NHRC wants protesters to be compensated

The Cabinet was on Tuesday presented with the NHRC report on the human rights situation in Thailand, which included this recommendation.

The commission wrote: “The previous government took action against anti-government protesters without caution, resulting in casualties and loss of assets among protesters and the general public, which was a violation of human rights and the liberty of people. The government cannot reject its responsibilities since the government must comply with the Constitution and other laws. The government must provide assistance and rehabilitation to all those who have suffered losses.’’

The report also said that the Yingluck government’s move to push for an amnesty bill to whitewash former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s wrongdoings sparked the protests in July 2013. 

Yingluck’s government was first hit by a protest led by the Protect Siam Organisation, which later changed its name to the People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime before splitting into the Students and People’s Network for Thailand’s Reform. 

In November 2013, the Peoples’ Democratic Reform Committee led by Suthep Thaugsuban launched the Bangkok Shutdown campaign, which ended in May 2014 when the military took over. 

The report also recommended that the government provide safety measures to protect members of the media. With a rising number of media venues and some founded by political camps, the media has been criticised for becoming a mouthpiece for different political camps as their coverage is not neutral. 

Also, some members of the media have faced threats to their lives, while some were killed and injured. The report said that the government must ensure the culprits are punished and members of the media are safe. The media must ensure they carry out their role without bias and not bring about rifts in society, it said.