Families of 16 slain insurgents not entitled to large sum of compensations: SBPAC

The families of the 16 insurgents killed in an ambush in Narathiwat by Marines early Wednesday will not be entitled to any large compensations like those granted to people affected by political violence, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) announced Thursday.

This statement was issued to counter a remark made by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Deputy SBPAC director Lertkiat Wongphophan said only small sums for funeral expenses were paid to the insurgents' families and Bt5,000 was given to the owner of each of the eight homes that were damaged by bullets during the gunfight. He said that the conditions for compensation of between Bt3 million and Bt7.5 million is only applicable to victims of insurgency, mistreatment by officials or red-shirt protestors, not to insurgents.

The Nation