Monday, July 18, 2005, Vol. 1, No. 1
The Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia (YLDA)
is the network of liberal youth organizations and individuals
in the Asian continent. Since its establishment in 2003,
YLDA has been instrumental in bring the young liberals and
liberal youth organisations in Asia together to strengthen
liberalism in Asia. Through its various interventions, workshops
and seminars, YLDA has been able to vitalize the energy
of the young liberals and provide opportunities for more
interaction, sharing and exchanges of views, ideas and experiences
to young people.
Recognizing that communication is the key
factor to any successful network, YLDA has made its effort
to start the e-newsletter "YLDA Connect". The
main objective of this newsletter is to provide information
about the organization, its ideals and advocacies to the
internal target groups and selected external target groups,
whereby establishing a regular communication mechanism.
This will also aim to strengthen the network and promote
knowledge about the member organizations through dissemination
of information, news and ideals. The newsletter will be
sent to all the members of YLDA, other partner organizations
and interested individuals.
2005 is a year of firsts. Read more about
milestones and continued cooperation with partners in this
maiden issue of our newsletter.
We hope that you will enjoy reading this first
ever issue of YLDA Connect and we would welcome your feedback,
inputs and comments for improving this communication tool.
There are plenty more lined up for the year
and you can be sure that YLDA Connect will be there to chronicle
them for you.
Rajendra Mulmi & Anne Elicaño
Editors
YLDA REPORTS DURING LP PLANNING
YLDA gave a report on its projects during
the mid-year planning seminar of the Liberal Party of the
Philippines (LP), a partner who has always given weight
to youth concerns through its youth arm, KALIPI. View the
full article at <http://www.yldasia.org/news/2005-07-13.html>
and visit the website of KALIPI at http://www.liberalparty.ph/KALIPI/index.htm.
YLDA EYES CALD ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Three years ago, YLDA was just a dream in
the minds of participants of the first Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats (CALD) Young Leaders Workshop. Now
YLDA is a full-fledged organization, seeking to formalize
and strengthen ties by applying for CALD associate membership.
Read more at http://www.yldasia.org/news.php?news=16
.
SECRETARY GENERAL INAUGURATES YLDA
OFFICE
7B Amorsolo Street, Makati City is now officially
home to one more liberal organization- the Young Liberals
and Democrats of Asia. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation
(FNF) and CALD formally welcomed YLDA to their joint office.
With the secretariat in place, YLDA is equipped to become
an even stronger and more efficient organization. Get the
full details at http://www.yldasia.org/news.php?news=14
and check out our event pictures at http://www.yldasia.org/gallery.php
.
KALIPI GATHERS IN YLDA SECRETARIAT
FOR YOUTH ACTIVISM FORUM
The KALIPI gathered at the YLDA secretariat
on May 18 to actively discuss the past, present, and future
of youth activism. KALIPI has always been in the front lines
of activism, not only in the Philippines but in Asia as
well. Visit http://www.yldasia.org/news.php?news=13
.
YLDA HOLDS CAMPAIGNING WORKSHOP IN
INDONESIA
How do you run a successful political campaign?
Representatives from YLDA member organizations and observers
from Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands found out
how in Indonesia’s famous university town, Yogyakarta.
They shared experiences through country reports and joined
a forum with no less than former president Abdurrahman Wahid
and Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar,
M. Si. The YLDA workshop was hosted by PKB Youth and held
in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Read
all about it at http://www.yldasia.org/news/2005-05-24.html
.
“I always hear the older generations
say, ‘you are the future’. To me, we are the
present and the role of young people should be played today.
If we wait for the future… we’ll be adults already”
--- Rajendra Mulmi, YLDA Secretary General, YLDA Inauguration
(May 18, 2005)
YOUNG LIBERAL VIEWS
Liberal Initiative – A Hope Towards
Democracy!
By: Robin Sitoula, Youth Initiative
Nepal has remained an almost 'absolute monarch
state' throughout the 237 years of modern history. Significant
political and economic developments in Nepal started only
in the 1950s. The people's movement got rid of the century
long fascist Rana regime and put the king back to active
throne. This was the start of democracy in Nepal. Unfortunately,
this state of democracy only lasted for a decade.
Nepal remained a 'party-less' absolute monarch
state from the 1960s until the 1990s. During this period,
civil, political and economic freedoms of the people were
almost completely suppressed by the state. Nepal was declared
the only Hindu state with a king (an incarnation of a Hindu
God, Vishnu). The state employed all its machinery to impose
the idea of a party-less Hindu monarch kingdom on to its
subjects. The multi-ethnicity and diversity of the state
was always sidelined resulting to a 'handful class' of people
gaining tremendous authority and control over political
and economic power. Any dissentient – individual or
groups– were quashed before they could speak up.
However, during this period, a significant
number of people engaged themselves in furtive political
parties and continued to struggle for democracy. In the
1990s, with the global wind of democracy, these political
parties agitated for a multiparty democracy. It soon gained
momentum with popular support and- without much bloodshed-
Nepal was declared a multi-party democracy and constitutional
monarchy in the year 1990. The reinstated democracy formed
an interim government to draft a constitution and conduct
elections. As a result, Nepal prepared the first democratic
constitution, with a constitutional monarchy and multiparty
democracy as its main feature. All kinds of freedoms –
civil, political, and economic, were assured in the new
constitution. With exception of the royal family, every
citizen was equal before the law. Many political parties
with various ideologies agendas emerged and competed for
the elections hence bringing 'democratic governments' at
all levels. Alongside hopes and ambitions, civil and political
awareness increased in people.
However, the fourteen years of transitional democracy in
Nepal (1990-2004) was a turbulent journey and faced large
criticisms. Considerable progress was seen in the media
sector, civil society, political awareness, and market participation
in the economy. On the contrary, political instability,
rampant corruption, lack of transparency and accountability,
anarchy, misuse of power and state of lawlessness, civil
conflict fuelled by armed revolution for a Maoist state
that threatened peoples lives, liberty and property and
the occasional active role assumption of the 'constitutional
monarch' were some of the few symptoms plaguing the democracy
of Nepal. The latter 'state of the state' developed severe
apathy in people towards democracy. Security – of
the lives and property – of Nepalese, is of prime
question today. In this air, I think, it would not be unjust
to state "Nepal has never witnessed true democracy
in her history".
In addition to the political-economic, socio-cultural
aspect of Nepalese societies has had a tremendous contribution
in the shaping of the mindset and values of people. Individual
freedom and responsibility has barely been witnessed in
families or societies. The idea of self-help and individuals
being able to solve most of their problems by themselves
seems alien to the majority. Fatalistic attitude is yet
another feature of Nepalese societies. People have submitted
themselves to the mercy of others, so are always expectant
of someone else or the state to take care of their needs
and chores. Democracy is widely accepted as the best governance
system. However, it is considered as a result, contrary
to it being seen as the process. Credit to what the fourteen
years of democratization has revealed that people tend to
be highly confused about the right time to introduce democracy
in the first place. To the ones who strongly uphold the
position that the alternative to democracy can be only more
democracy, situations like this, no doubt, is discouraging.
While taking liberal initiatives in an environment like
this, the foremost challenge always becomes to pursue people
to lend an ear to once more listen to democracy and liberal
democracy. Interestingly and inspiring enough is the fact
that the patient effort to carry on initiatives to arouse
awareness and interest in liberal ideas amongst young people
have remained satisfactory. Thanks to this attitude, the
youth are more open minded and seek alternatives. Though
reaching greater number of youths with such initiatives
and keeping the interested ones constantly engaged in discussing
these ideas and its relevancy in the Nepalese context is
like a tedious journey with a girt in the shoe. But the
bright side is that with an increase in strong believers
is the promise of getting more people engaged in similar
initiatives. Hope alone of the multiplier effect this can
have in the future has been able to keep the lonely crowd
of young liberals in Nepal devoted continuously in
truest sense – even though it may be a long way down
the lane.
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YLDA with Garda Bangsa
Chair Camelia Puji Astuti