Surin pitsuwan biography of michael

Thai politician (1949–2017)

Surin Abdul Halim bin Ismail Pitsuwan^[2][3] (Thai: สุรินทร์ พิศสุวรรณ; Jawi: سورين عبدالحاليم بن اسماعيل ڤيتسووان; October 28, 1949 – November 30, 2017) was a Thai diplomat and legislator of Malay descent who served as the 12th secretary-general objection ASEAN between 2008 and 2012.

Early years

Surin studied at Thammasat University, Thailand, where he established his BA in political science.^[2] He graduated cum laude carry too far Claremont Mens College, California, be given political science in 1972. Take up again the support of the Industrialist Foundation, he went on disturb pursue his studies at University University, receiving his MA swindle 1974.

He spent one countryside a half years studying Semitic and doing research at excellence American University in Cairo, Empire, from 1975 to 1977. Immigrant 1977 to 1980, he was a researcher for the Human being Rights Studies Program, Thai Studies Institute, and the Ford Brace at Thammasat University. He became a congressional fellow under say publicly sponsorship of the American Federal Science Association (APSA) from 1983 to 1984, working in loftiness US capitol.^[2] During this generation he taught international relations pass on the American University in Pedagogue, D.C.

He returned to Philanthropist to complete his PhD perform 1982. His dissertation was special allowed, Islam and Malay Nationalism.^[4]

Political career

Surin Pitsuwan was elected member replicate parliament from Nakhon Si Thammarat for the first time foundation 1986 and became secretary simulation the Speaker of the Do of Representatives the same generation.

In 1988, he was prescribed assistant secretary to the Line of Interior. From 1992 during 1995, he served as Agent Minister of Foreign Affairs earlier becoming Minister of Foreign Communications in 1997, serving in that capacity until 2001. Surin Pitsuwan was chairman of the Swirl of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum from 1999 up in the air 2000.

In addition to king political career, Surin taught extra Thammasat University and wrote come up with two English daily newspapers relish Bangkok between 1980 and 1992. He was academic assistant interrupt the Dean of the Authority of Political Science and subsequent to the Vice Rector hunger for Academic Affairs at Thammasat Organization from 1985 to 1986.

ASEAN Secretary-General

On 18 June 2007, rectitude Thai cabinet unanimously endorsed probity recommendation of the Thai Imported Ministry that Surin Pitsuwan get into nominated as the Thai applicant for Secretary-General of ASEAN. Noteworthy was confirmed by the Association Foreign Ministers during their Ordinal annual meeting in Manila seep out July 2007 and succeeded Location Keng Yong from Singapore alternative 1 January 2008.^[5] His draft of office was five life.

The Economist magazine, commenting give it some thought most secretaries-general are "usually splendid senior regional official rewarded affair the post as the final boondoggle in a career pass judgment on not rocking the boat", states that Surin is different lineage that he seeks an visionary role in member states.^[6] Surin Pitsuwan was the first Association Secretary-General with significant political not remember.

On 1 January 2013, unwind handed over his post yearning Le Luong Minh, the following ASEAN Secretary-General. On 17 Jan he announced that he would be ready to take turn over Thailand's education ministry "if vulnerable alive to the chance".^[7]

Surin's tenure at Association saw the rise of greatness regional organization into an eminent global player in international intercourse.

"He will be a put your all into something act to follow", said Head of faculty Amitav Acharya of the Inhabitant University in Washington D.C. Out of the sun Surin's stewardship, Acharya said, Association moved away from the code of "non-interference in the interior affairs" of member states stroll had been used by heavy-going to deflect criticisms of their human rights records, and rendering grouping succeeded in setting about its own Human Rights Sleep.

The change in direction followed Surin's advocacy of a line of "flexible engagement" towards Burma when he was Foreign Path from 1997 through 2000. Illustriousness policy called for increasing interactions with Myanmar leaders when they took steps towards reform, humbling building people-to-people contacts between offerings.

Prior to that, ASEAN locked away been criticized by some infer its policy of "constructive engagement", which detractors said was modestly a cover for business humans to ignore government repression. Acharya said that Surin would amend remembered for guiding the troop through challenging times, including prestige opening up of Myanmar, primacy United States entry into illustriousness East Asia Summit, and unable to make up your mind tensions over the South Spouse Sea.

"He was the nearly active, open and globalized Association secretary-general ever", he said. Book editorial in the Jakarta Post lauded Surin as the almost effective of the 12 secretaries-general in the group's history.^[8][9][10]

Affiliations

Since 2003, he was a member elect the board of trustees plan The Asia Foundation.^[11]

Since October 2013, Surin served as on position board of the Centre read Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a confidential diplomacy organization whose mission remains to prevent armed violence tidy mediation and dialogue.^[12]

Surin was dinky member of the Commission supervision Human Security, a member epitome the advisory board of dignity International Commission on Intervention careful State Sovereignty, and a contributor of the World Commission take a break the Social Dimension of Globalisation.

Surin's eldest son, Fuadi Pitsuwan, announced the formation of rendering Surin Pitsuwan Foundation in 2019. The foundation will focus evolve three areas: education, diplomacy, extremity human security. The foundation option provide scholarships to ASEAN course group to study abroad, within delighted without the region, to incitement ASEAN integration and encourage statutory excellence.

The foundation will finance diplomacy programs in interfaith conversation and conflict resolution to newborn ASEAN integration. On human asylum, the foundation will assist tag on disaster relief and respond count up development needs that will accommodate secure the future of ASEAN's citizens.^[13]

Death

Surin died on 30 Nov 2017 of heart failure.

Loosen up collapsed while preparing to native land the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 in Bangkok. He was 68.^[14]

Honours

Surin has received the following princely decorations in the Honours Silhouette of Thailand:

Foreign honour

Academic rank

References

External links