Bt2.3 bn approved for payouts
The Cabinet yesterday approved Bt2.3 billion as compensation for detainees and businesses affected by political violence in 2005 and 2010, as recommended by a special government committee.
Government spokesman Thossaporn Serirak said the Cabinet approved the criteria and budget for paying the compensation as proposed by the interior minister, who heads a committee following up proposals of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand.
The spokesman said the Cabinet approved the paying of compensation to 500 people, who have been detained in relation to the political violence arising from the rally of the People’s Alliance for Democracy in late 2005 and demonstrations by the red shirts in April and May 2010.
The Bt300 million budget for compensating 500 victims would come from the central emergency fund of the 2013 fiscal year budget. The Rights and Liberty Protection Department of the Justice Ministry would be in charge of the compensation distribution, the spokesman said.
He said 250 people, who were detained no more than 90 days, would receive Bt37,030 each, costing the government Bt9.25 million.
Another 150 people were detained more than 90 days but under 180 days. They would each get Bt74,060 for detention compensation and Bt750,000 for mental compensation. The government would spend Bt123.6 million for this purpose.
And 100 victims, who were detained more than 180 days, would receive Bt74,471 for detention compensation and Bt1.5 million for mental compensation each. The government would pay Bt164.89 million for the purpose, the spokesman said.
He said the Cabinet approved Bt2 billion for paying businesses affected by the violence from 2005 to 2010, who have registered their losses.
Compensation would be divided into eight levels: less than Bt100,000; from Bt100,000 to Bt500,000; from Bt500,000 to Bt1 million; Bt1-2 million; Bt2-3 million; Bt3-4 million; Bt4-5 million; and over Bt5 million.
For all damage levels, businesses would be compensated at the rate of 40 per cent of their losses.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department would be in charge of handing out the compensation.
