National Intelligence Agency (Thailand)
| สํานักข่าวกรองเเห่งชาติ | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 January 1954 (1954-01-01) |
| Type | Intelligence agency and Security agency |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Thailand |
| Headquarters |
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| Motto | Determination, devotion, discipline, sacrifice and dedicated to the nation and its people |
| Annual budget | 717.8 million baht (FY2019) |
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Minister responsible
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Agency executive
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Parent agency
| Office of the Prime Minister |
| Website | Official website |
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) (Thai: สํานักข่าวกรองเเห่งชาติ) is the national civilian intelligence and security agency of Thailand tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and conducting clandestine and covert operations. It serves as part of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).[1][2] Its headquarters is in Paruskavan Palace, Bangkok.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) constitutes one of the three core pillars of the Thailand Intelligence Community, alongside the Armed Forces Security Center (AFSC) and the Royal Thai Police Special Branch Bureau (SBB). The NIA holds a statutory mandate to execute clandestine and covert operations, counterintelligence, hybrid threat mitigation, and intelligence-led counterterrorism. Furthermore, its legally defined purview encompasses intelligence gathering and assessment, national security threat evaluation, protective intelligence, the maintenance of internal and external security, as well as the safeguarding of classified civilian government intelligence assets.
Under the National Intelligence Act, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is legally mandated to analyze and develop intelligence gathering and counterintelligence systems to safeguard national security. Serving as the nation's central intelligence authority for the coordination of all intelligence activities, the agency’s statutory purviews encompass the execution of clandestine and covert operations, counterintelligence, intelligence-led counterterrorism, and the mitigation of hybrid threats. Furthermore, its responsibilities extend to national security threat assessments, political warfare operations against foreign adversaries, support for hybrid warfare operations, and protective intelligence, with particular emphasis on the Prime Minister of Thailand as well as high-ranking government officials at risk of assault or assassination. In managing the civilian security apparatus, the NIA is tasked with the establishment of a civilian security intelligence network, the protection of classified civilian government assets, and the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures to prevent the breach of civilian security intelligence data resulting from systemic compromises. The Director of the NIA is directly accountable to the Prime Minister of Thailand and the National Security Council (NSC).
History
On 1 January 1954, the Thai government established the Department of State Intelligence under the Council of Ministers of Thailand. Phao Sriyanond, then Director-General of the Royal Police Department was appointed as the first Director-General of the new department.[3]
Later, during the tenure of Sarit Thanarat, the Department of Administrative Intelligence was renamed the Department of Central Intelligence on December 2, 1959. It was renamed again under the premiership of Prem Tinsulanonda as the National Intelligence Agency on August 30, 1985. Since then, it has served as the national intelligence agency directly under the Office of the Prime Minister.[4]
In 1985, the "National Intelligence Act, B.E. 2528 (1985)" made the NIA the lead Thai intelligence agency.[5] The reality as of 2016 was that seven Thai intelligence agencies—the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Armed Forces Security Center (AFSC), Army Military Intelligence Command (AMIC), Naval Intelligence Department (NID), Directorate of Intelligence, RTAF (INTELLRTAF), Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), and Special Branch Bureau (SBB)—mostly function independently of one another.[6] In 2017, a plan was hatched to consolidate the efforts of 27 separate Thai intelligence agencies.[1]
In 2019, the government implemented the "National Intelligence Act, B.E. 2562 (2019)," which marked a significant milestone. This act established the National Intelligence Coordination Center (NICC) as an agency within the National Intelligence Agency. The NICC's primary responsibility is to serve as a central hub for coordinating intelligence gathering and counterintelligence efforts with other domestic intelligence agencies and also public authorities.[7]
Missions
The National Intelligence Agency has mission, authority and responsibility in 4 areas including:
- Civil Security;
- Communication, technique, and network intelligence;
- Internal and foreign counterintelligence missions;
- Internal and foreign intelligence missions.
Budget
The FY2019 budget of the NIA is 717.8 million baht.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Thailand To Consolidate Work of 27 Intelligence Agencies". Defenseworld.net. 2017-07-13. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ a b Thailand's Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2019 (Revised ed.). Bangkok: Bureau of the Budget (Thailand). 2018. p. 83. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ [1] บทความเรื่อง: การประชาสัมพันธ์ข่าวของสํานัก - กรมประชาสัมพันธ์
- ^ [2] จับตาสแกนลายพราง: ‘สำนักข่าวกรองแห่งชาติ’ หน่วยงานข่าวกรองของ ‘พลเรือน’
- ^ "National Intelligence Act" (PDF). Office of the Council of State. Archived from the original (Unofficial translation) on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ Chongkittavorn, Kavi (11 January 2016). "Thai intelligence agencies need a revamp". The Nation. Archived from the original (Opinion) on January 15, 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ ศูนย์ประสานข่าวกรองแห่งชาติ