NTS-Mekong Watch Kick-Off: Online Training on Non-Traditional Security Awareness in the Mekong Region

June 21, 10:00 AM – Under the guidance of Ms. Wajiraporn Amatayakul,  Director of the Technical Services and Planning Bureau at the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, and with the delegation led by Ms. Sukhumarn Viriyothin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Division. The  Enhancing People-to-People Connectivity to Address Non-traditional Security Challenges in the Mekong Region (NTS-Mekong Watch project)  successfully conducted its first online training session to enhance awareness of non-traditional security threats in the Mekong region. The training was held via Zoom and attended by officials from the Department of Provincial Administration, local leaders, and security officers from 44 target districts along the Thailand-Laos and Thailand-Cambodia borders.

Session 1: Unmasking Complexity – The Increasing Challenges of Non-Traditional Security in the Mekong Region

The first session featured esteemed speakers, Police Lt. Col. Phanlan Pathompornviwat and Police Lt. Col. Narongrit Phumpuang, both from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) under the Central Investigation Bureau. The discussion provided insights into pressing security challenges, including online scams, call-center fraud schemes, and malicious apps designed to extract money through suspicious links. Participants were cautioned about these threats, emphasizing the importance of staying vigilant, avoiding free offers, and understanding that once funds are transferred, recovery is highly unlikely.

Key Objectives

The primary aim of the training was to build Non-Traditional Security Literacy (NTS-Literacy) among administrative officials in border areas. Topics included:

  • Cross-border drug trafficking
  • Online scams
  • Human trafficking
  • Illegal immigration

Border officials, being the closest to communities, play a critical role in preventing these threats. The session emphasized the significant impact of call-center fraud rings, which often operate from border regions, affecting numerous victims. This necessitates active collaboration between officials and residents to protect border communities and, by extension, the nation.

Future Sessions

The training program will include two more sessions scheduled for July and August 2024, with the following themes:

  1. “Unite Regional Unity: Driving Efforts to Tackle Non-Traditional Security Threats in the Mekong Region.”
  2. “From Awareness to Action: Building Active Citizenship and Policy Advocacy to Tackle NTS in the Mekong.”

These sessions aim to foster regional solidarity and equip participants with actionable strategies for combating non-traditional security threats in the Mekong region.