Koh phangan: The Department of Provincial Administration has initiated an investigation, imposing a 7-day deadline to report on the distribution of guns during the Headman and Village Chief Day in Koh Phangan.
According to Thai News Agency, the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration has mandated an urgent inquiry into the firearms distribution at the event, emphasizing the necessity for more stringent gun control measures. This directive follows media reports showing images and text relating to the 134th anniversary celebration of "Village Headman and Subdistrict Headman Day" in Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province, where five long-barreled shotguns were raffled off as prizes.
The Department of Provincial Administration has underscored the importance of this case, demanding a thorough investigation into the legality of the procedures related to firearms. This aligns with the policy of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, which seeks to improve the control of firearms and ammunition, addressing licensing, purchasing, possession, and the suppression of illegal firearms.
An urgent directive has been issued to Surat Thani Province to halt the distribution of firearms at the event and investigate the circumstances surrounding it, focusing on the roles of the district chief and other officials involved in organizing the event. The investigation aims to determine if there was any wrongdoing in using firearms as prizes.
Surat Thani Province has been given a 7-day deadline to complete the investigation and report the findings to the Department of Provincial Administration for further consideration. Should any violations of laws, regulations, or government directives be discovered, appropriate disciplinary actions will be enforced.