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Enjoying their dinner at the Suan Pakkad Palace are, from left to right, former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Count Otto Graf Lambsdorff who chairs the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, H.E. Pradit Phataraprasit MP, Secretary-General of the Democrat Party of Thailand and Countess Alexandra Lambsdorff.

CALD founding Chair H.E. Surin Pitsuwan MP, recalls the challenges encountered by CALD during its early days.

(Bangkok/December 10, 2003) On the manicured grounds of the historic and elegant Suan Pakkad Palace, the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats held its Founders’ Night.

Welcoming the delegates of the CALD 10th Anniversary Conference and other guests was M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra who is not only CALD Chair but also chairs the Chumbhot-Pantip Foundation which owns and manages Suan Pakkad Palace and Museum. He also read the letter of H.E. Kim Dae Jung congratulating CALD on its 10th anniversary (click here for the full text of the letter).

"The fact that CALD exists is a testimony that democracy and liberalism are alive and well in Asia," thus asserted Surin Pitsuwan, former Thai Foreign Minister and Founding Chair, as he explained the extent of the organization’s growth and development. Other speakers who reminisced on the earlier days of CALD were Ms. Maysing Yang of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party; Liberal Party (Philippines) President and former CALD Chair, Florencio Abad; Member of the European Parliament Jules Maaten who attended the CALD inaugural conference as Secretary General of Liberal International and Mr. Uwe Johannen, Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia of the Friedrich Nauamnn Foundation. Giving their congratulatory messages were Lord John Alderdice in behalf of Liberal International and FNF Chair, Count Otto Graf Lambsdorff. Philippine parliamentarian Neric Acosta served as master of ceremonies.

Former Thai Premier, Chuan Leekpai, who opened CALD’s inaugural conference ten years ago, stroke the ceremonial gong which commenced the playing of the drums, a traditional Thai ritual to commemorate auspicious occasions.