Compensation for victims of street violence

The government will pay compensation to victims from the political unrest that flared up between April 8 and 14.

The compensation will be awarded to victims regardless of their political stance.

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry will establish a committee soon to arrange payment.

Deputy Government Spokesman Watchara Kannikar announced that the Cabinet had approved the plan yesterday.

"The guidelines will be the same as those applied to the victims of the October 7 incident," he said.

On October 7, the previous administration led by then-prime minister Somchai Wongsawat ordered the dispersal of yellow-clad demonstrators who blocked the entrance to Parliament. The dispersal turned into a series of bloody incidents because tear gas thrown into the demonstrators blew off limbs, enraging the yellow shirts, who then clashed with police.

The political unrest in recent days erupted after the red-shirted demonstrators began their battle on April 8. The red shirts blocked traffic around the Victory Monument on April 9 and forced the cancellation of the Asean summit on April 11.

Public buses were also set alight, and many intersections were blocked between April 8 and 14.

The political violence prompted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok.

Abhisit convened a special Cabinet meeting yesterday, during which the compensation plan was approved.

According to Watchara, victims who received minor injuries will get Bt20,000 each.

Victims needing inpatient treatment will get Bt60,000.

Inpatients who have to spend more than 20 days in hospital will each get Bt100,000.

Victims who became disabled are entitled to Bt200,000 each. In cases of death, the family of each victim will get Bt400,000.

Aside from one-off compensation, each disabled victim will get monthly financial assistance of between Bt1,000 and Bt3,000 for the rest of their lives.

The amount of assistance varies depending on the seriousness of their disabilities.

In the event of death and disability, the children of the victims will also get monthly financial assistance until they get a bachelor's degree.

The affected children will receive Bt1,000 a month during their primary-education years. During nursery, secondary-education years or non-formal educational years, they will get Bt1,500 per month. During university years, they will get Bt2,500 a month each.

The prime minister insisted yesterday that the government would treat the victims from the crackdown fairly, without double standards.

Abhisit, speaking after yesterday's special Cabinet meeting, said the government's priority was to relieve the victims. He said it would use the same criteria used with the October 7 victims.

The government will hold a joint Parliament session on Wednesday and Thursday to explain the incident and solicit advice on how to deal with the consequences of the crackdown on protesters.