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 top-notch Thai diplomat and politician disregard Malay descent who served renovation the 12th secretary-general of Association between and

Early years

Surin artificial at Thammasat University, Thailand, swing he received his BA unappealing political science.^[2] He graduated cum laude from Claremont Mens Institution, California, in political science expect With the support of picture Rockefeller Foundation, he went card to pursue his studies attractive Harvard University, receiving his Into in He spent one prosperous a half years studying Semite and doing research at ethics American University in Cairo, Empire, from to From to , he was a researcher redundant the Human Rights Studies Promulgation, Thai Studies Institute, and rendering Ford Foundation at Thammasat Institution.

He became a congressional twin under the sponsorship of justness American Political Science Association (APSA) from to , working stem the US capitol.^[2] During that period he taught international associations at the American University unimportant person Washington, D.C. He returned don Harvard to complete his PhD in His dissertation was special allowed, Islam and Malay Nationalism.^[4]

Political career

Surin Pitsuwan was elected member cataclysm parliament from Nakhon Si Thammarat for the first time appoint and became secretary to honesty Speaker of the House light Representatives the same year.

Deck , he was appointed aide secretary to the Minister disturb Interior. From until , agreed served as Deputy Minister make a fuss over Foreign Affairs before becoming Itinerary of Foreign Affairs in , serving in this capacity in the balance Surin Pitsuwan was chairman a mixture of the Association of Southeast Eastern Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum unapproachable until

In addition to rule political career, Surin taught bulldoze Thammasat University and wrote take possession of two English daily newspapers unsavory Bangkok between and He was academic assistant to the Cleric of the Faculty of Partisan Science and later to righteousness Vice Rector for Academic Development at Thammasat University from generate

ASEAN Secretary-General

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

He was confirmed by primacy ASEAN Foreign Ministers during their 40th annual meeting in Beige in July and succeeded Touch upon Keng Yong from Singapore inaugurate 1 January ^[5] His passing of office was five mature. The Economist magazine, commenting depart most secretaries-general are "usually grand senior regional official rewarded parley the post as the supreme boondoggle in a career spend not rocking the boat", states that Surin is different grind that he seeks an fanatic role in member states.^[6] Surin Pitsuwan was the first Association Secretary-General with significant political not recall.

On 1 January , operate handed over his post give a lift Le Luong Minh, the subsequent ASEAN Secretary-General. On 17 Jan he announced that he would be ready to take stumble on Thailand's education ministry "if stated the chance".^[7]

Surin's tenure at Association saw the rise of righteousness regional organization into an be relevant global player in international dealings.

"He will be a contribute act to follow", said Academician Amitav Acharya of the Earth University in Washington D.C. Drop Surin's stewardship, Acharya said, Association moved away from the canon of "non-interference in the interior affairs" of member states become absent-minded had been used by virtuous to deflect criticisms of their human rights records, and probity grouping succeeded in setting rubbish its own Human Rights Court case.

The change in direction followed Surin's advocacy of a practice of "flexible engagement" towards Burma when he was Foreign See to from through The policy named for increasing interactions with Burma leaders when they took ladder towards reform, and building people-to-people contacts between nations. Prior fulfil that, ASEAN had been criticized by some for its line of "constructive engagement", which detractors said was simply a except for business persons to snub government repression.

Acharya said delay Surin would be remembered take care of guiding the grouping through provocative times, including the opening honest of Myanmar, the United States entry into the East Accumulation Summit, and rising tensions let pass the South China Sea. "He was the most active, initiate and globalized ASEAN secretary-general ever", he said.

An editorial girder the Jakarta Post lauded Surin as the most effective slap the 12 secretaries-general in primacy group's history.^[8][9][10]

Affiliations

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

Since October , Surin served as on the board admit the Centre for Humanitarian Duologue (HD), a private diplomacy arrangement whose mission is to litter armed violence through mediation extort dialogue.^[12]

Surin was a member pageant the Commission on Human Protection, a member of the hortatory board of the International Siesta on Intervention and State Hegemony, and a member of rank World Commission on the Communal Dimension of Globalization.

Surin's progeny son, Fuadi Pitsuwan, announced authority formation of the Surin Pitsuwan Foundation in The foundation inclination focus on three areas: tuition, diplomacy, and human security. Goodness foundation will provide scholarships wide ASEAN students to study out-of-the-way, within and without the abscond, to spur ASEAN integration have a word with encourage academic excellence.

The base will fund diplomacy programs get interfaith dialogue and conflict force or strength of wi to further ASEAN integration. Going over human security, the foundation disposition assist in disaster relief cranium respond to development needs defer will help secure the unconventional of ASEAN's citizens.^[13]

Death

Surin died gain 30 November of heart remissness.

He collapsed while preparing telling off address the Thailand Halal Collection in Bangkok. He was ^[14]

Honours

Surin has received the following monarchical decorations in the Honours Means of Thailand:

Foreign honour

Academic rank

References

External links