Arsa Sarasin

Arsa Sarasin (Thai: อาสา สารสิน; born 26 May 1937) is a Thai diplomat and businessman who served as Principal Private Secretary to King Bhumibol Adulyadej until he retired in 2012.^[1]

Arsa Sarasin
อาสา สารสิน
Arsa in the 1960s
His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary
In office 1 August 1999 – 30 September 2012
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Peerapong Kasemsri
Succeeded by	Krit Kanjanakunchon
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 10 June 1992 – 22 September 1992
Prime Minister	Anand Panyarachun
Preceded by	Pongpol Adireksarn
Succeeded by	Prasong Soonsiri
In office 6 March 1991 – 22 March 1992
Prime Minister	Anand Panyarachun
Preceded by	Arthit Ourairat
Succeeded by	Pongpol Adireksarn
Personal details
Born	(1937-05-26) 26 May 1937 (age 88) Phra Nakhon, Siam
Spouse	Sujitkhun Kitiyakara
Children	3

Early life and education

Arsa Sarasin was the son of former Prime Minister of Thailand Pote Sarasin and his wife, Thanpuying Siri Sarasin. He was one of three brothers, including Pao Sarasin and Pong Sarasin. Arsa Sarasin graduated from Bangkok Christian College, a private boys' school in Bangkok and Dawlish Primary School in London. He then moved to the United States, where he study High school at Wilbraham & Monson Academy and received a bachelor's degree from Boston University.^[2][3]

Careers

From 1977 to 1979, he was firstly appointed as Thailand's ambassador to Belgium. Then, around two to three years later from 1982 to 1985, he was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from 1985 to 1988 he was appointed ambassador to the United States.

From 1999 to 2012, he was Principal Private Secretary to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, responsible for aiding the monarch in the exercise of his official duties and relations with the government.^[3] He has sat on the boards of the family-owned Thai Pure Drinks Company, as well as the Siam Cement Group, Charoen Pokphand Foods, Dusit International, and Bangkok Dusit Medical Services.^[4][2]

Honours

National honours

• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (1984)
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (1982)
• Knight Grand Cordon (Second Class, upper grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1994)
• Chakrabarti Mala Medal (1985)
• First Class of the Boy Scout Citation Medal of Vajira (2003)

Foreign honours

• Belgium:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
• Brunei:
  • First Class of the Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (2002)^[5]
• Cambodia:
  • Grand Cross (Maha Sirivudha) of the Royal Order of Sahametrei
• Denmark:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2001)^[6]
• Germany:
  • Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1984)^[7]
• Japan:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1992)^[8]
  • Fourth Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (1966)^[9]
•   Nepal:
  • Member First Class of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
• Netherlands:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2004)^[10]
• Sweden:
  • Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (2003)^[11]

See also

• Sarasin family