Natapanu Nopakun, the deputy foreign ministry spokesman who presented press briefings in English for the government-run COVID-19 centre, died on Monday.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kanchana Patarachoke, said that Natapanu passed away after being treated for an unspecified health issue for quite some time.
Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, former spokesperson for the centre, described his death as a shock and said that Natapanu always devoted his time to the centre, even though he was busy with his work at the ministry.
Natapanu was a senior Thai diplomat with about 30 years of experience in bilateral, multilateral and management experience.
He has worked on issues related to most regions of the world and on many substantial issues, such as human rights, refugees, migration, corruption, global health, and regional security, among others.
He was Minister-Counselor at the Thai Mission to the UN in Geneva from 2012-2016 and served in diplomatic postings in Washington, D.C. and Phnom Penh.
Natapanu was an official interpreter and speechwriter for three premiers of Thailand as liaison for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Government House from year 2008 to 2011.
