New compensation package for southern victims
Victims who were wrongfully killed or disabled by state authorities in the restive deep South will now be entitled to up to 7.5 million baht in compensation in a new compensation package endorsed on February 3 by the Southern Border Development Strategic Committee.
Under the new package, families of the victims mistakenly or wrongfully killed or disabled by security forces will each initially receive 500,000 baht in compensation. The rest will be paid afterwards.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit who chaired the committee’s meeting said that the four Malay Muslims who were shot dead by paramilitary rangers in Pattani’s Nong Chik district on January 29 would be entitled to the new compensation claim if it had been proven that they were mistakenly killed by the authorities.
Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), said that prior to the endorsement of the new compensation package, victims who were mistakenly killed or disabled by the authorities were entitled to compensation amounting to 500,000 baht and 200,000-500,000 baht respectively.
The new package, he explained will cover those who are illegally detained and who are wrongly charged or prosecuted.
People who are illegally detained will be entitled to 30,000 baht in compensation plus an additional compensation of 400 baht for every day held in custody. On top of that, the victims will be entitled to a maximum lof 100,000 baht in legal fees if they are acquitted by the court.
As for the fatal shooting incident in Pattani on January 29, a local human rights organization, the Mixed Culture Foundation, has called on the government to reconsider its decision to deploy paramilitary rangers in the restive deep South.
But the call is likely to be rejected as the government has planned to increase ranger forces in order to replace regular troops who are to be withdrawn out of the region on stage-by-stage basis under a ten-year plan to let ranger forces to deal with the insurgency problem.
There are at present seven ranger regiments based in the four southernmost provinces as follows: the 41st regiment based in Raman district of Yala; 42nd regiment based in Sabayoi district of Songkhla; 43rd regiment based in Muang district of Pattani; 44th regiment based in Sai Buri district of Pattani; 45th regiment based in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat; 46th regiment based in Muang district of Narathiwat and 47th regiment based in Muang district of Yala.
Five more regiments are to be added this year.
On top of that, there are nine platoons of female rangers.
Reacting to the fatal shooting incident, one female ranger told the Isra news agency that she now feels very insecured and dares not venture out of camp alone for fear of being attacked by insurgents.
She said that her mother had asked her to resign but she didn’t because she loved the job. She admitted that there were flaws in the recruitment process as some recruits were not educated while others had tainted backgrounds.
Another ranger asked for understanding and sympathy from the public saying that the incident took place at night and it was possible that a mistake could occur. He maintained that rangers were also human beings and they would not harm innocent people.