Bangkok, Thailand: UPF-Thailand announces with regret the passing of Professor Pradit Chareonthaitawee (1932-2010), Ambassador for Peace, President of UPF-Thailand, and one of the nation’s most prominent public citizens, after a lengthy illness.
Bratislava, Slovakia - Former Deputy Foreign Minister and one-time Ambassador to the Ukarine, Ing. Robert Harenčár passed away suddenly after a short, severe illness. He was 79.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari participated in every Middle East Peace Initiative interreligious conference. He was active in the Sulha Peace Project, the World Conference on Religions and Peace in Israel, the Israel Interfaith Coordinating Council.
London, UK - On May 11, 2010 Mr. Om Parkash Sharma, MBE, passed away. Mr. Sharma was a great friend of the Universal Peace Federation and an Ambassador for Peace. Hearing more about his life from his family members extended our understanding of his kindness to a much wider realm of his life. He was able to touch so many people with his compassion and care.
Harare, Zimbabwe - The first black prime minister of an interim white-dominated government before Zimbabwe's independence, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, died at his Harare home on April 8. He was 85.
Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepal’s senior statesman, five-time Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, died March 20 at the age of 86 and was cremated the following day with full state honors in Kathmandu.
Jakarta, Indonesia - H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid, president of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001, passed away December 30. A staunch defender of moderate Islam and secular politics, he was the former leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, a Muslim group with some 40 million members. He was also a member of UPF's Global Peace Council.
Moscow, Russia - On December 20, 2009, pastor Pavel Georgievich Nikolayevsky, member of Russian National Peace Council and Chairman of the Christian Synod, passed away. Ambassadors for Peace of Russia, his friends, and colleagues mourn the passing of this outstanding peacemaker and offered their condolences to his family.
San Jose, Costa Rica - H.E. Dr. Rodrigo Carazo, President of Costa Rica (1978-82), died December 9 at the age of 82. A UPF Ambassador for Peace and member of its Global Peace Council, Carazo spoke at a peace conference in Seoul in July promoting "a renewed United Nations that embodies the parental heart of God.”
Dr. Medardas Cobotas passed from this earth on Saturday, August 30, 2009, at the age of 83 due to complications after open-heart surgery performed earlier in the month.
Baron Vaea, Prime Minister of Tonga from 1991 to 2000, passed away at his home on June 7, 2009 at the age of 88. He was deeply loved by many Tongan people.
Niamey, Niger - The president of the Niger chapter of the Universal Peace Federation, El Hadj Abdou Daouda, died in an accident on May 15, 2009. He was Minister of National Competitiveness and the Fight Against the High Cost of Living.