Different compensation packages a double standard practice?
In light of the cabinet’s decision on January 10 to set aside two billion baht as compensation for victims of political violence in the past few years, the news centre of the Isra news agency took a look of the compensation package for victims of the violence in the deep South.
The followings are the compensation package for soldiers, policemen, civil servants and ordinary people who were killed, disabled or injured in violent incidents in the restive region.
Government officials who include military personnel, policemen, civil servants employees of state enterprises, village heads, village assistant heads, kamnan, defence volunteers, tambon health officials and local politicians who were killed will each receive compensation amounting to 500,000 baht from a government fund to be paid by the PM’s Office plus funeral costs amounting to 50,000 baht in case the victim is head of the family or 25,000 baht if the victim is not the family head plus another 20,000 baht from local administration organization. Total payment in this category amounts to 570,000 baht.
But soldiers, policemen and teachers are entitled to extra compensation. For a dead soldier whatever the ranks, his family is entitled to 500,000 baht insurance coverage. In addition, families of the the dead victims will be entitled to another insurance coverage arranged by the Army amounting to one million baht for a commissioned officer, 800,000 baht a non-commissioned officer and 500,000 baht for a private or a paramilitary ranger.
With these two compensation packages combined, family of a dead soldier will receive between 1.57 million baht to 2.07 million baht depending on their ranks. These amounts however do not include funeral costs and pensions.
For a dead policeman, his family is entitled to the following compensation: 200,000 baht from police welfare fund; 350,000 baht for funeral costs if he is a member of a funeral welfare scheme; 10,000 baht from police housewives’ association; 60,000 baht from the southern police command; 30,000 baht from Sai Jai Thai foundation and 7,000 baht funeral costs.
Altogether family of a dead policeman will receive 1,182,000 baht, excluding pensions.
For a teacher who died in the Deep South from insurgents’ attack, the victim’s family is entitled to altogether 620,000 baht in compensation which includes 50,000 baht from Sema Huangyai Roi Jai Su Santisook fund and 570,000 baht from government fund.
For ordinary people, there are two separate packages – one for religious leaders and people who help out in government service and another for the rest of the people and retired officials.
For the first group of people, each will be entitled to a total compensation of 376,000 baht which includes 200,000 baht from government fund; 50,000 baht funeral costs in case the victim is head of a family and 25,000 baht if the victim is not head of family; 20,000 baht assistance from local administration body; 100,000 baht from the rights and freedom protection department and another 6,000 baht from family welfare fund.
The rest of the people and retired officials will each receive a total of 276,000 baht.
A disabled official will receive 763,000 baht; 306,000 baht for serious injuries; 65,000 baht for common injuries and 15,000 baht for minor injuries. A disabled civilian will receive 343,000 baht; 306,000 baht for serious injuries; 65,000 baht for common injuries and 15,000 baht minor injuries.
On top of that, children of the dead, disabled and injured victims will receive 1,000-2,500 baht a month as educational fees from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security plus another 5,000-20,000 baht educational fees from the Education Ministry.
By comparison, dead victims from political violence in Bangkok in the past few years are each entitled to altogether 7.75 million baht in compensation whereas the disabled will receive about 4.5 million baht.
Hence, the complaints of double standard were heard from families of the dead and injured victims in the deep South.
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Caption : The soldier injured by the bomb incident in Thantoh district of Yala province.
Photo by : Amad Ramansiriwong