PM denies report she will visit family of slain Japanese
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday cited her tight schedule for not visiting the family of slain Japanese cameraman Hiro Muramoto in Tokyo, but promised that they would receive compensation for the victim of the 2010 political unrest.
I WILL SEND A LETTER: PM
“I will send a letter in my name to inform the family about compensation,” she said.
Dismissing speculation that she planned to hand a cheque to Muramoto’s survivors in Tokyo during her official visit to Japan, she said the Thai Embassy in Tokyo would relay her letter of condolence.
The embassy would identify his next of kin and notify them about the payment, she said before departing for Tokyo in the afternoon.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua said in the morning that he had understood that Yingluck would personally meet with Muramoto’s family.
“The prime minister will represent the Thai people in conveying their sympathy,” he said.
The Democrats should be condemned for trying to block the compensation payments to victims of the crackdown on political rallies, he said.
The move would be a gesture of reconciliation, as the money would be delivered to all victims regardless of their political stripe, he said.
“I don’t understand why the Democrats are so determined to derail the reconciliation process,” he said.
GREEN LIGHT FOR COMPENSATION
The Cabinet gave the green light to compensating the victims of political violence dating back to 2005, said Tongthong Chandransu, permanent secretary of the PM’s Office.
The scheme spans incidents from 2005 to May 2010, and covers civilians, state officials, media professionals and business owners.
The pay-outs are Bt4.5 million in case of death, Bt3 million in case of lost body parts or physical disability, and Bt250,000 for a funeral.
These payments are on top of reimbursement of medical bills.
The 2,369 victims from 2008-10 who are not entangled in |any legal proceedings in connection with the violence are entitled to compensation estimated |to cost the state about Bt1.9 billion.
The Social Development and Human Security Ministry will supervise the disbursements under the emergency budget for the 2012 fiscal year.
The recipients will be injured individuals and the surviving members of the families of the deceased, defined as including children, legal spouses and biological parents.
The funds cannot be calculated or claimed as part of the estate of a deceased victim.
