BANGKOK, March 6 – Thailand’s cabinet has approved the criteria for compensation of victims of political violence as proposed by the country’s Truth for Reconciliation Commission as registration for compensation will start on Thursday.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday approved regulations guiding the compensation to victims of political violence during political gatherings between 2005 and 2010.
She said that compensation would be divided into two categories, money for mental health treatments and money for other costs.
The premier stressed that all groups would be entitled to receive compensation, including those who occupied the two airports and personnel from state security agencies.
However, while another committee will take responsibility to consider compensation and assisting victims of violence in the southernmost provinces, the criteria would be based on similar principles.
She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with families of foreigners killed in the political violence to inform them of the compensation as their statutory heirs would be entitled to compensation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Office Permanent Secretary Thongthong Chantarangsu, in his capacity as head of the sub-panel responsible for considering the remedial efforts of political protests, said compensation would focus on the public, government officials or media members who died, were disabled or otherwise injured during the political incidents between late 2005 and May 2005 and May 2010.
He said the compensation package was not an inheritance and anyone engaged in legal proceedings in criminal cases would not be entitled for the payments.
Mr Thongthong said that those who were killed or disabled in a string of violent protests would receive Bt3 million each which would be given to their spouses or parents.
As for the other humanitarian compensation to almost 2,000 victims–including about 100 persons killed, were entitled to receive, the cabinet has approved a budget of Bt2 billion for the payments with each recipient receiving Bt4.5 million each.
The payments would be made using a type of bond or Government Savings Bank lottery savings tickets which could be more sustainable in terms of benefits and interest to their statutory heirs, he said.
Mr Thongthong said registration for compensation payments will start on Thursday.
