Condolence for the pass away of Mr. Topong Kulkhanchit

Dear Ying and colleagues in DPI Asia-Pacific,

I am very shocked by the news of Topong's death. I exchanged series of mails with him until evening of last Tuesday this week, where he updated me about the situation in the region and the preparations he was undertaking for the holding of the AP regional council meeting scheduled before the DPI 7th WA in Seoul in September. I learned that he was on his way back to Bangkok from Bangladesh and was expecting to have a gathering of DPI leaders in the region who were to attend the meeting organized by UNESCAP/APCD in Bangkok this week.

I can't believe Topong is gone. He's one of the pillars of the disability movement in the Asia-Pacific region - a friend, a colleague and a brother who spent almost 24 hours a day thinking, working and breathing disability issues.

When I became chair of DPI-Asia Pacific years ago, Topong assumed the RDO post. It was never difficult working with him because he was an honest, efficient and compassionate person. I was amazed at his dedication to DPI. He made sure I was aware of goings-on in the regional office in Bangkok, consulted me on decisions needed to be made in relation to the operations of the office, sought my opinion on issues and respected my position as his then regional chair. True to his military background, Topong always acted like an officer, a gentleman and a professional worker.

or more than a decade, I was witness to many of the highs and lows, the ups and downs, in Topong's life and career. Sometimes he would call me in the middle of the night to share his happiness or frustration about the work that he does for disability - in Thailand and in the region. I have so many stories of how good he is as a person and how tirelessly he has pursued DPI's objectives over the years. I wish I could tell him how great a person he is.

It will be difficult for all of us whose lives Topong has touched one way or the other, to forget about him. His dedication and commitment to DPI will continue to linger - be seen and felt long after our dear Topong is laid to rest. May his memory inspire everyone of us to continue and further the work that he has done and build and the goodwill that he has cultivated, nurtured and shared with so many over the years. It's one of the ways to pay tribute to this man who has dedicated the most years of his life to the cause of persons with disabilities the world over.

To his beloved wife, Jing, who has supported Topong's work during all the years that they were together, goes my love and sympathy. May she find comfort and strength in the tought that her husband is loved and respected by all of us for his dedication in pursuing the objectives for which Disabled Peoples' International has been created: A VOICE OF OUR OWN - rights and equal opportunities for all persons with disabilities. We will miss you, Topong.

Venus M. Ilagan
Chairperson
Disabled Peoples' International
World Council

I am so saddened by this news. What a wonderful, inspirational man who has contributed so much to the cause for disability regionally and world wide. He has inspired so many people here in Papua New Guinea. May he rest in peace.

Yours most sincerely
Carol Kidu DBE MP

It is with great shock, sadness and a sense of loss that I learnt of the death of our great friend and warrior for people with disabilities and their causes..

My wife and I write to convey to you, Mr. Topong, and to members of you family, our deepest condolences and prayers for our late brother.

May he rest in eternal peace. I am sure that our brothers and sisters with disability, their family members and friends, you, me and my wife in this.

We shall draw courage from his tireless work, with the hope and promise to continue his resolve to even greater heights.

May God grant us all comfort and peace during this period of remembrance.

More power to people with disabilities!

As I mentioned in my previous email, Topong passed away at 11:20 (Thai local times) on 7 June 2007. He returned from the South Asian workshop on 'Capacity Building of Southern Disabled People's Organizations in Bangladesh on 4 June. At that time his condition was bad, so that he stayed at home for a while. Then he developed a high fever over 40 degrees and was taken to the Army Hospital. In the night on 6 June, his condition turned to be critical. He had cardio-respiratory arrest 5 times until the morning. After the struggle with illness, while he was taken heart massage from doctors, he passed away. Topong was a great leader of disability movement. Before he became disabled in 1986, Topong had served Royal Thai Army. Following his graduation from Royal Military Academy in 1981, he extended his study and training at the US. Army Infantry School in 1984-85. He got car accident during his patrol duty near Thailand-Malaysia border in 1986, injured his cervical cord, and became quadriplegic. He was promoted to be lieutenant colonel after leaving the army in 1989. While taking rehabilitation at the hospital, he participated in DPI Regional Assembly held in Thailand in 1988. His encounter with disability sector led him to deep commitment to equal opportunities of persons with disabilities in society. Then he got a chance to participate in the Nagoya City Handi-Marathon and to visit an independent living center, Human Care Association, in Japan. During his visit, he stayed my home and learned that a person with severe disability could live in community not in hospital. He began to live in community where he started to drive a car and to write by himself. Then he became President of the Association of the Physically Handicapped in Thailand (APHD) and developed APHD from a small organization coving only Bangkok area to a nation-wide organization. He was also an activist in an independent living (IL) movement, after he had invited to an lL study trip in USA in 1991 organized by the Human Care Association. He was always a great leader of our movements, such as establishing Rehabilitation Law, making accessible stations of Bangkok Sky-train, and organizing campaign for barrier-free new Bangkok airport. Appointed as Regional Development Officer of DPI-Asia-Pacific region in 1999, he used his talent for fostering young leaders with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. His attractive character caught many disabled persons' minds and brought unprecedented success in the last 20 years of disabled persons' movements in Asia-Pacific region. In the region, there is no person with disability who has never heard of Topong Kulkhanchit. Our strong movement deeply owes to his activity. Once he said "Leader works when staff are tired. Leader keeps awake to work when staff go to bed. Leader works without taking meal when staff are hungry." He spent his life as his words. He continued his fight until his last moment and I believe he fulfilled his life. May he rest in peace. I also offer my sincere condolences to his wife Ying, and his mother and sister. We persons with disabilities left behind carry his torch and continue to fight to realize his vision of society of equality and full participation.

I was just told that our RDO Topong has passed away. I was very much shocked, and very sad. It is a great loss of our movement, since he has led the region and contributed the empowerment of national assemblies. I believe some of you who are at Bangkok now to attend ESCAP/APCD meeting will provide other details for us.

As the Minister for Community Development and responsible for disability issues in the nation of Papua New Guinea, I send our deepest sympathies over the loss of an incredible and inspirational man. Topong made his mark wherever he went - he inspired me as the Minister responsible and he changed the lives of so many people living with disability here in PNG, especially a man from my own village Karoho Donisi who will be devasted by the news.

I can still see Topong leading the team on the recent visibility for disability walk here in our capital city of Port Moresby when we held the CBSHOD workshop. His vibrant leadership was infectious and his legacy will always live on. His contribution to the cause for disabled people here in PNG is unmeasureable and he made us all really examine our own prardigms.As a widow of a great man myself, my heart goes out to his widow and as she shares her grief with the world may she also have peace wiith herself and her own personal memories.

I will never forget the wonderful Topong. May he truly rest in peace knowing that his legacy will remain and grow forever.

I heard with deep sadness that our close and good friend, Khun Topong passed away yesterday. Based on your request I am now forwarding the attached message for your website. Please convey our deep condolence to his wife and family.

With deep sorrow.

It is with great sorrow that we learned the untimely death of one of our disability activists, Topong. Though each one of us will face death, but it is something which is very bitter. Topong was in front line to fight for the rights of people with disabilities in Asia as well as the entire world. Definitely he has left a gap that would take time to be filled.

Please pass our condolences to his family and to all movements of disabled people in the Region. In this difficult time we all support you. May God rest his soul in the right place.

It is with great shock and surprise that I turn my computer on this morning and learn of the great loss of a truly magnificent person in Topong. It is a major loss to the members of the DPI family throughout the world must this must be put into perspective when we think of his loss to his family. To all his family must go our condolences on their great loss.

I hope that over time it will be of some consolation to them to know that Topong was a great world leader of disabled people who at all times thought about the people that he was advocating for and representing rather than himself. He has ensured that disability is not alone acknowledged within the Asia Pacific region but is understood as a human right. He contributed in no small way to the drafting of the UN Convention and that will be one of the testaments to his leadership.

We will all be sadly much poorer with his loss and I hope that we can honour Topong in a meaningful way at the forthcoming World Assembly. An old Irish saying is 'Ar Dheis De go raimh a ainm' which when translated means that may he sit at the right hand of the lord and look after us.

Again my sympathy to the national assemblies, the region, to the world council and to his family. He will be sorely missed and never replaced.

This news has shocked and shaken me a lot more than I can possibly explain in words. I met Topong for the first and only time at the DPI Headquarters in Winnipeg in 2004 and was immediately struck by the devotion, selflessness and energy of the man. I am very saddened by this news for the people and national assemblies in the Asia-Pacific Region, the movement of persons with disabilities around the world and myself.

I know you all will miss him deeply as much as I will. Please accept my deep, sincere and heartfelt sympathies at his passing. The movement of persons with disabilities across the world has lost another great warrior. Topong would not have wanted the movement to slow down or stop and it is with that commitment that I will continue striving to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in my Region and across the world.

Again, my condolences.

Regretfully,

I would like to pass my condolence message to everyone in the office, late Topong's wife (Ying) and family. When I didn't see his face yesterday, I was lost and this afternoon when I heard that he passed away all of a sudden. I feel for him. My heart is with all of you. It is a great loss for the disability movement. Please let me know of any arrangement. I'm in Hotel De Moc Room#316.

It is extremely surprising for me to know the sad and sudden passing away of Mr. Topong. I cannot find any words for him. Although I haven't seen him at all, he sent some e-mails to me about delivery of wheelchairs.His e-mails were always short, but showed his warm-heartedness and compassion everywhere. We have been looking forward to seeing him this November.

Michiyo Yoshida, Secretary General of "Go! Fly! Wheelchairs," said that Mr. Topong was a very hard worker, and that he traveled worldwide alone to advocate rights of the disabled. I believe that what he had done will be followed by many people. I wish DPI/NSDP will be lead by his will.

I will pray for more prosperity and success of NSDP, good health of Ms. Nathawan and the staff members.

Please accept my sincerest condolences.

It is heartrending news that Topong Kulkhanchit our beloved friend, a good leader, facilitator and visionary guide to disability movement in this region passed away on 7th June at about 13.00 local time in Bangkok. His untimely and unexpected demise is a great loss in the field of global disability which has deeply distressed all of DPIAP family. As we five Regional councilors of DPIAP were participating in the "UNESCAP/APCD High–level Stakeholders' Workshop on Empowerment of People with Disabilities (P") and a Barrier-free Society through Networking and Collaboration from 6 to 8 June in Bangkok, attended the funeral ceremony on the evening of 8th June.

My personal attachment with him started from 2003 when he visited Nepal for the preparation of the Capacity Building Training/Seminar for People With Disabilities in Asia-Pacific Region (CBTS). I am always gratified for his guidance and support for conducting CBTS most successfully, his physical presence however is not with us but his remembrance and words of inspiration always remain in our memories as encouragement to move forward to uplift the disability movement and I believe that we have to generate enthusiasm for the accomplishment of his mission to mainstream disability in development.

On behalf of DPI-Nepal I express heartfelt condolence to his bereaved family and DPIAP and pray that his eternal soul will rest in peace in heaven.

I am equally sad to learn that Mr Topong had passed away. We will surely miss him for all the works he had contributed. I sincerely respect him for his active involvement in looking after the disabilities issues both locally and regionally. My deepest condolence goes to his beloved wife and family members.

Condolence message from the Organizing Committee of 3rd Conference and Assembly of Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF)

On behalf of 3rd General Assembly and conference of Asia Pacific Disability Forum Organizing Committee, we express our deep condolence on the sudden demise of Topong, Regional Development Officer of Disabled Peoples International, Asia Pacific region.

We recall with appreciation and gratitude his leadership in development of self help movement of people with disabilities in this region and his most notable contribution in different conference and seminars for promotion of right based barrier free inclusive society for people with disabilities. He visited Dhaka, Bangladesh in connection with conference only last week from 2nd to 5th June 2007.

We all pray for the salvation of the departed soul and may God give strength and courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.

My sincere condolence to his family.

You will live forever in your beloved's hearts, Topong.

sincerity

I just can't believe the news of sudden passing away of Topong. We have been looking forward to meeting him and his staff in Bangkok this November. I just send my deepest condolence to you all, especially to Nathawan.

Go!Fly!'s first wheelchair was received by him 9 years ago and at that time he didn't understand our activity fully. But now DPI/NSDP becomes one of our best partners. I do hope that our relation will go on in spite of his death. I really feel sad and at the same time so thankful about what he has done for us. There have been so many people who received his energy and his nice smile, including our staff Kozue and my husband, Taizo and of course myself and many travelers. I'm sorry that we cannot do anything at the moment, but I feel that we should to show our gratitude towards him.

May his soul rest in another world.

with prayers

I am surprised and shocked to hear that Topong passed away. I still cannot accept the situation with a reality. I dont find any suitable words to express my deepest sorrow. Though I was a young, unexperenced and non-disabled staff of one national assembly, Topong kindly taught me a lot of things and treated me like an old friend. Without him, I am never motivated to get involved in disability movement in the developing world like now. Saowalak, I will support whatever you and DPI A/P office will do for the disability movement. Please tell me to do anything.

Regards

Just shocked and sad to hear with the sudden news of our RDO Mr. Topong has passed away. As many of us knows he has had led a lot of dedication and contributed to the development and empowerment of DP's in many ways, and also had been a friend to many of us. I convey deepest sympathy and condolences onbehalf of our NGO.

My sincere condolence to the family and especially to you all at the DPI/AP. He has done a lot for the disability movement in the Asia Pacific and I am really saddened.

With all my best wishes for the family.

Kind regards

I am really sad to hear about our very best friend, brother and partner in the disability movement in the Asia-Pacific Region and global activist towards a better disability environmentally world. I will not forget the Good things he has done and supported us in Vanuatu to join DPI and become the member and encouraged us to get our government to sign the convention.

I salute him for his great moves and achievements and hope that his passing away will be a stepping stone for our disability movements to step on and carry on. What he has left behind is for us to carry on from where he left everything in our hands and hearts to go on forward to strive for the betterment of a brighter future in the years to come.

DPI VANUATU and our members of DPA would like to share this sad moment of sorrow and pass our condolences to his beloved wife and personal assistance Witiah and wish to thank them for looking after him for us while he was with us during our strive for getting our Asia-Pacific to work together for our disable communities.

May our brother Topong's body and soul rest in peace and our hearts are with you all back there at this very sad moment.

so sad to hear the news....but who know's who will coming next...."that's the will of God for his life...." we love you Mr. Topong Kulkhanchit...event you're pass away..but your smiling face still inside of our memory...."REST IN PEACE BROTHER" May god bless you....

malo,

I join you all in sharing the sadden loss of our friend and tireless colleague in disability work. May God comfort his family at this time.

Warm wishes

Dear all

I was first introduced to Topong while attending a conference at UNESCAP in Bangkok in 1999. My dear friends, Yutaka and Thongchai made the usual introductions. Somehow our lives have been woven together in the tapestry of time by common friends who have associated with him in various aspects of the disability scene. Topong's reputation and tenacity preceded him.

I was immediately taken by his passion and drive for the rights of people with disabilities. Topong speaks his mind freely and does not beat round the bush. Often, he has made many personal sacrifices and conveniences to ensure that the voice of people with disabilities concerning their welfare and well being are heard by the right people at the right time.

Over the years, we formed a friendship and closeness that was facilitated by the internet and occasional meetings during international conferences. We often joked about the many emails that Topong sent in the early hours of the morning when many would still be sleeping. I always enjoyed receiving and reading the informative emails and circulars that Topong must have painstakingly read, filtered and then shared with others around the world.

Topong's sudden and untimely passing away this morning will not doubt leave many, like me, in shock, pain, sadness and disbelief. As we try to understand the often unanswerable questions of life, let's celebrate being alive & remember the many wonderful memories that our dear friend Topong has shared with us. While it will be a very difficult feat to replace Topong, we can at least continue the good work that he has left behind to ensure that this world can be a better and fairer place for people with disabilities.

Please convey my deepest condolences to his wife and family. We have indeed lost a great champion today!

I am equally shocked with disbelief and sadness that our very dear friend Topong has passed on from us. I just spoke to Saowalak who briefly informed me that Topong had an acute blood infection which caused breathing difficulties. He passed away at 11.20am today and the funeral will be held tomorrow.

With warmest regards,

Colleagues

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Mr. Topong. The community of persons with disability in the Asia Pacific Region will surely miss the man. May he rest in peace.

Dear Friends and colleagues of disability movement,

I am writing this email for the condolence of Mr. Topong.

Mr. Topong was a focal point a good leader of the Asia Pacific countries and was a friend of mine, he was very active leader always tyring hard work for the right and dignity of the People with disability in the World.

Therefore, I am cordially conveying my message to his family for his departed soil and his contribution will not be forget in the history of disability movement and he will be mentioning always among the people with disabilities globally.

Regard

Dear Friends,

We are extremely traumatized to have the sense of hearing the heartrending news that RDO Mr. Topong has passed away. It is great loss for disability movement. We wish the ever lasting peace of his soul.

Dear All,

I am very regret to receive the news and his pass away cannot erase all good memory DPI /AP have shared with him.

He is still in our heart and forever. God comforts his spirit in heaven so that he rejoices and waits for our reunion after we complete missions on this earth.

Be in peace with God.

Love

Dear Colleagues,

I am very shocked, and very sad, to receive this news. Condolences.

We are very sad to hear passed away of Mr. Topong. It´s a great loss for our community, specially for DPI. Please convey our deepest condolences to DPI and his family.

Regards.

My deepest co On behalf of the New York Chapter of colleagues and supporters for disability movement, we would like to convey our joint deep condolences to Topon'g family, his beloved.

Although regrettably I have missed to see Topong during my last visit to Bangkok and haven't seen him for nearly one year, we shall never forget him and his great positive attitude that he had about everything in life, and his cheerful smile. He was just happy wit his life, and we must learn the lesson from him.

We shall miss you Topong, cherish your memory, and inherit your great contribution and spirit. You will be missed by a lot of friends and colleague, in Bangkok, Asia-Paicic,New York, and the rest of the world.

Love.

Dear Friends,

I am shock and sad to know the news that Mr. Topong had passed away so suddenly. He just came back from Bangladesh. On behalf of Malaysian Confederation of the Disable (DPI Malaysia) we convey our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Topong.

Dear DPI/AP

On behalf of the Vietnamese NGO, IDEA, I would like to express our deepest condolences on the death of Khun Topong Kulkhanchit. He was a great campaigner on disability issues, making governments listen, and raising awareness amongst society.

His work took him to many countries, and we are sure that today there will be many people grieving. He touched the lives of many.

He showed what could be achieved by people with disabilities, and earned the respect of many. He will be a great loss to the movement, and will be hard to replace.

"Kor sadung kwam seer jai duay"

On behalf of the Vanuatu Government and Disbaility Desk Office, we would like to express our profound and sincere condolences to Topong's family and it is our prayer that our Good Lord will be with the family.

Sincerely

Dear All,

Many eulogies and letters have passed through the Internet about Topong and his passing. I thought that you all might like to see this one from Venus Ilagan, who is head of Disabled Persons International. Those of you who worked with Topong or participated in the May Day marches know what a dedicated and hard working man he was. He will be sorely missed in the disability community in this region and globally. Many thanks to Jittima for letting us know right away about this passing so that we could attend the first night of the funeral on Friday and for making sure that the a wreath of flowers from the ILO was sent, marking our deep sympathy to his family, respect for his life's work and grief at his passing. I cannot add much more to what Venus said, however, you might want to know that Topong participated and contributed to many ILO meetings, marched with the ILO and trade unions for disability rights as part of the May Day activities each year, included the ILO and decent work issues in many of his activities and presentations, and his work with DPI was an often cited success story as part of the tsunami project. His achievements under that project were many and included training and organizing local disability leaders, ensuring that a local park was accessible and helping hotels rebuild according to accessibility standards. Even after the project was over, he sent disability groups from Europe to enjoy the hotels that implemented the accessibility standards, demonstrating the business value of their actions. He was also an ardent advocate for Thailand's ratification of C. 159, which we are expecting to happen very soon.

On a personal level, Topong was always someone I could turn to if I needed information, support for an activity or just some ideas. At the May press conference to launch the ILO's discrimination report, Topong was there! As a disability advocate it made a difference to him that the ILO report recognized that disabled persons face discrimination in the workplace. He was there to support me, our work and disabled persons. It was the last time I saw him. Please take a moment to read Venus' letter, which really captures Topong and take a look at some of the attached photos which show him and some of us participating in ILO activities with him. If you have the time, also see the May Day and tsunami project reports on the AbilityAsia web site at the following location:

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/ability/c_thai.htm

Thank you for taking a few moments to remember Topong and his contributions to disabled persons and our work.

With sadness in my heart,