Special Branch Bureau

The Special Branch Bureau or SBB (Thai: กองบัญชาการตำรวจสันติบาล) is a Law enforcement agency under the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. Special Branch Bureau has major security functions to the king, queen and all the royal family along with the action on the intelligence of the person or group that acts as a threat to national security. The agency was established on 17 November 2475 by Royal Decree of His Majesty King Prajadhipok's by the advise of The House of Representatives. As a result, the department is divided into four disivsion. Sometimes referred to by critics as the "political police", it is responsible for controlling subversive activities and serves as the Thai Police's major intelligence organization, as well as the unit responsible for VIP protection.

Special Branch Bureau
กองบัญชาการตำรวจสันติบาล
Official Seal
AbbreviationSBB
Agency overview
Formed17 November 1932
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyThailand
Operations jurisdictionThailand
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersRoyal Thai Police Headquarters, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
Agency executive
  • Sarawut Karnpanit, Commissioner
Parent agencyRoyal Thai Police
Website
http://www.sbpolice.go.th/

History

A Special Branch Bureau (SBB) division exists in the Royal Thai Police as part of its Crime Prevention and Suppression Support Group.[1] Aside from intelligence gathering, they provide protection to VIPs[2] alongside the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) and Armed Forces Security Centre.[3] They handle matters that have to do with citizenship, such as the renunciation of Thai nationality.[4] Foreign nationals living in Thailand go to the Special Branch office to secure a Thai police clearance certificate.[5][6] Other cases such as lèse majesté, terrorism, and anything that endangers Thai national security are also handled by the Thai SBB.[7][8][9]

The SBB worked with the Malaysian Special Branch during the Cold War.[10] During that time, SBB officers were involved in the Red Drum killings, in which 3,008 accused of being pro-communist were burned to death from 200-litre (44 imp gal; 53 US gal) red drums alive or semi-conscious and incinerated during the administration of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn.[11]

The SBB was accused of human rights violations toward Falun Gong practitioners.[12][13] They have been promoted as a means of routing political opposition to the government.[14] The division stirred controversy in the run-up to the 2007 general election when media revealed that the SBB had conducted its own opinion poll to assess the probable electoral outcome.[15][16] In response to similar stories before the 2011 general election, the SB characterised its gathering of data as a study rather than a poll.[17]

A special police unit called the "Black Tiger" is under the control of the Special Branch. It handles VIP protection operations.[18]

Mission
  • Offering safety for Thai Royal Family
  • Operations intelligence about individuals or groups of individuals whose behavior is a threat to national security
  • Action on job creators intelligence to the police and centered on the integration of the implementation of the Strategy of National Security
  • Action on the job security of important people and places related to national security
  • Implementation of the Law on Nationality and other laws related to national security authority
  • Training for human resource development

Organization

Rotal Thai Police Special Branch Bureau Headquarters
  • General Staff Division Special Branch Bureau
  • Special Branch Division 1
  • Special Branch Division 2
  • Special Branch Division 3
  • Special Branch Division 4
  • Intelligence Development Center

See also

References
  1. "Interpol's Thailand Page". Interpol. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. "Special Branch to guard judges after death threats claimed". The Nation. 23 October 2010.
  3. "Female bodyguards for Thailand's next prime minister". The Nation. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  4. "Thai Citizenship Requirements". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  5. "Living in Thailand". British Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  6. "Frequently Asked Questions". Toronto: Royal Thai Consulate General. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  7. "Thailand: Solidarity with Giles Ungpakorn". Socialist Review. February 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  8. "Security tightened at Norwegian Embassy". The Nation. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  9. "Thai authorities order arrest of 14 people after protests". CNN. 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  10. Comber, Leon (2006). Malaya's Secret Police 1945–60. The Role of the Special Branch in the Malayan Emergency (PhD dissertation, Monash University) |format= requires |url= (help). Singapore: ISEAS (Institute of SE Asian Affairs, Singapore) and MAI (Monash Asia Institute. p. 257.
  11. "The Red Drum massacres of 30 years ago" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. Martin Croucher & Mo Zhengfeng (12 February 2008). "Political Motives Suspected After Thai Deportation Arrests". Epoch Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  13. "Thailand: Update on the Situation of Five Falun Gong Practitioners Held in the Immigration Detention Centre". Clearharmony. 21 December 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  14. "TJA condemns Special Branch Police for misuse of press law". International Freedom of Expression Exchange. 9 August 2001. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  15. "Thailand: Restoring Democracy, Report of International Election Observation Mission December 2007" (PDF). The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015. 27 November 2007: The National Police Commissioner is questioned by the Prime Minister's Office on why the Special Branch Police Bureau conducted an election opinion poll.
  16. Boyce, Ralph L. (30 November 2007). "Thai Election Body Grapples with Fraud, Army Interference". WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable: 07BANGKOK6007_a. Retrieved 21 December 2015. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. "Police deny making election survey". Bangkok Post. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2015. Special Branch had gathered information about the coming [July 3 election] for a report sent directly to the police chief, but that was not an opinion survey in the form the media reported.
  18. http://www.student-weekly.com/180411/educate1.html%5B%5D
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