11/5/2007 - AFS Thailand Organizes “Congratulation Party” for AFS returnee

AFS Thailand had organized a “Congratulation Party” for Dr. Surin Pitsuwan on his new assignment as the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2008, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on September 17, 2007.

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan was former AFS exchange student to USA on group 6, year 1967-1968. In 1972, he graduated with cum-laude from Claremont Men’s College, California, in Political Science. From 1972-1980, he was a researcher for the Human Rights Studies Program, Thai Studies Institute and the Ford Foundation, Thammasat University. He earned his Master Degree from 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 for his Ph.D. in 1982.

He was a Member of the Thai Parliament since 1986 and served in the same constituency for seven consecutive terms. His positions in Thai Parliament briefly as listed:

• 1986: Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representative
• 1992-1995: Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister
• 1992-2001: Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Present: The ASEAN Foreign Ministers confirmed Dr. Surin Pitsuwan as the designated Secretary General and he would succeed the outgoing Ong Keng Yong from Singapore on January 1, 2008

Many honor guests had attended this special occasion including Khunying (Lady) Jaruwan Maintaka, Auditor General and Dr. Somkiat Onwimol, former AFS returnee, Thailand media tycoon, and AFS Board of Directors.