Victims in deep south should get compensation package: Yuthasak
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The government should move ahead with a proposed Bt4.5 million compensation package for each victim of violence in Thailand's troubled southern border region, deputy prime minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa said on Thursday.
Gen Yuthasak said he supported the proposal that each person designated a victim of the violence in the region should be compensated in the same way as victims of political violence in recent years.
He was speaking one day after visiting the southern province of Pattani with Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.
He said that the government should heal the wounds for family members of the victims, in particular, for their losses as a result of government officials’ operations going wrong.
Gen Yuthasak said whether the proposed compensation was granted or not would depend on the Interior Ministry.
During the visit, Prayuth gave tactical operation guidelines for his soldiers to strictly follow to avoid losses following a string of recent deadly attacks in the region.
All security agencies, in particular the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and provincial governors, have been instructed to integrate their work instead of relying on separate military operations.
The deputy premier added that he planned to visit the region at least once or twice a month to hold discussions with officials at the operational, administrative and senior levels as he did yesterday in Pattani.
Gen Yuthasak expressed confidence that the government's 3-year policy was on the right track and added that performance would be reviewed in every three months to check on progress and adjust any mismanagement issues.
