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Former Malaysian deputy minister Dr. Anwar Ibrahim
leads key Asian leaders attending the second biennial meeting of the
World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) at the Sofitel
(formerly the old Westin Philippine Plaza) Hotel from September 19
to 21.
The three-day meeting will tackle
the political transition in Asia and forge a consensus on how civil
society groups, governments and citizens of various Asian countries
could collaborate to promote democratic processes, defend human
rights and assure just and equitable economic growth.
Ibrahim will keynote the
conference on Thursday, September 20, at 2 p.m. He will discuss
“Prospects and Problems for Asian Democracy.”
Former Indonesian President
Abdurrahman Wahid will also have a video presentation in the morning
of September 19, while former Cambodian Finance Minister Sam Rainsy
will participate in the high level meeting of Asian democrats and
civil society figures on Wednesday morning, September 19.
Secretary Jesus Dureza,
presidential adviser on the peace process, will welcome the
delegates at 9 a.m. on September 19. He will be joined by Atty.
Alexander Padilla, health undersecretary and chairman of the
nongovernment organization Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID),
the organizer of the WFDA meet.
Dr. Deng-ker Lee, adviser of the
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, which sponsored the first meeting
of WFDA two years ago, will be on hand to meet the participants.
Former President Fidel Ramos will
deliver the keynote address at 10:30 a.m. on September 19 and
discuss the significance of the Philippine experience for democracy
in Asia.
Padilla would moderate the
high-level forum, with Fernando Lasam de Araujo, president of the
national parliament of Timor Leste, leading the panel members. Dr.
Carolina Hernandez, chairwoman of the Institute for Strategic and
Development Studies (ISDS) of the Philippines, Ms. Irene Fernandez,
director of Teenaganita of Malaysia, Rainsy, and Dr. Young Hee
Shim, co-representative of Women Making Peace of South Korea as
members.
Debbie Stothard, coordinator of
the Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN Burma) would
moderate Plenary Session 1 of the meeting, with Dr. Vo Van Ai of
Vietnam, Mr. Ryita Jonen of World Movement for Democracy of Japan,
Ms. Khin Ohmar of the Asia-Pacific Peoples Partnership for Burma and
Dr. Ash Roy of the Institute of Social Sciences of India as members.
Three working groups will hear
country reports on democratization of closed societies, assisting
countries in transition and assisting democratic consolidation in
the afternoon
A welcome banquet will be held at
7 p.m. at the Sofitel Hotel.
The three-day meeting will tackle
the political transition in Asia and forge a consensus on how civil
society groups, governments and citizens of various Asian countries
could collaborate to promote democratic processes, defend human
rights and assure just and equitable economic growth.
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