Wanlop adjusts to civilian life
ON THE RECORD
After five months in office, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Gen Wanlop Rugsanaoh talked to the Bangkok Post about how he adjusted from life in the military to a civil service position at the Office of the Prime Minister’s council. He also touched on the country’s current security threats — especially Islamic State (IS) — and how to deal with underground political movements.
Based on statistics, more soldiers than civilians have held the NSC secretarygeneral position. It seems military men dictate this position.
I am the 20th secretary-general of the NSC since the agency was transformed from the national defence council in 1959, when Luang Wichit Wathakarn became the first NSC chief. Early on, soldiers dominated the position, but more civilians occupied the post later, though still less often than military officers. This is because security issues mainly concern the work of soldiers, even though civilians also understand security. Several famous civilians have served as NSC secretary general. But most of them were soldiers since the military and security issues go hand-in-hand.
When you were invited to leave the leadership role at the Defence Ministry’s Office of Policy and Planning for the secretary-general position at the NSC, what did you think?
My heart sank since I had worn a military uniform ever since being commissioned as a sublieutenant. I could not believe that in the final two years before my retirement, I had to leave the Defence Ministry to become a civil servant, taking off my military uniform and wearing khaki outfits or suits instead. But since superiors put their trust in me, I had to follow their wishes.
In the initial period, I was unable to come to terms with it. I felt odd, especially when I had to wear the khaki uniform of a civil servant. When I attended a meeting at the defence ministry, where I met my old subordinates, they didn’t even recognise me (in the new uniform)! But after five months on the job, things are now on track.
You are a soldier from the Defence Ministry who’s become an officer at Government House.
I am from Lop Buri, and always had a desire to become a soldier, following my father’s footsteps. I passed the exam to enter the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School as a member of the 18th Class, and then Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy as a member of the 29th Class, where I chose to study artillery.
I worked at the Army Training Command and then at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters’ Directorate of Joint Operations before serving as the director of the Office of Policy and Planning, which is the Defence Ministry’s planning body.
How did you adjust to your new role, succeeding another military man — Gen Thaweep Netniyom — as NSC secretary-general?
I am from a military background, and sometimes we’re a little reserved. But when coming to the NSC, I have to give a bigger smile and be more relaxed since I have to work alongside civilians. My assistants are both military and civilian, working together. I am normally a simple and easygoing person.
Most of the key men in security affairs appear to be quite sophisticated.
I’m the same person I always was. There is no need to be complex or cunning. I’m not like that. I am a simple person, always straightforward.
How have your responsibilities changed, from being a soldier to the NSC secretary-general?
The NSC work covers broader dimensions — not only domestic security issues and new forms of threat, but also global and regional affairs. We have to travel to meetings and seminars with security officers abroad. Sometimes, security officers from our allies visit us. What would be the most significant threat nowadays?
All the different aspects of security must be addressed as a whole. We cannot afford to pay attention only to specific issues. Regarding global issues, we give emphasis to transnational criminal groups, terrorism, extremists and the Islamic State (IS) group.
We need to coordinate with other countries to share information about these groups’ movements as well as intelligence. If they warn us to be cautious or ask us to help verify information, we need to do so. We are now convinced that there is no IS presence in Thailand. But for those who support IS ideology in social media — there are still some of them, and this is not unusual, particularly in the southern border areas.
Can you confirm there is no IS network in the southern border areas? In the past, some of our allies, including Malaysia, reported that some [IS] members had infiltrated Thailand’s South. We have always checked information to ascertain whether any had slipped into Thailand, and when or if they had left the country. By now we are able to confirm that there is no IS network in the south of Thailand.
How about domestic security, given that the political situation is still not normal?
We deal with this matter as well. We’re now preparing for the election, which the prime minister announced would be held by February next year.
I see that political activities on the ground are still holding to a political course, but what we are keeping an eye on is the underground movement. We need to rely on intelligence for that, since the situation is still not normal.
Are you saying that underground movements have been detected?
We are just monitoring and staying vigilant. The NSC is not only an agency that deals with intelligence. We need to share information with other agencies who are working on a similar path. We must assess what might happen in each situation.
What is the focus of the security framework under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)?
I focus on maintaining order and creating a supportive atmosphere for the agency’s work. We adhere to the 20-year national strategy as a common goal. But this does not mean we are laying a foundation for the NCPO to cling to power.