Surat Thani Governor Clarifies Gun Award Was Symbolic Only

The Surat Thani provincial governor has clarified that an award presented as a "shotgun" at the 134th anniversary celebration of village headmen in Koh Phangan district on August 10 was purely symbolic and did not involve the actual transfer of any firearm. The event sparked heated discussion on social media after images showed a raffle drawing for prizes labeled as "long shotguns," with Koh Tao recipients receiving four awards compared to one for Koh Phangan, prompting questions about the fairness of the distribution.

The evening event was held at the Koh Phangan district administrative office and was organized by the village headmen's club in coordination with local administration from both Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Provincial Governor Jompat Wannchasirisi explained that the celebration was held on August 10, the village headmen's day, with morning activities followed by an evening party to boost morale among village headmen and administrative staff who support government work throughout the year. The event organization, expenses, and activities were the responsibility of the Koh Phangan District Village Headmen Club.

According to Koh Phangan District Officer Paisit Tong-chim, the tradition has been to award cash prizes as incentives to village headmen, using "firearms" as a symbolic representation of the awards. Winners receive cash, valued at approximately 15,000–20,000 baht, and are free to use the money as they wish. Should a recipient choose to purchase a personal firearm, they must apply through proper legal channels like any ordinary citizen, with no exemptions. The district officer noted that the incident coincided with urgent national policies on firearm control following a recent incident, and the provincial governor has instructed strict compliance with all regulations regarding firearm permits and ownership.