Homeowners to get Bt50,000 for damage

Chart Thai Pattana Party’s chief adviser Banharn Silapa-archa, who chairs the Suphan Buri City Pillar Shrine Foundation, handed the compensation to victims at Wat Si Rattana Mahathat yesterday.
People whose homes have been badly damaged have been seeking shelter at the temple.
According to the Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD), the explosions claimed four lives and injured 93 others.
Suphan Buri Governor Somsak Purisrisak said an initial survey showed that the accident had seriously damaged 71 houses, though 700 homeowners have lodged complaints with relevant authorities. He said homeowners whose properties had sustained damages worth more than Bt50,000 could seek additional funds from the foundation.
“However, they must first have repairmen estimate the cost before contacting the foundation for extra funds,” Somsak said.
Comm Art Production, which was hired to organise the fireworks display, has also offered to provide compensation for those whose homes were damaged. Famous film director Supawat “Supaksorn” Jongsiri owns the firm.
Somsak said an initial investigation suggests that a broken pipe used to set off the fireworks might have been responsible for the explosions.
“Officials found a pipe that was broken in two places, which means it was not able to direct the fireworks high up in the air. Instead, they may have exploded at ground level sparking off other fireworks, which resulted in severe explosions,” he explained.
The governor said he believes the damages sustained from the blast probably stood at about Bt100 million.
RLPD’s deputy director-general Paitoon Sawangkamol said victims would be eligible for compensation from the government as well.
“In the event of death, the family of each victim will get between Bt30,000 and Bt100,000 plus Bt20,000 in funeral assistance,” he said, adding that if the victim was the family’s only breadwinner, then they could get additional funds of no more than Bt30,000.
“A review committee might consider extra compensation where appropriate, though it would be no more than Bt30,000,” Paitoon said.
He added that in the event of injuries, victims will be given no more than Bt30,000 for medical costs and be given Bt20,000 maximum for physical/emotional rehabilitation.
“Victims can also claim Bt200 a day for the period they are not able to work due to the accident,” he said.
Rajamangala University of Technology’s Tawan-ok Uthenthawai campus to prevent brawls next Wednesday, the anniversary of the school’s founding, Preeda said.
Meanwhile, after meeting with officials including Vocational Education Commission secretary-general Chaiyapruek Serirak and Private Education Commission secretary-general Charnwit Tupsuphan about the issue, Suchart said he urged them to promote moral excellence among students by having them practise religious activities at their temple, mosque or church.
As for the violence-suppression measures, private schools that see repeated brawls would face punishment, temporary closure or permanent closure if they do not solve the problem, the education minister said. State-run schools would also face punishment, Suchart said, with school directors being held responsible for disciplinary and legal violations, while problem schools might be merged with other institutions.
On Thursday night a brawl involving 200 students from Pathum Khongkha School and Wat Thep Leela School erupted in front of Khay Nam Thai Intersection in Bangkok’s Klong Toei district, resulting in one injury and the arrest of about 60 students.