Bill would put Isoc under Army, not PM
A revised draft of the Internal Security Act would make the Army chief head of the Internal Security Operations Command, dealing with internal security and suppression of terrorism, a Government House source said yesterday.
The draft bill is expected to award the Army a significant boost in power, as Isoc would come directly under the Army chief. Currently Isoc is directly under the prime minister, who appoints a deputy to oversee the operation on a daily basis. However, the new law would not reduce the power of security agencies enforcing Emergency Law, the source said. Isoc as well as other security agencies working in areas under Emergency Law would continue to enjoy full immunity as long as any incident took place while an officer was on duty. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has instructed the National Security Council to submit the draft to the Cabinet for review at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, the source said. The proposed act, which would be renamed the Kingdom's Internal Security Act, also hands Isoc the mandate to carry out counter-terrorism measures here and abroad.
Piyanart Srivalo The Nation
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