One Night in Bangkok with the Governor

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, elected on his second term as Bangkok Governor after an unprecedented win last 3 March 2013, hosted a dinner for the members of the CALD Secretariat and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia, Dr. Rainer Adam.

The CALD Secretariat was in Bangkok to organize the CALD Youth Festival in coordination with the Democrat Party of Thailand (DP), one of the founding member-parties of CALD. The secretariat members, led by CALD Executive Director Celito Arlegue, took the opportunity to personally invite the Governor to grace the CALD 20th Anniversary festivities in Manila, Philippines on 8-11 November 2013. Gov. Sukhumbhand, who served as CALD Chair from 2003-2004, was delighted to be invited and has expressed his willingness to attend and participate in this year’s momentous celebration. “I have to attend…it’s been years since I last joined fellow liberals. It will be exciting,” he said.

The Governor also shared his campaign experience and the tough battle the Democrats had to go through to win the gubernatorial elections. He said that he learned that the people must not be underestimated because they have the capacity to shape policies, to push for reforms and to make significant changes in society. He campaigned for the people, and is now excited to continue to work with them for another term.

Among those present during the dinner were: Hon. Kiat Sittheeamorn, MP, head of the DP Foreign Affairs Department; Dr. Rachada Dhnadirek, MP; Hon. Buranaj Smutharaks, MP; Ms. Selyna Peiris, CALD Youth Chairperson; Ms. Threedow Aphaiwongs, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Spokesperson, Ms. Rossucone Chartprasert, BMA Foreign Relations Officer, and CALD Program Officers Mr. Paolo Zamora and Ms. Rosanna Ocampo.