Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Welcomes Law and Political Science Students from Hat Yai College, Emphasizes Role of Local Administrators

On May 18, 2026, at the Interior Ministry, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul assigned Arissada Somphanratana, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, to welcome and deliver a special lecture titled "Interior Ministry's Mission in Alleviating Suffering and Promoting Prosperity" to students and faculty of the Law and Political Science Special Classroom Program at Hat Yai College, Songkhla Province. The event was attended by Chotinrin Kerdsohm, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Administration; Athaya Nuan-uthai, Assistant Permanent Secretary; Chakraphan Ratansetheir, Director of the Institute of Royal Patronage; and officials from the office of the Permanent Secretary, who guided visitors through significant locations and artifacts related to the Interior Ministry's 134th anniversary at Sirindhara Park and the Museum of Royal Patronage, the Interior Ministry Hall, which houses an image of Princess Royal Damrong Rajanubhap, the first Minister of Interior, and displays exhibitions of her biography, works, books, and personal belongings, along with tributes to the Royal Institution.

Permanent Secretary Arissada stated that the Interior Ministry was pleased to welcome the Hat Yai College students, a group interested in studying political science and law, representing the new generation interested in pursuing higher education in these fields, who may become Interior Ministry civil servants in various positions including policy analysts, human resources specialists, general administrators, public relations officers, district chiefs, development workers, land scholars, and legal officers, working in both public sector and private organizations.

Arissada explained that while the Interior Ministry is one of 20 ministries, it is the only one with a comprehensive administrative system covering: 1) the central level—the ministry and departments; 2) the regional level—provinces and districts; and 3) the local level—provincial administrative organizations (PAO), municipalities, subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO), Pattaya City, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The Interior Ministry is the government agency responsible for administering all affairs, serving as the heart of regional administration and oversight of local government organizations.

The ministry's civil servants serve as the highest commander of provincial officials—the "Provincial Governor"—holding the position of "local administrator" with the duty to "protect and safeguard the public," a critical function and core mission of the Interior Ministry. At the district level is the "District Chief," under the provincial governor's leadership. District Chiefs, as Interior Ministry civil servants, work with local leaders including village headmen and subvillage leaders who assist in caring for communities and villages. Local government organizations with legal status—PAOs, municipalities, and SAOs—operate under the supervision of their elected leaders, guided by the principle of "alleviating suffering and promoting prosperity," diligently working in communities with the approach that "shoes wear out before pants tear," engaging the public with knowledge, love, and unity, and working with understanding, accessibility, and development.