National Security Council

Historical Background

The “National Security Council” of Thailand was established during the reign of King Rama VI. The King graciously granted permission for the establishment of the council for national defense in 1910 to carry out military operations in national defense, and he was the chairman himself. Later, the organization of the National Security Council evolved gradually until it underwent a major change when the National Security Council Act B.E. 2502 (1959) was promulgated and expanded the role and authority beyond determination of military security policy to cover foreign policies, economic policies, etc. related to security. In addition, the law established the Office of the National Security Council as a civil service agency under the Office of the Prime Minister. In establishing the National Security Council of Thailand, the prototype and concepts were derived from the United States.

“Development of the National Security Council (NSC)”

The NSC has been developed in 3 main stages, according to situational contexts in Thailand at that time or enactment of laws as follows:

1. National Security Council of Thailand in the early and pre-present periods (1910 – 1958)

Since King Rama VI had the idea that military operations for national defense should be considered carefully, efficiently, and coordinated, His Majesty graciously granted permission to establish the council to perform such duties in 1910. At that time, there was no specific name, it was called as the council for national defense, and the King was the chairman.

Later, during the reign of King Rama VII, he considered that the council established with missions to consider the defense of the kingdom should be improved to be in line with the changing situations as well as the military affairs that had evolved in sequences. Therefore, on July 27, 1927, His Majesty graciously ordered the abolition of the existing council and the establishment of a new council, named the “Kingdom Defense Council”, with the King as the chairman. The Council was abolished on July 14, 1932.

During the World War II in 1939 – 1944, Thailand announced the “War Council Act B.E. 2487 (1944), as the first Act regarding the National Security Council. The “War Council” was established with authority to consider matters of warfare in military, economic, political matters both domestically and internationally as well as public welfare, and had authority to carry out all activities that would benefit war effort. However, the said Council lasted only 8 months before being abolished, as the “Kingdom Defense Council Act B.E. 2487 (1944)” was issued instead. The said Act was revised until the third edition, and on January 31, 1956, the Kingdom Defense Council Act B.E. 2499 (1956) was issued by abolishing all Acts.

2. National Security Council in the pre-present era (1959 – 2015)

The Kingdom Defense Council had operated continuously until 1959, when it was revised again, which was considered an important change. There was a provision to abolish the “Kingdom Defense Council”, and to promulgate the “National Security Council Act B.E. 2502 (1959)” as the “National Security Council” on September 23, 1959. The Prime Minister at that time appointed “Major General Luang Vichitvadakarn” as the “Secretary-General of the National Security Council”. Therefore, Major General Luang Vichitvadakarn was considered the first Secretary-General of the National Security Council Office under this Act. The operation of the National Security Council was in the form of brainstorming from all relevant parties. There were committees appointed for consultation on various important matters, including the Committee on Reviewing Work, the Coordination Committee, the Policy Committee, the National Preparedness Committee, the Policy and Management Committee for International Terrorism Resolution, and the National Intelligence Directorate, etc.

The National Security Council had duty and authority to consider and recommend to the Cabinet on domestic policies, foreign policies, military and economic policies, etc., related to national security to be consistent so that military affairs and affairs of ministries, departments, and other state organizations could closely coordinate and benefit national security, including considerations on national security as assigned by the Cabinet.

The Office of the National Security Council was a government agency with the status equivalent to a department, under the Office of the Prime Minister and directly reporting to the Prime Minister. The head of the agency, called the “Secretary-General of the National Security Council,” was a civil servant who was a permanent secretary while the civil servants in the Office had the status of civil servants. The original divisions of the Office were divided into 3 main parts: the central office, the policy office, and the coordination office, following the US model. The policy office was divided into 4 divisions: the internal politics division, the external politics division, the economic policy division, and the military policy division. The Office had continuously developed its organization in line with the times to keep up with the changing security situations. On 9 May 2011, the Ministerial Regulation on the Division of the Office of the National Security Council, Office of the Prime Minister, B.E. 2554 (2011) was announced before entering the current era.

3. National Security Council in the present era (2016 – present)

From the current situations and problems of national security threats with complexity and rapid change, prevention and resolution of situations that affect national security must have more complex systems, processes, and procedures. The conditions of problems and threats are sensitive and interconnected at all levels with effects on various dimensions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop mechanisms for solving problems to be more efficient.

Therefore, in order for the national security and national security maintenance to be effective and ready to cope with security situations and threats to national security, the Cabinet meeting on November 1, 2014 resolved to have all government agencies expedite the drafting of new laws, or amendments to existing laws, and submit them to the Cabinet as soon as possible, especially laws that are outdated or to solve important national problems. Regarding the Office of the National Security Council, the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility in laws at that time (Mr. Wissanu Krea-ngam) considered that the agencies should consider amending the National Security Council Act because it has been in force for a long time, and should be amended to be consistent with the contexts of changing security situations. As a result, the Office amended the National Security Council Act B.E. 2502 (1959) by repealing the existing laws and going through the consideration process according to the relevant procedures. On September 26, 2016, the National Security Council Act B.E. 2559 (2016) was announced in the Government Gazette and has been in force until today.