‘Super board’ will combat security risks

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked his sweeping powers under Section 44 to amend the internal security legislation and set up a security “super board” to help the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) deal with domestic threats.

Under the order published in the Royal Gazette, Gen Prayut, who also serves as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has cited new security challenges to justify the setting up of the Internal Security Administration Committee.

“Security threats are fast-changing. They can become complex and take many forms and they can come from outside and within. The situation calls for further amendments to the Internal Security Act to authorise [Isoc] to handle those threats,” the order said.

Chaired by either the prime minister or a deputy prime minister, the security superboard will supervise and advise Isoc on security operations and laying down guidelines governing its operations.

The defence and interior ministers serve as deputies with members including commanders of the armed forces and the Isoc secretary-general, who also serves as the committee’s secretary.

The order also requires that regional internal security administration committees and provincial internal security administration committees be set up.

At the regional level, the internal security administration committee is chaired by the Isoc region director, with the most senior regional prosecutor, the most senior regional police chief and an interior representative as deputies.

At the provincial level, the committee is chaired by the Isoc provincial director with a deputy governor assigned by the provincial governor as a deputy.

Security has been high on the agenda for the regime this week.

Navy chiefs from nine Asean countries met in Pattaya on Sunday on the sidelines of International Fleet Review (IFR) 2017, hosted by the Thai Navy the following day.

They agreed to bolster cooperation in dealing with security including the threat of piracy, disasters and environmental threats.