India to help train Thais to fight cybercrime

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon (right) shakes hands with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari during his official visit to India late this week. (Defence Ministry photo)

India has agreed to train Thai officers to tackle cybercrime as part of their broader security cooperation.

Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantravanich said on Friday the agreement was reached during the official visit to India by Thai security authorities on Thursday and Friday.

The delegation included Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister and defence minister; defence permanent secretary Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha; supreme commander Gen Sommai Kaotira, National Security Council secretary-general Taweep Netniyom, and police chief Gen Chakthip Chaijinda.

Indian Defence Minister Monohar Parrikar invited them to pay the visit.

At meetings with the Indian defence minister and Indian security adviser Ajit Doval, both sides agreed to boost security and military cooperation in various areas.

India can help train Thai officers on cybercrime suppression while Thailand will exchange security information and cooperate with India on marine security, especially in the Strait of Malacca, Maj Gen Khongcheep said.

Both countries shared the view that their common threats were narcotics, terrorism, transnational crime, cybercrime and marine security threats and they would form a joint security commission to translate the policy into actions, the defence spokesman said.

The panel would consist of police and experts on laws and security.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would visit India in the near future to further enhance the security cooperation, Maj Gen Khongcheep said.

Besides, India would send its warships to join the Thailand's International Fleet Review 2017, a parade held by the Thai navy in Pattaya to mark Asean's 50th anniversary in August 2017.

Many Thai government websites including those of the police and the Justice Ministry were compromised multiple times from late last year to January by groups seeking to show their disagreements with the single internet gateway plan and the death sentence last December on two Myanmar migrant workers in relation to the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao island of Surat Thani in 2014.