The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration clarified that guns were not distributed as rewards to village heads on Koh Phangan. Instead, gifts or cash were given. He confirmed the nationwide suspension of issuing Por 3 gun licenses, allowing police officers to carry firearms during duty only with orders from their superiors.
At 10:17 a.m. on 13 Aug 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Narucha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, gave an interview at Muang Thong Thani regarding the case of the 134th anniversary celebration of village heads on Koh Phangan in Surat Thani Province, where five long-shotguns were given as gifts in a raffle, saying Our current policy is to control the number of firearms. The key policy, directed by the Prime Minister, is to suspend the issuance of Por 3 firearm purchase licenses. Instead of guns, village heads will receive other items of equivalent value to the firearms they would have gotten, following the Prime Minister’s directive.
When asked why guns are still being given despite the policy, Mr. Narucha stated, No guns are being distributed. The awards follow firearm regulations but have been changed to equivalent-value items, which could be cash or symbolic tokens. When asked if the policy means guns will no longer be given to village heads, Mr. Narucha said it must be canceled first and issuance suspended. Although the regulation still exists, there are loopholes. Previously, pins and certificates were given, but other rewards require annual procurement. Similarly, firearms would have to be imported. This year, the policy requires substituting other items of equal value.
"There is no annual procurement; each recipient must apply for a license first—that is, the Por 3 license. But we have already suspended it—not just ordered a suspension but locked it temporarily using the central database to halt Por 3 issuance nationwide. Last week’s awards were gold pins and certificates; no firearms were given."
Regarding the August 12 order suspending welfare guns, and police concerns about access to firearms, Mr. Narucha said this must be understood as an urgent policy to limit firearm numbers. Welfare guns originally served officials maintaining order, but now even these are suspended equally for all officials and citizens.
When asked about police concerns about carrying firearms on duty and the issue of storing guns at police stations—raising questions about protection in emergencies—Mr. Narucha replied this depends on each operational unit. The practical solution is to permit only officers on duty to carry firearms, requiring written orders from their commanders assigning them to maintain order in their areas. Every police station and government unit must issue orders supporting these officers' duties, allowing them to carry firearms while working. .