CALD Postpones 15th Anniversary Celebration

The CALD Executive Committee has reached a decision today to postpone its 15^th anniversary celebration in Bangkok, Thailand. The secretariat had sought constant updates on the crisis and advisories on whether or not pushing through with the program of activities in Bangkok was viable. Increasingly, however, the overall situation gleaned from various reports had shown that the situation was unpredictable and unstable.

The following are the reasons for postponement:

1.     The dissolution by the Constitutional Court of the present government, while diffusing the crisis for the moment, still makes the present political situation all over Thailand volatile and uncertain. The planned mission to the Northern region and border areas of Mae Sot/Sukhothai could pose risks, raise safety and security considerations, and present logistical problems for a large delegation. The ASEAN Summit, to be held supposedly in Chiang Mai which is in the same Northern region as Mae Sot/Sukhothai, has also been cancelled.

2.     The re-opening and full return to normal operations of the International Airport in Bangkok would reportedly take anywhere between one to two weeks; there are no clear assurances at this point that the required incoming and outgoing flights at around the time of the scheduled conference would be ready and available.

3.    Several ExeCom members have expressed their concerns and reservations about the present crisis and the feasibility of pushing through with the planned events; some have even declined to participate even if there would be no postponement. If only four CALD parties (who have thus far not cancelled) make it to the Bangkok, this would not be representative of CALD as an organization celebrating its 15th founding anniversary and would not constitute a quorum for the CALD ExeCom meeting.

4.  Even if the planned activities would push through, the tension and aggravation of last week’s developments would not (presumably) make for a conducive atmosphere at this point to meaningfully celebrate the principles and ideals with which CALD was founded.

Dr. Neric Acosta, secretary general of CALD, said “We are saddened by this unfortunate turn of events. However, the safety, security and well-being of all delegates have formed the paramount basis for arriving at this decision.”

CALD has also expressed its hope for the people of Thailand and for its founding member party, the Democrat Party, to overcome the present political crisis and that the resolution of the conflicts that have caused grave divisions in Thai society will be reached in a just, peaceful, and democratic manner.

The CALD secretariat assured the CALD Execom that alternative proposals will be presented soon to appropriately celebrate its 15th founding anniversary.

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This post was written by CALD