Ministry of Interior (Thailand)

The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: กระทรวงมหาดไทย; rtgs: Krasuang Mahatthai; Abrv: MOI) is a Cabinet-level department in the Government of Thailand. The ministry has wide ranging responsibilities. For example, the ministry has responsibility over: local administrations, internal security, citizenship, disaster management, land management, issuance of national identity cards, and public works. The ministry is responsible for appointing the 76 governors of the Provinces of Thailand. The minister of interior (Thai: รัฐมนตรีกระทรวงมหาดไทย) is the head of the ministry. He is appointed by the King of Thailand at the advice of the prime minister. Since 30 August 2014, the head of the ministry has been retired General Anupong Paochinda. He is aided by one deputy minister.

History

The ministry in its present form was founded by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in his reforms of the Siamese government. The ministry was founded on the 1 April 1892. He appointed his brother Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, to be its first "minister of state". At the time the ministry was divided into three divisions: the central division (Thai: กรมมหาดไทยกลาง), the northern division (Thai: กรมมหาดไทยฝ่ายเหนือ), and the local administration division (Thai: กรมพลัมภัง).

Prince Damrong reorganized the workings of the entire ministry and as a result the entire country. He created the monthon system, a complete new system of sub-divisions of the kingdom. He and the ministry took on so much power, that he was considered second only to the king. After King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) succeeded his father in 1910, the relationship between king and Prince Damrong deteriorated. In 1915 Prince Damrong resigned, officially citing health reasons, though it was an open secret that disagreements with the king were the real reason.

During the Revolution of 1932 (actually, coup d'état), the Minister of Interior was Prince Paripatra Sukhumbhand, who was exiled after the revolution because of his power. From then on the minister became an appointed position within the Cabinet of Thailand. Most ministers had been former police officials.

Statue of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, outside the Office of the Ministry of Interior

Departments

Administration

• Office of the Minister
• Office of the Permanent Secretary

Dependent departments

• Community Development Department
• Department of Lands
• Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) กรมการปกครอง
• Department of Local Administration
• Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
• Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning

State Enterprises

• The Marketing Organization
• Metropolitan Electricity Authority
• The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority
• Provincial Electricity Authority
• The Provincial Waterworks Authority

See also

• Royal Thai Police
• Administrative divisions of Thailand
• Thesaban
• Provinces of Thailand
• Cabinet of Thailand
• List of Government Ministers of Thailand
• Government of Thailand

References

External links

• Ministry of Interior

Cabinet Ministries and independent agencies of the government of Thailand
Ministries	Office of the Prime Minister Agriculture and Cooperatives Commerce Culture Defence Digital Economy and Society Education Energy Finance Foreign Affairs Industry Interior Justice Labour Natural Resources and Environment Public Health Science and Technology Social Development and Human Security Tourism and Sport Transport
Agencies	Election Commission National Anti-Corruption Commission National Human Rights Commission Ombudsmen State Audit Commission

Coordinates: 13°45′01″N 100°29′51″E / 13.750385°N 100.49749°E / 13.750385; 100.49749