Centennial celebration of statesman Pridi's life
26 April 2000
INDONESIAN President Abdurrahman Wahid will join the Thai government, academics, non-governmental organisations and the public in a series of events next month to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the late statesman Pridi Banomyong.
The activities, between May 5 and 14, are being organised by a committee chaired by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, said Naris Chaiyasoot, rector of Thammasat University.
This is the first time the government has fully supported a celebration of Pridi's life.
The former prime minister was labelled a communist and traitor during the post-World War II years and had to spend the rest of his life exiled in China and France.
The government has allocated a budget of Bt18 million for the event, the highlight of which will be on May 10, Pridi's birthday, said committee secretary Phanom Iamprayoon.
On that day, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will give a keynote speech to honour Pridi.
Wahid was invited to join the commemoration because of his use of non-violent strategies to fight for democracy in his country, said Phanom,
Pridi always adopted a non-violent approach when dealing with national issues during his premiership, he added.
Thammasat University will also present Wahid with an honorary doctorate in law.
On May 11, the House speaker, prime minister and opposition leaders will give speeches in Parliament honouring Pridi.
Naris said the commemoration committee had also published Pridi's biography.
About 10,000 copies of the book, produced at a cost of Bt900,000, will be dis
tributed to people attending the celebration, academic institutions' libraries, and members of the press.
"Younger people these days know very little about Pridi," said Naris.
"The book is aimed at recording Pridi's contributions to the country and to the development of democracy."
The committee's activities and Pridi's biography are also being publicised through a website at http://www.pridi.or.th.
Commemorative video cassettes and CDs have also been produced.
Samphat Phungpradit, in charge of publishing the biography, said the book was entitled "It's Pridi Banomyong's Free Spirit".
Apart from personal details, the book depicts the evolution of Thai democracy, particularly the transformation of the country's administration system from an absolute monarchy to its current democratic form.
It also details the establishment of the Free Thai Movement during World War II.
Articles giving different perspectives of the statesman, written by Thanpuying Poonsuk, Pridi's wife, family members and acquaintances, are also included.
The committee has also asked an international publishing house for permission to reprint in Thai cartoons of Pridi which were originally published as part of a series featuring significant world figures.
There will be a series of seminars during the commemorative week.
The first is an international seminar entitled "Social Justice, Democracy and Alternative Politics: An Asian-European Dialogue".
Other seminar topics included the Monastic Act amendment and the cooperative system in Thailand, said Phanom.
From May 11 to 14, a number of artists will present their perspectives of democracy at an exhibition on the footpath along Central Rajadamnern Avenue.
Exhibition coordinator Sinsawat Yotbangtoei said the exhibition was intended to remind people of Pridi and the history of Thai democracy over the past 100 years.
Pridi is featured on the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's list of great people of the 20th century.
BY SUKANYA SAE-LIM and
SUTHEP JAN-AMPORN
The Nation / Headlines