Budapest 2002
The Congress of Liberal International congratulates CALD for its continued progress in building a strong federation of liberal parties in Asia. LI encourages CALD to play an active role in developing liberal policy in our global family of liberal parties.
Congress welcomes the opportunity for a return to democracy in Afghanistan, and urges long-term commitment by the international community to rebuild the country. Congress urges the interim institutions to form a broad based and representative administration with a view to securing a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. Congress notes the abuses of human rights in Afghanistan, especially against women, and urges the restoration of full civil and political rights to all members of society in Afghanistan. Congress urges the international community to implement a comprehensive approach to development and reconstruction in the region, including rebuilding and aid for neighbouring countries.
The Congress calls upon the European Union, in close cooperation with the United States, to assume a leading role in the establishment of political and economic stability in the Central Asian region surrounding Afghanistan with the aim of establishing a Stability Pact for Central-Asia.
Congress is greatly encouraged by the improving prospects for liberal democracy in the region represented by a number of our member parties but notably by the outstanding success of Chen Shui-bian and our member party the DPP in Taiwan. The recent electoral victory of the DPP shows that Taiwan has evolved into a true democracy. LI demands that mainland China respect the outcome of the elections. LI strongly condemns the common understanding among EU Member States to deny visa to Taiwanese officials.
Congress considers it a travesty that Chen Shui-bian, now that he is the first democratically elected President of Taiwan, is no longer allowed to visit Europe.
Liberal International calls on the Communist Party of China to put the country firmly on track towards political and economic freedom. LI deplores the thousand executions that took place in China in recent years, many without due legal process, and the countless other violations of human rights, including the continued imprisonment of campaigners for democracy in the Democratic Party, and urges their release instantly.
Liberal International calls on the Communist Party of China to put the country firmly on track towards political and economic freedom. LI deplores the thousand executions that took place in China in recent years, many without due legal process, and the countless other violations of human rights, including the continued imprisonment of campaigners for democracy in the Democratic Party, and urges their release instantly.
The developments in Hong Kong under the new administration and the concerns of Prize for Freedom Laureate Martin Lee and his colleagues deserve our continuing attention. We support a comprehensive reform of the Basic Law of Hong Kong to ensure that the Legislative Council is elected entirely through full direct elections with the administration of Hong Kong fully responsible to the LegCo. LI calls on China to continue honouring its “one country, two systems” promise.
Liberal International welcomes the initiatives taken by the new government of Indonesia for a democratic development and peaceful solutions to regional conflicts in Indonesia. We are, however, deeply concerned about the ongoing conflicts in Aceh, West Papua and the South Moluccas. LI calls on President Megawati Sukarnoputri to do everything possible to find a peaceful solution to these conflicts. LI also calls on Indonesia to end the impunity of the armed forces and particularly to finally make real progress in investigating the murder of Financial Times journalist Sander Thoenes and the other victims of the indiscriminate violence in East Timor.
Liberal International is concerned at the lack of progress towards democracy in Singapore, demonstrated by the last elections. The opposition and the free media continue to be harassed in various ways but particularly through politically motivated defamation lawsuits. Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party is the latest victim of this practice. LI expresses its support for Mr Chee and his attempts to bring true multi-party democracy to Singapore.
Congress condemns the refusal of the Burmese authorities to recognise the will of the people and the gross abuses of human rights perpetrated in that country and again declares its support for Prize for Freedom laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. LI demands the release of political prisoners and the ending of the persecution of ethnic minorities, such as the Karen people.
The Liberal International strongly welcomes the initiatives taken to prepare for a peaceful settlement of the situation on the Korean peninsula based on the so-called Sunshine Policy of South Korean President Kim Dae Jung. It is now up to the North Korean government to take the outstretched hand and commit itself to the negotiations, to end abuses of human rights and to introduce the respect for human rights and democracy for its own citizens.
LI congratulates the Sam Rainsy party on their improved results in the recent local elections in Cambodia. Congress condemns the reported killing of opposition party activists, and high level of intimidation in the run up to the election. The high level of political violence and the murder of opposition politicians need to end. LI calls on the Cambodia to ensure that all Khmer Rouge leaders are brought to justice and face the recently established tribunal.
Congress condemns the violence in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. Now that a new government has been formed it is time to start serious negotiations, with Norwegian mediation, to end the long running civil war.
