Disasters now dubbed ‘national threats’
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order, has invoked Article 44 to amend the internal security law with the definition of “national threats” being expanded to cover disasters, including natural related incidents.
The order has been published in the Royal Gazette today.
The Internal Security Command Office (Isoc) will be tasked with helping to assess the threats and report to the Cabinet. It will also develop operational plans for the Cabinet to endorse.
New internal security committees would be set up to take charge of implementing these plans at all levels – national, regional and provincial.
Prayut said his reason for invoking the order was that threats had become complex and Isoc needed to be strengthened so it could keep up with changes to ensure national security and public safety.
Isoc can also draw or transfer personnel from other government agencies to help with its work.
