lonelywombat
March 8th, 2006, 13:10
B10bn splurge questioned
Oct 14, 1973 victims receive cash package
NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS & PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR
'Leave us alone'
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy display a banner opposing the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings in front of the Singapore embassy in Bangkok yesterday. тАФ Kitja Apichonrojarek
The caretaker government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday approved the allocation of more than 10 billion baht for social and economic projects in what was seen as a bid to boost his flagging support.
Remarkable was the allocation of 77 million baht for victims of the popular student-led uprising in October 1973.
Critics slammed the cabinet action as a possible violation of election law and demanded the Election Commission take a close look.
The cabinet action comes as Mr Thaksin faces a growing challenge to his rule by a coalition of civic groups and media activist Sondhi Limthongkul in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who are intent on forcing him from office.
Deputy government spokesman Chalermchai Mahakitsiri told reporters the caretaker cabinet approved a request to increase the budget for the village fund by 1.5 billion baht. The cabinet earlier approved 80 billion baht for the fund.
The increased budget is divided into two parts. One part totalling 1.3 billion baht will go to 1,321 villages considered to have outstanding plans and management. The other part, totalling 179.2 million baht, gives 100,000 baht each to 1,792 villages for good management.
Mr Chalermchai said the cabinet also approved 8.6 billion baht for 250,000 computers for schools throughout the country.
As well, the cabinet approved 77 million baht to compensate relatives of victims of the Oct 14, 1973 uprising. Each family will receive about 215,900 baht, while those injured and or suffering mental health problems will get 1.4 million baht each. About 90 people were killed or injured during the uprising.
Deputy government spokesman Danuporn Bhunakun denied the decision was made to win the backing of the relatives and prevent them from joining anti-Thaksin protests.
He said it was a coincidence, since the proposal had passed the cabinet screening committee two months ago.
Amorn Rattananon, a leading activist during the Oct 14, 1973 uprising, said he was pleased relatives will finally get money, but he questioned government motives.
"The government's intentions may not be sincere. It might want to buy the group's support the same way it did with those who rallied to the prime minister's support last Friday, or did by raising the salaries of kamnans and village headmen before the polls," he said.
The cabinet decided on Feb 21 to reward tambon and village chiefs and other local officials with higher salaries for their work in carrying out government policies.
Mr Amorn said he hoped relatives of the October 1973 victims could not be bought off with money offered by people with such a dubious agenda.
However, a group of the October 14 Heroes' Relatives Committee yesterday met with Mr Thaksin to thank him.
Lamiad Bunmak, a committee member, said no other government had offered compensation.
"We might be selfish, but we've waited for this compensation for so long. No one has helped us financially over the past 32 years," she said.
Nippathai Sartsanan, the committee's chairman, said he regretted being on the opposite side of friends such as Suriyasai Katasila and Pibhop Dhongchai, core PAD members, and Thirayuth Boonmi, a leading academic and Thaksin critic.
"We're not supporting Mr Thaksin because he gave us money but because we want to uphold the constitution," he said.
Mr Thaksin promised to speed the process so relatives receive money soon. He vowed to protect democracy with his life and said he was ready to step down if it was in accord with democratic rules.
"What I'm fighting for now is to save the democracy that your relatives had fought for," he said.
Meanwhile, some senators and academics called for the Election Commission to keep a tighter leash on the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.
Senator Sak Korsaengruang said the funds for the families of Oct 14 victims was suspicious because the government had long ignored compensation requests.
He said the government was injecting cash into projects that were conducive to political canvassing, especially the additional 1.5 billion baht in the village fund.
The senator added that some schemes such as the distribution of computers to state schools in the rural areas were also being given a "push" so the equipment would reach the target groups faster.
Oct 14, 1973 victims receive cash package
NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS & PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR
'Leave us alone'
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy display a banner opposing the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings in front of the Singapore embassy in Bangkok yesterday. тАФ Kitja Apichonrojarek
The caretaker government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday approved the allocation of more than 10 billion baht for social and economic projects in what was seen as a bid to boost his flagging support.
Remarkable was the allocation of 77 million baht for victims of the popular student-led uprising in October 1973.
Critics slammed the cabinet action as a possible violation of election law and demanded the Election Commission take a close look.
The cabinet action comes as Mr Thaksin faces a growing challenge to his rule by a coalition of civic groups and media activist Sondhi Limthongkul in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who are intent on forcing him from office.
Deputy government spokesman Chalermchai Mahakitsiri told reporters the caretaker cabinet approved a request to increase the budget for the village fund by 1.5 billion baht. The cabinet earlier approved 80 billion baht for the fund.
The increased budget is divided into two parts. One part totalling 1.3 billion baht will go to 1,321 villages considered to have outstanding plans and management. The other part, totalling 179.2 million baht, gives 100,000 baht each to 1,792 villages for good management.
Mr Chalermchai said the cabinet also approved 8.6 billion baht for 250,000 computers for schools throughout the country.
As well, the cabinet approved 77 million baht to compensate relatives of victims of the Oct 14, 1973 uprising. Each family will receive about 215,900 baht, while those injured and or suffering mental health problems will get 1.4 million baht each. About 90 people were killed or injured during the uprising.
Deputy government spokesman Danuporn Bhunakun denied the decision was made to win the backing of the relatives and prevent them from joining anti-Thaksin protests.
He said it was a coincidence, since the proposal had passed the cabinet screening committee two months ago.
Amorn Rattananon, a leading activist during the Oct 14, 1973 uprising, said he was pleased relatives will finally get money, but he questioned government motives.
"The government's intentions may not be sincere. It might want to buy the group's support the same way it did with those who rallied to the prime minister's support last Friday, or did by raising the salaries of kamnans and village headmen before the polls," he said.
The cabinet decided on Feb 21 to reward tambon and village chiefs and other local officials with higher salaries for their work in carrying out government policies.
Mr Amorn said he hoped relatives of the October 1973 victims could not be bought off with money offered by people with such a dubious agenda.
However, a group of the October 14 Heroes' Relatives Committee yesterday met with Mr Thaksin to thank him.
Lamiad Bunmak, a committee member, said no other government had offered compensation.
"We might be selfish, but we've waited for this compensation for so long. No one has helped us financially over the past 32 years," she said.
Nippathai Sartsanan, the committee's chairman, said he regretted being on the opposite side of friends such as Suriyasai Katasila and Pibhop Dhongchai, core PAD members, and Thirayuth Boonmi, a leading academic and Thaksin critic.
"We're not supporting Mr Thaksin because he gave us money but because we want to uphold the constitution," he said.
Mr Thaksin promised to speed the process so relatives receive money soon. He vowed to protect democracy with his life and said he was ready to step down if it was in accord with democratic rules.
"What I'm fighting for now is to save the democracy that your relatives had fought for," he said.
Meanwhile, some senators and academics called for the Election Commission to keep a tighter leash on the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.
Senator Sak Korsaengruang said the funds for the families of Oct 14 victims was suspicious because the government had long ignored compensation requests.
He said the government was injecting cash into projects that were conducive to political canvassing, especially the additional 1.5 billion baht in the village fund.
The senator added that some schemes such as the distribution of computers to state schools in the rural areas were also being given a "push" so the equipment would reach the target groups faster.