Compensation payments go ahead ? for now

The Administrative Court yesterday rejected a Democrat Party-led bid to immediately halt the government's compensation scheme for political protesters.

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Sirisopa Maiprasert shows a picture of her late father Boonchan at Rajvithi Home for Girls, where she registered yesterday for a compensation scheme for victims of political violence. Her father died on April 10, 2010, during clashes between red shirt supporters and security forces. APICHART JINAKUL

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Payouts get court nod

Pakawat Sunpituksaree 
Mongkol Bangprapa

The Administrative Court yesterday rejected a Democrat Party-led bid to immediately halt the government's compensation scheme for political protesters.

The court's decision came as victims of colour-coded political violence and relatives packed Bangkok's Rajvithi Home for Girls on the first day of registration.

The court said it had decided not to issue an injunction immediately. It will decide whether to take up the case after the March 6 cabinet resolution on the 2 billion baht scheme for victims of political violence from 2005 to 2010 is supplied to the court by the cabinet secretary-general.

Democrat MP for Rayong Sathit Pitutecha and two other plaintiffs, Somchai Kerdrungruang and Treesit Sriviwan, yesterday lodged a complaint with the court seeking the injunction.

They want the cabinet resolution to be revoked, arguing that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the cabinet must set criteria to give equal and fair compensation to victims of all violence caused by state authorities.

Mr Somchai is an uncle of Nong Fluke, or Chakkraphan Srisa-ard, who was killed when he was nine in a drug operation by police on Feb 23, 2003. Mr Treesit was a victim of the Black May tragedy in 1992.

At Rajvithi Home for Girls, claimants lined up to submit their paperwork as soon as the doors opened. Within the first hour, more than 200 forms and queue cards were handed out. Claims are limited to 500 a day.

Claimants and supporters included those allied with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and its rival, the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Among them was Payao Akkahad, the mother of volunteer nurse Kamolkaed Akkahad, who was found shot dead at Wat Pathum Wanaram during the crackdown on red shirt protests on May 19, 2010. She was there to give support to other red shirt families and said she will submit a claim later.

"I'm here to see my brothers and sisters. They need to be patient and don't have to worry any more," Mrs Payao said.

"Compensation payments will help to some degree. At least it will relieve some anger and bitterness of the victims and their relatives. However, at the end of the day, the truth must be revealed before reconciliation can truly happen."

“No need to hire me. I came by myself (voluntarily),” reads the sign accompanying the photo of a red-shirt victim, indicating that anger and bitterness remain. APICHART JINAKUL

Rabiab Chatthay, 46, whose husband Kanung was shot dead at Ratchadamnoen Avenue on April 10, 2010, said life has been difficult without her husband as she has had to shoulder all responsibility.

The payment will help pay for her 15-year-old son's education as well as the family's expenses.

"No money, no matter how much, would ever be enough or appropriate for a life lost," she said.

While most claimants were victims from the 2010 protests, yellow shirt victims from the Oct 7, 2008, rally to block parliament were also present.

Santi Poodprau, 35, who was injured by tear gas and beaten by riot police during a rally at parliament, believed the compensation would lead to reconciliation.

"I felt abandoned by the people I was fighting for. There was no one to help me when I was injured. I'm not sure how fair the scheme will turn out to be but this is a very good start for reconciliation," Mr Santi said.

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late – dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
register – to put your name and other information on an official list in order to be allowed to do something, e.g., vote, study, stay in a hotel etc ลงทะเบียน
compensation – money that someone receives because something bad has happened to them  เงินชดเชย
scheme – a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people  แผนการ โครงการ
victims – people who are killed injured or harmed in some way from an accident, natural disaster, crime, etc. เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
clash – a fight between groups of people การปะทะกันสองฝ่าย
payout – a large amount of money that is given to somebody การจ่ายเงิน
nod – giving permission for something; agreeing to something, or in this case, not to reject something
Administrative Court – the court which deals with disputes between the private sector and government agencies ศาลปกครอง
reject – to not agree with a request, offer or proposal ปฏิเสธ ไม่ยอมรับ
bid – an attempt to do something ความพยายาม
halt – to stop หยุด
relative – a member of your family ญาติพี่น้อง
issue – to officially announce or give out  ออก, ออกคำสั่ง
injunction – an order form a court that prevents someone from doing something  คำสั่งคุ้มครองชั่วคราว, คำสั่งห้าม
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
cabinet resolution – an official decision made by the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy มติ คณะรัฐมนตรี
plaintiff – someone who makes a legal complaint against someone else in court โจทก์
lodge a complaint – to make a formal statement to someone in authority that someone has done something wrong ยื่นคำร้อง
revoke – to officially say that something is no longer legal  เพิกถอน
criteria (singular criterion) – a set of standards that is used for judging something or for making a decision about something (singular
state – government รัฐบาล
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
operation – a planned activity involving a lot of people, especially soldiers or police officers การปฏิบัติการ
tragedy – a very sad event that causes people to suffer or die โศกนาฏกรรม
claimant – someone who says that they have a right to something, especially something that belonged to someone who has died ผู้ที่เรียกร้องสิทธิ
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
queue – a line of people waiting for something คิว
allied – connected with something ซึ่งมีความสัมพันธ์กัน
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
rival – a person you are competing against or opposing คู่แข่ง
alliance – a coalition; an arrangement to work together พันธมิตร
volunteer – someone who is not paid for the work that they do อาสาสมัคร
crackdown – strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่
patient – able to wait for a long time without becoming angry or upset  อดทน
to some degree – somewhat ในระดับหนึ่ง
relieve – to help improve a bad situation ผ่อนคลาย, บรรเทา
bitterness – feeling angry or upset because of a bad experience, especially when you think that you have been treated unfairly ความเคียดแค้น, ความโกรธแค้น
reveal – to let something become known เปิดเผย
reconciliation – the process of creating a new and friendly relationship again with someone you argued with or fought with การปรองดอง
shoulder – to deal with or accept something difficult  แบกรับภาระ หรือสถานการณ์
responsibility – a duty ความรับผิดชอบ, ความรับผิดชอบ
appropriate – suitable or right for a particular situation or purpose  ที่เหมาะสม
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
tear gas – a gas used by some police and armed forces to control crowds of people. It hurts the eyes and makes them produce tears ก๊าซน้ำตา
riot – a violent protest by a group of people ความไม่สงบ การจลาจล
abandoned – left alone by someone who is supposed to look after you  ถูกปล่อยทิ้งไว้