Wahid calls on region to follow Thai lead
All nations urged to establish democracy
Bhanravee Tansubhapol
11 May 2000
President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia yesterday expressed hope other Southeast Asian nations would follow Thailand and Indonesia in establishing democratic principles in their countries.
Mr Wahid, in his speech for the centennial birthday anniversary of Pridi Banomyong, Thailand's statesman and founding father of Thammasat University, said both Thais and Indonesians had worked very hard to establish the democratic rule.
He said this progress should encourage other countries in the region to follow suit.
People in Southeast Asia, he believed, would have the same spirit of democracy shown by Mr Pridi.
Mr Wahid, who met Mr Pridi for the first time in 1975, also praised the Thai statesman as Asia's better known figure in the area of democracy.
Mr Wahid said Indonesia was learning from Thailand on how to lead the country out of the economic crisis and from Mr Pridi's views on economic, political and social issues.
Thammasat yesterday awarded an honorary law doctorate to the Indonesian president, who joked the degree was meant to remind him not to break domestic and international laws.
Bangkok Post