Bangkok: The Security Committee has urged legal action against the individual responsible for creating a document that organized the ‘Prachon’ page as part of an anti-monarchy group. The committee has also called upon the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to take action after the agency acknowledged the document’s authenticity but admitted it was a mistake in data handling. Rangsiman Rome, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, emphasized that the recurring errors appear to resemble deliberate defamation of the political party.
According to Thai News Agency, Rangsiman Rome, who also serves as the chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy, and Reform, addressed concerns following a committee meeting. The meeting focused on the study of information operations (IO) on social media by security agencies, which allegedly infringe on citizens’ rights and freedoms. The ISOC’s documents, which regularly compile news and assess situations, were found to contain problematic summaries. These summaries reportedly accused and falsely categorized various individuals, including former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, into lists that opposed the institution. Notably, the Prachachon Party’s page was included in such a list.
Mr. Rangsiman explained that the ISOC admitted to the document’s authenticity, but denied any wrongful intent in its classification, attributing the errors to general information sourced from the internet. He argued that repeated mistakes suggest an intentional effort to defame political parties, whether they are in government or opposition. He stressed that if the ISOC is innocent and not involved in political slander, accountability must be established.
Additionally, Mr. Rangsiman highlighted the existence of a special working group within the army, led by Gen. Thammanun Withi, which involves information operations. Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari, the army spokesman, confirmed the group’s existence but denied any slander activities, asserting that their tasks are limited to public relations. The army’s spokesman also clarified that the army was not behind the ‘Ms. Juk Khlong Sam’ account, which had mistakenly appeared on an army LCD screen.
The chairman further pointed out incidents involving leaked images, which were suspected to have been taken by police officers, adding to concerns about unauthorized information release. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) spokesman denied any knowledge of these matters, prompting the committee to consider investigating whether government insiders were responsible for the leaks.
Mr. Rangsiman stressed the importance of security agencies adhering to legal duties and preventing further IO operations. The committee’s recent meeting was prompted by a no-confidence debate involving Mr. Chaiyapol Satondee, a Bangkok MP from the Prachachon Party. Various agencies, including the ISOC, Ministry of Defense, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces, were invited to provide clarifications.
Mr. Chaiyaphon expressed concerns over the ISOC’s partial acceptance of IO-related damages and called for public scrutiny. He questioned the agency’s ability to trace and prosecute individuals behind fake accounts, such as ‘Ms. Juk Khlong 3,’ which disseminated political information.
He further cited reports of internal threats in Sakon Nakhon Province, where the army reportedly prosecuted anonymous user accounts. This raised questions about potential discrimination and whether the army selectively targets individuals critical of its actions while allowing others to remain unchallenged.
Lastly, Mr. Chaiyapol outlined the committee’s next steps, which include filing complaints and examining the involvement of agencies linked to the army’s special working group. He noted that the army relies on influencers to communicate its narrative due to disagreements with mainstream media coverage.