Bt2 bn sought for victims of south unrest

The remedial measures aim to ensure that the victims can lead a quality life by paying for medical bills, rehabilitation of physical disabilities by medical experts, spiritual healing through Hajj pilgrimages, access to education for the victims and their children, compensation for property damage and the promotion of vocations.

Security will be tightened to prevent a reoccurrence of violence, while legal assistance will be provided for lawsuits.

The committee on remedial assistance for victims of the southern violence would establish eight panels to supervise the various tasks.

Of the total budget for the current fiscal year, Bt2 billion would be allocated to the four groups as follows – Bt500 million for the general public, Bt200 million for state officials, Bt1 billion for those affected by officials’ actions related to the unrest or specific incidents and Bt300 million for those detained, jailed or treated as suspects or criminal defendants.

The remaining Bt80 million would support the operations of the committee and its eight panels, the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre’s working teams and related officials.

Since the PM’s Office directive that established the committee on October 11 of last year would expire on October 10, the ministry’s proposal to the Cabinet recommends the transfer of the committee’s authority and operations to the Southern Border Provinces Development Strategy Committee.

That was expected to ensure that the remedial work would be implemented according to schedule.

In Yala, Lt Colonel Chalat Sriwichien, deputy commander of special task force unit 11, said authorities were looking for 18 stolen automobiles that might be used by separatists in future attacks in the southern province.