Connecting Nation, Linking People

“Enhancing People-to-People Connectivity to Address Non-traditional Security Challenges in the Mekong Region” is the project proposal of the Department of Provincial Administration,Ministry of Interior which received budget support from the 6th Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF ). The project aims to promote the integration of cooperation at the sub-regional level to deal with transnational crime in the Thai-Lao and Thai-Cambodian border areas in an efficient and comprehensive manner. Especially the problem of human trafficking. Smuggling drugs across borders and illegal immigration

The project has two main operational guidelines:

(1) Civic Engagement in jointly monitoring transnational crime problems and report any suspicious reasons to administrative officials in order to investigate and expand concrete results through operations “NTS – Mekong Watch” mechanism in all sub-districts and villages in the target districts and

(2) People-to-People Connectivity especially local leaders and government officials of Thailand and neighboring countries via a trip to Lao PDR and Cambodia by a group of district chiefs/district secretaries and village headman/village headman. To discuss cooperation in areas related to the “NTS-Mekong Watch” mechanism , including inviting leaders from Lao PDR and Cambodia to visit the Thai side of the district to strengthen cooperation and carry out joint social and cultural activities.

The project’s key operational guidelines are as follows:

(1) Civic Engagement in jointly monitoring transnational crime problems and reporting any suspicious reasons to administrative officials in order to investigate and expand concrete results through operations “NTS – Mekong Watch” mechanism in all sub-districts and villages in the target districts; and

(2) People-to-People Connectivity, particularly among Thai and neighboring country local leaders and government officials, through a group trip to Lao PDR and Cambodia. To explore collaboration in areas relevant to the “NTS-Mekong Watch” mechanism, including offering Lao PDR and Cambodian leaders to visit the Thai side of the district to promote cooperation and participate in joint social and cultural activities.

NTS-Mekong Watch mechanism

NTS-Mekong Watch is the main mechanism of the project. For

1) Creating knowledge and understanding about new traditional security (NTS) in the mekong region and emphasize the importance of public participation;

2) Promoting public participation along the border Thai-Lao , and Thailand-Cambodia in participating in monitoring transnational crimes

3) Implementation by the local officers and

4) Monitoring and evaluation.

1. Creating knowledge and understanding and transferring knowledge to the public

1) Capacity Building – The training on new tradition security challenges in the Mekong Region and emphasize the importance of the participation of people especially the leaders and officers in the local areas to deal with such problem.

2) Knowledge Management – Transfer/share knowledge to the public in the target areas by the local officers, leaders via news towers, local news media and the office of district, sub – district and village etc.

3) Public relations – Promote the project via its online media channel such as Facebook, YouTube , etc.

2. Promoting public participation

1) Establishment of the NTS-Mekong Watch Coordination Center – In the area of 44 districts and assigned the sub – district head man and village headman to be the coordinator for receive reports of suspicious events by citizens and report to the coordination center for further investigation of the reported events.

2) Establishing a mechanism for reporting incidents online through The project website “NTS-Mekong Watch” in all 44 districts officers will be able to access incident reporting information via the website for compile information for further investigation and coordination with relevant agencies .

3. Implementation and Law enforcement

1) Fact checking the incident that has been reported both from the local coordination center and online platform by integrating with Mechanisms of the Department of Provincial Administration, such as the Volunteer Defense Corps (VOL), Sub-district headman, Village headman, the village secutity officers and setting up checkpoints and patrolling etc.

2) Integrating cooperation with security agencies in the area such as local police, Immigration Bureau (Immigration), Border Patrol Police, Navy’s Mekong Riverine Operation both in terms of coordinating missions and exchanging information.

3) Coordination and collaboration with Lao PDR and Cambodia at the district/city and local leadership levels to exchange information and discuss ways to improve security cooperation in the region.

4. Monitoring and evaluating

1) Reporting on the work results of each NTS- Mekong- Watch coordination centre, which includes statistics and incident reporting, both from sub-district/village coordinators and reporting from online platform to the NTS-Mekong Watch center 1 time per month.

2) Organizing regular meetings with relevant agencies and/or network partners to evaluate the performance of the “NTS-Mekong Watch” mechanism and discuss solutions/improvements for future operation.

3) Processing of operations of the “NTS-Mekong Watch” mechanism each quarter to prepare performance reports and distribute public relations of the project.