Entertainment venues to be required to carry third-party insurance

"We're drafting a new ministerial regulation, and we want it to take effect about the middle of next month," Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said yesterday.

He was speaking after chairing a meeting on entertainment venues.

Relevant authorities have paid extra attention to entertainment venues after the huge fire that engulfed santika Pub at a New Year's Eve countdown party, killing at least 66 people and injuring many more.

"In the event of permanent disability or death, an insurer must pay Bt100,000 compensation to each victim or his or her family," Boonjong said about the new regulation.

The insurer must also provide coverage of up to Bt100,000 for each person injured in an accident.

"If the operator fails to buy thirdparty insurance, we will not renew their operating licence," Boonjong said.

Also, he said a panel would be in charge of promoting safety standards in entertainment venues.

"We'll conduct inspections and give recommendations," Boonjong said.

At a seminar on the santika incident and solutions for consumers, Public Sector AntiCorruption Commission secretarygeneral Tharit Pengdit disclosed that the signature of the engineer in charge of santika's building design had been forged.

"The false signature of this female engineer has also appeared in the documents for 33 other buildings in Bangkok," Tharit said.

He said the santika case pointed to flaws in the present system regarding building safety.

"Relevant agencies, including district offices and the Engineering Institute of Thailand, should take action," Tharit added.

Meanwhile, the Lawyers Council of Thailand (LCT) has already set up a panel to help santika victims, many of whom have sought assistance from the LCT.

"Our panel has 10 members," said LCT vice president Jesada Anucharee.

Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong urged santika victims to contact the Social Security Office (SSO) if they were members of the socialsecurity scheme.

"To claim compensation for members' injuries and deaths, please go to the SSO as soon as possible," he said.