT could play a key role in supervising an investigation into the recent outbreak of fighting in Central Mindanao.

    Likewise, the Joint Coordination Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH) should be also be maintained and strengthened. It is notable that the ceasefire continues to hold between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and 14 of 17 MILF base commands, and the JCCCH is maintaining useful channels of communication between the two sides.


  2. All combatants must adhere strictly to international humanitarian law (IHL). Both the MILF and AFP must implement effective enforcement measures, in order to ensure that impunity will not be allowed for any of their officers who violate IHL.


  3. We view with extreme concern the arming of civilians, which is under way in at least some areas. Untrained and poorly organized civilians cannot meaningfully contribute to genuine security, but will only raise the risks of escalation of conflict. The duty to protect the populace lies with state institutions such as the AFP and the Philippines National Police (PNP). Therefore, we call on the national government and local governments to cease as well as to publicly discourage any such arming. In this regard, we welcome the assurance of North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Pinol on August 27, reiterated publicly the same day, that he will not condone or allow any attacks by Christian vigilantes (ilaga) against Muslim civilians. At the same time, overt calls to "defend yourselves" muddle this otherwise positive message.


  4. The debate over the MOA-AD has revealed the unacceptable and dangerous levels of prejudice and discrimination against the Moro people and the religion of Islam. This demonstrates the need for sensitive, nuanced, and culturally aware communication to deepen mutual understanding and also to recognize legitimate needs and rights.


  5. Public figures, notably political leaders, must be much more restrained in their language, especially the use of inflammatory comments like "all-out war." Likewise, we call on all media, both national and international, to practice responsible journalism. We encourage media to accept their social responsibility as a crucial part of whole nation and important player in the democratization process. In a conflict situation, careless or sensational reporting can be a matter of life and death – editorial decisions cannot be made based on purely commercial considerations. We note with concern credible reports that images from previous periods of conflict have sometimes been used in coverage of the recent events.


  6. With regard to the MOA, there is clearly an urgent need for much more intensive consultations among all the affected communities. These consultations should not only explain the content of the MOA, but also its historical context, and its implications for ordinary people's lives.


  7. Finally, we are encouraged by the many civil society initiatives that are aimed at strengthening trust and understanding between all communities. Many of the civil society organizations that we visited are making heroic efforts to respond to the current crisis. We may specifically cite the initiative led by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society to translate and popularize the MOA at the grassroots, the "Ginapaladtaka" group of barangays working to maintain communal harmony, and the leading role played by women in Sulu in promoting peace education and indigenous solutions to conflict resolution.
In conclusion, we reaffirm our solidarity with the all the peoples of Mindanao and Sulu, Christian Muslim, and Lumad. In particular, we are inspired by courage of the victims of the conflict, the women, children, and powerless members of society who, in the face of so many difficulties, have not given up the hope for peace. In their honor, we will continue to work together with our dedicated partners in the Philippines and around the region for genuine and sustainable peace, democracy, and human rights.

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Document #2

Declaration of the 3rd International Conference on Global Support for Democratization in China and Asia

For the past three years, the International Conference on Global Support for Democratization in China and Asia (GSDCA) has served as a platform for consolidating international forces supporting the universal values of freedom, human rights, and democracy throughout Asia. Now, more than ever, we feel the urgency of upholding these values in light of restrictive measures imposed by the Chinese government in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as China's rising influence on political development and global security.

The 2008 International Conference on GSDCA, held in Tokyo, Japan, brought together a diverse group of international leaders, including dissidents from Asian countries with autocratic regimes, as well as dignitaries, experts, NGO representatives, and scholars from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The Tokyo conference built on the successes of previous conferences in order to move toward the ultimate goal of securing a peaceful transition from autocracy to democracy in China and other Asian nations.

In the course of the 2008 International Conference on GSDCA, participants formulated the following recommendations, which urge the Chinese government to:



  1. UPHOLD fundamental human rights and journalistic freedoms in the context of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    The Chinese government promised that the media would be able to operate under the same conditions as at previous Olympics, which for the past two decades have been free of censorship of the domestic and international press. However, there is substantial evidence that China has failed to lift media restrictions in advance of the Beijing Olympics and continues to block and threaten foreign journalists. Reports also suggest that the Chinese government has prohibited local media from publishing news that reflects negatively on the Beijing regime before or during the Olympic Games. Repressive measures harm not only the interests of the Chinese people, but also the international community. We cannot, and must not, tolerate the Chinese government's blatant violations of human rights and press freedom during this time of global interaction, collaboration, and competition.


  2. WITHDRAW repressive Chinese government forces from Tibet in order to allow for genuine Tibetan self-government.

    The Chinese People's Liberation Army occupied Tibet in 1949, resulting in the suppression of traditional Tibetan practices and the persecution of thousands of people. Since then, Tibet has endured decades of violent repression and human rights violations, while the Tibetan government-in-exile, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has consistently advocated the nonviolent pursuit of the welfare and culture of the Tibetan people. The Chinese government must open a genuine dialogue with the Tibetan government-in-exile, in order to reach a peaceful and sustainable agreement bringing meaningful autonomy and human rights to Tibet, and to provide greater stability within the Asia Pacific region.


  3. RATIFY outstanding United Nations Human Rights Conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    Human rights violations in China remain systematic and widespread, as seen in the Chinese government's poor treatment of rural and migrant workers, as well as discrimination against groups such as Tibetans and Uyghurs. The Chinese government also places unjust restrictions on civil liberties, limiting the freedoms of speech, movement, political belief, and religion. To ensure the welfare of the Chinese people, we must encourage China to ratify and implement all core international human rights treaties of the United Nations.


  4. RELEASE all political prisoners and remedy human rights violations.

    In 2007, the Dui Hua Foundation reported that the number of Chinese political prisoners had risen to its highest level in eight years. Arrests of hundreds of Chinese citizens for political reasons over the past decade are indicative of the Chinese government's crackdown on political dissent. Rather than an occasion for improving human rights in China, the Olympic Games have brought a new wave of arrests and prosecutions. Steps must be taken to restore justice and due process to the Chinese legal system, protect fundamental human rights, and preserve political freedom. The Chinese government must arrange for the immediate release of all political prisoners and cease the imprisonment of political critics and dissidents.


  5. CEASE military support for autocratic regimes in Asia and beyond.

    The Chinese government continues to provide military aid to repressive regimes such as Burma, North Korea, and Sudan. Diplomatically, it has used its position on the United Nations Security Council to obstruct international efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur and to improve human rights in Burma. Furthermore, it has systematically engaged in forced repatriation of refugees from North Korea, in violation of its obligations under international law. If China wishes to be accepted as a leading member of the international community, it must immediately terminate its provision of material and diplomatic support to these regimes and instead begin to join efforts to promote peace, stability, and human security.


  6. STOP intimidating and threatening international media providers.

    In recent years, the Chinese government has used intimidation tactics and threats to prevent media companies such as Eutelsat and Yahoo from broadcasting foreign news into China. The international community must take immediate action to prevent media providers from complicity in pro-Beijing censorship. Global pressure must be placed on China to cease its repressive policies toward the media and allow the Chinese people open access to the news and Internet.

Furthermore, foreign governments and multinational corporations must take more active steps to support those who fight for democracy and human rights both within China and without.

Ultimately, we believe that these recommendations are crucial to achieving significant democratic progress in China and Asia, for the benefit of all Asian peoples, not least the people of China itself. It is our sincere hope that through ongoing dialogue and debate, our work with the GSDCA will bolster the courageous and determined efforts of those who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the promotion of democracy and human rights around the world.

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Document #3

August 18, 2008

SAM RAINSY GOES TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL ON AUGUST 19

The SRP is summoned by the Constitutional Council on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 in relation with its main election complaints that have been recently rejected by the National Election Committee.

Accompanied by his party's lawyers, SRP President Sam Rainsy will go in person to bring new and irrefutable evidence of election fraud to the Constitutional Council tomorrow at 03.00 pm.

The evidence and all related documents will also be provided to, and shared with, journalists, observers and all interested persons.


August 16, 2008

ELECTION COMPLAINTS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

The Sam Rainsy Party yesterday evening lodged its final complaints to the Constitutional Council, with additional and irrefutable evidence of election fraud: forged 1018 voter registration forms; petitions signed by over 10,000 citizens/legitimate voters complaining that they were prevented from voting on July 27, 2008; calculations showing that even a small-scale irregularity may affect election results in terms of seat allocation at the provincial/municipal level.

See original texts in Khmer at http://tinyurl.com/6gtu8t
Sensitivity analyses in English at http://tinyurl.com/69knee

SRP Cabinet

For more information please call 092 888 001 or 092 888 002

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Document #4

On August 13, 2008, El Mundo, the leading newspaper in Spain, published a special interview with Wei Jingsheng. The following is the best possible compromised English version by this editor. For the most correct meaning, please read the Spanish version first. The Chinese version is a combination of the original Chinese answers and the published version. -- Ciping Huang

WEI JINGSHENG / Chinese dissident-in-exile:
"The Olympic Games is Already a Failure for China"


by RICARD GONZÁLEZ
Special for EL MUNDO

WASHINGTON. – Wei Jingsheng is one of the most important Chinese democratic activists in exile. Born in 1950 in Beijing, he spent 18 years in prison for publishing an article. Thanks to pressure from the international community, especially from the Clinton Administration, he was deported to the USA in 1997, where he has resided since.

Question: You were received by Bush in the White House a little earlier before his trip to Peking. What did you say to him?

Answer: I said that I was very disappointed because he helped the opening of the Olympic Games. Bush and the rest of the Western governments have sent a wrong message to the authorities in China, resulting in increased repression in the last a few months.

Q: how did Bush react?

A: He said to me that he already knew that I was very critical with his position. It was polite and cordial. Bush is not a bad person, but I am not sure that he is a very intelligent man.

Q: Nevertheless, when he was in Asia, he had forcefully stated a few criticisms of the violations of human rights …

A: True, and that helps to correct his error. The West has to change its politics towards China. Real change will not come by means of increasing the business relations. This is an argument that only serves multinational business, not to the Chinese people. Many Chinese are beginning to believe that the West does not really care about democracy, but only about business.

Q: Do you think that the Olympian Games will be a success for the Chinese regime?

A: No, already it cannot be. The fact of that they have to mobilize hundreds of thousands of police officers and military personnel to avoid protests demonstrates that they have failed the relationship between the people and the regime.

Q : But the regime seems stable enough …

A: That is a false appearance. In its foundation, it is fragile, full of cracks. The distancing between the ordinary citizen and the privileged elite that governs the country is enormous. Also there are disagreements inside of the party. The majority of the population has not benefited from the economic growth, and there is a great poverty. In any moment a spark might exploded into a new revolution.

Q: In the recent weeks, there have been some attempts. Do you condemn them?

A: No. Suppressed people have the right to rebel. Even the American Constitution grants the right to rebel against an illegitimate government. This limits a government cannot go beyond is that it should not deliberately harm the general population.

Q: what is your opinion on Tibet?

A: It is necessary to find a solution for the political state of Tibet through negotiation that satisfies the desires of the Tibetans. For me, Tibet as a nation, has its right to self-determination.

Q: Did you watch the opening ceremony of the Olympian Games live?

A: Not, I am too busy and I was not that interested.

Image of the El Mundo' article

ENDS

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