Internal Security Operations Command
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The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) is a unit of the Thai military devoted to national security issues. It was responsible for supression of leftist groups during the 1970's and 1980's.
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[edit] Communist Suppression Operations Command
The CSOC was established in 1966 with the assistance of the United States to coordinate nation-wide anti-Communist operations.[1][2]
Following the 17 November 1971 coup by military dictators Thanom Kittikachorn and Prapas Charusathian, Praphas appointed himself Interior Minister, Chief of Police, and head of the CSOC.
The CSOC was implicated in several atrocities in its 1970's war against leftist groups. This included the murder of southern Thai activists by putting them into drums of boiling oil.
Student leader Thirayut Boonmee showed evidence that the destruction of Ban Na Sai village in the Northeast of Thailand was the handiwork of the CSOC.[3] The military had earlier claimed that the Communist Party of Thailand had been behind the villages destruction.
The ISOC succeeded the CSOC after the overthrow of Thanom and Prapas.
[edit] Operations during the 1970's
The ISOC conducted operations in cities and the Thai countryside to subvert leftist groups through propaganda and violence.[4] In 1973, the ISOC commenced a bombing campaign against hill tribe villages in the North of Thailand.
Future Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda was a senior officer of the ISOC.
The ISOC's role declined starting in the early 1980's after the downfall of the CPT. However, its still had great influence. In 1 April 1987, after Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj claimed that the ISOC had been brainwashed by communists, over 200 Thai Army Rangers attacked the Prime Minister's residence.[5]
[edit] Plot to assassinate Thaksin Shinawatra
ISOC Deputy Director Pallop Pinmanee was sacked from his position after Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, his driver, was found driving a car containing 67 kilograms of explosives around the residence of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Pallop denied all involvement, noting that "If I was behind it, I would not have missed."[6][7] Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee noted that the explosives in the car were completely assembled, equipped with a remote unit sensor and ready to be detonated, and would have a blast radius of around one kilometre.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] and [2] Lee, Terrence C., "The Causes of Military Insubordination: Explaining Military Organizational Behavior in Thailand", Paper presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 2005
- ^ Murray, Charles, "The domino that didn't fall" The Atlantic, Nov 1984 v254 p34(8)
- ^ Anderson, Benedict, "Murder and Progress in Modern Siam"
- ^ Handley, Paul M. "The King Never Sleeps", Yale University Press: 2006, page 222
- ^ Timeline of modern Thai history
- ^ http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/25/national/national_30011902.php The Nation, 'If I was behind it, PM would be dead', 25 August 2006, Retrieved 25 August 2006
- ^ The Nation, "Army officer arrested in alleged car bomb attempt is Pallop's driver: police", 25 August 2006
- ^ The Nation, 'Bomb plot to kill Thaksin foiled', questions linger, 15 August 2006
