VZCZCXRO0750
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBD #0256/01 3000251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270251Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4682
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000256 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG, EAP/PD/AUGUSTUS-FERGUSONR 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI'S ONLY POLITICAL PARTY WELCOMES U.S. ELECTION LAW 
AND PARTY DEVELOPMENT EXPERT 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1.(SBU) On October 17, 2009, U.S. election law and democratic 
development consultant, Mr. Robert Dahl, spoke to Brunei's only 
existing political party, the National Development Party (NDP), on 
party growth and grassroots organizing.  Mr. Dahl's visit was 
supported by the Embassy as a means of outreach to Brunei's small 
community of civil society organizations.  Mr. Dahl commended NDP's 
good practices of internal democracy.  The challenge for both the 
NDP and developing civil society remains the mindset that Bruneians 
who participate in civil society will be incarcerated.  Mr. Dahl 
suggested NDP focus on membership recruitment. As important, NDP 
must show Bruneians that participation with NDP helps both Brunei 
and Brunei's Government (GoB).  Unfortunately, the GoB hampered the 
program by attempting to confiscate materials as Mr. Dahl arrived at 
the airport and the Internal Security Division (ISD) collected all 
materials related to his presentation. End Summary 
 
 
LONG ROAD TO BRUNEI 
-------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) Embassy Brunei facilited Mr. Robert Dahl, Election Law and 
Democratic Development Consultant, of the International Foundation 
for Election Systems (IFES) presentation, as part of post's Public 
Diplomacy Speaker Program and in support of post's Mission Strategic 
Plan (MSP) goals. Originally, in October 2007, Mr. Dahl was 
scheduled speak to Brunei's two political parties, the National 
Development Party (NDP) and the then existing Brunei National 
Solidarity Party (PPKB).  However, PPKB was deregistered for failure 
to submit fiscal report to the Government of Brunei's (GoB). This 
lead to cancelation of Mr. Dahl's visit and until, recently, post 
has not been able to support a visit by Mr. Dahl. 
 
¶3. (SBU) NDP's Deputy President, Malai Hassan, used his event 
management company Ion-E Communication as a means to streamline the 
GoB's cumbersome bureaucracy and approval process.  Therefore, 
Dahl's presentation was organized by Ion-E Communications and 
co-partnered by NDP.  Malai Hassan invited various government 
departments and the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) to attend 
the talk. Approximately fifty NDP members attended, but, 
unfortunately, no GoB or UBD officials were present.  However, the 
leader of the deregistered PPKB - Dr Abdul Latiff Chuchu, attended. 
 
 
NDP CHALLENGES 
---------------- 
¶4. (SBU) On Friday, October 16, 2009, Robert Dahl paid a courtesy 
call on NDP President Mohd Yassin Affendi at the NDP headquarters. 
He also met NDP's Supreme Council members and Board of Advisors. 
They explained Brunei's political situation and the problems NDP is 
facing with local authorities.   It was noted that the universal 
right of freedom of assembly and freedom of press are not always 
available in Brunei.  For example, Brunei's two local daily 
newspapers - Brunei Times and Borneo Bulletin - are often restricted 
from providing press coverage of any of NDP's political activities. 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) Bruneians have the mindset that "political participation 
will lead to incarceration" which results in the lack of interest in 
politics among the majority of society, especially Brunei's youths. 
The fear of joining political party is further intensified by the 
existing State of Emergency.  Why join the political party when 
Bruneians are living comfortably is a common refrain NDP leaders 
hear. 
 
¶6. (SBU) NDP is happy that the government has implemented an action 
plan in addressing the issues raised by NDP on poverty, zakat 
distribution, and housing.   However, the more engage NDP is with 
GoB government departments the more pressure they received from the 
Ministry of Home Affairs and Prime Minister's Office.  For example, 
NDP currently has 29 branches located at all four districts - 
Brunei/Muara, Tutong, Kuala Belait and Temburong - with each branch 
housing 35 members. However a new regulation stipulates that each 
branch must now have 50 members, and it is getting more difficult to 
apply for approval in opening a new branch office. 
 
REACHING OUT TO BRUNEI 
---------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) On Sunday, October 18, NDP took Mr. Dahl to visit the 
non-Muslim community of Bisaya. Malai Hassan wanted to expose Mr. 
Dahl to those residing in Brunei whose voices are often not in the 
mainstream of Brunei's political thought.  Bisaya's residents are 
deeply affected by the government's policy on the Malaysia - Brunei 
territorial Limbang claim, which is an area in the Malaysian state 
of Sarawak that Brunei has long claimed as its own territory. The 
NDP has made pressing for resolution of the territorial claims to 
Limbang one of their major party platforms and continues to be 
concerned the GoB will forgo claims in return for concessions on oil 
 
BANDAR SER 00000256  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
producing regions on and off shore. 
 
 
WHAT IS NDP's PURPOSE? 
---------------------- 
¶8. (SBU) Mr. Dahl stated he did not see NDP as an opposition party 
but a party for engaging people in civic affairs. This is not a 
challenge to the monarchy.  It is clear through NDP's vision and 
mission that the party has no intention in exercising power within 
Brunei but provides a connection between government and society. 
This is where NDP needs to educate the public and engage in 
advocacy. 
 
NEED FOR MORE MEMBERS 
--------------------- 
¶10. (SBU) To overcome the membership recruitment problem, Mr. Dahl 
suggested the heads of the branch parties better communicate the 
party's ideas with the community, and to continue to show they are 
patriotic.  In addition, it must be demonstrated that the NDP is 
capable of developing good policy alternatives on a wide range of 
issues and that NDP's ideas have gained respect and favor within the 
government. NDP should "help people recognize their involvement is 
really needed and that the cost of not participating is greater than 
any costs of participating". 
 
¶11. (SBU) NDP's commitment and capacity to develop and present good 
policies, according to Mr. Dahl, "is a valuable asset that is not 
being well-utilized under the present political system.  It is not 
only unfair, it is inefficient for society".     Mr Dahl suggested 
that the theme of NDP's message to Brunei should be based on the 
party's belief which is 'government process requires transparency, 
accountability, and true participation by the public'. NDP should 
demonstrate to Bruneians that their individual help to NDP is 
important for themselves and for the nation. 
 
COMPLIMENTS TO NDP 
------------------ 
¶12. (SBU) Mr. Dahl was impressed by how comprehensive and 
coordinated NDP organizational structure is, and will use NDP as a 
model in the next countries where he will work.  He also commended 
NDP's good practice of internal democracy which is a based in 
grassroots/community support. 
 
FINAL THOUGHTS 
-------------- 
¶13. (SBU) In his closing notes, Mr. Dahl said Brunei already has a 
two-party system; with Brunei's overwhelming dominant ruling party 
as the caucus- cadre parties (or what might be called elite-based 
parties) and NPD as the branch-mass (or membership-based) parties. 
The difference between the political parties in Brunei is about the 
vitality and openness of the political process. 
 
NDP MEMBERS SPEAK UP 
----------------------- 
¶14. (SBU) During the Question and Answer session a NDP head of 
women's bureau, Hajah Saemah, asked, 'Will Brunei have an election?' 
Mr. Dahl believes it is "absolutely possible that Brunei will have 
an election one day.  NDP is laying the groundwork for a possible 
election".  However, "it is a delicate task" where "people can push 
too hard, too fast".  Malai Hassan asked Mr. Dahl on how to practice 
democracy. Mr. Dahl answered there is "no magic formula or instant 
fixes in the problem that NDP is facing" but "it will take creative 
thinking, courage and incremental efforts".  He noted that Brunei 
does have small elements of democracy including feedback to the 
Sultan who wants to hear what people think. In addition, NDP's 
proposed policies are recognized and absorbed by the government 
which is an accomplishment but not NDP's final goal. Members of 
NDP's Board of Advisors asked such questions like "how can Brunei 
practice democracy?" and "what is USG going to do with Brunei's 
situation?" Mr. Dahl made it clear that he is not representing the 
USG and that he is not here to tell NDP what to do but to provide 
them the tools so they can take the next step. 
 
LET'S MAKE THIS JUST LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT 
------------------------------------------- 
¶14. (SBU) Upon Mr. Dahl's arrival, Brunei's customs officials 
checked his luggage and attempted to confiscate two of his books on 
politics.  The customs officials said they must confiscate the books 
because of Brunei's censorship regulation.  Although customs 
officials did not confiscated his books but they made photocopies of 
both books. In addition, the Embassy was informed that Brunei's 
Internal Security Department (ISD) sent two of their officers to NDP 
headquarters to collect all paper-works related to Mr. Dahl's visit. 
 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
¶15. (SBU).  The main challenges for NDP are to attract the youths to 
 
BANDAR SER 00000256  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
get interested in politics as they are the future generation as well 
as communicate to the Bruneian people how the NDP can help Brunei be 
a better nation. We are pleased that this long awaited presentation 
was finally able to be held in Brunei. While there were obstacles, 
Mr. Dahl's presentation was well received and focused on realistic 
assessments and possibilities for NDP's development within Brunei's 
civil and political society. 
 
TODD