Post by Admin on Mar 6, 2016 8:16:59 GMT
Dear Members of the AIT Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and AIT Community,
AIT is deeply saddened by the passing away of its longest serving Chairman of the Board of Trustees ever in office, H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman, at 15:49 hrs. today at the age of 102.
During his illustrious career H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman served in many important positions which included as Chairman of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) in New York in 1950; Thai Ambassador to the United States in 1957; as Foreign Minister from 1959 to 1971, Chairman of the Democrat Party from 1979 to 1982, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1980 to 1982.
H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was Thailand's Foreign Minister when he signed an agreement on behalf of the Royal Thai Government with Lt. Gen. Jesus Vargas, Secretary General of SEATO, to host the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on October 25, 1967. H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was also among five foreign ministers, considered ASEAN’s founding fathers, who signed the “Bangkok Declaration” on the establishment of ASEAN on August 8, 1967. The other ministers were from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
Later in 1975, H.E. Dr. Thanat became the 3rd Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees succeeding Dr. Puey Ungphakorn and Dr. Oscar Mapua. He remained in this office from 1975 until 1996. During his Chairmanship, AIT experienced its glory years with continuous expansion and financial stability.
In recognition of his valuable contributions to the Institute, H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was bestowed with the AIT Chairman Emeritus title, which he continued to hold until his passing away.
On behalf of the Community of AIT, we pray for the Almighty to rest his noble soul in peace and give strength to his family in this hour of grief.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
President
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
AIT is deeply saddened by the passing away of its longest serving Chairman of the Board of Trustees ever in office, H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman, at 15:49 hrs. today at the age of 102.
During his illustrious career H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman served in many important positions which included as Chairman of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) in New York in 1950; Thai Ambassador to the United States in 1957; as Foreign Minister from 1959 to 1971, Chairman of the Democrat Party from 1979 to 1982, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1980 to 1982.
H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was Thailand's Foreign Minister when he signed an agreement on behalf of the Royal Thai Government with Lt. Gen. Jesus Vargas, Secretary General of SEATO, to host the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on October 25, 1967. H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was also among five foreign ministers, considered ASEAN’s founding fathers, who signed the “Bangkok Declaration” on the establishment of ASEAN on August 8, 1967. The other ministers were from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
Later in 1975, H.E. Dr. Thanat became the 3rd Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees succeeding Dr. Puey Ungphakorn and Dr. Oscar Mapua. He remained in this office from 1975 until 1996. During his Chairmanship, AIT experienced its glory years with continuous expansion and financial stability.
In recognition of his valuable contributions to the Institute, H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman was bestowed with the AIT Chairman Emeritus title, which he continued to hold until his passing away.
On behalf of the Community of AIT, we pray for the Almighty to rest his noble soul in peace and give strength to his family in this hour of grief.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
President
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
