Dear Friends and Colleagues –
Please find below media alert about an event taking place on Sunday where elections and religious civil society experts will discuss Islam in the context of democracy and the elections process. The event will take place in Zamboanga City immediately before the international observer team deploys throughout the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and will include Philippines representatives from national and regional religious groups.
Although the participants come from Muslim communities, their experience with Islam and democratization is quite varied. For instance, in Indonesia , Muslim civil society groups were in the forefront of the struggle to introduce democracy and have been worldwide leaders in the articulation and promotion of liberal and pluralistic interpretations of Islam. In Bangladesh , religious organizations have played a lesser role in a primarily secular struggle for democracy.
Also, a post-election press conference in Manila is being planned by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) - the regional group managing the observation mission in ARMM - for May 16. Details forthcoming.
Kindly pass to other organizations or groups that may be interested in this activity.
Please also direct any questions or RSVPs to Debbie Felix, The Asia Foundation, local mobile: 0921-563-6320, dfelix@asiafound.org
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MEDIA ALERT
The Asia Foundation Presents "Forum on Islam, Elections, and Democracy" –
International Election Observers, Philippines Religious Civil Society groups meet in Mindanao
Who:
The Asia Foundation – a San Francisco-based non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region – has since 1954 facilitated programs in the Philippines to strengthen good governance and economic development.
What:
As the Philippines prepares to go to the polls on Election Day, a one-day conference, "Forum on Islam, Elections, and Democracy," held in Zamboanga City, will convene key representatives from local religious groups, non-governmental organizations, and international elections observers to discuss critical issues facing Muslim Filipino voters throughout the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The event is co-sponsored with the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The event will feature:
-Presentations by visiting international election observers, coordinated by Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), from six Asian countries with majority or significant Muslim populations: Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka;
-Insight and analysis from Philippine participants representing the PCID and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) – a nationwide network of 500,000 volunteer poll watchers – that recently signed a landmark memorandum of agreement with 12 Muslim civil society organizations and the Darul Ifta Assembly of the Philippines to uphold clean, honest and credible elections.
When:
Sunday, May 6, 2007.
Registration: 8:00am, Conference: 8:30 – 6:30 pm .
Full program agenda available.
Where:
Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City , Mindanao
(Tel. +63 62 991 0031 to 34)
Interviews Available:
Steven Rood, Country Representative of the Philippines , The Asia Foundation. Dr. Rood can discuss the significance of current political, economic, and social issues impacting the Philippines election.
Tim Meisburger, Regional Director of Elections and Political Processes, The Asia Foundation. Mr. Meisburger can discuss the election process and significant changes impacting the 2007 Philippines election, civic and voter education, and international election observation.
In addition, representatives from ANFREL and each of the conference participant groups will be available for interviews. Possible topics: the elections process in the Philippines and the current political climate; grassroots religious networks working to inform Filipinos of election issues; unique issues facing ARMM voters.
To RSVP, contact: Debbie Felix, The Asia Foundation: dfelix@asiafound.org, or Mobile (local): 0921-563-6320, or +66 (81) 645-3637.
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