Constitutionalism, the Rule of Law and Democratic Governance – Challenges and Prospects in Comparative Perspectives

01-02 April 2015 Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Bangkok

Co-hosted by the School of Law, University of New England (UNE), Australia; the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University; and the German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

Agenda

Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Keynote speech

Hon. Dr. Jaran Pukditanakul, Justice, Constitutional Court of the Kingdom of Thailand, Thailand

“Judicial Review by the Constitutional Court for the Protection of the Rule of Law and Democratic Governance in Thailand”

Presentations (General Perspectives)

Prof. Dr. Boonsri Mewongukote, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Thailand

“Problems and Prospects of Constitutional Development from Comparative Perspectives with Special Emphasis on Thailand”

Dr. Same Varayudej, International Coordinator, School of Law, New England University, Australia

“Challenges and Prospects for Constitutionalism, the Rule of Law and Democracy in Comparative Perspectives

Henning Glaser, Director, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Thailand

“In the Form of Law and Beyond – The Design and Dynamics of Constitutional Ordering in Comparative Perspectives”

Country Reports and Comparative Views

Dr. Jonathan Liljeblad, School of Law, University of New England, Australia

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Myanmar”

Dr. Jade Donavanik, Dean, Faculty of Law University of, Dhurakit Bandit University, Thailand

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Thailand”

Professor Hitoshi Ushijima, Faculty of Law, Chuo University, Japan

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Japan”

Thursday, April 02, 2015

Presentations

Country Reports and Comparative Views (cont.)

Calvin Liang, Senior Associate, Tan Kok Quan Partnership, Singapore

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Singapore”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faridah Jalil, Faculty of Law, National University of Malaysia, Malaysia

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Malaysia”

Prof. Dr. Widodo Ekatjahjana, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Jember, Indonesia

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Indonesia”

H.E. Son Soubert, Privy Councillor to His Majesty the King of Cambodia

“Challenges and Prospects in the Constitutional Development in Cambodia”

Report

On 1 and 2 April 2015, CPG together with the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, and the School of Law, University of New England, Australia, co- hosted the International Conference on “Constitutionalism, the Rule of Law and Democratic Governance – Challenges and Prospects in Comparative Perspec- tives” at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.

The key note speech was given by Hon. Dr. Jaran Pukditanakul, Justice of the Constitutional Court of Thailand, on the topic of “Judicial Review by the Constitutional Court for the Protection of the Rule of Law and Democratic Governance in Thailand”.

The keynote speech was followed by a panel consisting of three speakers presenting on general perspectives of constitutionalism. Among them were Prof. Dr. Boonsri Mewongukote, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, with a paper on “Problems and Prospects of Constitutional Development from Comparative Perspectives with Special Emphasis on Thailand”, Dr. Same Varayudej, School of Law, University of New England, speaking

about “Challenges and Prospects for Constitutionalism, the Rule of Law and Democracy in Comparative Perspectives”, and CPG Director Henning Glaser presenting the paper “In the Form of Law and Beyond – The Design and Dynamics of Constitutional Ordering in Comparative Perspectives”.

The general panel was followed by papers on challenges and prospects in the constitutiona ldevelopment of seven   Asian constitutional orders, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. They were presented by Dr. Jade Donavanik, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dhurakit Bandit University, and member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for Thailand; Dr. Jonathan Liljeblad, School of Law, University of New England, for Myanmar; Professor Dr. Hitoshi Ushijima, Faculty of Law, Chuo University, for Japan;  Calvin  Liang,  Senior  Associate  at  Tan  Kok  Quan  Partnership,  for Singapore; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faridah Jalil, Faculty of Law, National University of Malaysia, for Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Widodo Ekatjahjana, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Jember, for Indonesia. H.E. Son Soubert, Privy Councillor to His  Majesty the  King  of  Cambodia,  concluded  the conference.  A part of his presentation is published in this Magazine below. The academic program of the conference was complemented by a cultural trip to the island of Koh Larn, funded by Thammasat Faculty of Law.

The conference was attended by academics, students and professionals from Thailand, representatives from the diplomatic community and international organizations, as well as by a strong delegation of students and scholars from Indonesia.

Photos