ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute had the pleasure of having Dr Puangthong Pawakapan to speak on “The Thai Military’s Civil Affairs Projects: From Counter-Insurgency to Counter-Democracy”.
Monday, 3 July 2017 – Dr Puangthong Pawakapan, Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, presented preliminary findings of her study on the Thai military’s involvement in carrying out a wide range of socio-economic development and civilian projects that were exercised through the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) in collaboration with the armed forces, the National Security Council, and several ministries.
Dr Puangthong Pawakapan, Visiting Senior Fellow with Dr Benjamin Loh, Fellow and Co-Coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
This political arm of the Thai military was set up during the Communist insurgency in the country, and its activities include rural development, creating mass organisations and mobilisation campaigns, and psychological operations. Dr Puangthong observed that the demise of communism did not see the winding up of ISOC or the end of its activities. After the May 2014 coup d’etat that toppled the elected government led by the Phuea Thai party, ISOC appeared more active and powerful in supporting the military government of General Prayut Chan-ocha and suppressing its political opponents.
Dr Puangthong argued that the power of Thai military lies not only in its use of its forces, but also its entry into social development projects and non-traditional security domains through the ISOC. These areas include natural resources and environment protection, illicit-drug suppression, epidemic response, and job training programmes for villagers of military-controlled areas. The mechanisms by which the agency’s powers are exercised and legitimised, and the various activities and organizations that come under its orbit represent potent tools with which the conservative elites can undermine and control electoral democracy.
Some of the audience at the seminar.
The seminar attracted discussion on various topics such as the role played by the ISOC in the ongoing conflict centered in the Muslim-majority provinces of southern Thailand, the power structure and coordination mechanisms of the agency, and the motivations behind civilian participation and support for ISOC-organised activities. The seminar lent fresh understanding to the study of Thai politics and society that has thus far tended to focus on the conflicts and relations between military leaders and the elected governments, military leaders and the palace, and between classes.