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After 50 years of independence, is our democracy moving forward or backward? What is there to celebrate if independence does not bring about democracy, freedoms and justice for the Rakyat? What can we learn in the past 50 years and what are the main obstacles in democratization in Malaysia? What can be done by the citizenry to reclaim freedoms and restore democracy?As a citizen, if you are also interested in the above questions, please do join us at:

Human Rights Committee of the Bar Council, Amnesty International Malaysia and Suaram invites you to;
Democracy After 50 Years of Merdeka:Challenges and The Way Forward

Date: 6 September 2007 (Thursday)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: Annexe, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

Admission is free.Please fill in the registration form in order for the organizers to prepare lunch and refreshement.

For more information, please contact:

Yohen (Amnesty International,03-79552680)

Roger (Human Rights Committee of Bar Council,03-20313003)

Yap Swee Seng (Suaram, 03-77843525).

This event is part of the 50:44 Merdeka anniversary celebration by
a coalition of NGOs from 6-16 September 2007. For more information,
please visit www.50-44.org.

Program/Time/Session/Remarks
0830 - 0900
Registration / Coffee

0900 - 0915
Welcome and introduction

0915 - 0935
Session I: Presentation of Joint Statement on Democratization

0935 - 1100
Session II: Roundtable on taking stocks of development and lessons
of 50 years of Democratization

On the Federal Constitution by Andrew Khoo, Bar Council
On the Judiciary by Richard Wee, Bar Council
On Electoral System by Mavis Puthucheary, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (tbc)
On Media Freedom by Gayathri V., Center for Independent Journalism

Question: 50 Years ofIndependence, Is Our Democracy Moving Forward
or Backward? What can we learn from the 50 years of history of
democratization?
1100 - 1115
Coffee break

1115 - 1300
Session III: Roundtable on Main Obstacles of Democratization in
Malaysia — Democracy, Diversity and Nation State

Representative of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (tbc)
Zaid Kamaruddin, Jemaah IslahMalaysia (tbc)
Rustam Sani, writer (tbc)
Lee Ban Chen, Malaysiakini columnist
Arumugam K, Group of Concerned Citizens
Sim Kwang Yang, former MP of Kuching (tbc)
Hishamuddin Rais, Film Director (tbc)

Question: Can Democracy Manage Diversity? The issue of Race,
Religion, Language and Culture

1300 - 1400
Lunch

1400 - 1630
Session IV: Roundtable on Confronting the Challenges of
Democratization

Haris Ibrahim, People’s Parliament
Sean Ang, Citizen Think Tank
Arutchelvan S, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)

Question: Where is the Way Forward for Malaysia? What Can Be Done to

Accelerate Democratization in Malaysia?

1630 - 1700
Conclusion

Registration Form: Roundtable on Democratization After 50 years of Merdeka

Name:
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Organization:
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Address:
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Email:
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Tel:
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Fax:
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Please send the registration form to Suaram at fax: 03-77843525 or
email: suaram@suaram.net by 5 September 2007.