Young Liberals Gather in Jakarta for Annual Meet
2007-10-30

The Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia is expected to bring Asia's youth power to Jakarta as its members and partners visit Indonesia from November 22 - 27, 2007 for the federation's Annual General Meeting (AGM) and workshop/seminar on Good Governance.

The AGM, made possible with support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) is organized by YLDA-member organizations in Indonesia Garda Bangsa and the youth wing of the Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) of Indonesia. The AGM, which will see the election of the new set of officers for 2008 will be preceded by a three day workshop/seminar on Good Governance. Around twenty international participants and ten Indonesian young liberals are expected to convene in Jakarta for the workshop.

YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi explained that YLDA decided to hold the workshop on good governance not only to spread the awareness about the ill effects of corrupt practices in government but more importantly, "to strengthen the resolve of young Asian liberals against corruption."

Taking the cue from this declaration, other members of the Executive Committee supported the adoption of the theme for the workshop even as YLDA Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino emphasized during the discussion, "good governance should be seen as right of the people rather than an obligation of the government to provide accountability and transparency in their actions.

YLDA Executive Committee member Camelia Puji Astuti of Garda Bangsa also expressed elation over the decision of the Executive Committee to hold the workshop and AGM in Jakarta. She declares with unequivocal affirmation that the meeting will be a big success, as her organization and its mother party, National Awakening Party together with the youths from the Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP) are leaving no stones unturned in preparing for the international event.

Luminaries in Indonesian politics are expected to grace the workshop. The organizers are set to invite former Indonesian President, KH Abdurrahman Wahid and other top officials of PKB and PDIP to deliver messages and lectures for the organizers.

In explicating the program of the four-day event, YLDA Program Officer Felipe Canlas III reiterates that discussions and lectures on Good Governance during the workshop shall develop by "connecting good governance as a value and practice to the ideals of citizen participation." The workshop thus does not only seek to inform and advocate but also offer solutions to problems of good governance through dialogues and sharing of best practices in civil society involvement in governance.

At the last day of the event, the general assembly shall be convened to discuss the achievements of the outgoing year and prepare for the YLDA projects that are still to be implemented this year and the next. Discussions shall revolve from extending partnerships with partners and improvement of pioneering projects like Capacity Building Visits to member organizations and the Manual for Political Campaigns.

For further inquiry about this event, please contact the YLDA Secretariat programofficer@yldasia.org or call (+632) 8403728 for YLDA Program Officer Pey Canlas or YLDA Intern Anna Mariquina.

You can also visit the blog for the event at http://yldajakarta2007.wordpress.com.

Garda Bangsa Garda Bangsa was formed in 1998 following the successful political reform spearheaded by students and other campus activists to depose the tyrannical regime of President Suharto. The organization was founded by Abdurram Wahid, a former adviser of President Suharto who resigned following an escalation in government corruption and political management by the administration. He championed "Responsible Openness" within the government system and proposed the establishment of a Reform Committee in order to mitigate poor governance within the administration. His calls were left unheeded and so he eventually withdrew support for the government and joined the efforts advocating for reform in the government. Read more...