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July 2007 - Posts

  • Statement from Young Democrats of America on Misleading Fox News Segment

    Washington, DC – On July 30 th , Alexandra Acker, Executive Director of the Young Democrats of America, appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity and Colmes” to discuss Senator Hillary Clinton’s recent appearance at the College Read More...
  • Comunicado de Prensa: Resolución de la Federación Internacional de Jóvenes Liberales sobre la Parapolítica en Colombia

    El pasado 21 de Julio la Federación Internacional de Jóvenes Liberales -IFLRY- reunida en Dallas Texas adoptó una resolución sobre el tema de la Parapolítica en Colombia, propuesta por la organización nacional que hace parte de dicha federación, la Unión Colombiana de Jóvenes Demócratas –UCJD-.

    La resolución insta entre otros al presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez, así como a los partidos políticos que se vieron beneficiados por el actuar violento de los grupos paramilitares a que asuman la responsabilidad política que les corresponde en la medida en que, dada la influencia de los grupos paramilitares, los votos que obtuvieron en elecciones anteriores tienen vicios de ilegitimidad.

    Además se insta al Estado Colombiano así como a la comunidad internacional para que se garantice un proceso sin influencia armada irregular de paramilitares o guerrilleros en las elecciones de octubre del presente año e invita a la sociedad civil colombiana a votar por opciones políticas libres de vínculos con grupos al margen de la ley.

    La resolución tomada por IFLRY apoya a la justicia colombiana en la labor de procesamiento de políticos vinculados con la Parapolítica y termina instando a toda la comunidad internacional a apoyar decididamente la salida pacífica del conflicto armado colombiano.

    De IFLRY hacen parte organizaciones de jóvenes liberales de todo el mundo dentro de las cuales se destacan la Juventud del Partido Demócrata de EEUU, La Juventud del Partido Liberal Canadiense y La Juventud del Partido Liberal Demócrata de Reino Unido, entre otros.

    Cordialmente,

    Lázaro Ramírez S.

    Vicepresidente de Asuntos Internacionales

    UCJD - Unión Colombiana de Jóvenes Demócratas

    e-mail: lazaroramirezsalazar@yahoo.com

    cel: 3002116589

    La resolución tomada por IFLRY es la siguiente:

    LA FEDERACIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE JÓVENES LIBERALES

    Considerando:

    1. Que el paramilitarismo ha sido la manifestación violenta ilegal de resistencia a los grupos guerrilleros, que para ello ha desplegado un accionar violatorio de los derechos humanos y del derecho internacional humanitario y que encuentra gran parte de su financiamiento en prácticas ilegales.

    2. Que para consolidarse, el paramilitarismo ha permeado diversas instituciones del estado Colombiano, además de diferentes territorios del país donde las instituciones del Estado y los estamentos sociales están controlados por este tipo de grupos. Las relaciones sociales, el intercambio de bienes y servicios, así como la administración de justicia se encuentran plenamente cooptados.

    3. Que en el momento se adelanta un proceso de negociación entre el gobierno nacional y diversas facciones de los grupos paramilitares.

    4. Que a cada individuo desmovilizado y a las fuerzas paramilitares como grupo armado ilegal le corresponde, como en cualquier proceso de paz, actuar conforme a los principios de verdad, justicia y reparación a las víctimas.

    5. Que el desmonte del paramilitarismo no sólo implica la desmovilización de sus cabecillas y mandos medios, si no también el desmonte de la estructura de ejército ilegal, su aparato económico y social y su grado de control sobre la estructura del estado regional.

    6. Que la justicia colombiana se encuentra en la actualidad procesando a políticos de los diferentes niveles del estado, principalmente de la coalición de gobierno, por nexos con los grupos paramilitares.

    7. Que partidos políticos, en su mayoría cercanos al gobierno del presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez, se vieron beneficiados electoralmente por el avance y consolidación de tales grupos en vastos sectores del territorio nacional.

    8. Que la influencia de grupos armados al margen de la ley constituye una violación al derecho al voto en la medida en que se coacciona la autonomía que los ciudadanos deben tener para decidir entre diferentes opciones políticas.

    9. Que como garantías para una democracia, los funcionarios públicos, los partidos políticos, los políticos en general y los mismos ciudadanos no son sólo responsables penalmente por los crímenes que se les pueden imputar en un proceso ante la justicia sino también responsables políticamente por los actos de los cueles fueron parte o se simplemente se dejaron hacer.

    Resuelve:

    1. Instar al Estado Colombiano para que garantice el Estado de Derecho, la protección de los derechos humanos, el respeto por el derecho internacional humanitario así como el monopolio legítimo de la fuerza en todo el territorio nacional.

    2. Instar al estado Colombiano y a la comunidad internacional para que todos los individuos que participaron o son vinculados a grupos paramilitares cumplan con los estándares internacionales de los principios de verdad, justicia y reparación.

    3. Instar al gobierno nacional a sólo considerar, para futuro, la opción a los desmovilizados de participar en política en la medida en que sus estructuras militares, económicas y sociales se encuentren totalmente desmontadas.

    4. Apoyar a la justicia colombiana en la acción que adelanta procesando a los políticos vinculados al accionar delictivo de los grupos paramilitares.

    5. Instar al presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez como cabeza del gobierno nacional, así como a los políticos y partidos que se vieron beneficiados electoralmente por el actuar violento de los grupos paramilitares a que asuman la responsabilidad política en la medida en que gran parte de los votos que obtuvieron tienen vicios de ilegitimidad.

    6. Instar al estado colombiano así como a la comunidad internacional, específicamente instituciones como la Organización de Estados Americanos, para que se garantice en las próximas elecciones de octubre de 2007 y en la campaña misma, un proceso democrático sin la influencia violenta de grupos paramilitares o guerrilleros.

    7. Invitar a la sociedad civil colombiana a votar por opciones políticas que estén libres de vínculos con grupos al margen de la ley.

    8. Instar a la comunidad internacional a apoyar decididamente la solución pacífica del conflicto armado colombiano.

  • VIDEO: John Edwards at the YDA National Convention

    Senator John Edwards came to Dallas, TX to address the delegates of the 2007 YDA National Convention. The speech was great and the Senator was very well received. Enjoy! Part 1 of 3 Part 2 of 3 Part 3 of 3 Other convention video is being uploaded as I Read More...
  • Young Voters In The News

    It's been a big few days for young voters in the media. First, Democracy Corps released a new poll on Friday that shows support for Republicans among young people has collapsed. The poll analysis goes so far as to say this dramatic lack of support Read More...
  • Republican Collapse Among Young Americans

    Democracy Corps recently posted youth survey results and an analysis , which pretty much says that young people rule. Actually, what it says is that young people identify with Democratic issues, and are completely turned off by the Republican Party. Future Read More...
  • The Bulgarian nurses finally free: a first diplomatic success for the EU

    The European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) rejoices over the liberation of the 5 Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor, back in Sofia this morning. This is the first major diplomatic success for the European Union, with EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Read More...
  • A Space for Freedom

    Freedom requires space. It requires space for consolidation, for variability, and for growth. A liberal democracy provides this space for freedom. A liberal democracy allows this space to expand. And a liberal democracy shields this space from the forces Read More...
  • YDA in Dallas! Day 3

    John Edwards rocked. He totally "gets" the youth vote thing and hit all the right notes. And wow, did our delegates respond. General session speakers Chuck Rocka from the United Steelworkers and Jon Soltz from VoteVets also brought down the Read More...
  • YDA in Dallas! Day 2

    Our first general session ended just minutes ago. Delegates are off for our Night Out in Dallas, enjoying local restaurants and soaking up some local flava. Trainings, internal meetings, and caucuses continued. In our trainings, we organized delegates Read More...
  • A Howdy from Dallas

    The International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) holds its semi-annual Executive Committee and General Assembly as well as a seminar on ‘Liberal Challenges of the 21st Century’ at the Adam Mark Hotel in Dallas this week. The event is launched in Read More...
  • YDA in Dallas! Day 1

    Day 1 ended with a roaring welcome reception, headlined by a local salsa band. Convention co-chair Juan Ayala and I boogied down and promoted national-local relations. Our first training sessions were well-attended and the guerilla organizing session Read More...
  • Young Liberals of Canada Launch Membership Support Fund

    New fund will support projects and events across Canada Read More...
  • Convention Week is Here!

    I know it is late, but I wanted to check in to let you know that our entire staff is in Dallas right now working on final preparations for this week's National Convention! To learn more about the convention, visit www.ydadallas2007.org . Read More...
  • LYMEC's new office address

    Dear members and visitors, please note that LYMEC has moved its office to a new location. Our new postal address is: LYMEC, Rue Montoyer 31, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Our other contact details have remained the same. Read More...
  • LYMEC president announces that he will not go for another mandate

    On the occasion of the meeting they had last weekend, LYMEC president Roger Albinyana announced to the bureau that he would not seek his reelection for another term at the next LYMEC congress. "I have achieved the goals that I envisaged when I became Read More...
  • European customers deserve free competition in postal services

    Whilst the first reading by the European Parliament of the controversial proposal of EU directive on 'the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services' is scheduled this week, the European Liberal Youth - LYMEC - wishes to restate Read More...
  • YDA Convention in less than 2 weeks!

    The YDA convention is just around the corner -- less than two weeks from today -- in Dallas. If you haven't done so already, go to www.ydadallas2007.org to register for convention and find out important info about reserving hotel rooms, booking flights, Read More...
  • More Youth Vote Media Attention

    Time has a new piece about the youth vote movement and the early efforts of Presidential candidates to reach out to an engaged generation of young Americans. The fact that the Millenial generation (which is a huge block of voters) is bucking the "apathetic" Read More...
  • European Summer School 2007 ends

    The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, together with LYMEC and the EDP youth organised from 3rd till 5th July the first ALDE summer school in the European Parliament in Brussels. LYMEC president Roger Albinyana addressed the ALDE group meeting Read More...
  • Project #1: Make College Affordable...

    Hi all…my name is Tiana and I’m the new summer intern at the YDA in DC. Having just arrived in the city (red-eye last Wednesday) and jumping right into the mix (start day last Thursday—yikes!) the first project that I’ve been Read More...
  • New Generation (Hungary) has adopted a Cuban political prisoner

    The Hungarian liberal youth organization will closely follow the circumstances of Luis Enrique Ferrer García.

    Withink the framework of “The Adoption of a Political Prisoner” movement started by the Cuban opposition, New Generation on its website will follow up the life of an independent journalist who was imprisoned for political reasons. 

    This was announced by Flora Takacs, vice president of New Generation on Wednesday, June 27, at a silent demonstration near the Cuban embassy, in which 3 representatives of the opposition took part, as well. 

    There are numerous international human rights organizations monitoring the status of the political prisoners. In cases of prisoners, who are in the international spotlight, it is more likely to achieve positive changes in their circumstances – stated Daniel Kaderjak, head of NG’s Foreign Affairs Workgroup. He added that they hope that this campaign will have similar results.  

    The journalist “adopted” by the young liberals, is the youngest political prisoner at the moment in Cuba. Ferrer García was arrested in March 2003, and was sentenced to 28 years of imprisonment for taking part in the Varela Project. Under this project, more than 11,000 signatures were collected in order to have public referenda on the freedom of speech, multy-party democratic system and the right to found private businesses. At the moment, there are approximately 300 political prisoners known. 

    “We, young liberals want to see a Cuba, which is free and democratic, and where human rights and the freedom of press is respected, and noone has to live in fear, who speaks out for freedom.” – states the brochure that was distributed at the demonstration, and which encourages for standing up for the freedom of Cuba. 

    Daniel Kaderjak mentioned that a recent decision of the UN Human Rights Council is not acceptable. According to the decision, Belarus and Cuba were removed from the list of countries in which the human rights situation requires closer monitoring. These countries keep violating human rights, he added. 

    New Generation is going to ask the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform Hungarian citizens traveling to Cuba about the existing oppressive regime – said Daniel Kaderjak. According to the young liberals’ idea, those who travel to the island country for tourism would get written information from travel agencies or during the visa application procedure.  

    Members of the Cuban democratic opposition have met the leadership of SZDSZ, the Hungarian Liberal Party, as well.  

    More information: www.ujgeneracio.hu