Govt panel to seek B56m for clash victims

Written by Writer on Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Govt panel to seek B56m for clash victims

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

A government panel to rehabilitate and compensate victims of the Oct 7 clash between police and supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will ask cabinet next week to approve a central budget of 56 million baht to pay for the assistance scheme. Deputy government spokesman Suparat Nakbunnam said the panel chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul had finished working out guidelines and criteria for rehabilitating and compensating the injured and the relatives of the two people who died in the clash.

Ms Suparat said the panel had assigned director-general of Social Development and Welfare Department Panita Kambhu to be responsible for the task which should be completed within 90 days after cabinet approves the budget.

”If the proposed budget is inadequate, the panel will seek more for all the victims,” said Ms Suparat.

She said the panel had also resolved to pay compensation to relatives of the dead and injured from two previous clashes, on Aug 29 and Sept 2.

The three incidents altogether claimed three lives and injured 612 people on both sides. A source said relatives of each person who died would probably get about 400,000-500,000 baht but the actual amount had yet to be finalised.

Bangkok Post
Saturday October 25, 2008