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THailand News
1. Former Asean sec-gen Dr. Surin Pitsuwan dies of heart attack 30 November 70
From The Straitstimes
BANGKOK - Thailand's former foreign minister and secretary-general of Asean Surin Pitsuwan died of heart failure in hospital on Thursday (Nov 30), Thai media reported.
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He was 68 and is survived by his wife and three children, The Nation reported.
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According to the Bangkok Post, Dr Surin collapsed as he was preparing to speak at the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
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He was rushed to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital and later pronounced dead.
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The Thai Foreign Ministry expressed its sincere condolences to Dr Surin and praised him for playing a key role in Thailand's foreign policy, the Bangkok Post reported.
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Responding to the news, the 10-member Asean grouping wrote on its official Twitter account: "We are deeply saddened to know that Dr Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary-General of Asean passed away today. It is a big loss to Thailand and the Asean Community. We convey our sincere condolences to his family."it
Dr 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.​."
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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.
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In Thailand, he was known as a veteran politician and won the vote in his hometown on several occasions.
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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.