Thailand 's new security body replacing the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) held its first meeting on Dec. 22 to define its objectives and scope of operation.

Representatives of 19 security agencies attended the meeting.

The Situation Monitoring Centre (SMC) was set up by the Thai cabinet to maintain the Internal Security Act (ISA) after the removal of the state of emergency on the same day.

SMC, headed by army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan, is operating under the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

Major General Dithaporn Sasasamit said SMC's operation, apart from monitoring the overall situation in the country, is to support ISOC's five main tasks - tackling drug-related problems, illegal foreign labour, transnational crime, destruction of natural resources and unrest in three southern border provinces./.