Asia

Congress is gravely concerned about the worsening state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Asia, as evidenced by the continuing and intensifying suppression of fundamental freedoms, repression of democratically elected political opposition, proliferation of disinformation or fake news, use of sharp power and rise of ethno-religious extremism.

In Bangladesh the progress towards middle-income status is welcomed but moves towards a one-party-state by the government of Sheikh Hasina must be resisted.

Congress condemns Cambodia’s systematic crackdown of political opponents and civil society ahead of the crucial 2022 commune (local) elections and 2023 parliamentary elections. Repression of freedom of speech and of the media, and the targeting and killing of human rights defenders continue in breach the Constitution and international agreements.

LI protests the mass trials and sentencing of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) officials and members, and insists on the politically motivated charges against them to be dropped, and for the reinstatement of the Party. LI supports exiled political leaders in their cause to safely return to Cambodia and fight for true democracy. LI Congress expresses support to the democratic opposition forces that could file candidates at the Commune elections, in particular the representatives of the Candlelight Party.

LI is gravely concerned at how Prime Minister Hun Sen’s overwhelming support of and financial indebtedness on China undermines Cambodia sovereignty and disrupts its relationship with neighboring countries and the regional stability.

LI calls on the Cambodian government to recognize the will of the people, welcome peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, and pave the way for restoration of multi-party democracy. LI calls on all governments and signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements to fulfil their obligation in ensuring the protection of human rights and democratic principles, and for the immediate targeted sanctions on those who undermine the implementation of the Accords and the constitutional framework of the country.

Congress strongly condemns the persistent human rights violations in China. Human Rights defenders and activists continue to report harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and forced disappearances in the country. Predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Hui and others in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and other locations, as well as the Tibetan people, are suffering political indoctrination, arbitrary mass detention, torture, forced separation from their children and forced cultural assimilation.

Congress notes the People´s Republic of China’s ratification of two UN Conventions against Forced Labor in April 2022 and insists on their speedy and thorough implementation on the ground. It urges   the leadership in Beijing to finally implement the protection of human rights as reaffirmed in various other UN Human rights conventions the PRC has ratified in the past. Those rights are stipulated in the Chinese constitution as well.

Congress strongly condemns the unlawful construction and the militarization of artificial islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea. LI urges the PRC to stop its aggressive policies and actions at sea, which threaten peace in the region, and to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. LI urges the PRC to accept the verdict of the international tribunal at The Hague in 2016, which ruled there is no legal basis for China´s “nine-dash line” claim.

Congress stands with the Hong Kong people who have been courageously fighting to protect whatever is left of freedoms, personal safety and rule of law since the passage of the National Security Law in 2020. This piece of legislation — which many consider as a death knell to Hong Kong’s autonomy — has seriously undermined human rights and the rule of law in the territory and exacerbated the already volatile political situation.

Congress recognizes that the failed attempt to pass the 2019 extradition bill, the landslide victory of the pan-democratic camp in the 2019 District Council elections, and the pan-democratic camp’s boycott of the 2021 Legislative Council’s election after the imposition of a “patriots only” candidate vetting process, are a testament to Hong Kong people’s determination to fight for the principles enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.  The rapid deterioration of Hong Kong from a vibrant, free and safe city underpinned by the rule of law and independent judiciary to what it is today demonstrates the need to be eternally vigilant in safeguarding core liberal democratic values.

Congress condemns in strongest terms the passage of the National Security Law, and the wave of lawsuits, convictions and harassments against the political opposition, academe, media, professional groups, and non-governmental organizations that follows in its wake. LI urges the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to repeal the abovementioned legislation, to drop the charges against those arrested under it, and to immediately and unconditionally release those who are still in detention, many of whom have been locked up for over a year without trial. Justice delayed is justice denied. LI considers such unbearable and unreasonable treatment of those detained as deeply unjust.  LI calls on the Hong Kong government to cease from committing further acts that impinge on the Hong Kong people’s exercise of fundamental human rights.

Despite some successes in economic policy, Liberal International deplores the increasingly authoritarianism of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its leader Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and in particular its undermining of the civil rights, discrimination in favour of the Hindu majority and against the 21% of the population belonging to various religious minorities, and outright persecution of  Muslims.

This undermines India’s claim to be the World’s largest democracy.

Liberal International calls for the restoration of the autonomous constitutional government in Kashmir and peaceful negotiations to resolve differences both with Pakistan and with Kashmiris, submitting the results to a free and fair plebiscite, with all options available.

Liberal International also deplores India’s backsliding on carbon emission controls, believing that India is uniquely placed to provide solutions to global warning that can be replicated elsewhere.

Congress congratulates President Joko Widodo of Indonesia for being re-elected in 2019 in the world’s third biggest democracy, amidst the serious threats of disinformation and extremism that marked the election campaign.

Congress calls on Indonesia, given its size and political weight in Southeast Asia, to play a more proactive role in ASEAN’s efforts to address the Myanmar crisis, particularly in insisting on the immediate implementation of the 5-point consensus as a prerequisite for any negotiation with the military junta. LI urges Indonesia to continue to inspire and encourage its neighboring countries to strengthen regional cooperation and to stand firm against authoritarianism and extremism.

Congress regrets that the democratic and political transformation that should have marked a change in government in Malaysia in 2018 was not sustained, and that the country is still grappling with political instability to this day, ex acerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress welcomes the Parliament of Malaysia’s passage of a bill amending the Federal Constitution to lower voting age to 18 (Undi18), and how this could usher in a new era in Malaysian politics.

LI recognizes that as a multi–ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society, Malaysia should have encouraged more the pursuit of a non-ethnic approach in politics, economics, education and culture.

Congress commends Mongolia’s successful holding of the 2020 parliamentary election and 2021 presidential election amidst the pandemic, although perennial issues remain such as the use of money politics and the proliferation of false information.

Liberal International deplores the continuation of the military junta led by General Min Aung Hlaing in February 2021 and their persecution of the Rohingya, which has expanded to other minority groups and the killing and jailing of demonstrators and political activists. We further condemn the detention of Liberal International Prize for Freedom Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on trumped up charges.    Liberal International further notes that the plight of the Rohingya refugees is nowhere near a solution.   Liberal International calls on all ASEAN nations to refrain from recognising this unconstitutional junta and to work towards the resumption of democracy involving all communities and tribes.

Congress condemns the continuing and intensifying detention, torture and killings of Myanmar citizens in the wake of the 2021 coup d’etat which displaced a democratically elected civilian government.

Congress demands that those who are responsible for the killing of innocent people should be prosecuted and brought to justice.  It also demands for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues, as well as of human rights and democracy activists who have been unjustly detained.  The recent sentences on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on dubious corruption and other charges are clearly meant to keep her out of politics so the military junta can cling on to power for as long as it wants.

Congress calls for the immediate implementation of the ASEAN 5-point consensus, and that this should be made as requisite for any engagement of the military junta’s State Administration Council (SAC). Failure to implement the 5-point consensus, which already marked its one-year anniversary recently, should be used as grounds to impose more punitive sanctions on the military junta. LI also calls on the ASEAN to engage the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar in charting the country’s future direction.

Congress condemns the on-going grave human rights violations in North Korea. Kim Jong-un’s totalitarian has been ruling for ten years, the situation is just as horrendous as during the rule of his father Kim Jong-il and his grandfather Kim Il-sung. North Korea ranks at the bottom of any index of human rights, liberty and freedom. Despite the hardship of the population, a large part of North Korea´s limited funds are spent on its missile and nuclear weapon programs.

The North Korean government is threatening peace in the region and the world. Despite multiple offers by the international community, Kim Jong-un does not show a sincere interest in finding a diplomatic solution. LI strongly urges the North Korean government to return to the negotiation table, to improve its human rights situation and to take the path towards denuclearization.

Liberal International notes the disputes regarding the recent change of Government in Pakistan resulting in the replacement of incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, we are optimistic  that this will not disrupt the progress in solidifying democracy in the country which we have seen over the last decade. A real liberal alternative is still lacking in Pakistan, despite the presence of liberal elements in many political parties.

Liberal International deplores the trampling of minority rights and lynchings resulting from the misuse of blasphemy laws.

Liberal International regrets the inability of the Pakistani Government and Security Forces to deal with extremist terrorism within their territory.

Congress congratulates the Philippines Liberal Party on the occasion of its 75^th founding anniversary in 2021, recognizing its unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, freedom and social justice despite the difficult and multifold challenges that the Philippines has confronted under the Duterte administration. The systematic extra-judicial killings of drug suspects, the strengthening of authoritarian populist forces after the 2019 midterm elections, the passage of the vaguely written Anti-Terrorism Law in 2020, the shutdown of the largest broadcasting network, ABS-CBN, in the same year, coupled with harassment and intimidation of journalists, including Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, are just some of the challenges the country has faced in the past years, along with the continuing massive disinformation campaign against and persecution of the members of the political opposition and alarming levels of Chinese intrusions in the South China Sea.

Liberal International deplores the decision of the Security and Exchange Commission of the Philippines to revoke the license of the news website “Rappler!” founded by Nobel peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. The decision is a further setback to freedom of expression in the Philippines.

This was because the original revocation order was in 2018, and then Rappler appealed it, so the recent one was in response to the Court of Appeals decision ordering SEC to review Rappler’s case.

Liberal International calls upon new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to release Senator Leila de Lima from prison.

Congress supports the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Ruling on the South China Sea, the International Criminal Court’s investigation of extra-judicial killings, and the immediate and unconditional release of Senator Leila de Lima, who has been in detention for more than five years on bogus illegal drugs charges.  LI commends the political opposition in the Philippines for undertaking grassroots, volunteer-driven campaign in the 2019 midterm and 2022 presidential elections.

Despite the unfortunate election results, Ms. Robredo and the Liberal Party have become an even stronger political force that can significantly advocate its reformist and progressive agenda especially in the legislature and in civil society.

Congress expresses concern on the passage of the Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) in 2019 and Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA) in 2021 in Singapore. POFMA has been weaponized against political opponents, activists and anyone who is critical of the government while FICA has the potential to do the same.  While the objectives of these laws, on paper, may appear to be in line with societal needs, the authoritarian nature of the ruling party make these pieces of legislation prone to abuse – resulting in further curtailment of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Congress regrets that the ruling party held a general election in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, which made it more difficult for the political opposition to campaign due to social distancing protocols.  This contributed further to the uneven political environment where the ruling party has an institutionalized machinery and a considerable influence on mainstream media, apart from having the unchecked power to change the laws to its political advantage. Given these realities, LI commends the strong performance of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party in the elections, having registered 46.3 percent and 45.2 percent of the votes in at least two constituencies it contested.

The economic situation in Sri Lanka is cause for immediate concern as the international food and cost-of-living crisis has been exacerbated by the populist policies of the Rajapaksa government and their unaffordable loans from China. The government has fallen but the President Gotbaya Rajapaksa remains in office.

Congress congratulates President Tsai Ing-wen for winning the 2020 elections and for leading Taiwan’s successful pandemic response.  Taiwan’s COVID-19 experience shows that the principles of democracy, accountability, transparency and good governance can serve as bases for handling major crises. Indeed, LI considers Taiwan as an “Island of Resilience”, democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world.

Congress expresses alarm on the heavy intervention from China in Taiwan affairs, as it did in the last local and presidential elections particularly in terms of disseminating distrust and lack of confidence towards the Taiwanese government and against democracy. This deployment of sharp power had also reached the local community, organizations, religious groups, and NGOs. LI is also concerned that China’s recent actions, such as flying jets in Air Defense Identification Zone (AIDZ), can unilaterally undermine the status quo of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite the tremendous pressure exerted on it by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the DPP government has nonetheless insisted on safeguarding Taiwan’s sovereignty and the values ​​of freedom and democracy. Finally, in January 2020, the DPP won the presidential and parliamentary elections, which represented full approval and support from the Taiwanese people for the DPP government’s reform programme and received the approval and support of the Taiwan people.

Given that Taiwan has so much to offer in terms of experience, Congress strongly supports Taiwan’s inclusion in international institutions such as the World Health Assembly, the Comprehensive and Progressive Partnership Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, among other international bodies and agreements. Hence, the DPP cordially advocates that the global epidemic prevention network should not be left with the gap, as well as sincerely invites the LI international friends to stand with Taiwan together, and call for Taiwan to participate in the WHO, become a global public health partner to safeguard the global health with everyone hand in hand.

Since January, the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, which has caused a global pandemic and world panic, and Taiwan is also a victim of it. However, due to political factors, Taiwan is still excluded from the WHO. As a matter of fact, Taiwan has an advanced and complete health medical system, as well as an accumulated rich professional experience in the past against the SARS period. Such valuable Taiwan experience deserves to be shared with the world together.

Congress congratulates The Democrat Party of Thailand  on the occasion of its 76th founding anniversary in 2022, noting its attempts to advance democracy, freedom and public participation despite the global pandemic crisis and the difficult political situation in Thailand. LI commends the Party’s success in continuing to help improve the well-being of Thai farmers through its Income Support Programs.

LI welcomes Thailand’s parliamentary progress on bills legalizing same-sex marriage and civil partnership, which could make it the first country in Southeast Asia to have legislation of such nature. LI also applauds and the country’s recent decriminatization of marijuana for medical use.

Congress recognizes that the wave of protests that have been happening in Thailand in the past years emanate from ongoing political, economic and societal challenges. LI welcomes the constitutional reform which was an important step to address the national conflict and commends the Party’s unwavering effort which has led to success in passing its version of the amendment bill through the National Assembly. Subsequently, the amended Constitution has been in effect since November last year.

Congress congratulates Thailand for its successful gubernatorial election for Bangkok Governor and its Council Members held for the first time in ten years last May, and wishes the country every success in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting this November.

Congress recognizes Vietnam´s rather liberal economic policies, including several FTAs, which have lifted millions out of poverty. Market economy is creating a growing middle class. Sadly, such advances go hand in hand with many illiberal policies and actions of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The CPV does not recognize fundamental freedoms, such as freedoms of expression or assembly.

Congress condemns the incarcerations of bloggers, lawyers, journalist and others. The average prison term for those, who are sentenced for expressing dissent, continues to rise. LI urges the CPV to release all prisoners of conscience and to stop monitoring, intimidating and arresting its citizens for expressing themselves.