At the 9th Shrinking Civic Space in Asia international conference organized by the Asia Centre in Bangkok from August 21 to 23, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats held a panel titled “Criminalization and Prosecution of Changemakers,” discussing legal challenges and criminalization faced by changemakers in Asia. Speaking at the panel, Taiwanese former legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) urged more young people to enter politics to “break the cage,” and encouraged international civic organizations to come to Taiwan for its robust civic space.
Lim emphasized that while Taiwan is seen as a model of democracy and freedom, it still faces internal and external challenges. Lim pointed out that China, with its disinformation campaign and internet control, continues to pose a threat to Taiwan. Despite the nation’s milestone in legalizing same-sex marriage, Taiwan still faces obstacles in Asian traditional values and authoritarian forces.
Overcoming such challenges makes Taiwan stand out, Lim argued, especially with the crucial role empowered young people play in pushing the country forward. Lim called on the international community to work together and support democratic movements in Asia, using Taiwan as a model of how to resist authoritarian expansion.
The panel also included Cambodian Senator Mardi Seng, Singaporean Democratic Party executive Jaslyn Go, and Filipino former Congresswoman Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao, each sharing their lessons in the fight for changes.
Seng returned to Cambodia to fight for democracy and human rights despite facing immense pressure. He called on everyone to use flexible tactics to practice democracy and prepare for future elections. Go also shared the pressure she and her family face being an opposition politician in Singapore. She stressed the importance of collaboration between political groups and civil society. Adding to the topic, Bag-ao emphasized that political groups must maintain close ties with communities to ensure the sustainability of change. Bag-ao pointed out the lack of support for young people in politics, many of whom become a cog in the political machine.
On the topic of young people, Freddy Lim urged more international civic organizations to seek the assistance of Taiwanese youth. Lim said young people in Taiwan see contributing to change as a “cool” thing and are eager to collaborate internationally. He encouraged the youth to boldly challenge the status quo and become a key driving force for social change.