Report for CALD 15th Anniversary Conference

“Liberal Responses to the Global Financial Crisis”
March 27-29, 2009 | Bangkok, Thailand




 U Maung Maung, Secretary General of NCUB, U Nyo Ohn Myint, deputy chair of NCUB Foreign Affairs Committee and U Moe Zaw Oo, secretary of NLD LA attended the CALD conference on 'Liberal Responses to the Global Financial Crisis' held on 28th March, 2009 in Bangkok.

 The following parties and individual member of CALD attended the conference.
 Liberal Party of Sri Lanka
 Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan
 The Sam Rainsy Party
 Liberal Party of Philippines
 Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan
 National Council for the Union of Burma
 Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
 Democratic Party of Hong Kong
 Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)
 Democrat Party of Thailand
 Singapore Democratic Party
 Liberal Forum Pakistan
 Mr. Sin Chung-kai (Individual member of CALD)
 Mr. Martin Lee (Individual member of CALD)
 H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid (Individual member of CALD)
 Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra of Bangkok
 Friedrich Naumann Foundation

 On the night of 27th March, 2009, the Democrat Party of Thailand hosted with the welcome dinner at Sukho Thai hotel. Mr. Kasit Piromya, Foreign Minister of Thailand made an opening and welcome remarks.




 Kasit Piyomya talked about visit to Burma about one week ago in the CALD's welcome dinner for CALD 15th anniversary conference hosted by Democrat Party of Thailand at Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok. He said that he met with Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister and talked about changes in Burma. He recalled his last trip to Mae Sot together with LI fact finding mission and visit to Mae La refugee camp.

 He said it was strange to speak as a member of Government in here as three months ago; he spoke as a member of opposition and was free to talk about issues without limitation. He said he is willing to help bring about democratic change in Burma. Burma's prime mister requested him to help talk with opposing minorities in Burma. He would like to see real ASEAN community representing real democratic countries. He would like to meet Burmese friends here in Rangoon next month. He would like to see changes in Burma so that one day ASEAN community will represent real democratic idea and principles.

 Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra of Bangkok also made a remark on the event. On 28th March, 2009, conference was held at Faculty of Arts in Chulalongkorn University. Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General, Singapore Democratic Party and Chair of the CALD could not make it to attend the event so video footage of his opening speech was showed using a projector.




 Dr. Rainer Adam, Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia Friedrich Naumann Foundation and Hon. Kasit Piromya, Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Thailand made opening remarks. Key notes addresses were delivered by H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Thailand and H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid, former President of Indonesia.

 The conference continued with the first section "Stimulus Packages in Asia: Money well spent?" chaired by Dr. Rajiva Wejesinha, Secretary for International Affairs of Liberal Party of Sri Lanka. Ms. Tricia Yeoh, Research Officer to the Chief Minister of Selangor from Malaysia, Hon. Benjamin E. Diokno, Former Budget Minister and Professor of UP School of Economics and Hon. Kasit Piromya, Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Thailand discussed about stimulus packages for respective countries.

 Hon. Florencio Abad, Former Minister of Education from Liberal Party of the Philippines and Dr. Henry Ho, Former Finance Minister from Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan reacted what have discussed by speakers.

 In the second section under the title of 'The danger of Crisis Mode: Striking the Balance between the Political Pressures and Sound Economic Policies chaired by Ho. Jules Maaten, MEP from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Hon. Sam Rainsy, MP and Leader of the Cambodian Sam Rainsy Party and Dr. Jun-ji Shih, Former Chairperson and Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan discussed about the economic policies. Dr. Direk Patmasiriwat from Faculty of Economics in Thamamsat University reacted their discussions.

 In the third session under the title of 'The Impact of the Crisis on Peoples' LIves: How are we coping?' chaired by Mr. Maung Maung, General Secretary of the NCUB, Tan Sri Dr. Chin Fook Weng, former senator from Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia and Dr. Mohamad Ikhsan Modjo, Director from Institute for Development of Economic and Finance of Indonesia discussed about the economic crisis. Hon. Martin C.M. Lee, Founding Chairman of Democratic Party of Hong Kong and Dr. Direk Patmasiriwat from Faculty of Economics of Thammasat University reacted the discussions.

 At night, CALD 15th Anniversary Dinner was held at Four Seasons Hotel. Dr. Neric O. Acosta, Secretary General of CALD and Ms. Bi-Khim Hsiao, LI Vice President emceed the ceremony. CALD 15th anniversary multimedia was presented and members of CALD parties briefed about CALD.