The Asia Foundation

Delegates Will Meet with The Asia Foundation’s Legal Aid Program and Thai Legal Organizations

Bangkok, Thailand

Senior Law Experts from Laos to Visit Thailand Twelve delegates from the Lao Bar Association and associated legal groups will arrive in Thailand on Sunday, May 4, 2008, to begin a four-day observation trip of The Asia Foundation’s legal aid program in tsunami-affected areas and legal organizations in Thailand.

The trip is part of a recently-launched comprehensive legal aid and legal education program in Laos — supported by The Asia Foundation and funded by The McConnell Foundation — to help the Lao Bar Association improve its services, provide legal aid for poor and rural citizens, and increase professional and public understanding of laws and rights under Lao law. To expand services to rural areas and foster awareness about rights, the program will establish legal aid clinics in Champasak and Udomxai, and will also create the country’s first-ever mobile legal aid service and community legal educators to enhance legal education and outreach.

“This observation trip is an important preliminary step toward establishing a comprehensive legal aid system in the Lao PDR,” says Ms. Gretchen Kunze, Deputy Country Representative of The Asia Foundation. “We are extremely pleased to have such a distinguished group of professionals demonstrate their interest in improving legal services for all Lao citizens.”

The delegates will spend the first two days of their trip visiting The Asia Foundation’s Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Referral Center (T-LAC) in southern Thailand, which will serve as the model for the new project with the Lao Bar Association. Since 2006, T-LAC has provided free legal aid outreach to over 5,750 people in tsunami-affected areas, offering services which include applications for death certificates of family members who have been missing since the tsunami, adoption or legal guardianship of tsunami orphans, settling land disputes and inheritances, and acquiring legal identity for unregistered Thai nationals.

“We learned many important lessons from creating a mechanism to help poor and rural citizens in Thailand gain access to legal assistance after the devastation of the tsunami,” says Ms. Ruengrawee Pichaikul Ketphol, a Senior Program Coordinator for The Asia Foundation. “We hope that through sharing ideas and information this delegation will learn about what has worked here, and then adapt the program to meet the specific needs of Laos.”

The core of the trip will be the delegates’ exposure to T-LAC’s successful formula of training community members to become paralegal volunteers. Though these volunteers have no prior legal education, T-LAC training workshops enable them to assist clients in rural areas where the number of lawyers is inadequate and knowledge of legal remedies is low – conditions which are similar to those in Laos. Using locally-based paralegal volunteers is an effective and sustainable way of providing communities with trusted sources of legal knowledge and advice that will continue long after the program formally ends.

At T-LAC’s office, the delegates will meet T-LAC staff and be introduced to the center’s legal services, strategies, and lessons learned. They will then travel through tsunami-affected areas meeting legal aid beneficiaries and learning about specific legal cases. At one provincial public prosecution office, the delegates will observe paralegal volunteers as they assist clients with legal procedures and help lawyers during a judge’s inquiry. They will also have a chance to hear first-hand experiences on legal matters from clients, lawyers, and T-LAC paralegal volunteers.

In Bangkok, the delegates will meet with the Women Lawyers Association of Thailand, who will provide an overview of the association’s wide range of family mediation, alternative dispute resolution, legal counseling, and legal aid services which focus mostly on family matters and violence against women. Delegates will also meet with the Law Society of Thailand to learn about organizational development and program implementation. Finally, the trip will culminate with a session with the Department of Rights and Liberty Protection at Thailand’s Ministry of Justice for an overview of the department’s legal aid services, legal education, and community-based justice volunteers program.
Lao delegates taking part in the trip are as follows:
- Head of the delegation team, Mr. Phoumi Sioudomphanh, President of the Lao Bar Association;
- Mr. Bouathong Changthamalinh, Head of Cabinet at the Supreme Court;
- Mr. Thongkham Savanhphet, Judge at the Vientiane Municipality Court;
- Mr. Somphay Keosouvanh, Head of the General Inspection Department at the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutors;
- Mr. Phimmasone Chanthachit, Legal Expert at the Department of Law Dissemination, Ministry of Justice;
- Mr. Vikone Bounvilay, Legal Expert of the Judicial Administrative System, Ministry of Justice;
- Mr. Vilasay Songvilay, Attorney of the Lao Bar Association;
- Mr. Bounthavy Khorayoke, Attorney of the Lao Bar Association;
- Mr. Somphou Keomounmany, Member of the Lao Bar Association Executive Committee;
- Ms. Douangmala Khamsongka, Law Professor at the National University of Laos;
- Mr. Onesy Bounmany, Head of the Investigation Division, Ministry of Public Security; and
- Ms. Thoummaly Vongphachanh, Director of the Counseling and Protection Center for Women and Children, Lao Women’s Union.

Kabul, Afghanistan

The Asia Foundation’s Representative in Afghanistan, George Varughese, was quoted in today’s Los Angeles Times story about the attempted assassination of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. Read the full story.

Jakarta

The Jakarta Post has published an op-ed, authored by Neil McCulloch, The Asia Foundation Indonesia’s Director of Economic Programs, about transportation cost issues and their economic effect. The Jakarta Post also ran a companion news story about the joint study that examined these issues.

The Wall Street Journal Asia has published an op-ed by V. Bruce J. Tolentino, The Asia Foundation’s Director for Economic Reform and Development Programs, about rice prices and agricultural policy in the Philippines. Read the full article now.

Jakarta

Unreliable and expensive road transportation is a growing constraint to Indonesia’s development, according to a new study released today by The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia’s Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI).

“The Cost of Moving Goods: Road Transportation, Regulations, and Charges in Indonesia” is based on a comprehensive survey of domestic trucking costs along nine routes in Indonesia.  The survey, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the World Bank,  examined licensing costs, road charges and the costs associated with poor infrastructure. Through GPS tracking and interviews with firm managers and truck drivers, the survey identifies  who is charging drivers, where they are being charged and how much.

“The cost of moving goods in Indonesia is high not just because of poor infrastructure, but also because of the many road charges imposed by local government, police and preman (gangster) organizations.  National and provincial governments need to crack down on these illegal or unnecessary fees,” said Neil McCulloch, Director for Economic Programs at The Asia Foundation in Jakarta.

In comparison with other countries in Asia and world-wide, Indonesia’s trade competitiveness is hurt by a combination of regulatory red-tape and high domestic transportation costs. In some of the country’s export sectors, more than 40% of total logistics and transport costs come from pre-shipment and inland transportation expenses before international shipment.

Key  findings  from the report include:

• The high cost of domestic transportation is a key impediment to growth in Indonesia. Domestic logistics costs are higher in Indonesia than in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and China.
• Indonesia’s topography and the poor quality of road infrastructure significantly increase vehicle operating costs in the trucking sector. Maintenance costs and fuel costs, in particular, are affected by geography and the quality of infrastructure.
• Local governments also raise costs by issuing permits and licenses and imposing user charges that act as barriers to the transportation of goods. These practices are illegal in Indonesia and are inconsistent with  national regulations framework.
• In many other countries, illegal charges and permit requirements at the local level are banned. The regulatory framework for road transportation is more straightforward in other countries, allowing for unimpeded trade across borders and routes.
• Road- and transportation-related local user charges and related permits serve no public welfare function. These charges are not used for maintenance or to limit the trade of protected natural resources. Instead, they are used as a way to boost local government revenue.
• Weigh station regulations should serve the public interest but are routinely ignored.  Approximately 52% of trucks are overweight by an average of 45% over the weight limit. Overloading is very common in Indonesia and causes road degradation and safety hazards.
• Police and preman exacerbate the problem, increasing insecurity in the road transportation sector. Payments to police, the army and preman organizations are mostly illegal, but commonplace, damaging perceptions of the rule of law and the overall business climate.

To address these issues, the report recommends:

• A full review of transport-related regulations at the national and local levels
• Provincial governments should coordinate to abolish unnecessary local user charges
• Greater support for the Ministry of Transportation’s efforts to monitor and enforce weight limits at weigh stations
• Efforts by the national police to remove the incentives for local police to rely on road charges as a source of revenue
• A “transparency campaign” at the provincial level, listing legal charges and permits and their costs, at checkpoints, weigh stations, in newspapers, and at truck stops.

Versions of the full report in English and Bahasa, as well as a smaller file size English version with no graphics are all available for download. View now.

Washington, D.C.

SAIS Southeast Asia Studies Program
and
The Asia Foundation

with generous support from

Exxon-Mobil Corporation

present

CAN THE PHILIPPINES BREAK OUT OF ITS AFFLICTION?
Prospects for Democratic Governance, Economic Development, and Philippine-US Relations

April 7-8, 2008
Kenney Auditorium
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University
1740 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington, DC

This one and a half-day conference brings together American and Filipino government officials, scholars, experts, and watchers of Philippine affairs, providing a venue for exchanging ideas on the prospects for political reform, economic development, and peace and security in Southeast Asia’s oldest democracy. Specifically, the meeting will look into the issues and problems concerning democratic consolidation, reform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, economic development, internal armed conflicts, and the future of bilateral partnership between the Philippines and the United States.

For more information, please email rsvp@asiafound-dc.org.

April 1, 2008
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Reception
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Program

World Affairs Council Auditorium
312 Sutter Street, Second Floor
San Francisco, California 94108

Speakers: Ryan Anson, Photographer
Dennis Arroyo, Director of National Planning and Policy Staff, National Economic and Development Authority, the Philippines
Duncan McCargo, Professor of Southeast Asian Politics, University of Leeds
Moderated by Gordon Hein, Vice President, Programs, The Asia Foundation

Beginning with a presentation of images by photographer Ryan Anson, who has been documenting the lives of Muslim minorities in remote areas of the Philippines and Thailand, our distinguished speakers will discuss the importance that Muslim and other minority groups have for the evolution of governance and political stability in the region. More specifically, Mr. Dennis Arroyo will discuss “Waging peace with the armed Muslim minority in the Philippines.”  Dr. Duncan McCargo will discuss “Understanding the current violent unrest in Thailand’s southern border provinces”.

Part of the Edith Coliver Series on Democracy and Human Rights in Asia
Sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Northern California, the Asia Society of Northern California, and The Asia Foundation

Click here for online registration.
Advanced registration is recommended for guaranteed seating. However, pre-registration is not required and walk-ins on the day of this program are welcome.

Free to World Affairs Council members, or $7 at the co-sponsor rate.

The Asia Foundation was featured in Pakistan Press International on March 13 for donating 7500 books to the University of Balochistan. The Asia Foundation’s Pakistan Books Manager Syed Zahid Abbas is cited for presenting the books.
Read the full story.

Bangkok, Thailand

The Asia Foundation’s Legal Aid Program Supports Citizenship through DNA Tests

Over 200 new identification cards were distributed by Governor Kanjana Keeman to Thai citizens at a ceremony held in Ranong province today. The new I.D. card holders are participants of a major initiative led by The Asia Foundation’s Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Referral Center (T-LAC) program, which provided free DNA testing and guidance to each family through the application process. In addition, today 200 children were added to their family’s household registration list, which will automatically qualify them for a state I.D. card once they reach the legal age of 15.

Across Thailand, thousands of people live without access to rights and government services because they are simply not listed on a household registration list. This list determines a person’s official citizenship status under Thai law. Unregistered at birth for a variety of reasons – including distance from the place of birth to the provincial government office or cultural practices that emphasize home births – these individuals are not eligible for jobs, are unable to receive diplomas, cannot apply for a driver’s license, are ineligible for university admission, have no access to health care and other welfare services, and cannot legally travel outside of their province.

The 2004 tsunami tragically illuminated the fragile condition of unregistered Thais living outside the system because they were also ineligible for government-issued relief benefits. When T-LAC became aware of this crisis, they were compelled to act. To prevent future gaps in services and inequitable distribution of government assistance, The Asia Foundation provided free DNA testing in Ranong to anyone related to a Thai I.D. card holder. At these clinics, the Central Institute of Forensic Science administered the tests and then confirmed the results in a Bangkok laboratory. With confirmed DNA matches, the provincial government of Ranong was able to verify the applicant’s blood relation and issue an I.D. card.

Following the tsunami that struck the Andaman coast, T-LAC reached out to affected communities with the most urgent legal needs, such as adoptions of orphaned survivors, obtaining legal guardianship of minor-aged relatives, and mediating land disputes. Recognizing the many economic hurdles facing tsunami survivors – widows who had to enter the workforce or take on additional jobs to make ends meet, or those who sustained injuries that prevented them from continuing their skilled trade – The Asia Foundation next focused on assisting T-LAC clients to start new businesses or learn new marketable skills in order to become financially self-sufficient again. Small grants were provided to new entrepreneurs as capital funds to begin income-generating activities or receive vocational training.

Through its wide-reaching outreach to remote areas and ongoing relationships with tsunami-affected communities, T-LAC learned of extensive legal issues facing Thais who were not physically harmed by the tsunami but were nonetheless struggling with significant challenges as a result. These findings informed T-LAC’s current priority area: to assist groups in obtaining legal identify so they may secure their rights. Through the partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Central Institute of Forensic Science, and the Ministry of Interior, hundreds have participated in The Asia Foundation’s DNA testing program, including families with as many as four generations of undocumented relatives who are rightfully Thai citizens.

At today’s ceremony, booths were set up outside so that newly conferred I.D. card holders could open their first bank account, arrange for health care, and explore opportunities for legal employment. T-LAC is also hosting workshops for these new citizens on how to vote, how to register marriages and births, the necessity of land deeds and house registration, as well as general information on how the legal system works and how laws affect individuals in their day-to-day lives.

Coordinated from its country headquarters in Bangkok with a program office in Krabi, the Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Referral Center (T-LAC) has conducted legal education outreach to over 5,750 people in tsunami-affected areas, including information specifically designed for youth groups. Currently T-LAC programs are conducted by 6 full-time T-LAC staff, 129 paralegal volunteers, and 27 pro bono lawyers who have facilitated 55 door-to-door outreach campaigns and dozens of workshops in villages throughout four provinces in tsunami-affected Thailand. The Asia Foundation’s T-LAC program is funded by the Japan Social Development Fund through the World Bank, the American International Group, Inc. (AIG) Disaster Relief Fund, and Give2Asia.

San Francisco, CA

US-China Green Energy Conference
Fueling a Clean Energy Future

Friday, April 18, 2008

7:30 am Registration/Breakfast
8:00 am-12:30 pm Program
PG&E Auditorium
77 Beale St. (between Market and Mission)
San Francisco, CA

$40 Students (with ID)
$75 Asia Society/Co-Sponsor Members
$100 Non-Members Special Offer: $110 Admission +
Asia Society membership

To register online, please visit
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=75f970
Or call 415.421.8707

Both the US and China face daunting challenges in the areas of national security, long-term economic competitiveness, and global warming. Energy is at the center of all three, making it arguably the most important problem that we must solve in the coming decades. While there are no magic bullets, the answer clearly lies in increasing energy efficiency in the short term and developing sustainable, carbon-neutral energy sources over the longer term.

This conference is the first to bring together leading clean energy specialists from business, government, and academia from both the U.S. and China. The San Francisco Bay Area, Beijing, and Shanghai are rapidly becoming the global centers for clean energy technology promotion, development, and investment, and there are enormous gains to be achieved through enhanced collaboration between the regions. This conference, and a larger conference to be held in Beijing in November 2008, represent the beginning of an effort to encourage long-term collaboration between clean energy policymakers, researchers, and firms in the two countries.

Among the urgent questions to be addressed:

• What are the dimensions of the energy challenge?
• What has been achieved to date — – in research, applications, investment, and policy?
• What are the most vexing issues yet to be addressed?
• What technical developments and business models are needed to foster improved energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy sources?
• What can we expect to see over the next 5-10 years?
• How are Bay Area and Chinese firms and individuals working together to create a clean energy future? How can we do better?
• What cooperation between government policy organizations in the U.S. and China can best promote energy efficiency and renewable energy? How can such cooperation promote closer ties between the two countries?

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers:

Zhao Zhongxian, Vice Chairman, CAST (Chinese Association for Science and Technology), Chairman of Chinese Academy of Science Advisory Committee

Thomas Rooney, Managing Partner, RCI Consulting; former CEO, Insituform Technologies

Panelists:

Regis B. Kelly, Director, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California
William Morrow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Matt Rogers, Director, McKinsey & Company
Carolina Y.C. Woo, Owner, CW Group
Zhou Dadi, founding director, Beijing Energy Efficiency Center (BECon); director, China Energy Research Institute, PRC
Ren Dongming, Deputy Director, Center of Renewable Development, Energy Research Institute, PRC
Gary D. Conley, CEO, SolFocus, Inc. Harrison Fraker, Dean, College of Environmental Design, U.C. Berkeley
Dian Grueneich, Commissioner, California Public Utility Commission
Robert Larson, Co-founder and Managing Director, Woodside Fund
Mark Levine, Group Leader, China Energy Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (moderator)
Neal Gutterson, President and CEO, Mendel Biotechnology
Lenny Mendonca, Chairman, McKinsey Global Institute
Scott Sandell, General Partner, New Enterprise Associates
Paul Willems, Vice President, BP (moderator)

Additional Speakers TBA

Conference Underwriters: PG&E, McKinsey & Company, New Enterprise Associates, Callaway Venture Partners, Nixon Peabody LLP, and Mendel Biotechnology.

Media Sponsor: California magazine.

Conference Co-sponsors: The Asia Foundation, Mart Bailey, Berkeley Chinese Alumni International Association (BCAIA); UC Berkeley China Initiative (BCI); Bay Area Council Economic Institute; Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium (BASIC); Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; University of California 10+10 Alliance.