Compensation for Oct 7 victims

Deputy Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, who chaired the committee, said the decision on compensation money satisfied him. He would reveal the exact amount and other details after he finished the panel's last meeting today, before distributing the money to eligible victims.

The panel has used the same compensation standard as applied to tsunami victims and casualties of the southern insurgency. However, it would provide extra money to the victims or their families as the violence happened in Bangkok and was a single specific incident, Chavarat said.

Three groups of victims have been defined: the dead, the severely injured people and slightly injured people. Both police and citizens will receive the same compensation and care, he added.

Chavarat said he would hold a press conference after the meeting today.

"The committee will announce the names of those to receive compensation. However, affected members of the People's Alliance for Democracy who may be unsatisfied with the provided assistance - we will not force them to appear to take the money," Chavarat said.

Apart from money, the committee has set up a centre to improve victims' mental health and has provided psychiatrists from the Mental Health Department to take care of them.