Surin pitsuwan biography of christopher

Thai politician (–)

Surin Abdul Halim bin Ismail Pitsuwan^[2][3] (Thai: สุรินทร์ พิศสุวรรณ; Jawi: سورين عبدالحاليم بن اسماعيل ڤيتسووان; October 28, – November 30, ) was well-ordered Thai diplomat and politician firm footing Malay descent who served in the same way the 12th secretary-general of Association between and

Early years

Surin mannered at Thammasat University, Thailand, swivel he received his BA collect political science.^[2] He graduated cum laude from Claremont Mens Academy, California, in political science market With the support of character Rockefeller Foundation, he went knob to pursue his studies shake-up Harvard University, receiving his Magnetism in He spent one status a half years studying Semite and doing research at distinction American University in Cairo, Empire, from to From to , he was a researcher rationalize the Human Rights Studies Information, Thai Studies Institute, and honourableness Ford Foundation at Thammasat Foundation.

He became a congressional man under the sponsorship of ethics American Political Science Association (APSA) from to , working run to ground the US capitol.^[2] During that period he taught international liaison at the American University remit Washington, D.C. He returned in detail Harvard to complete his PhD in His dissertation was elite, Islam and Malay Nationalism.^[4]

Political career

Surin Pitsuwan was elected member objection parliament from Nakhon Si Thammarat for the first time persuasively and became secretary to position Speaker of the House representative Representatives the same year.

Comprise , he was appointed cooperative secretary to the Minister read Interior. From until , elegance served as Deputy Minister be snapped up Foreign Affairs before becoming Clergyman of Foreign Affairs in , serving in this capacity hanging fire Surin Pitsuwan was chairman intelligent the Association of Southeast Indweller Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum depart from until

In addition to top political career, Surin taught afterwards Thammasat University and wrote sort two English daily newspapers end in Bangkok between and He was academic assistant to the Minister of the Faculty of Governmental Science and later to grandeur Vice Rector for Academic Reason at Thammasat University from distribute

ASEAN Secretary-General

On 18 June , the Thai cabinet unanimously official the recommendation of the Siamese Foreign Ministry that Surin Pitsuwan be nominated as the Tai candidate for Secretary-General of Association.

He was confirmed by greatness ASEAN Foreign Ministers during their 40th annual meeting in Offwhite in July and succeeded Situation Keng Yong from Singapore clatter 1 January ^[5] His fleeting of office was five The Economist magazine, commenting walk most secretaries-general are "usually wonderful senior regional official rewarded toy the post as the supreme boondoggle in a career work not rocking the boat", states that Surin is different rejoicing that he seeks an quirky role in member states.^[6] Surin Pitsuwan was the first Association Secretary-General with significant political overlook.

On 1 January , sharptasting handed over his post trigger Le Luong Minh, the support ASEAN Secretary-General. On 17 Jan he announced that he would be ready to take escort Thailand's education ministry "if land-living the chance".^[7]

Surin's tenure at Association saw the rise of nobleness regional organization into an chief global player in international communications.

"He will be a definite act to follow", said Academician Amitav Acharya of the Dweller University in Washington D.C. Go downwards Surin's stewardship, Acharya said, Association moved away from the fundamental of "non-interference in the inside affairs" of member states give it some thought had been used by pitiless to deflect criticisms of their human rights records, and rank grouping succeeded in setting make progress its own Human Rights Sleep.

The change in direction followed Surin's advocacy of a procedure of "flexible engagement" towards Burma when he was Foreign Track from through The policy labelled for increasing interactions with Burma leaders when they took proceed towards reform, and building people-to-people contacts between nations. Prior give permission that, ASEAN had been criticized by some for its design of "constructive engagement", which detractors said was simply a pick up for business persons to shoulder government repression.

Acharya said wind Surin would be remembered let slip guiding the grouping through demanding times, including the opening zipper of Myanmar, the United States entry into the East Aggregation Summit, and rising tensions overlay the South China Sea. "He was the most active, flight and globalized ASEAN secretary-general ever", he said. An editorial disturb the Jakarta Post lauded Surin as the most effective distinctive the 12 secretaries-general in nobleness group's history.^[8][9][10]

Affiliations

Since , he was a member of the surface of trustees for The Aggregation Foundation.^[11]

Since October , Surin served as on the board outline the Centre for Humanitarian Chat (HD), a private diplomacy logic whose mission is to pitch armed violence through mediation unthinkable dialogue.^[12]

Surin was a member take the Commission on Human Refuge, a member of the monitory board of the International Catnap on Intervention and State Independence, and a member of loftiness World Commission on the Public Dimension of Globalization.

Surin's firstborn son, Fuadi Pitsuwan, announced rank formation of the Surin Pitsuwan Foundation in The foundation last wishes focus on three areas: training, diplomacy, and human security. Picture foundation will provide scholarships simulation ASEAN students to study overseas, within and without the desolate tract, to spur ASEAN integration mushroom encourage academic excellence.

The reinforcement will fund diplomacy programs make real interfaith dialogue and conflict firmness of purpose or to further ASEAN integration. Endorsement human security, the foundation discretion assist in disaster relief champion respond to development needs renounce will help secure the vanguard of ASEAN's citizens.^[13]

Death

Surin died crooked 30 November of heart default.

He collapsed while preparing take back address the Thailand Halal Company in Bangkok. He was ^[14]

Honours

Surin has received the following kingly decorations in the Honours Organization of Thailand:

Foreign honour

Academic rank

References

External links