Ministry of Interior (Thailand)

Kingdom of Thailand Ministry of Interior
กระทรวงมหาดไทย
Ministry overview
Formed	1 April 1892
Jurisdiction	Government of Thailand
Headquarters	Office of the Minister of Interior, Asadang Road, Ratchabophit, Bangkok 10200
Annual budget	179,373.5 million Baht (2007)
Minister responsible	Yongyuth Wichaidit (PT), Minister of Interior
Ministry executive	Manit Wattanasen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
Website
www.moi.go.th

The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: กระทรวงมหาดไทย; RTGS: Krasuang Mahatthai; Abrv: MOI) is an important Cabinet-level department in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is given wide ranging responsibilities over many aspects. For example the Ministry has responsibility over: the Royal Thai Police, local administrations, internal security, citizenship, disaster management, land management, issuing national identity cards and public works. The Ministry is also responsible for appointing 74 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 9 August 2011, the head of the ministry is Deputy Prime Minister and Pheu Thai Party-chairman Yongyuth Wichaidit, succeeding Chaovarat Chanweerakul. He is aided by two Deputy Ministers.

History

The Ministry in its present form was founded by King Chulalongkorn (or 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).

Soon Prince Damrong reorganized the workings of the entire Ministry and as a result the entire country. He created the Monthon system, a complete new sub-division for the Kingdom. During this time he and the Ministry took on so much power, that he was considered powerful second only to the King. After King Vajiravudh (or 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 Minister had been a member or retired member of the Police.

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

Departments

Administration

• Office of the Minister
• Office of the Permanent Secretary

Dependent Department

• 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 & 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

• [1]

External links

• Ministry of Interior - Official Website in Thai

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