Wan calls for end to Isoc operations

Claims agency's role is no longer justified

Former House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has called for the dissolution of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), saying its duties overlap with other state agencies and its performance does not justify its budget.

Speaking during scrutiny of the budget allocated to the National Security Council (NSC), Mr Wan, who is a member of special committee to scrutinize the 3.788-trillion-baht Fiscal Year 2027 budget bill, requested details on five subcommittees established under the government's strategy to address the southern border insurgency, including their membership, responsibilities and past achievements, saying he wanted to determine whether they were still functioning effectively.

The five panels are responsible for integrated planning and coordination, proposals on decentralisation and governance models suited to the southern border provinces, education policy in the region, international cooperation to support peace efforts, and promoting multiculturalism in the deep South.

Mr Wan, who represented the Prachachat Party, argued that if the committees had been operating effectively, the long-running conflict in the southern border provinces should have eased considerably. Turning to Isoc, he said the agency's duties largely duplicate those of existing government agencies and questioned the rationale for its continued existence.

"I believe it is time to dissolve Isoc," he said. "It has been allocated billions of baht over many years, and we must ask whether that spending has been worthwhile."

He also raised concerns over Isoc's effectiveness, pointing to the recent case of Prachachat MP for Narathiwat Kamolsak Leewamoh being shot, allegedly involving Isoc vehicles, weapons and personnel. Mr Kamolsak narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle outside his home in Bacho district, leaving his two aides seriously wounded in March.

Mr Wan claimed Isoc had limited responsibilities before the 2006 military coup, after which it was given expanded duties and significantly larger budgets. He argued that funding and personnel should instead be returned to agencies already responsible for those functions.

Veera Theerapat, who serves as an advisor to the special committee, also proposed dissolving the Strategic Transformation Office, arguing that its functions overlap with those of other agencies and that it lacks distinct responsibilities.

Gen Chaipruak Doungprapat, Isoc secretary-general, defended Isoc's necessity, saying its role is comparable to the US Department of Homeland Security, which coordinates multiple security agencies to close gaps in communication and integration. He said Isoc is willing to accept criticism and improve efficiency. Addressing allegations of duplicate personnel payments, he said that budget allocations are strictly for officers assigned to specific missions, not for overlapping positions.