Democrats petition court against pay-out to unrest victims
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The opposition Democrat Party petitioned the Administrative Court yesterday, seeking a repeal of the Cabinet resolution to provide compensation to victims of the political unrest over the past six years.
Democrat MP Satit Pitutecha, an author of the petition, said that the resolution was unjustified and against the principle of equality.
“If the government insists on providing remedy, the compensation should cover all comparable cases, without preferential treatment. It seems the Cabinet resolution is likely to go against the administrative law that beholds the principle of equality for comparable cases,” Satit said.
However, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said yesterday the government would continue with its plan to pay compensation without waiting for a court ruling.
“Whatever the Constitution Court verdict will be, we will follow that. But we will not wait until the verdict is made,” Yongyuth said.
He said in the case of deaths, there would be no problem as the identity of the people was clear. But he expressed concern about cases of disability and injury, saying it could be difficult to verify that claimants really took part in protests and that a disability or injury was caused by violence during political unrest.
Yongyuth said people eligible for compensation were “victims of the incidents, and not perpetrators”. He reiterated that the government would not pay compensation to lawbreakers.
Meanwhile, a group of senators expressed concern yesterday that government compensation mostly to its red-shirt supporters would lead to social division. They called for the decision to be reviewed.
Uttaradit Senator Narumon Siriwat said the Cabinet move to pay compensation to red shirts lacked transparency and went against legal principles. “It’s frenzied remedy.”
She said a feeling of unfairness by victims of insurgent violence in the deep South and other groups could negatively affect reconciliation efforts.
Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn said yesterday the Cabinet decision reflected double standards by the government. He said the payment of compensation should be postponed until a similar remedy could be implemented for victims of violence in the far South.
Elected Senator Wanchai Sornsiri said the move to pay compensation to law-breakers among the red-shirt protesters went against Ministry of Justice regulations.
Last Tuesday, the Cabinet backed a compensation package for people killed or injured in political violence since 2005, when Thaksin Shinawatra was PM, until 2010 when Abhisit Vejjajiva was government head.
According to the Cabinet resolution, Bt4.5 million would be paid for each case of death and disability.
People who lost organs would be given between Bt1.8 million and Bt3.6 million in compensation, while those who sustained injuries would get between Bt200,000 and Bt1.12 million, depending on the severity of their wounds.
All medical costs would be covered and distraught families compensated for the emotional impact they suffered.
