Families of massacre victims eligible for up to THB110,000 each in compensation
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
The Justice Ministry will provide compensation of up to 110,000 baht for each of the 38 victims of Thursday’s massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin on Thursday ordered officials from the Northeast province’s Justice Office to visit families of the victims.
The massacre by a former policeman claimed 38 lives, including 24 children at nursery in Na Klang district, earlier on Thursday. It ended when the shooter turned the gun on himself after murdering his wife and son at their home.
Under the Crime Victims Compensation Act, families of those killed in the massacre are eligible for compensation payments of up to 110,000 baht each, Somsak said. This amount comprises 50,000 baht for death, 20,000 baht for funeral expenses, and 40,000 baht for loss of family earnings.
Those injured in the attack are entitled to a maximum 40,000 baht compensation for medical treatment and up to 20,000 baht for mental and physical rehabilitation costs. They will also receive compensation for loss of earnings at the local daily minimum wage of 315 baht, as well as up to 50,000 baht for other damage.
Somsak said he had ordered officials to approve and disburse the compensation as quickly as possible.
Their Majesties to visit injured victims of Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
Their Majesties the King and Queen will visit people injured in the massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu province on Friday.
Their Majesties are expected to arrive at Udon Thani airport in the evening before heading to Nong Bua Lamphu and Udon Thani hospitals.
Thursday’s gun and knife attack by a former policeman began at a nursery in Na Klang district and ended with 38 dead, including 24 children. Ten people were injured in the attack, eight of whom are in critical condition.
The shooter was identified as former police officer Panya Khamrab, who later committed suicide at his house on Thursday after killing his wife, son and two other relatives.
On Thursday evening, Privy Council president and former PM General Surayud Chulanont arrived in Nong Bua Lamphu to visit the injured and oversee operations. He said HM the King will provide support to all victims and their families.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered government agencies and state enterprises to fly the national flag at half-mast on Friday.
PM Prayut expressed his deep sorrow over the incident and asked Thais to support each other so they could bear the hours of loss and cruelty together, said Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri on Thursday.
US has made its views on energy supply clear, Blinken says after Opec+ oil cuts
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday Washington had made clear to oil-producing countries the need for energy supply to meet demand after Opec Plus agreed to its deepest cuts to oil production in years.
The United States had been pushing for the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as Opec+, not to cut output as it tries to keep energy prices down amid the disruption of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“What we’ve been clear about is the need for energy supply to meet demand…. When it comes to Opec, we’ve made clear our views to Opec members,” Blinken said at a press conference during a visit to Chile.
“We are working every single day to make sure to the best of our ability that, again, energy supply from wherever is actually meeting demand in order to ensure that energy is on the market and the prices are kept low,” Blinken said.
Asked if he was disappointed in US ally and Opec member Saudi Arabia, Blinken said Washington has a “multiplicity of interests with regard to Saudi Arabia”.
North Korea ‘risks further condemnation’
During the news conference, the US secretary of state warned that North Korea risked further condemnation and isolation from the international community if it continued its “provocations” after Pyongyang flew a missile over Japan on Tuesday.
“I think what we’re seeing is that if they continue down this road, it will only increase condemnation, increase the isolation, increase the steps that are taken in response to their actions,” he said.
Blinken is on a week-long trip to Colombia, Chile and Peru, all of which have relatively new leftist leaders.
Germany, Spain stick to plan to build new gas pipeline as leaders meet
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
Germany and Spain are sticking to their plan to build a new gas pipeline across the Pyrenees in defiance of French opposition, a joint action plan showed, as the leaders of the two European nations met on Wednesday in the northern Spanish city of La Coruna.
The meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez came as their governments disagreed on other possible measures to tackle Europe’s energy crisis in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Spain has backed calls within the European Union for joint borrowing to help the 27-nation bloc navigate the energy crunch together and for a gas price cap. Germany has opposed both measures and come under criticism for going its own way with a vast €200-billion (7.4 trillion baht) relief package its peers could not afford.
“Right now Spain has a regasification potential that could be at Europe’s disposal. The paradox is that Spain and Portugal are energy islands because we are not interconnected but we have European regulations. Therefore what Spain and the Iberian peninsula is asking is to be interconnected, to be part of the energy market. I think that would be good for France, good for Germany, good for Europe and without a doubt in the moment we are living it would bring peace of mind to the whole of Europe because we will have more alternatives,” said Spain’s Sanchez after the meeting.
Scholz did not think France had ruled out building a gas pipeline across the Pyrenees and said he firmly believed Europe needed more energy connections.
“We do not have the impression it has been ruled out,” Scholz said after a meeting with Sanchez.
“Some connections are maybe not economic every day, but they can become it,” he added, referring to French scepticism.
At a time of a shifting balance of power within Europe, Spain and Germany’s leaders vowed to strengthen their alliance and doubled down on their plan to build a new Pyrenean gas pipeline despite opposition from mutual neighbour France.
Scholz and Sanchez held their countries’ first inter-government consultations in nine years, resulting in a joint action plan emphasising closer cooperation, particularly on energy and security matters.
In a joint news conference, the two Social Democrat leaders, who respectively run the European Union’s first and fourth largest economies, played down their differences on how to approach Europe’s energy crisis in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The summit came as the EU’s traditional French-German axis appeared to be faltering somewhat and Italy had elected its most right-wing government since World War Two.
Spain and Germany also agreed to strengthen cooperation on defence, but the final version of the action plan excluded a mention in an earlier draft of common “air defence” amid controversy over whether Scholz and Sanchez would discuss plans for a German-led European missile defence shield.
“Regarding the anti-missile shield, reports on which have appeared in the media, I have already said that the bilateral relationship Germany and Spain have from a European and Nato perspective is extraordinary and multiple. We haven’t addressed this issue, we haven’t talked about it but we will study it when it comes,” Sanchez said.
German Ambassador to Spain Maria Margarete Gosse had said late on Tuesday there had already been “low-level” talks between the two Nato members about Spain joining the initiative.
At 4pm (local time) today, Thursday, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or the country’s King, an event that the whole country will be watching with bated breath.
It is actually touted as Ismail Sabri’s weekly briefing for the King before a Cabinet meeting and tabling of Budget 2023.
However, it could turn out to be much more than that.
The prime minister could seek the dissolution of parliament, and there is even talk that it might be immediate, with the budget not being tabled at all.
No wonder then that the audience at Istana Negara will be one of the most closely watched political events since Ismail Sabri took over as prime minister in August last year.
Over the past few days, talk has been rife that the budget will not be tabled, defusing the opposition’s allegations that the budget would be tabled just before dissolution, turning it into Barisan Nasional’s manifesto.
It has happened before.
In 1999, parliament was dissolved immediately after the budget was tabled.
Other sources said the tabling of the budget is on track “for now”.
“As of today, it is still on, as far as we are concerned. But it also depends on the outcome of the prime minister’s meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who will have the final say when it comes to dissolution,” a source said.
Government sources also said preparations to table the budget are going to plan – for now.
But anything could happen in the next day or two.
Notice has been served to ministers to attend the cabinet meeting, which will be held after the audience with the King.
However, there are also reports that some ministers are already emptying out their offices in anticipation of a dissolution.
“We have received the notice for the [cabinet] meeting.
“As to whether it will actually take place is still up in the air, with talk that parliament will be dissolved,” said a minister.
Umno sources, meanwhile, said the prime minister, who is also a party vice president, is very likely to seek a dissolution.
“During our conversations with him [Ismail Sabri], all signs show that he plans to seek consent for dissolution.
“Unless the prime minister is planning to have another audience with the King specifically for that purpose, then I believe today will be the day,” said an Umno supreme council member.
Barisan’s partners in government, however, have not been enthusiastic over the idea of having national polls now.
Perikatan Nasional has voiced its objections to any such move.
The government, it said, must focus on preparations for the monsoon season and on efforts to speed up economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also wants the revival of the economy and the impending monsoon season to be the priority.
Umno has been the main party pushing for an early general election, with the supreme council insisting that polls be held this year although the parliament term ends only in July next year.
Suchatchavee, ‘Madame Dear’ to play key roles in Democrats’ Bangkok campaign: Jurin
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
Bangkok gubernatorial candidate Suchatchavee Suwansawas and former MP Watanya Bunnag will be key figures in the Democrat Party’s election campaign in the capital, party leader Jurin Laksanawisit disclosed on Thursday.
They will be joining deputy Democrat leader Ongart Klampaiboon, who is responsible for the city, Jurin said.
Watanya, also known as “Madame Dear”, recently joined the Democrats after leaving the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. She is the wife of Nation Group CEO Shine Bunnag.
Jurin said on Thursday that the trio would lead the Democrats’ campaign in Bangkok in the run-up to the next general election, which has been tentatively scheduled for May 7. He voiced confidence in stronger support for the party, going by the response from the public.
“I am sure we can do better than the last time in Bangkok. Next week, Ongart will unveil important missions that the party assigns to Dr Ae [Suchatchavee] and Madame Dear,” Jurin said.
Suchatchavee came second in the Bangkok governor election in May although the gap between him and the winner, Chadchart Sittipunt, was over 1 million votes.
Jurin on Thursday led a group of key Democrat figures, including Watanya, to visit the office of Krungthep Turakij newspaper, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this month.
Krungthep Turakij is a Thai language publication of the Nation Group.
Anutin throws his hat into the ring for PM’s post, eyes 120 MP seats for Bhumjaithai
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of ruling coalition member Bhumjaithai Party, reiterated his readiness on Thursday to become prime minister after the next general election.
He said that his party has the potential to win at least 120 seats in the House of Representatives, as had been predicted by its de-facto patriarch, Newin Chidchob.
“We are not kidding about this. We must be doing our best, going all out and not slowing down,” Public Health Minister Anutin told reporters.
Newin had said during his birthday celebration on Tuesday in Buri Ram province that he expected Bhumjaithai to win no fewer than 120 seats at the next national vote, which would boost the party’s position in forming the next government.
Once a political heavyweight allied with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Newin quit politics many years ago. But he has retained his influence in Bhumjaithai although he holds no executive position. His younger brother, Saksayam Chidchob, is the party’s secretary-general and serves as transport minister in the present Cabinet.
Anutin said on Thursday that all Bhumjaithai MPs and members would work hard by visiting their constituencies to “charge at the problems right away”.
He said that his party would do things that benefit people, and not just its campaign promises. “For example, free kidney dialysis was not in the party’s policy platform. Now it can be done.”
When asked if he was afraid that the PM’s seat would also bring suffering, Anutin responded: “You certainly get hurt when you enter politics. There is always criticism, but that’s understandable. The job involves the people of the whole country.”
When asked if he was worried about other parties getting upset by defections of their incumbent MPs to Bhumjaithai. Anutin said moving between parties was “something normal” for Thai politicians, noting that he had himself moved to many parties before settling with Bhumjaithai.
Quick public response to hospital’s plea for blood donations after Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
THE NATION
Many people responded quickly to the plea for blood donations by Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital to help victims of the shooting spree by a former policeman.
The hospital posted on its Facebook wall at about 3.50pm the need for blood and and about an hour later, the hospital announced that it had received enough blood for the day.
The shooting spree at the Uthai Sawan Tambon Administration Organisation and its nursery in Na Klang district saw 36 people killed, including 24 children. Twelve others were injured.
The hospital added that those who want to donate blood can contact the hospital in the following days as many victims are still being treated.
Criminologist suggests teaching the public survival skills, as mass shootings ‘no longer foreign to Thai society’
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
A Thai criminologist on Thursday suggested that members of the public be trained in how to survive a mass shooting as “it is no longer foreign to Thai society”.
Assoc Prof Krisanaphong Poothakool, dean of Rangsit University’s Faculty of Criminology and Justice Administration, said that the private sector should place importance on training survival skills after recent mass shootings.
“There must be frequent drills on how to survive such incidents. Organisation executives have to set this as their policy,” he said.
“We have to admit that mass shooting is no longer foreign to Thai society,” he added.
Krisanaphong pointed to the massacre at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima province in February 2020. A disgruntled soldier of the Royal Thai Army killed 29 people and wounded 58 others during his shooting spree. He was eventually shot dead by police commandos.
The criminologist also suggested that police and military officers who were dismissed from duties due to a history of violence should be restricted in their weapon possession.
His comments came after Thursday’s massacre by a former policeman, who shot dead at least 36 people — including 24 children — during his gun rampage in Nong Bua Lamphu province.
Krisanaphong is himself a former police officer, having served for over two decades in the police force and his last rank was lieutenant colonel.
In August, Chulalongkorn University hosted a training session on “Run, Hide, Fight: A Response to Active Shooters”, teaching participants to identify potential threats of a mass shooting and how to respond.
If possible, they should run away from the threat as soon as possible. If not, they should hide at a place they believe is the safest for them in that situation. If necessary, they may have to fight with the perpetrator to survive.
Law Society offers to help families of shooting spree victims seek compensation from government
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2022
THE NATION
The Law Society of Thailand has offered to help families of the victims of Thursday’s shooting spree in Nong Bua Lamphu, allegedly by a sacked policeman, to seek compensation from the Justice Ministry.
Weerasak Chotewanit, the spokesman of the Law Society of Thailand, the president of the lawyer profession council, Wichian Chupthaisong, told the council to get ready to help families of those killed and injured in the incident at the Uthai Sawan Tambon Administration Organisation and its nursery in Na Klang district.
As of 3pm on Thursday, the Royal Thai Police updated the death toll at 36, saying 24 children and 12 adults were killed, including the alleged gunman, his wife and his son. Twelve others were injured.
The spokesman said lawyers from the council would assist the families to file complaints to receive compensation for deaths and injuries from the Justice Ministry based on the crime victims compensation act.
Weerasak said the victims are entitled to receive compensation for medical bills and the cost of physical and mental rehabilitation.
Families of the killed victims would also be entitled to receive compensation for deaths, and the injured victims would receive compensation for being unable to work and for other damage.
