Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and Goethe Institute, in cooperation with Merdeka Center for Opinion Research Malaysia and Lembaga Survei Indonesia, asked 2,500 young (15-25 yrs.) Muslims in Malaysia and in Indonesia what they think about their country, their society and their family. Following events in Jakarta and Berlin, the Malaysia-results were made public in Kuala Lumpur this Monday.
Highlights Muslim Youth Survey 2011
Malaysia
92% of young Muslims are happy with their lives
70% want the Quran to replace the Federal Constitution of Malaysia
New paper on recent developments of the Cambodian – Thailand border conflict
by Juliane Schmucker
Since the beginning of February, new outbreaks of violence are taking place at the Cambodian – Thai border. The area surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear temple is a matter of dispute between the two states for more than a hundred years now. Even a mutual agreement on a tentative ceasefire did not help to stop the exchange of heavy artillery fire. Thousands of people have fled from the area, seeking shelter in adjacent provinces. The UN has tried to take a mediating role in the border tensions. Also the ASEAN confederation has offered to help in finding a long-term solution. However, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva prefers bilateral discussions with the Cambodian neighbour, while Cambodian PM Hun Sen tries to abandon any responsibility for the violent actions. In light of the recurrent tensions and mutual accusations, it is highly doubtful that such bilateral approach will be fruitful.
100 days of unheard of political stability under President Aquino
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by Mr. Jules Maaten
This Summer’s election victory of Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III as 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines has been compared to the success of President Barack Obama when he won in 2008. Both ran under the banner of change and against an extremely disliked predecessor. Both were propelled to the presidency by overwhelming public support (‘People Power’) and given the mandate to lead with a huge number of expectations. Although Obama’s approval rating remained high on his 100th day in office, it is now plummeting. Democrats were struggling in the recent mid-term elections. Will Noynoy eventually face the same fate?
Market Economy and Justice – For a Comeback of Values
By Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt, member of the German Parliament and Executive Chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Translated by Natalie Hohmann
Market economy but also the indispensable requirements of freedom as well as an open awareness for threats to freedom had considerably lost cultural base in Germany already before the so-called financial crises. Competition all but became a contaminated word. Justice rhetoricians held the by far utmost attention. They revolved every proposal of change that was expressed on behalf of generation justice and fairness of social security systems regardless of the consequences and thus, brought a total simplicity into people’s mind.
Less than a year ago, the predominant view had been that Asia would be only marginally affected by the looming credit crisis. Today, many Asian countries are among the hardest hit.
In order to provide a broad social platform for discussing the impact of the crisis and the needed policy responses, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF), the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and the Democrat Party (Thailand) organised a conference, under the banner "Liberal Responses to the Global Economic Crisis" on 28 March 2009, at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”
The above notion seems to be gaining credence in this part of the world as ASEAN’s leaders--one by one – signed the first ASEAN charter. The charter serves as the ASEAN’s constitution, providing ASEAN a ‘legal entity’.
There is – as things now stand – a growing realisation of a single ASEAN economic community. In a free market world, it is observed that ‘the size of the market is what counts’.
Analysis: “Change in America” To Bring A Cold Breeze and Vital Momentum to the Korean Peninsula
By Walter Klitz, head of the FNF Korea office
In his speech “change has come to America” Barack Obama has exclaimed a new era of leadership. He described the ability of change to be the “true genius of America”. With his administration profound changes were to be initiated and “alliances to be repaired”.
“Everything is possible” and “yes, we can” are keywords that will stick within the heads of a great number of listeners all over the world. These words will raise expectations but as well worries all around the globe. It is not only that with Obama a Democrat has been elected president; Obama’s victory has been accompanied by a comfortable edge of the Democratic Party in both houses and might pave the way for a strong shift of American policies.
