Lawyer Songkan petitions against PM Anutin over firearm licenses

Thairath•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

Lawyer Songkan Atchariyasap petitioned the House Military Committee to take action against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for interfering with firearm licensing laws.

•Songkan Atchariyasap submitted a petition to the House Military Committee on August 21, 2026.
•The petition alleges Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul illegally suspended the issuance of firearm purchase licenses (P.3).
•Songkan Atchariyasap criticized a policy requiring firearm possession licenses (P.4) to be renewed every 3 years.
•Songkan Atchariyasap will provide a clarification to the Ombudsman on August 24.

Overview

•On August 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM, Songkan Atchariyasap submitted a petition to Rachen Trakulwiang at the Parliament.
•Songkan Atchariyasap requested an investigation into Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for suspending the issuance of P.3 firearm purchase licenses.
•Songkan Atchariyasap claims the suspension and the 3-year renewal requirement for P.4 licenses violate public law and the Firearm Act.
•Songkan Atchariyasap stated there are approximately 6,200,000 legally licensed P.4 firearms.
•Songkan Atchariyasap dubbed the government the "Wind-up Mouse" (Nu Khai Lan) as a symbol of the Prime Minister failing to tackle online gambling and illegal firearms.
•Songkan Atchariyasap presented three toy mice representing Anutin Charnvirakul, Pakorn Nilpraphan, and Narucha Khosashivilai to Rachen Trakulwiang.
•The Ombudsman scheduled Songkan Atchariyasap for a clarification on August 24 to consider sending the matter to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
•Rachen Trakulwiang stated the Military Committee will accept the matter to submit to the Cabinet.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Thairath (Thai Version)Read on Thairath (English Version)

Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Songkan Atchariyasap

"I therefore see it fit to submit this matter to the Speaker of the Parliament and the Military Committee to bring this matter up for debate and suspension."

ผมจึงเห็นควรยื่นเรื่องนี้ต่อประธานรัฐสภา และ กมธ.การทหาร เพื่อให้นำเรื่องนี้ขึ้นอภิปรายและระงับยับยั้ง

Key Entities

Person

Songkan Atchariyasap(สงกาญ์ อัจฉริยะทรัพย์)

A famous lawyer and legal expert who filed a petition against the Prime Minister.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Rachen Trakulwiang(ราเชน ตระกูลเวียง)

A Party-List MP for the New Alternative Party and member of the House Military Committee.

Pakorn Nilpraphan(ปกรณ์ นิลประพันธ์)

The Deputy Prime Minister.

Narucha Khosashivilai(นฤชา โฆษาศิวิไลซ์)

The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration.

Organization

House Military Committee(กมธ.การทหาร สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)

The parliamentary committee that received the petition from Songkan Atchariyasap.

New Alternative Party(พรรคทางเลือกใหม่)

The political party of MP Rachen Trakulwiang.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry implementing the firearm license renewal policy and conducting public hearings.

Ombudsman(ผู้ตรวจการแผ่นดิน)ℹ️

The body that summoned Songkan Atchariyasap to provide clarification on August 24.

Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions(ศาลฎีกาแผนกคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง)

The court where the matter against the Prime Minister may be referred.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

A political party whose voter base is affected by the firearm license issues.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where the petition was submitted.

Law

Firearm Act(พ.ร.บ. อาวุธปืน)

The law governing the possession and use of firearms, including Section 21 of 1934.