The late Ronarong Nopakun, whose cremation service was held yesterday, was the first Thai ambassador to Israel. Below his son profiles a life of service to the Kingdom.
Natapanu Nopakun
Thailand's diplomats stand out from the general community because of the unique life experiences their careers afford them. They are generally known, even among counterparts from other countries, to be competent, persevering souls.
 |
| GREAT HELP: Ronarong Nopakun championed the interests of Thai labourers working abroad. |
The Foreign Affairs Ministry handles many sensitive issues, and Thai diplomats have to "take it all in" and seek ways to resolve any dispute. Also long gone are the days when foreign affairs was considered a realm too distant to interest the average citizen. Thai diplomats no longer live in an ivory tower.
Not much information is available on the lives of Thailand's diplomatic corps so the public can learn about the challenges they face while serving abroad. But die-hard history buffs will have read the interesting real-life experiences of diplomats such as Vasu Saengsingkeow (Consul Koh Singha), Witchu Vejjajiva's (Prasart Hunter) and Carrot and Stick, whoever he or she is (Diplomat's Diary).
We can hope in the future to read accounts of diplomats who set up the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh after the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (Untac) mission in the early 1990s or who were there during the anti-Thai riots of 2002 (we've already seen some), or in the East Timorese capital of Dili after independence, or tales from Thai diplomats on hand when the Soviet Union broke up, or when the US was attacked on Sept 11, 2001.
The opening of missions in faraway, unfamiliar countries is a necessity to fulfil the objectives of strengthening relations, opening new markets for Thai products, political cooperation and deepening people-to-people linkages. These missions may seem remote, but then again the "Far East" is only far to someone standing in the "Far West".
Many Thais might wonder how Thai diplomats are able to live in "hardship posts", but the ideal diplomat is well equipped to mentally separate tough living conditions from his or her duty to serve the country abroad.
One such example is the opening up of the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1998. My late father, Ronarong Nopakun (1946-2008) was appointed the first Thai ambassador to Israel on Feb 26, 1996.
In the 1980s, Israel became a destination for Thai labourers working mainly in the hundreds of moshavs, or communal farming villages, around the country. At its peak, Thai labourers numbered in the tens of thousands.
Because of political and other considerations, the Thai embassy in Rome was assigned to handle Thailand's relations with Israel. This accreditation, in the author's view, was too distant to actually cover relations with Israel because diplomats in Rome were able to give it minimal attention.
With the supply of manpower being such a lucrative industry for both Thai and Israeli companies, without government oversight mafia-type groups, both Thai and Israeli, emerged from within the industry and among the labourers themselves. These people obviously did not want any Thai government or embassy oversight of their activities.
When Thai staff started working in the new embassy in Tel Aviv, they entered a world of labourers left untouched for decades. They were threatened and sworn at on numerous occasions and their cars were painted with four-letter words.
Despite these hardships, the embassy saw that the most serious risks were not to its personnel but to the ability of the embassy to protect the rights and welfare of Thai labourers. With sheer determination and devotion, my father travelled around the country to speak to and listen to the problems of Thai workers who were subject to unfair wages and conditions. Some employers did not abide by local laws or did not understand the repercussions of what they were doing.
As is customary for all outbound Thai ambassadors, His Majesty the King graciously granted my father's group an audience in early 1996. My father told me His Majesty asked whether my father had ever been to Israel. My father replied that it would be his first visit. His Majesty told him to be careful and vigilant of the security situation in that country.
Despite the difficulties, serving in Israel was an eye-opener and a wonderful experience. Even with the ever-present Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the constant threat of chemical attacks and bombings in the cities, the beauty of the country and the ingenuity of its people was always impressive, and the Thai envoys were always made to feel very welcome.
Of my experience of living in Israel with my family, I would describe the country as possessing simplicity and perfection, as Israeli efficiency is world renowned and the lifestyle is relaxed. The Israeli people have the ability to apply their intelligence to its greatest use.
After Tel Aviv, my father moved on to become Thai ambassador to Switzerland. After retirement, he served Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn at the Chulabhorn Research Institute with great loyalty for seven years until he succumbed to pancreatic cancer on Aug 11, 2008.
His friends have told me they found him to be a caring, personable and popular man with strong leadership qualities, who never changed in his goodness throughout the decades. He was never seen as being too academic, too high-minded, bourgeoisie or out of touch with the Thai community. Nor was he too happy-go-lucky. Instead, as all diplomats should, he struck a perfect balance between the acquisition of knowledge and living a full life.
To our family, he was a loving and fun father. He guided me and my two siblings from cradle to career.
The author, Natapanu Nopakun, nnopakun@hotmail.com, is a 2008-2009 Fulbright scholar.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Next
