On the one-year anniversary of Thailand's most recent coup, ANFREL's fears in the days following the 22 May 2014 coup have unfortunately come true. The timing for elections has been pushed back repeatedly, with threats to delay them further unless conditions, in the eyes of the ruling junta, prove perfect. Until the
We, the participants of People’s SAARC Convergence met in Kathmandu on 22-24 November 2014 to reaffirm our solemn commitments to justice, peace, security, human rights, and democracy in the region for equality for all and to eliminate all forms of discrimination. We have come together to challenge the systematic and structural marginalisation
October 22, 2014 - A year ago today, the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) was born as a platform to strengthen the voices for solidarity among peoples and civil society in Asia. In Olympia Hall of the Parktel Hotel located in Seoul, Korea, civil society activists, human rights defenders, democracy advocates, and
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Dear Colleague, The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program at the International Forum for Democratic Studies is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2015-2016 fellowship year. Please help us reach out to activists, journalists, and scholars in your field by: forwarding this announcement to eligible individuals and networks connecting with NED and the International
BANGKOK, 26 May 2014 – The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Foundation today expressed its condemnation of the Thai military’s May 22nd coup and the subsequent collapse of democratic rights that has followed. Thursday’s military takeover is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of all Thais, no matter their affiliation,
The Cambodian Committee for Free and Fair Elections (COMFREL) has since 2009 extended its obser- vations and analysis of the electoral process to the overall democratization process in Cambodia. The analytical reports on the state of democracy titled ‘Democracy, Election and Reform’ are annually pub- lished and disseminated to all interested
PRESS STATEMENT CONCERNING THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BANGLADESH 2014 Bangkok, December 24, 2013: The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), the Asian election watchdog, urges the Government and the Election Commission of Bangladesh to postpone the election scheduled to be held on January 5, 2013 citing several conditions that undermine the conduct
For Immediate Release: BANGKOK, 08 December 2013 – The ANFREL Foundation wishes to express its deep concern about the ongoing protests in Bangkok, in particular, the attempt by protesters to remove an elected government through undemocratic means and their calling for an unelected body to govern the country, a so-called “People’s Council”,
The Launching Assembly of the Asian Democracy Network met in Seoul on 22 October 2013, read the result of the Ceremony here: [embed width="650" height="850"]https://anfrel.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ADN-Launching-Ceremony-Program-and-Seoul-Democracy-Declaration-2013-10-22-final.pdf[/embed] Or download as a PDF here: ADN Launching Ceremony Program and Seoul Democracy Declaration 2013 10 22 final
In order to create awareness about the functioning of a parliament amongst the people of Burma/Myanmar an initiative titled, Training and Parliament Education (TAPE)-Myanmar has been started in the country since February 2013. The implementation of the project follows two years of research, assessments and resource mapping. Several activities have been undertaken
Article with video on Sky News website here: http://news.sky.com/story/1118836/japan-election-shinzo-abe-hails-landslide-win The Japanese prime minister's ruling coalition has won a solid majority in the country's upper house elections, gaining control of both chambers of parliament. Shinzo Abe's decisive win is being seen as a mandate to press ahead with difficult economic reforms - an endorsement
COMFREL concludes that the Cambodian democracy has experienced further backlashes in 2012 confirming the perception among parts of the Cambodian public and the international community that Cambodia’s political system is in an increasingly fragile state of democracy." --ANFREL member COMFREL's new report on the state of democracy in Cambodia in 2012
SAARC Democracy Charter Citizens' Initiative This is the Final Version of the Charter prepared by the Regional Conference on SAARC Democracy Charter: Citizens' Initiative, held in Kathmandu on 20th -21st September 2011. A Working Draft was initially prepared by the Brainstorming Meeting held in Kathmandu on 24th-25th November 2010. SACEPS is grateful
ANFREL Press Statement : Malaysian Electoral Reforms Crucial for Democracy in ASEAN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Malaysian Electoral Reforms Crucial for Democracy in ASEAN BANGKOK, 04 May 2012 – While the significance of the rallies on 28th April will undoubtedly continue to be debated for some time, it is important that the debate
By Bidhayak Das: From a democracy activist to a parliamentarian, the journey for Aung San Suu Kyi has been long and arduous. She has had to spend the last two decades of her life under house arrest in her struggle to bring human rights, democracy and justice to the people of Myanmar.
GENDEM was launched on 3rd – 5th April 2012 ANFREL was part of the drafting committee as invited by NDI and UNEAD since 2010. Those organizations who participated at the UN building were OAS, UNEAD, OSCE/ODIHR, Carter Centre, LADE, EAD, SuGDE, APEM, MOE, Obscianske OKO, ISFED, TMG, COMFREL, NDI, WAEON.
The somewhat changed situation in Myanmar where there is more space to talk about political developments and read about activities of all other political parties in the newspapers is perhaps a reflection of what’s in store for the country’s future. But to do that there is an absolute need to make use
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL-Foundation) welcomes recent political developments in Burma, progress which includes less censorship of the media; more engagement with the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi, and some ethnic groups; the release of some, though not all, political prisoners; and finally, the re-registration of the NLD as a
On the occasion of the 23rdanniversary of the 8888 people’s uprising in Burma, ANFREL wishes to express itssolidarity with the people that on that day twenty-three years ago todayexpressed their fundamental desire for democratic change. What had begun primarily as a studentprotest expanded over time to include people from all walks of
The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) is closely following the general election that will be held in Thailand on 3 July, with both hope and concern. Following the military coup in 2006, Thailand has seen a rapid succession of governments, of various persuasions, all of which suffered from deficits of
View Full Report (PDF) This Code of Conduct was drafted in the first half of 1998. The process involved the retrieval, collation, analysis and synthesis of all the different codes and materials on this topic. This enabled the formulation and drafting of a universal set of minimum standards. Following distribution of the draft code, a lengthy and detailed
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has expressed its profound disappointment in the conduct of Myanmar’s 2010 Parliamentary & Regional Assembly Elections. After missing a chance to hold truly free and fair elections, ANFREL hopes that Myanmar’s military junta and the new parliament, once formed, take this post-election period as an opportunity to institute
KABUL - The Asian Network for Free Elections comprising of 30 citizen observers from 11 countries across Asia, congratulate the people of Afghanistan for their participation in the Wolesi Jirga Election.The September 18th election is another milestone towards strengthening democracy and respect the rule of law. The statement covers the pre election
View Full Report (PDF) | View Full Report in Bahasia Language (PDF) In order to consolidate the successful outcome of ASEAN Summit meeting in Cha-am, Hua Hin, Thailand held on Febuary 25 and February 26 2009, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL-Foundation) underscores the need for further cooperation and collaboration between ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN governments and the respective