Congress of Democrats from the Islamic World 2005

Congress of Democrats from the Islamic World 2005

In the Congress of Democrats from the Islamic World was held in Jakarta, Indonesia and ran from September 6 – 9. It was titled Beyond Elections: Islam and Political Parties in Southeast Asia.

"Political Party officers from predominantly Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Bahrain were present as well from Turkey, Morocco, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The conference was jointly sponsored by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Konrad Adenaur Stiftung (KAS), and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (IMD)."

Conference Schedule

• 19:30 – 21:30 Introduction by Paul Rowland, Resident Representative NDI, at Garden Terrace

Opening Dinner with Keynote speech

Dr. H.M. Hidayat Nur Wahid MA, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

• 09:00 – 09:45 Introduction by Sylva van Rosse, Representative IMD

Conference opening with keynote speech Murat Mercan

• 09:45 – 10:00 An Overview of Elections in the Region – who won and who lost

Speaker: Dr Suzaina Kadir (Singapore)

• 10:00 – 11:45 Case Studies on Elections in Indonesia & Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

Panelists: Yanti Sugarda (Indonesia), Ismael Abubakar (Mindanao) and Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga (Mindanao)

Moderator: Hadar Gumay

• 11:45 – 13:30 Prayers & Lunch
• 13:30 – 15:30 Women, Elections and Islam: How did Women fare in recent elections across Asia?

Speaker: Stephanie Lynn

Experience of Women Running for Office in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia

Panelists: Ir. Tristanti Mitayani, MT (Indonesia), Amina Rasul (Philippines), Chidchanok Rahimmula (Thailand), Tan Lian Hoe (Malaysia)

Moderator: Dewi Fortuna Anwar

• 15:30 – 16:00 Break
• 16:00 – 17:30 The role of Islam in the development of Indonesia’s political parties

Speaker: Dr. Bahtiar Effendy

Discussants: A. Niam Salim (PKB), Dr. Zulkiflimansyah (PKS), Andi Yuliani Paris (PAN)

Moderator: Bima Arya Sugiarto

• 19:00 – 21:30 Dinner Keynote speech on NDI’s research into Islam and Democracy

Presented by Blair King

Thursday, September 8, 2005

• 09:00 – 10:00 What are the major policy issues facing countries in Asia?

Speaker: Dr Suzaina Kadir (Singapore)

Moderator: Dr. Norbert Eschborn

• 10:00 – 11:45 Workshops 1: What effect do politics in the Middle East have on Muslim populations in Asian countries?

Facilitator: Sylva van Rosse; Rapporteur: Tom Cormier

Workshops 2: Do political parties have different interpretations of Islam in relation to freedom of speech or freedom of Information?

Discussant: Lahcen Daoudi (Morocco)

Facilitator: Stephanie Lynn; Rapporteur: Jeff England

Workshops 3: What has been the effect of inter-religious conflicts in the region?

Discussant: Kamaruzzaman Bustaman-Ahmad (Indonesia)

Facilitator: Jerome Cheung; Rapporteur: Blair King

• 11:45 – 13:30 Prayers & Lunch: The perspective of European Christian Democratic Parties

Speaker: Arie Oostlander

Introduced by Sylva van Rosse

• 13:30 – 15:30 Workshops 4: What are the implications of religion at play in politics as it relates to democratic consolidation, women’s participation, and political parties’ internal democratic principles? Are there differences in how Muslim parties are organized or approach these issues? What are the structural implications? Do political party laws provide any guidance or regulation on religious parties?

Discussant: Murat Mercan (Turkey)

Facilitator: Stephanie Lynn; Rapporteur: Blair King

Workshops 5: How does a majority Muslim electorate affect, if at all, the structure and nature of “secular” parties?

Discussant: Salahuddin Wahid (Indonesia)

Facilitator: Jerome Cheung; Rapporteur: Jeff England

Workshops 6: Do the experiences of religion-based parties in other countries hold lessons for Muslim-based parties?

Discussant: Arie Oostlander (Netherlands)

Facilitator: Sylva van Rosse; Rapporteur: Tom Cormier

• 15:30 – 16:00 Break
• 16:00 – 17:00 Workshop reports
• 17:00 – 18:00 Introduction to Next Steps: How can the CDIW platform be advanced in Asia?

Facilitator: Jeff England

• 19:00 – 22:00 Dinner at Lara Jongrang Restaurant, Menteng. The bus will leave at 19:00 from hotel.

Friday, September 9, 2005

• 08:30 – 08:40 Plenary Recap: Paul Rowland
• 08:40 – 09:30 Workshops - What kind of coordination tools could be used?
• 09:30 – 10:30 Closing Plenary: Dr. Norbert Eschborn
• 10:30 – 11:00 Bus leaving from the hotel to Istiqlal Mosque at 11:00
• 12:00 – 13:00 Friday Prayer at Istiqlal Mosque
• 12:00 – 15:00 Lunch
• 12:15 – 16:00 Check out & Departures