The 1984 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service

RESPONSE of  Thongbai Thongpao
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
31 August 1984, Manila, Philippines

I consider this prestigious Award high honor not only for myself, but for my fellow countrymen and my country. The honor I receive today is a symbol of the victory of right and justice. It represents a victory of human rights over tyranny and oppressors who wittingly or unwittingly abuse humankind.

I firmly believe in the ideals of human rights and the rule of law, which means the rule of just law. I have to stress this point because several countries have been operating under laws which are not democratic. They have been applying laws which limit and suppress the freedom and rights of the people. I cannot accept that the rule of law which runs contrary to human rights is legitimate rule.

I agree with and support the faith of the late President Ramon Magsaysay in human values, in freedom and in peace. This faith is a great and mighty power which is essential for the building of this world into a place of lasting peace and happiness. I abhor and am enraged by injustice. I abhor and am enraged by the suppression of freedom and human rights.

The failure to respect human rights and the lack of appreciation of human values, lead people to look down on others, to hate and despise them, to oppress them and to abuse them. This in turn leads to a fight, a struggle to oppose the tyranny. It leads to the use of force and to destruction, which is a tragedy for humankind.

The majority of the people in the world are still living amidst great hardship, hunger and suffering. A great number of people are leading a bitter existence because of poverty and the power of tyrants and oppressors. To help our fellow human beings escape from this suffering, we can only urge all people to be aware of human values, to respect the rights of others, to be willing to share fairly in the wealth of each nation.

We must work together to get rid of all injustice, to help build a society—a world—in which all the people have freedom and can enjoy a life of honor and peace.

I will be supremely happy if my work plays just a small part in helping to bring the wishes and the faith of President Magsaysay closer to realization.