Director’s Report:

At the end of June, ARI Thai Graduate Bumrung Khayotha passed away at the age of 73 years old. He is a graduate of 1989 and known as a legend. “He was a farmer in northeastern Thailand and led a nationwide peasants’ movement as a brilliant leader. Although some people asked him to become a member of the National Assembly, in the 2000s, he stayed in his hometown, where he had land, a house, and a family. While farming, he was pushed by the local people to serve as the head of the local administrative organization.” (quotes of Kazuoki Ohno)
Whenever he was invited by the Asian Farmers Exchange Center, he stopped by ARI. From his small body and childlike smile, it was hard to believe that he led the peasants’ movement across the country.
His niece, Ms. Janvan who succeeds Khayotha’s spirit, is also an ARI graduate.