The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has asked that the sale of a new research monograph on the behind-the-scenes role of the Thai military in Thai politics be suspended, claiming the study is based on misinformation and damages ISOC’s public image.

The book is a Thai version of the monograph Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military’s Internal Security Affairs by Puangthong Pawakapan, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Sciences. Printed by Same Sky Publishing, it focuses on how the Thai military has employed infiltration tactics, from the Cold War period to the present, to indoctrinate civilians, promote ultra-royalism, and secure political order.

ISOC claims that research for the book did not follow a proper methodology.  It also accuses Puangthong of cherry-picking information to support her own erroneous conclusions. It asserts that the author did not make use of information from government agencies like ISOC or the Army, and did not study official regulations.

It further asserts that as Puangthong does not have “direct expertise” in security issues, does not teach on the topic, and has not done continuous research on the matter, publishing the book amounts to a serious breach of ethics and will cause misunderstandings that damage the ISOC’s public image.

ISOC wants sale of the book to be suspended and said that it will ask Chulalongkorn University to conduct an ethics probe on Puangthong’s research. It also threatened to press charges.

Puangthong, meanwhile, wrote on her Facebook page that her publication has been reviewed by academics from several institutions who are experts in Thai politics, the military, and security issues. She noted that the appendix lists documents cited in the book, adding that the majority are from the Army, ISOC, the National Security Council, and other government agencies that have worked with the ISOC. Of the over 100 documents cited, Puangthong said that at least 80 are documents issued by the Army and ISOC, while 50 others are news articles about army and ISOC activities.

Puangthong said she wrote Infiltrating Society over 2 years while a fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, and the Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University. The Thai version was funded by Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science. In 2023, Puangthong won an outstanding research in social sciences award from the Ratchadapiseksomphot Fund for the book. It was also listed as one of the best books of 2022 by the Foreign Affairs magazine.

Puangthong wrote that she understands the ISOC may disagree with her interpretation and that it may publish a rebuttal or hold a public seminar to express its opinions. She also said that she would be happy to welcome an ISOC representative if one came to participate in her book launch on 27 September.

“I believe that the public would appreciate a democratic debate more than using the law to stop people from accessing different opinions through a prohibition or book ban.,” she wrote. “This democratic method would make the Thai society stronger and more secure because it would allow us to live together peacefully and have tolerance for diversity.”