Washington/Baltimore, 16 March 2019 marked the unfortunate passing of H.E. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States of America. Ambassador Virachai Plasai was a former Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands, 2009 – 2015.
Prior to being appointed as Ambassador, Plasai was the Director-General, Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs from September 2007 to May 2009. He also served as Director-General of Department of International Economic Affairs during 2006-2007.
His other overseas posts were as First Secretary at the Royal Thai Embassy in London and as Minister Counselor for legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. While serving as the Thai Ambassador to The Hague, he also acted as the agent of the Kingdom of Thailand in the case concerning the interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the case concerning the “Temple of Preah Vihear” (Cambodia v. Thailand) before the International Court of Justice.
For over three decades, Dr Virachai Plasai served his beloved Thailand with dedication and distinction. He was an expert in international law and he earned the respect from various quarters. Ambassador Virachai Plasai received the Knight Grand Cross, Order of Orange-Nassau for serving as a Thai Ambassador in the Netherlands.
Ambassador Virachai Plasai was an ardent lover of music and a gifted and passionate basse player. He entertained and enthralled many of us here in The Hague at events hosted by Diplomat magazine.
Ambassador Virachai Plasai leaves to mourn his wife, Elizabeth Plasai, a former committee member of the Association of Spouses of Ambassadors in the Netherlands (ASA).
His calm, generous and creative personality will be missed. The bass may have been silenced, but the music and the memories will continue to bring joy and warmth to our hearts.
