ABSTRACT
In Thailand, auxiliary security actors have been irregular forces functioning in support of the military and police primarily for combat, protection, or backup for law enforcement. At present, they are mostly used in Thailand’s Deep South counterinsurgency. In their functions, these forces have been divided between paramilitaries and pro-government village militias (PGMs), and even among different types of paramilitaries and PGMs. Why has the Thai state-employed different types of auxiliary security forces? How are these groups structured? How are they deployed in counterinsurgency operations? What are their advantage and disadvantages? This chapter addresses these questions.
