Cabinet approves Bt 25 million for victims of April 10 clash

BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) – The Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a budget of Bt25 million (over US$780,000) to help the victims of the April 10 clash between security forces and Red Shirt protesters.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai said more budget can be sought from the Budget Bureau without seeking approval from the Cabinet because it has already agreed on that in principle.

He said the Cabinet did not approve the budget of Bt50 million but agreed that the budget was not limited as the protest still continues.

The ministry can disburse more money if there is anything happen. The ministry will start disbursement procedure to pay the injured and relatives of the dead victims next week.

Meanwhile, the injured and relatives of the dead victims in the April 10 clash were showing evidence to receive money granted by their Majesties the King and Queen at the Royal Household Bureau.

Their Majesties gave 50,000 baht (over US$1,500) to relatives of each dead person while the injured can bring the receipts for their hospital expenses to receive the money. The Royal Household Bureau is directly contacting hospitals to pay for those remaining in hospital.

Twelve out of the families of the 25 dead have been compensated and 16 of the injured have received the compensation from the bureau since Monday.

The April 10 clash at Khok Wua intersection left 25 persons dead and more than 800 persons were injured, both in the security forces and among the Red Shirt protesters, according to the Emergency Medical Institute’s Erawan Emergency
Centre.

The fatal violence erupted when the security forces tried to remove the anti-government supporters from their protest site at Phan Fa bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The Red Shirt protesters started the mass gathering at Phan Fa bridge on March 14 and vacated the site on April 14 to consolidate their force at the main rally site in Ratchaprasong area. (TNA)