2009 Annual Report

2009 Asia Program Highlights

In 2009, countries throughout Asia continued to show troubling signs of growing political instability. In Pakistan, the newly-formed civilian government struggled under a cascade of pressing issues, including a faltering economy, rampant corruption, terrorist attacks, and the spill-over effects of the war in Afghanistan. In Sri Lanka, the governing United People’s Freedom Alliance, fresh from its victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, prepared for elections which ushered in new political tensions as war hero and former Army General Sarath Fonseka assumed the mantle of opposition leader to challenge President Rajapaksa.

In Southeast Asia, the lone bright spot continues to be Indonesia, which held successful, peaceful, national elections in July. In Thailand, the major political forces remained locked in a zero-sum power game that paved the way for more political violence. In the Philippines, one of the country’s worst incidents of political violence occurred in November 2009 when over 50 people in Maguindanao, including journalists and party activists, were killed in a brutal and premeditated attack by political rivals as they tried to register with the Electoral Commission. Meanwhile, in Burma, the regime remained determined to conclude its so-called “seven-step roadmap to democracy” with elections to be held sometime in 2010, despite widespread opposition from both the National League for Democracy and the leading ethnic nationality organizations.

A meeting of the Association of War Affected Women in Sri Lanka.

East Asia’s two authoritarian states, China and North Korea, maintained or tightened political controls. In China, the government continued to curtail existing freedoms, placing additional controls on the internet and increasing pressure on dissidents. In North Korea, the government attempted to re-assert control over the domestic markets by revaluing its currency, touching off popular dissatisfaction and anger. In an effort to placate the population, the regime was forced to issue at least two modifications to the currency law in the first week after it was announced.

In China, Endowment programming supported further strides in civil society development while countering the political constriction generated in response to these advances. Several NED grantees participated in the drafting and promotion of Charter ‘08, the ground-breaking manifesto promoting human rights and democratization in China, and rallied to the support of signatories who were subsequently arrested. To date, more than 10,000 intellectuals, activists and ordinary citizens have signed the Charter. In Hong Kong, Endowment funding concentrated on projects related to discussion of constitutional alternatives for the post-2012 political system.

In Xinjiang/East Turkistan, the Endowment supported projects designed to develop the capacity of Uyghur NGOs outside China so as to give voice to an exceptionally silenced population and provide space for interethnic dialogue and cooperation. In Tibet, the Endowment continued its broad-based support for organizations engaged in human rights, civic and democracy education, Chinese-Tibetan outreach and dialogue, and independent media projects. NED also increased its support for a number of international, membership-based Tibet advocacy organizations. Tibetan-language newspapers, Bodkyi Bangchen and Bodyi-dus-Bab, as well as the Tibetan-language station the Voice of Tibet, worked to educate Tibetans about democracy and human rights and to counteract Chinese propaganda about Tibet.

In North Korea, NED continued to support radio broadcasting that provides North Koreans with independent news. Additionally, NED supported nascent North Korean-run democracy and human rights groups that are emerging from the growing North Korean population based in South Korea. Some of these organizations allow young defectors to gain first-hand experience in running an organization in an open society in a transparent, accountable, and democratic manner while providing the defectors with a platform from which to inform the South Korean public about the grim situation north of the border.

In Burma, the Endowment increased its support for activists inside Burma. Their efforts were centered on a number of new networks that emerged following the 2007 Saffron Revolution, which include monks, students and artists. The Endowment also increased its support for independent media, including the highly-successful Democratic Voice of Burma’s satellite TV station. Additional support allowed for increased collaboration among human rights groups, civic education efforts in a number of ethnic states, and women’s empowerment projects.

In Thailand and the Philippines, the Endowment expanded its programming to include projects that address the erosion of independent democratic institutions and look to capitalize on recently or soon-to-be held national elections. Support for Pugadlawan in the Philippines provided a framework for students and young professionals to engage in non-partisan efforts to ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process. In Thailand, the Endowment expanded its efforts in the areas of democracy and civic education, political party development, the protection of civil and political rights, strengthening human rights legal networks, and strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions.

In Indonesia, NED supported union strengthening, corporate good governance initiatives, and political party development. The International Republican Institute worked with political party youth wings to help strengthen the parties’ responsiveness to and ability to respond to constituents.

NED also continued its work in Malaysia, which includes human rights monitoring and support for independent media. Vietnam programs included support for human rights monitoring, legal reform work, democratic civic education, and an internet radio program. One grantee provided legal aid training to Vietnamese migrant workers in Asia, providing many of the trainees with exposure to social justice issues.

In Pakistan, the Endowment continued to support civil society efforts to engage the public and provide assistance to human rights groups. The Lahore-based Interactive Resource Centre, for example, expanded its participatory video and theater programs throughout the country, including among urban youth, while the Chakwal-based Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) increased its democracy and human rights education and advocacy work in the war-affected areas of the NWFP, including the Swat Valley.

In Nepal, the Endowment concentrated its resources on educating citizens about the ongoing constitution drafting project, deepening political parties’ commitment to human rights and democracy, and ensuring the inclusion of traditionally-disadvantaged groups in the political process. The Antenna Foundation produced and aired radio programs to educate citizens about pressing issues related to the drafting of the constitution.

NED also supported programs in Sri Lanka to increase civil society capacity to represent constituent interests and advocate for political reform. Janawaboda Kendraya used street theater to raise awareness about democracy and human rights among grassroots communities. In Bangladesh, the Endowment supported the work of CIPE to facilitate the participation of women entrepreneurs in the formal economy and to promote a more open and transparent economic environment.