International Movement of Parliamentarians for Democracy
Advancing Democracy:
Newsletter of the International Movement of Parliamentarians for Democracy
Advancing Democracy is the bi-monthly newsletter of the International Movement of Parliamentarians for Democracy highlighting democratic developments around the world of particular interest to parliamentarians. We hope the information found in this newsletter will be helpful to parliamentarians seeking to strengthen the promotion of democracy in your country and globally. We welcome any suggestions you may have for content in future issues of Advancing Democracy. Please send your suggestion to Tiffany Lynch at jamesb@ned.org. Feel free to share the newsletter with colleagues and encourage them to join the network. More information about the IMPD and how to become a member can be found at www.wmd.org/impd/main.html.
Table of Contents
- Parliamentary Elections
- Greece, March 7
- Malaysia, March 20
- Georgia, March 28
- Sri Lanka, April 2
- South Africa, April 14
- South Korea, April 15
- Government Actions to Promote Democracy
- European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
- European Commission Supports Afghan Elections
- British Parliament Further Prohibits FGM
- Switzerland Funds Sri Lankan Human Rights Program
- Bangladesh Parliament to Increase Number of Women MPs
- Slovak Parliament Broadens Parliamentary Election Laws
- Australian Parliament Approves Package for South Asia
- Mexican Election Bill to Curb Corruption
- Kenya to Adopt New Constitution
- Romanian Parliament Extends Anti-Corruption Package
- Kazakh President Vetoes Bill Limiting Media Freedom
- Government Actions to Restrict Democracy
- Pakistan Law Enlarges Army Role in Government
- China Changes Constitution
- Iran's President Withdraws Bills
- Ukraine Cuts Off RFE/RL Service
- Venezuelan Referendum Process Fails to Garner Recall
- Hong Kong Democracy Halted
- Shanghai Uses Video Cameras to Monitor Internet Usage
- Northern Nigeria State Expands Sharia Law
- Publications
- State of Pain: Torture in Uganda
- Two World Orders
- Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression?
- The Failure of Reform in Uzbekistan: Ways Forward for the International Community
- Serbia's U-Turn
- Darfur Rising: Sudan's New Crisis
- "I have no joy, no peace of mind"-sexual violence in eastern DRC
- Global Corruption Report 2004
- National Survey on Good Governance and Corruption
- The "New World Order"
of Repression
- Democracy in Latin America: Towards a Citizens' Democracy
- Freedom of the Press 2004: A Global Survey of Media Independence
- Trafficking of Human Beings, Especially in Women and Children, in Africa
Greece, March 7 - Handing the socialist party their first defeat in more than a decade, Greece's conservative party garnered control of parliament by a margin of 45 to 40 percent. Among the immediate priorities for New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis are preparations for the August Olympics and the continuing negotiations over reunification of Cyprus. New Democracy will hold 170 seats in Parliament, but will need the backing of at least 180 parliamentarians for the election to be legitimate.
Malaysia, March 20 - The National Front, party of Malaysia's Prime Minster Abdullah Badawi, swept to power capturing 198 seats in the 219-seat Parliament. The National Front soundly defeated the Islamic fundamentalist party, Pas, which lost control of the state government in Terengganu state, almost lost the neighboring state of Kelantan, and saw its seats in parliament fall from 26 to 7.
Georgia, March 28 - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's National Movement-Democratic Front received 66 percent of the vote and won 135 seats in parliament in the first parliamentary elections in Georgia since last year's Rose Revolution. The Industrialists-New Rightists party was the only other party to reach the seven percent minimum required to hold seats in parliament. It garnered 7.56 percent, and will hold the remaining 15 seats. The election was overshadowed by a dispute between Mr. Saakashvilli and Aslan Abashidze, who before the elections refused to have the semi-autonomous Ajaria region ruled by the Georgian president.
Sri Lanka, April 2 - A new Prime Minster was selected and the Sri Lankan president was re-elected in the general election which left an undecided parliament. Mahinda Rajapakse of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's United People's Freedom Alliance was elected Prime Minister with 46 percent of the vote. The vote gave 105 parliamentary seats to the United People's Freedom Alliance, eight seats short of a majority forcing coalition talks. The election saw a record 6,024 candidates from 24 political parties participate in the elections.
South Africa, April 14 - The African National Congress (ANC) received an overwhelming victory in the third election held in South Africa following the end of Apartheid and the beginning of 10 years of democracy. With an almost 80 percent turnout, the ANC received almost 70 percent of the vote, with the opposition Democratic Alliance garnering close to 12 percent. The ANC now holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, enabling it to amend the constitution.
South Korea, April 15 - In an election seen as a referendum on the opposition-controlled parliament's impeachment of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, the president's liberal Uri Party more than tripled its seats in parliament to 172 seats. The opposition Grand National Party now holds 101 seats in the 299-seat National Assembly.
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
The European Commission approved 96.35 million for the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) for 2004. EIDHR funds will be used to support programs in 32 countries to promote democracy, good governance and the rule of law, the prevention of torture and the rehabilitation of victims of torture, the promotion of international justice, and the abolition of the death penalty.
European Commission Supports Afghan Elections
The European Commission approved 8 million to prepare for elections in Afghanistan. Funds will be used to support the Voter Registration Project, managed by the United Nations, which aims to register more than 10 million potential voters and raise public awareness of the basic principles of democratic elections. Particular attention will be paid to ensure female participation in the elections. The 8 million is in addition to 7 million already contributed to the Voter Registration Fund by the Commission.
British Parliament Further Prohibits FGM
The House of Commons passed the Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2003 which prohibits parents from taking their daughters abroad for the female circumcision practice known as female genital mutilation. Parents who violate the law can face up to 15 years in prison. This law builds upon earlier legislation which banned the practice in Great Britain.
Switzerland Funds Sri Lankan Human Rights Program
Switzerland has vowed Rs.3.8 million to support the work of Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission (HRC) to monitor detention centers in an effort to combat torture. Under the program, 10 Investigative Officers will conduct surprise visits to police stations, prisons, juvenile homes, and psychiatric institutions to ensure that human rights are respected in such places. The Officers will also ensure that the centers' procedures and conditions meet international standards.
Bangladesh Parliament to Increase Number of Women MPs
The Bangladesh parliament will debate a bill to set aside 45 new seats in parliament for women. Although the legislation increases women's representation in parliament, many women's rights groups argue that it does not go far enough. The groups are pushing for 64 seats in parliament, one for each of Bangladesh's parliamentary districts, and for the women to be directly elected, not appointed by party leaders.
Slovak Parliament Broadens Parliamentary Election Laws
The Slovak Parliament approved a bill to allow for absentee balloting and campaign advertising on private radio and television stations in the country's next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2006. Prior to this legislation, campaign advertising was limited to public broadcasts. An amendment requiring at least one-third of parliamentary seats be occupied by women was rejected.
Australian Parliament Approves Aid Package for South Asia
The Australian parliament has approved a $1.5 million human rights and governance package for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as part of the South Asia Governance Fund. Funds used in Sri Lanka will train government officials acting as village police officers and legal advisers, and educate villagers on their legal rights. Funds used in Bangladesh will help establish a Human Rights Commission and will train officials at the International Organization for Migration to detect irregular migration.
Mexican Election Bill to Curb Corruption
The Mexican Congress is currently debating a bill that would decrease the amount of public money given to parties, decrease the presidential campaign period from six months to three, regulate campaign donations contributed by individuals and companies, and give Mexicans abroad the right to vote. The proposed changes to the Mexican election code stem from a series of scandals in which prominent politicians were videotaped accepting bribes. The bill has the backing of Mexican President Vicente Fox and all of the leading political parties.
Kenya to Adopt New Constitution
The Kenyan parliament is debating a new draft constitution to replace the existing 40-year old constitution by June. The new constitution provides for an elected president, who would then appoint a prime minister. It would be the responsibility of the prime minister to appoint and govern cabinet ministers and government while the president would remain head of the armed forces. The original draft of the constitution was altered at a constitutional conference, where most of the 629 delegates voted to create a prime minister's post following the 2007 elections in a move to trim the president's powers. The changes in the draft constitution have been met with much opposition, particularly along ethnic lines, with those closest to President Mwai Kibaki wishing to retain a strong presidency.
Romanian Parliament Extends Anti-Corruption Package
On April 21, the Romanian parliament amended a group of laws enacted in 2003 to curb corruption in the country. The new laws require that all persons seeking elected office declare their assets through a written statement submitted to the central or the local election commission. All candidates must now declare any national or foreign real estate properties (and when those properties were purchased), and all candidates will at least 5,000 euro in a national or foreign bank must present bank account statement.
Kazakh President Vetoes Bill Limiting Media Freedom
The President of Kazakhstan vetoed a bill passed by its parliament, entitled "On Mass Media in the Republic of Kazakhstan," which opponents argued would have weakened the legal protection of the media and expanded the ability of government officials to influence and censor independent journalists. Included in the bill were such articles as Article 3.1 banning the media from engaging in undefined "propaganda" and "agitation;" Article 3.2 prohibiting media outlets from revealing vaguely defined "state secrets;" Article 17 allowing courts to close media outlets for up to three months if they violate the legislation; Articles 29 and 30 forcing independent broadcasters to publicize official government statements; and Article 34 prohibiting journalists from publishing information that is "contrary to fact."
Pakistan Law Enlarges Army Role in Government
Pakistan's Parliament approved the creation of a 13-member National Security Council that would advise the government on security matters and other issues of national interest. The Council would include Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, four top military figures, cabinet ministers, and parliamentary heads. Opposition MPs condemned the bill as "permanent martial law" and said it was presented and adopted after they stormed out of parliament in protest over a separate issue. Previous parliaments had rejected the bill on the grounds that the military's involvement in civilian affairs was the problem, not the solution.
China Changes Constitution
In its annual meeting over a two week period in early March, the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made several changes to the country's constitution. The delegates approved a new clause to guarantee private property rights, putting them on equal footing with public property. The new clause allows citizens to defend their property from developers if the property is "legally held." Additionally, the delegates changed the constitution to include the phrase "The state respects and preserves human rights." However, while this phrase was adopted, several protesters outside of the Great Hall of the People, where the annual meeting was being held, were arrested.
Iran's President Withdraws Bills
Iran's elected president, Mohammad Khatami, withdrew two bills which would have expanded presidential powers and limited the authority of the Guardian Council, saying he wanted to prevent those powers the President currently possesses from being eliminated. One of the bills would have given the president powers to stop constitutional violations by conservative clerics. The other would have barred the Guardian Council from disqualifying parliamentary and presidential election candidates as it did this past January. The Guardian Council, a conservative, unelected body that reviews a legislation's compatibility with Islam, rejected the bills a year ago, arguing they were both unconstitutional and contrary to Islam.
Ukraine Cuts Off RFE/RL Service
With presidential elections scheduled for October, the Ukrainian government has increased its restrictions on independent media. On February 17th, the private radio station Dovira surprisingly discontinued its Ukrainian broadcasts of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after five years. Dovira pulled its broadcasts of the U.S. funded news service one month after the appointment of Serhiy Kychyhyn, a presidential ally, as the station's general producer. Broadcasts of RFE/RL were returned to the airways when another private Kyiv radio station, Kontinent, added daily two-hour segments to its programming schedule on February 27. Five days later, the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies and Supervision for Telecommunication raided the Kontinent station taking the station's transmitter and broadcasting equipment, and sealed its offices. Kontinent is still prohibited from broadcasting, allegedly because of an expired broadcasting license.
Venezuelan Referendum Process Fails to Garner Recall
The Venezuelan National Electoral Council ruled on March 2 that not enough valid signatures had been collected in a petition requesting a recall vote on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. According to the Council, the referendum process fell 1.1 million signatures shy of the 20 percent population support (2.4 million signatures) mandated by the constitution for a referendum to be held. The announcement was met by protests by referendum supporters and the resignation of the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations. The recall referendum process, provision for which was spelled out in the Constitution, was brokered by the Organization of American States and the Carter Center as a means to solve the country's political impasse.
Hong Kong Democracy Halted
Saying that direct elections would hurt the island's long-term economic interests, the Standing Committee of the Chinese Parliament ruled on April 26 full and direct election of Hong Kong's legislature in 2008 and its Chief Executive in 2007 will not take place as scheduled. The ruling comes after an April 6th decision saying that any change in Hong Kong's election laws must first be approved by Beijing. The ruling stems from an interpretation of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, which gave Beijing control of the territory's political reforms following the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China in 1997. Democracy proponents have held daily protests in the streets of Hong Kong in response to the ruling and the report, and are planning a massive protest for July 1.
Shanghai Uses Video Cameras to Monitor Internet Usage
The Chinese city of Shanghai has installed video cameras in its internet cafes to monitor internet usage. The video software will send a message to a command center indicating if the user is viewing such sites as pornographic sites, sites about the banned Falun Gong movement, or any other banned sites. The software requires users to input identity or passport numbers to log on to the Internet. In addition to the software, volunteers will conduct surprise visits to the cafes.
Northern Nigeria State Expands Sharia Law
The Northern Nigerian State of Zamfara has expanded its package of Sharia law calling for all business to shut down during the five daily Muslim prayers. Additionally, the state government has announced that under "phase two" of the new Sharia package, "unauthorized" places of worship will be closed down. The state has not yet announced what constitutes an "unauthorized" place of worship. Zamfara was the first state to implement Sharia law in Nigeria in 2000. The new measures have been welcomed by the state's citizens.
State of Pain: Torture in Uganda
A Human Rights Watch report found wide-spread use of torture to suppress political opposition in Uganda. The report found that state-sanctioned ad hoc military, security and intelligence agencies frequently practiced illegal and arbitrary detention, unlawful killing/extrajudicial executions, and torture to force captors to confess to links with political opponents or rebel groups.
The Two World Orders
The Wilson Quarterly released a report that explores the question of international law and its effect on democracy and democratic politics. It also examines the United States role in establishing and maintaining international law.
Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression?
International Crisis Group released a report examining Pakistan's campaign for political devolution and its lack of success in transferring power to local governments. The Devolution of Power Plan was announced in August 2000 by Pakistan's military government to increase accountability at the local level of government, but was covertly a means to increase centralized control. Among the reports recommendations include holding elections on a party basis and giving local governments more control over budgetary resources.
The Failure of Reform in Uzbekistan: Ways Forward for the International Community
An International Crisis Group report found that although Uzbekistan has the advantages of a strong security relationship with the U.S. and a strategic position in Central Asia, it is still lacking in economic reform and political liberalization. Opposition parties are repressed, media remains under state control, and torture is used in places of detention according to the report. In addition, the economy is declining as unemployment rises causing capital flight and reducing foreign investment. The report found that despite its refusal to incite change, Uzbekistan continues to receive foreign aid from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the U.S. and the EU. The International Crisis Group calls on the international community to take a more aggressive approach to encouraging progress in Uzbekistan.
Serbia's U-Turn
International Crisis Group (ICG) released a report on Serbia's growing political instability and predicts that relations with the West and the economy will also continue to decline in 2004. In order for Serbia to make the transition to a democratic market economy it must progress from the Milosevic-era state to a more normal state. After Milosevic stepped down in October 2000, many of Serbia's democrats resisted reform and left many institutions from the Milosevic-era still intact. ICG recommends more emphasis on economic reform, reformed independent media and the prevention of ethnic cleansing by radical groups, as some of the recommendations to make the transition to a normal society.
Darfur Rising: Sudan's New Crisis
International Crisis Group released a report on the recent war and humanitarian crisis in the western region of Darfur. According to the report, since the war in Darfar began, thousands have died and 830,000 have been displaced. ICG calls for the government to succeed with its peace talks with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLA) and enter into parallel peace talks with rebels in Darfur. The report found that political instability being addressed through peace talks that have not been affective.
"I have no joy, no peace of mind"-sexual violence in the eastern DRC
Medicins Sans Frontieres released a report documenting the problem of sexual violence that continues to persist in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Using data collected from one of its missions in Eastern Congo, the report highlights the medical, psychological and socio-economic consequences that rapes have had on the region and advocates for local and national measures to be taken to address the war crimes.
Global Corruption Report 2004
Transparency International released its annual report on global corruption that looks at political corruption from 34 country reports. It examines the severity of the problem, the role of the public and private sector in corruption and the new and established methods used to research the problem. It also looks at what new developments in combating political corruption are emerging at the national, regional and global level such as the U.N. Convention against Corruption.
National Survey on Good Governance and Corruption
Transparency International released a report surveying the accounts of corruption in Mexico. The National Survey on Good Governance has taken a survey by using interviews of a random sample of the population and external monitoring to measure the frequency of corruption in Mexico in 2003.
The "New World Order"
of Repression
Reporters Without Borders released its annual report for 2003 assessing the freedom of the press by region. The report includes records of attacks on the press such as the arrest, physical abuse and killing of journalists. Reporters Without Borders also explains the need for developmental funding from international organizations to be used to help establish independent media and journalistic training. Also, Reporters Without Borders examines steps taken by 50 countries in prohibiting the free flow of information via the Internet.
Democracy in Latin America: Towards a Citizens' Democracy
A report by the United Nations Development Programme found that while there are more democracies in Latin American than 20 years ago, the strength of those democracies is precarious. The report said that slow economic growth, inequalities and poverty are undermining people's confidence in democracy. The study of 18 Latin American countries found that four elected presidents have been forced from office after steep drops in public support since 2000. Additionally, the report found that 56.3 percent of those surveyed felt that economic development was more important that democracy and 54.7 percent that they would support an authoritarian government if it solved the country's economic problems.
Freedom of the Press 2004: A Global Survey of Media Independence
Freedom House released its annual survey on the state of press freedom in the world and found that freedom of the press suffered an overall decline in 2003. The survey found that press freedom declined in 10 states, while only two states showed improvements in their media laws. The Middle East/North Africa region rated last in media freedom, with 90 percent of countries rated "Not Free" in press freedom. The report found that political turmoil and elected-related violence impacted press freedom.
Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially in Women and Children, in Africa
A United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report found that 89 percent of countries in Africa found trafficking in human beings to and from neighboring countries and 34 percent found human trafficking to European countries. The study of 53 nations found that children are the greatest victims of the tragedy as they are forced into slavery, recruited as child soldiers, or sold into prostitution. The report blamed poverty, traditional migration and conflict for the trafficking. UNICEF said it could not provide reliable figures for the number of people trafficked each year, but said it was likely to be in the millions.
Founded in February 2003, the IMPD is an international coalition of parliamentarians dedicated to the defense and promotion of democracy around the world. Affiliated with the World Movement for Democracy, its current membership is 227 parliamentarians from 33 countries.
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