The regime's latest amendment to the security law governing the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) is unlikely to allow the military to use excessive power, says Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
However, security expert Surachart Bamrungsuk said the regime's move indicated an expansion of military power, which is usually extended at wartime when its missions may overlap civilian work.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this week invoked his sweeping powers under Section 44 to amend the internal security legislation to set up the Internal Security Administration Committee to help Isoc deal with domestic threats.
The move is seen by critics as giving Isoc more authority at the provincial and regional levels ahead of a general election, while the military insists the amendment has no political agenda and is exclusively for security purposes.
Mr Abhisit said the amendment, which has not been scrutinised by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), is unlikely to provide the military a mechanism to exercise excessive power.
He said the internal security law requires security authorities to specify an area where the special law will be enforced, which means the military's power is limited to the specified area only.
He pointed out the special law cannot be enforced throughout the country at the same time.
However, the Democrat leader said he will monitor and study the use of power by agencies concerned as authorised by the amendment.
But according to Mr Surachart, the military is expanding its power without specifying what the security missions entail, and it may fuel speculation that the regime wants to exert power to control politics and implementation of its 20-year strategic plan.
"So in the future, Isoc may be used as a tool to counter civilian political elements like political parties which are about to return to action. Isoc may be seen as an agency to highlight the military's role in politics," he said.
He also countered the regime's claim that the move intended to strengthen capacity in dealing with domestic threats, saying the government has sufficient tools including the National Security Council to handle such threats.
"As a matter of fact, Isoc is the army. It is not a civilian entity. The move signals that work related to national security will be monopolised by the military, especially the army," he said.
The academic pointed out that a future government, which is likely to be weakened by conditions set forth in the charter, will be further undermined following the amendment to the security law.
However, Isoc spokesman Peerawach Saengthong said on Thursday that the move has nothing to do with the upcoming general election slated for next November.
He insisted it is part of a long-term security management plan to better handle domestic threats.
