ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN THAILAND, 25 – 27 MAY
The Secretary-General arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, from Hanoi, Viet Nam, late on Thursday, 25 May 2006.
On Friday, he began the day as the keynote speaker at a high-level panel in Bangkok on the contributions of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej to human development in Thailand.
In that address, the Secretary-General said: “His Majesty's “Sufficiency Economy” philosophy -- emphasizing moderation, responsible consumption, and resilience to external shocks -- is of great relevance to communities anywhere during these times of rapid globalization. The philosophy's “middle path” approach strongly reinforces the United Nations’ own advocacy of a people-centred sustainable path towardS human development.” (See Press Release SG/SM/10478.)
Then in the late afternoon, he and Mrs. Annan travelled to the Royal Palace in the seaside town of Hua Hin to present the first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to the monarch.
“Your Majesty has made an extraordinary contribution to human development. As the world’s “Development King”, the Secretary-General said in a citation statement at the presentation of the award, “Your Majesty has reached out to the poorest and the most vulnerable people of Thailand -- regardless of their status, ethnicity or religion -- listened to their problems, and empowered them to take their lives in their own hands.” (Press Release SG/SM/10479)
The UNDP Award was presented on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne.
In Bangkok on Friday, the Secretary-General also had a meeting with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which was followed by a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister.
He also held a Town Hall meeting with UN staff at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. While there, he recorded a statement on Myanmar, which was issued in the Thai capital. (Press Release SG/SM/10477)
In a separate programme, Nane Annan visited a UNICEF-supported art therapy project and exhibition entitled “Who am I, Why am I Here?” with paintings, photography, poetry and a drama performance by 25 HIV-positive children between the ages of 10 to 16.
Wearing masks to hide their identity until the end of the show, the children’s performance reflected the stigma and discrimination that Thailand’s 30,000 HIV-positive children face in their daily lives. One young girl told Mrs. Annan: “I just want to have a normal life like others, to go to school and to be able to get a job, but I have no chance.” She said her teacher had refused to let her play sports in school, but she insisted and won a gold medal in a sports competition. “I wanted to show that HIV kids could do the same as other kids.”
The Secretary-General and his wife left Bangkok for New York on the morning of Saturday, 27 May 2006.