Chonburi, Thailand – More than 1 million people gathered in over 3,000 venues across Thailand to commemorate the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2023. The program, organized by UFP-Thailand, featured the reading of peace messages from prominent national and international figures, followed by a one-minute silent prayer for peace.
Thai Prime Minister Settha Thavisin, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, and President of UPF-Thailand Gen. Terdsak Marom sent messages to mark the occasion.
The program took place in schools, educational institutes, military offices, police stations, government organizations and some private organizations. At each venue, people gathered to hear the messages and to pray for peace in the nation and the world.
The main event this year was held at the Eastern College of Technology (E. Tech) in Chonburi. On behalf of the governor of Chonburi Province, Deputy Governor Amnart Charoensri attended and read the prime minister’s message. Gen. Terdsak Marrome delivered his own message, and Dr. Lek Thaveetermsakul, Vice President of UPF-Asia-Pacific, read the U.N. Secretary-General's peace message in English, followed by a Thai translation read by Chayathorn Chingchaichana, a student in the Department of Electric Engineering at E.Tech. The program ended with a one-minute prayer for peace in the family, community, society, nation and world.
This program has been carried out every year since 2011, with the support of each successive prime minister, as well as cooperation from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Royal Thai Police.
