Page 90 - ฉบับ "ปรีดี บรรณานุสรณ์ 2561"

“Since this is a country where the blindest bluf s hold good
and wildest tales are true”

nd
May 2 1983, approximately 10.00 hour
Mr. Pridi Banomyong, the one and only senior statesman
of the country, had peacefully passed away at his house in Antony
in the suburb of Paris. And it was quite certain that no one had ever
imagined that such permanent farewell would suddenly come.

The Senior Statesman, Pridi Banomyong,
and Life as a Refugee for 34 years
Fleeing from 1947 coup d’etat, and the defeat of the
Democratic Movement of February 26 1949 ended Mr. Pridi
th
Banomyong’s political role in Khana Ratsadon’s af airs ever since
1932 completely.
From 1949 onward, he became a refugee until the last
breath of his life. He remained as a refugee for 34 years, and
though there were obstacles on communication because of the great
distance between him and his homeland, Mr. Pridi had never felt less
concerned about his country.
His works, ideas, essay, as well as many documents of his
ideas that had been publicized periodically, where some of them are
considered to be historical evidences of undeniable great value, as
well as his speeches for many occasions, all reveal such profound
concern he had for his country.
Many of political obstacles that came into his life, Mr.
Pridi used them as his lesson, where, after thorough consideration,
contemplation, and reviewing, he disclosed some of them to the
public in several occasions.
It is true that his mission in the country has ended but
his role as the senior statesman remains. With the duty “as a

90 ปรีดีบรรณานุสรณ์ ๒๕๖๑