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Internal Security Operations Command - ISOC

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) in the Kingdom of Thailand is under the Office of the Prime Minister. This domestic security maintenance organization consists mainly of the military and police. Performing tasks related to security within Thailand, it is called "Thai security forces" and "Thailand security forces".

After the military coup in September 2006, the new administration resurrected the ISOC as the organization responsible for domestic security. This time the ISOC was the central organization in charge of managing and coordinating all performances in pursuit of the government’s domestic security policy, strategy, and critical projects in particular. Within the ISOC structure, the government also resurrected the Internal Security Operations Region (ISOR) under the command of the Army Area commander. For the 4th Internal Security Operations Region, the previous organizations which had the responsibility for the southern provinces were resurrected: CPM43 was responsible for counterinsurgency and strengthening the cooperation with the neighboring country to the south; the SBPAC was responsible for reinforcing the development of state welfare, building an understanding with the local people, and monitoring inappropriate behavior of civil officials.

According to the ISOC structure, the ISOC intelligence element, which is controlled by the military alone, is the primary organization responsible for intelligence analysis. Other than that, there is the Situation Monitoring Division within the Internal Security Coordinating Center in the ISOC to monitor and follow-up on the situation. These two structures are duplicative and both their staffs are unclear as to their specific intelligence responsibilities because their missions are so much alike.

Furthermore, the NIA did not set up a National Intelligence Coordinating Center and did not assign any such Center to the ISOC to integrate the intelligence tasks at the policy level, so that there are no agencies from other intelligence organizations participating in intelligence performance at the national level. Likewise, the Intelligence Element of the 4th Internal Security Operations Region (ISOR) is subordinated to only the military to integrate the intelligence tasks. For intelligence operations, there is the 4th ISOR Intelligence Coordinating Center that is responsible for intelligence operation, but it is assigned under operational control of the CPM43 Joint Intelligence Center.

The CPM43 was the subordinate unit of the 4th ISOR but it controls the operation of the 4th Intelligence Coordinating Center. The reason for this kind of command structure, assigned at the order of the office of Prime Minister, is to increase the effectiveness of intelligence cooperation and operation for CPM43 in rapidly pursuing the situation. Yet, this management structure creates an overlap in the chain of command and decreases the unity of the command.

Generally, the main concept of the recent structure is helpful for allocating responsibility to the respective military and civilian missions. But in practice, the military is still the main organization responsible for all operations, a factor which causes less integration and participation from various agencies. In fact, it is clear that the SBPPC structure in November 2004 provided the most effective integration of administrative functions. The SBPPC at that time received complete authority to make decisions and access all resources available to solve problems.

Nevertheless, the evolution of the structure could not increase the efficiency of intelligence operations. This is because the organizational nature of the administration adheres to military direction which demands that the staff section scrutinize each task before submitting it to the decision maker. Additionally, a military organization often works along a chain of command and its culture ties rank to position. This structure is then the reason for a reluctance on the part of various analysts to express opinions, thwarting their comments regarding the very intelligence analysis that requires consideration of diverse points of view.

The military intelligence operation considered the enemy to be an institution or unit, rather than a network or clique. This approach affects the intelligence procedures, in that analysts have to dedicate time and effort to search for the insurgent leaders at each echelon of a hierarchical organization, when no hierarchy exists.

Domestic Security Service Command Headquarters-The composition of the National Security Service Committee, which will be the command headquarters, is as follows.

Chairman: Thai Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister appointed by the Prime Minister Vice Chairman: Minister of Defense and Minister of Home Affairs Members: Minister of Justice, Minister of Information Technology and Communications, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Public Prosecution, National Security Council Chairman, Director of National Intelligence Bureau, Director of Budget Bureau, Executive Director of Public Service Commission, Public sector development Committee Secretariat Director General, Armed Forces High Command commander, Army commander, Navy commander, Air Force commander, National Police Commissioner, the central accounting office Director-General, department of special investigation Director-General

First of all, there is a subdivision of the central organization, which is a subdivision of the national security system, which controls four provinces throughout Thailand. The headquarters is operated by the Army, so it is the same as the Army Division.

District 1 - Central Thailand District 2 - Northeast Thailand District 3 - Northern Thailand District 4 - Southern Thailand

Below that, there is a domestic security maintenance unit for each prefecture as a subordinate organization of the district security maintenance unit.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) celebrated its 50th anniversary 19 February 2015 by adding roles in drug suppression and protection of natural resources on top of internal security. Secretary-general General Chatchalerm Chalermsuk said Isoc was also monitoring the world and domestic situations for atrocities by the Islamic State and its possible local activities, without elaborating.

The Internal Security Operations Command on Oct 28. 2017 warned online users to stop sharing inaccurate photos related to the Royal Cremation rites. Isoc spokesman Maj-General Pirawat Saengthong held a press conference to issue the warning.Pirawat said online users have been sharing some inaccurate photos related to the royal rites. For example, some people were sharing the photos of relics of the late supreme patriarch from December 17, 2015 as those of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Aduluyadej.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) 23 November 2017 exercised his absolute power using Article 44 to amend the security law governing Isoc. The amendment cites that various non-military officials from different agencies, including the Justice and the Interior spheres, were included in the structure with the head of Isoc at the national, regional and provincial level as the de facto chief commander in their responsible areas. The latest move to empower the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), giving it more authority at the provincial and regional levels over other officials, could be a preparation for the coming election and a return to civilian rule, political observers said.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) denied Aug 02. 2019 that certain parts of Bangkok had been declared special security zones and are under tight security in the wake of bomb blasts in different parts of the capital. A message that appeared to be a state announcement that Ratchaprasong intersection, Siam Square, Victory Monument, Democracy Monument, all city railway stations, Hualamphong Railway Station and all bus terminals were under tight security has been widely circulated on Line. However, the spokesman said no such announcement has been made, adding that police officers will be providing security at the bomb-blast sites, not soldiers.