YLDA Elects New Officers, Presents 2008 Plans in Jakarta Meet

Better Programs, Stronger YLDA.

This, in a nutshell, was the message the new Executive Committee of the Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia relayed to the general membership during the organization’s annual general assembly held in Jakarta, Indonesia last month, November 26, 2007.

With their eyes on the future just after getting a fresh mandate from the general assembly, the 2008 Executive Committee headed by YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi and Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino proposed to the body a two-page list of projects primarily intended to strengthen YLDA and its member organizations from within while implementing changes in the way programs are undertaken.

Asian Young Liberals Hold Workshop on Citizen Participation and Good Governance

For a democratic society to function at its best, active citizen participation is needed. In order to educate Asian youths on their responsibility to ensure that their government respond effectively to the needs of the people, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia (YLDA) held a workshop on engaging citizens for responsible and effective governance in Jakarta, Indonesia on 22-27 November 2007.

Camelia Puji Astuti, Garda Bangsa chairperson, former Indonesian President KH. Abdurrahman Wahid and YLDA Secretary General Jan-Argy Tolentino.

The workshop was hosted by Garda Bangsa in cooperation with the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle. Twenty-five youth leaders from eight countries gathered here to find common solutions to the problems hampering good governance and citizen participation in Asia.

The tone of the conference was set by former Indonesian President KH. Abdurrahman Wahid. “For us to discuss good governance, we must ensure first that there is a government responsive to the needs of the people,” Mr. Wahid said. “Good and responsible governance can only emanate from the true will of the people. The ideals of good governing are all about citizen and government engaging each other for better public service.”