Honorary doctorate for Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is due to leave for Thailand on Thursday morning to receive an honorary doctorate from the Asia Institute of Technology, the presidential press bureau said in a statement on Wednesday.

During his two-day visit to Bangkok, Abdurrahman is also scheduled to meet with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

The statement said that Abdurrahman would be accompanied by Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab.

The President is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Friday evening.

In May, Abdurrahman was also awarded an honoris causa by Thammasat University in Thailand.

In an address in the university's auditorium at that time, Abdurrahman described his job as Indonesia's president as "one of the most difficult jobs in the world".

At the time, the honorary degree was presented in conjunction with the centennial celebrations of the birth of Thai statesman Pridi Banomyong, the leader who ended the absolute monarchy and brought constitutional rule to Thailand in 1932.

This is scheduled to be Abdurrahman's last trip overseas this year. His most recent trip abroad was in late November to Singapore. (byg)