Isoc faces rejig to tackle new threats

The Internal Security Operations Command’s organisational structure will be rejigged to better cope with new national security threats, an Isoc source says.

The source said the new structure will be implemented to tackle 16 national security threats and serve the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) present work.

According to the source, the restructured Isoc will have six offices: security affairs policy and strategy; intelligence services; media and general information; human resources management; general administration; and financial management.

Five operations coordination centres will also be established to handle the security threats.

The first centre will boost national security and coalition, disaster mitigation and prevention as well as judicial procedures while the second will promote security involving stamping out illegal drugs and immigration.

The third centre will oversee transnational crimes and international issues, the fourth will supervise issues relating to national resources while the last will foster national security in the deep South, the source said.

The source added that all five centres will carry out their operations in compliance with the NCPO’s framework.

The restructuring is being conducted in response to Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha’s order devising two guidelines for Isoc’s reorganisation.

Gen Prayut proposed that first Isoc may be upgraded to become a ministry of security affairs similar to the United States’ Homeland Security Department.

With this approach, national security affairs will be under the jurisdiction of Isoc while the task of defending national sovereignty will come under the army.

Gen Prayut proposed all agencies relating to security affairs including the army, police and related civil service servants should be incorporated into the revamped Isoc.

As for the second, Gen Prayut proposed that Isoc may be restructured by appointing around 80 senior military officers to work for the command.

Although the army wants to transform Isoc into a ministry as Gen Prayut suggested, the concept would be difficult to implement as it would need a substantial budget which might be hard to find, the source said.