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.

For the first item, the centrepiece of the proposal revolves on the promotion of the YLDA Program Officer from a part-time position to a full-time position starting in January 2008. “With the ambitious goals we have set forth for 2008 in celebration of YLDA’s 5th Founding Anniversary, the Executive Committee needs a permanent and reliable partner to ensure things are running smoothly in the Manila Secretariat office,” declares YLDA President Rajendra Mulmi.

Improving the quality of future workshops, seminars and conferences is the focus of the other restructuring efforts of YLDA to expand the participation base of YLDA participants and generate quality participation from delegates. Headlining the list of YLDA international events next year is the proposed YLDA Liberalism Institute that aims to jumpstart a productive dialogue amongst Asian youths on Asian brand of liberalism and the Training of Trainers (ToT) on Modulation and Facilitation Skills, which aims to produce a battery of YLDA-trained facilitators and moderators.

The culmination of the YLDA activities in 2008 shall be the celebration of the organization’s fifth year anniversary in November at Siem Reap, Cambodia. The exact place where YLDA was officially born with the ratification of its constitution in 2003. This event is being panned to be a joint project with IFLRY. The theme of the event is “Youth Changing the World”.

Other programs mentioned are publication of the papers and proceedings presented during the YLDA liberalism institute seminar, creation of the new YLDA multimedia presentation, reconstruction of the YLDA website, and the various capacity-building visits by YLDA to member organizations and partners in the region.

“The meat of this proposal reflects the resolute effort by the YLDA Executive Committee to further improve the organization’s political standing and influence amongst Asian youths,” adds Secretary General Jan-Argy Tolentino. He also expressed optimism that with the re-election of Camelia Puji Astuti and the election of Chee Wey Hng and Buddhika Pathirana as Executive Committee members, YLDA shall see the fruition of its 2008 goals.

YLDA Program Officer Felipe C. Canlas meanwhile looks forward to sustaining the administration improvements at the YLDA Secretariat. The cornerstone of this endeavour shall be the consistent and reliable appointment of an YLDA Program Assistant from partner universities in the Philippines to help streamline administrative functions of the Secretariat and build a strong partnership base for YLDA in the Philippines.

Originally posted at www.iflry.org 

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.”

To concretize their learning, participants also broke into small group discussions on political parties, government work and civil society. Each group presented a paper on governance and citizen participation that included recommendations for their own countries.

Summing up the task for the future, Adinda Tenriangke Muchtar, a political analyst from the Indonesian Institute’s Center for Public Policy Research, said “Scrutinizing government transactions should be seen both as a right and [a] responsibility of citizens.” She continued, “Citizenship in a democratic society implies vigilance and political awareness, and these are best exemplified and exercised by the young.”She encouraged the youth to participate in government not only by joining political parties but by exploring “other avenues of activism.” Muchtar also stressed that government has an equal responsibility in that it has to create structures that foster a high-level of citizen participation.

The workshop ended with the YLDA holding its annual general assembly. It evaluated its programmes, planned its activities for next year and elected a new executive committee. Rajendra Mulmi remains president.

Originally posted at www.fnfasia.org 

Presentation by Mr. Cornelis Lay
The Gadjah Mada University – Yokyakarta

The magic words on ‘New Governance’ according to Mr. Cornelis are: Minimalistic State, Corporate Governance, New Public Management, Good Governance, Socio-Cybernetic systems and Self-organizing networks. For further details, please find the link for the presentation below as it is very well presented.

Following the presentation, further discussions were raised by the participant concerning the practicality of the theories in the current Asian environment as well as Asian values and cultures.

How do we balance the western values and Asian values in order that we preserve the rights of the local minorities as well as preserving the heritage and cultures? To be discussed in the remainder of the workshop as we are out of time for the session…

Stay tune!
You can download the presentation here: (New Governance – Cornelis Lay )

The YLDA workshop entitled ‘Engaging Citizens for Responsible and Effective Governance” formally begins in Jakarta!

A welcoming dinner was held last night (21/11/07), Mr. Sandun Gamage, member of YLDA executive committee delivered a warm welcoming speech as well as our local host from Garda Bangsa, Ms. Camelia Puji Astuti. A brief wise words from Mr. Rainer Haeufers, Project Director of FNF Indonesia on what is being considered good governance in Europe, especially from the view point of the FNF. A man of few words but was just enough to already started our thought process and ready us to tackle the topics for the next few days here in Jakarta. Following the dinner, the participants were given to opportunity to listen to inspiring speech by visiting member of parliament from PKB and YLDA alumni, Mr. H. Faishal Zaini. (We would also like to thank Eko for the translation of Mr. Zaini’s speech.)

Today, we started the day (by no means we used German Time for punctuality, but rather converted to the norms of Asian time) by leveling off activities. Everyone were given the chance to introduce his/her partner on the personal and professional information and their individual expectation of the workshops, a methods used by 99% of FNF events. Rules and regulations were set cleared by our co-moderator, Pey Canlas. (Again, we can’t drink the mini-bar! Thanks Pey!)

The tone of the workshop was set by contribution from Mr. Cornelis Lay of The Gadjah Mada University. Mr. Cornelis introduce to the participant both the technical and practical points on governance and new public management. Morning session was concluded at 12.30 and the participants break for lunch.

Following the lunch break, the plenary is divided into 3 groups for role playing. The three groups are: member of the civil society, members of the political parties, and members of the state. Participants were given thirty minutes to have group discussions to formalize their stances and their newly found role. Each group is a good mixture of participants from different background as well as country of origin. Following the discussion, each group presented their definition of their respective group and set their own role in the society. Members of each group are asked to stick to their ‘role’ for the remainder of the workshop and base their actions, contributions and questions based on the agreed role. (Could be quite frustrating for some politicians sitting in the civil society group!)

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.