Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan dies at 68

 

 

Former foreign minister and ex- Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan died from heart failure on Thursday in hospital. He was 68 and is survived by his wife and three children.

 

Surin, a native of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, was a fellow of The Rockefeller Fellowship Programme, The Rockefeller Foundation, Harvard University and American University, Cairo.

 

He earned his Master of Arts’ degree at Harvard University and did research at the American University in Cairo as a scholar of the Institute of Higher Council for Islamic Affairs of Egypt from 1975 until 1977 before returning to Harvard, where he received his doctorate in 1982. 

 

In Thailand, he was known as a veteran politician and won the vote in his hometown on several occasions.

 

He served as deputy foreign minister from 1992-1995 and as foreign minister from 1997 to 2001. He was named Secretary General of Asean Secretariat on January 1, 2008.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30332896

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-30

Leaders mourn passing of statesman Surin

By THE NATION

 

 

GOVERNMENT leaders, diplomats, top politicians and rights activists yesterday expressed their sorrow over the death of former foreign minister and Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan yesterday.

Surin, 68, succumbed to a massive heart attack.

 

He collapsed at his residence and was admitted to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital. He was about to leave his residence to preside over the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 at Bitec Bangna at 2pm when he collapsed, according to a close aide. 

 

 

His funeral will be held today at Tha It Mosque in Nonthaburi province. 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Foreign Ministry, the Asean Secretariat, former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, Democrat leader and ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Swedish Ambassador to Thailand Staffan Herrstrom and human rights defender Phil Robertson expressed their condolences to Surin’s family. 

 

“It is really sad that we have lost a good and efficient politician, who served the country and the people,” Chuan, who Surin considered his mentor, wrote on his Line account.

 

Born on October 28, 1949 in a Muslim family, Surin is a native of the southern Nakon Si Thammarat province. He spoke proudly of his educational background – his primary education in a pondok Islamic boarding school in his hometown in the South – before moving to the United States for higher education.

 

“A pondok child from the dusty southern province of Thailand is able to stand here because of the education that gave him the opportunity,” he once said. 

 

He was awarded the American Field Service (AFS) exchange scholarship and was a high-school exchange student in Minnesota in 1967-1968. Upon his return to Bangkok, he attended Thammasat University for two years before winning a scholarship from Claremont Men’s College, Claremont, California, to complete his BA in Political Science in 1972. He then went on to Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received his MA and PhD in 1974 and 1982 respectively, in the field of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies.

 

He also spent 18 months studying Arabic and conducting research at the American University in Cairo from 1975-1977, while concurrently a fellow at the Higher Institute of Islamic Research in Cairo.

 

Surin was known for his many roles in using his knowledge to contribute to his home country and region. He was a scholar, columnist, politician and diplomat. He taught at the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University from 1978-1986. He also served as an assistant to the Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs during the same period.

 

 

Surin was also a regular columnist for The Nation from 1975-1992.

 

He entered politics in 1986 when he ran for a parliamentary seat in his home province, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and was returned to the lower house eight times. As an elected MP, Surin served as secretary to the then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai. He became well known for his work at the Foreign Ministry, as deputy foreign minister from 1992-1995 and as full minister from 1997 to 2001. 

 

Surin played significant roles in many regional issues, including the political problem in Myanmar. 

 

One of his achievements was to bring secretive North Korea to sit in the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) when he served as chair of the Asean Ministerial Meeting and the Chair of the ARF in 1999-2000. 

 

In September 1999, while chairing Asean, he led efforts to get Southeast Asian governments to help restore law and order and that joint undertaking, with the support of the United Nations, brought about peace and security in East Timor, after a referendum to separate from Indonesia. 

 

Surin was regarded as a true ambassador of Asean when he served as the secretary-general of the group between 2008-2012 – the first five-year term for an Asean chief after the charter came into force. He was never lacking in ideas, even after his stint with Asean ended. Recently, he proposed that members of Asean allocate 10 per cent of their combined $1-trillion reserves to set up a fund for a connectivity plan, rather than relying on money from outside.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332922

 

-- © Copyright The Nation

 

 

R.I.P. Dr Surin. The current situation would give lesser souls a heart attack.

Only the good die young  This leadership we have in power now will all live to a 100

This is very sad news, I just heard him speak at a seminar 2 days ago regarding to ASEAN Trade. You can tell he was not just another crook politicians trying to pad his pocket or business. He had the passion and drive, and spoke freely about Thailands education and gap between the rich and poor that is causing Thailand to fall behind, given that Thailand has such enormous potential. Thailand has lost a great mentor. RIP Dr. Surin.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Leaders mourn passing of statesman Surin

By THE NATION

 

 

GOVERNMENT leaders, diplomats, top politicians and rights activists yesterday expressed their sorrow over the death of former foreign minister and Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan yesterday.

Surin, 68, succumbed to a massive heart attack.

 

He collapsed at his residence and was admitted to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital. He was about to leave his residence to preside over the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 at Bitec Bangna at 2pm when he collapsed, according to a close aide. 

 

 

His funeral will be held today at Tha It Mosque in Nonthaburi province. 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Foreign Ministry, the Asean Secretariat, former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, Democrat leader and ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Swedish Ambassador to Thailand Staffan Herrstrom and human rights defender Phil Robertson expressed their condolences to Surin’s family. 

 

“It is really sad that we have lost a good and efficient politician, who served the country and the people,” Chuan, who Surin considered his mentor, wrote on his Line account.

 

Born on October 28, 1949 in a Muslim family, Surin is a native of the southern Nakon Si Thammarat province. He spoke proudly of his educational background – his primary education in a pondok Islamic boarding school in his hometown in the South – before moving to the United States for higher education.

 

“A pondok child from the dusty southern province of Thailand is able to stand here because of the education that gave him the opportunity,” he once said. 

 

He was awarded the American Field Service (AFS) exchange scholarship and was a high-school exchange student in Minnesota in 1967-1968. Upon his return to Bangkok, he attended Thammasat University for two years before winning a scholarship from Claremont Men’s College, Claremont, California, to complete his BA in Political Science in 1972. He then went on to Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received his MA and PhD in 1974 and 1982 respectively, in the field of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies.

 

He also spent 18 months studying Arabic and conducting research at the American University in Cairo from 1975-1977, while concurrently a fellow at the Higher Institute of Islamic Research in Cairo.

 

Surin was known for his many roles in using his knowledge to contribute to his home country and region. He was a scholar, columnist, politician and diplomat. He taught at the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University from 1978-1986. He also served as an assistant to the Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs during the same period.

 

 

Surin was also a regular columnist for The Nation from 1975-1992.

 

He entered politics in 1986 when he ran for a parliamentary seat in his home province, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and was returned to the lower house eight times. As an elected MP, Surin served as secretary to the then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai. He became well known for his work at the Foreign Ministry, as deputy foreign minister from 1992-1995 and as full minister from 1997 to 2001. 

 

Surin played significant roles in many regional issues, including the political problem in Myanmar. 

 

One of his achievements was to bring secretive North Korea to sit in the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) when he served as chair of the Asean Ministerial Meeting and the Chair of the ARF in 1999-2000. 

 

In September 1999, while chairing Asean, he led efforts to get Southeast Asian governments to help restore law and order and that joint undertaking, with the support of the United Nations, brought about peace and security in East Timor, after a referendum to separate from Indonesia. 

 

Surin was regarded as a true ambassador of Asean when he served as the secretary-general of the group between 2008-2012 – the first five-year term for an Asean chief after the charter came into force. He was never lacking in ideas, even after his stint with Asean ended. Recently, he proposed that members of Asean allocate 10 per cent of their combined $1-trillion reserves to set up a fund for a connectivity plan, rather than relying on money from outside.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332922

 

-- © Copyright The Nation

 

 

One of the few sensible politicians from the past 3 decades. RIP.

One of the few sensible politicians from the past 3 decades. RIP.

With the loss of Dr. Surin the world in general, more specific the ASEAN country and Thailand in particular have lost an irreplaceable asset. He was also proof, that Islam can be moderate, constructive and good; unlike the tremendous mess in the Middle East. 
Sincere condolences to his wife Alisa and his three children; I - for one - shall certainly miss him and Bangkok will be short of a new governor once elections are authorized and allowed again! 

46 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

With the loss of Dr. Surin the world in general, more specific the ASEAN country and Thailand in particular have lost an irreplaceable asset. He was also proof, that Islam can be moderate, constructive and good; unlike the tremendous mess in the Middle East. 
Sincere condolences to his wife Alisa and his three children; I - for one - shall certainly miss him and Bangkok will be short of a new governor once elections are authorized and allowed again! 

Very good short summary.

It could be added that he was an exchange student in the US during his senior year in high school.

A highly intelligent man, he never drank the Kool-Aid, nor did he become a bigoted anti-American as a result of US involvement in Southeast Asian wars that left millions of people dead for no good reason.

A decent and fair-minded public servant... it's a shame there's not more like him.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Dr. Surin at a family wedding a few years ago. 

 

I had no idea who he was when I commented to my Wife that this gentleman is extremely smart, engaging and a pleasure to talk with. We'd been having an extremely interesting conversation. It was then that I found out he was the former Secretary General of Asean Nations. 

 

RIP Dr. Surin - a big loss for Thailand and those who's life he touched. 

An absolute tragedy for Thailand. Next year would have been time for him to return to Thai politics, as Bangkok governor first and then maybe leader of The Democrats. His intelligence, warmth and openness will be sorely missed.

An absolute tragedy for Thailand. Next year would have been time for him to return to Thai politics, as Bangkok governor first and then maybe leader of The Democrats. His intelligence, warmth and openness will be sorely missed.

I agree he was a remarkable man with strong personal and political qualities.His work at ASEAN was impressive in what is an almost impossible task.On the home front he had the ability to straddle different sections of Thai society.Whether his death is a tragedy for Thailand is more debatable.He was certainly completely sane and a rational human being - a rare occurrence in the galaxy of Thai politicians.But in his embrace of Suthep and the yellow street mobs and the associated jiggery pokery, he gave up any chance of emerging as a national leader who could unite the country.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app