FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Democrat seeks names of people who got aid from Yingluck govt

Democrat seeks names of people who got aid from Yingluck govt

FORMER Democrat Party-list MP Watchara Petchthong yesterday cited public interest in demanding the Rights and Liberties Protection Department to disclose the list of alleged offenders of public assembly from 2005-10 who received financial assistance from

The department had failed to keep its promise to Watchara that it would publicise the names of those using the money for their bail, he said. Instead, it had sent an official letter to him stating that the information committee had resolved not to disclose the names, claiming it would affect reconciliation and security policies, he said. 

This was unreasonable, as bail had been paid by taxpayers, so they reserved the right to know who had benefited from the money.
Some of the recipients might have been alleged lese majeste offenders and many of them had fled the country, he said. 
Watchara said he would exercise his citizen’s rights under the Official Information Act to appeal the committee’s decision. 
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya should order the department to reveal the list of those bailed out and update their status, he added. 
Kannika Sangthong, director-general of the department, said financial assistance of Bt111 million had been proposed during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration and approved by the Yingluck administration. It had been distributed to the victims regardless of their colour affiliation with no discrimination, with some 96 people receiving Bt82 million from the justice fund, she said. 
Initially Bt5.9 million had been allocated to 18 people but that was insufficient, so more money was requested from the justice fund and was approved by the Yingluck administration. 
Some Bt76 million had been withdrawn to assist 78 people affected by the political assembly with the rest returned to the treasury, she said. 
The assistance had been provided to people from all sides in line with the principle of the fund to reduce inequality and create opportunities to fight lawsuits when they had not been ruled guilty and hence deemed innocent, she added.
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