The outstanding role of Pridi has not only gained his national recognition as statesman who safeguarded his country, but also made him known internationally as a world peace-maker.

In his European trip during his tenure of office as Minister of the Interior (1935-1936), Pridi sought the conversion of the loans contracted by the King Rama VI government. At the same time, he also approached various governments to amend the unequal treaties. He foresaw then that World War was imminent and would have greater impacts on Siam than the first World War. Once he returned to Siam, Pridi prepared for the worsening of the World development. First, he indulged in the royal proclamation of Neutrality in 1939 whereby all government officials, Thai nationals and all people residing in Siam should strictly and faithfully observe neutrality.

When Pridi was Minister of Finance, he produced a film entitled "the King and the White Elephant" based on historical novel which he wrote himself in English. The cast were lecturers and students of Thammasat University, It was the first Thai film with English sound track ever produced. Pridi wanted to convey his conception of "Peace" among the educated and the international audience by demonstrating the clear stand of Buddhist teaching that there is no happiness which is greater than peace. Furthermore, he sent signal that the Siamese were ready to fight gallantly a war of aggression.

As soon as the Japanese armed forces invaded Thailand, Pridi showed his principal stand by leading the clandestine resistance movement while the Thai military dictators sided with the Japanese by declaring war on Great Britain and the U.S.A. in violating of the 1939 Royal Decree on Neutrality.

Pridi as Regent rallied all Thais both at home and abroad from members of the Royal family, military officers, police, civil servants, civilians, students intellectuals, workers and farmers to extend cooperation to the allies under a Free Thai Movement to end the war. Eventually the allies, the US government in particular, recognized Pridi as the rightful representative of the Thai government before Prime Minister Pibulsonggram sided with Japan after the invasion. The allies considered Thailand as independent state under the occupation of Japanese armed forces.

The main task of the Free Thai Movement was to extend assistance to the allies by gathering intelligence reports, help the allies captive soldiers and most important of all is to recruit Thai patriots as underground fighters against the occupying forces under the strategic plan of the allied forces in Southeast Asia.

The day when the Japanese surrendered to the allies, the British Foreign office allowed Admiral Lord Louis Mountbattan, Supreme Commander of the Allied Foces in Southeast Asia, to make a personal suggestion to "Ruth" (pseudonym of Pridi, leader of Free Thai Movement) that Thailand should, immediately soon after, nullify the declaration of war against Great Britain and the U.S.A.

As soon as Pridi received the message form Lord Louis Mountbattan, he proclaimed peace on 16 August 1945 in his capacity as Regent of King Rama VIII. The essence of the proclamation was to reaffirm that the declaration of war against the U.S.A. and Great Britain by the Pubulsonggram government was null and void and had no binding with the Thai people who were ready to cooperate with the United Nations for world peace and stability.

During his tenure of office as Prime Minister after the end of the second World War, Pridi was able to negotiate with the allies so that Thailand unlike other, would not have to be occupied paving the way to become member of the United Nations.

In recognition of his multifarious service to the country in most intricate time, King Anand Mahidol most graciously appointed him as Senior Statesman of the realm.

In the final year before he lost power, Pridi began a fresh step in the international arena He pointed out that although the second World War had ended, countries in Southeast Asia remained under control of western power: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam under the French; Burma, Malaya and Singapore under the British; Indonesia under Dutch and even the Philippines was looked after by the U.S.A.

The nationalists and peoples at these neighbouring countries all campaigned for their independence. Pridi firmly believed it was the right of small nations to cooperate in the negotiation with the majors powers. He proposed to the French to cooperate with Thailand in establishing the Union of Southeast Asia which would comprise Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. He believed that Burma, Malaya, the Philippines and Indonesia would subsequently join. However, the French government rejected the idea, Pridi nonetheless did not abandon the idea. He went on to set up "the league of Southeast Asia" in September 1947 as a forum for coordination among nationalists to increase their bargaining power against the major powers towards peaceful means to achieve independence.

Unfortunately, such initiative at an international level lasted for only a few months. A group of military officers seized power from the democratic government. Although Pridi was not Prime Minister at that time, he was clearly the main target of the coup compelling him to fled Thailand on 8 November 1947.

It was unfortunate that the idea of the "League of Southeast Asia" had to be abandoned. If such an idea were to be realized, and the major power were to agree to allow the peoples in the region to exercise their right of self determination, at least the Indochinese problem would have been resolved peacefully. Bloodshed would have been less in the Korean, Vietnam and Cambodian wars.

Since 1947, Pridi has permanently left the scene of Thai politics. During the time he took asylum in foreign countries, he was still enthusiastic in expressing his thoughts about political development in Thailand and international politics. In his numerous speeches, articles and books, he expresssed his thoughts about democracy, human rights, and peace against both leftist and rightist dictators. He opposed the invention and the building up of nuclear weapons. He objected warfare in all forms. He warned the Thai governments from time to time not to fair victim of the war by proxy, to adhere strictly in neutrality and peaceful co-existence.

Pridi Banomyong died on 2 May 1983 in a suburb of Paris. He would have been 100 years old on 11 May 2000. Throughout his life,he was committed to serving his country and the Thai people with all his talents and ability, honesty, courage and sacrifice, even at the risk of his own life. He loyally served his Monarch and was graciously accorded the rare distinction as Senior Statesman. The House of Representatives unanimously appointed him the sole regent until the end of the second World War. Pridi led a simple and frugal life. He had faith in Buddhism the rule of law and humanitarian principle. He practiced it in his private and public life for peace and freedom among the people in the Nation. Therefore, in order to...

• give due recognition to the aforementioned multifaceted activities and good deeds of Mr. Pridi Banomyong
• express our gratitude to the significant and unbounded service to his people and his country;
• set an example for our youths to contribute earnestly to welfare and development of the society;
• appraise the international community of the good deeds that a Thai citizen had done so much for this country and the world at large; and
• give deserved praise and respect where it is due;

It is deemed appropriate to hold a celebration activity to commemorate the hundredth year of the birth of Mr. Pridi Banomyong.