Parents Demand 1.21M Baht Compensation for Children They Didn’t Raise

[webfact]

Relatives of school bus fire victims walks beside the coffins at Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School, Lan Sak, Uthai Thani province, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Parents are controversially attempting to claim 1.21 million baht each in compensation after the tragic Pathum Thani bus fire, despite some not having raised the children.

 

This devastating incident on 1st October led to the deaths of 20 students and three teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam School when their bus caught fire on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. 

 

In the wake of this harrowing incident, the Office of Attorney-General (OAG) reports challenges in compensating families, unveiling a complex web of familial claims. Some claiming compensation reportedly hadn’t been actively involved in raising the children, who were instead nurtured by grandparents or other relatives. This raises an ethical and legal dilemma about rightful claims to such tragic compensations.

 

Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, a lead figure at OAG's office for rights protection, emphasises that established processes aim to ensure justified distribution of funds to legitimate claimants. While the intention is to aid bereaved families and those injured, the complication of absent parents suddenly appearing to claim funds complicates matters.

Concurrently, the National Anti-Corruption Commission is probing potential negligence, scrutinising whether state officials erred in allowing hazardous alterations to the bus, citing illegal gas tank installation as a possible factor in the tragedy.

 

Amid the investigation, the Thailand Consumer Council advocates stricter safety protocols, proposing that buses accommodating 40 or more passengers should have insurance covering at least 30 million baht in potential compensation. This suggestion comes as part of broader efforts to enhance safety for school excursions and bolster public transport standards.

 

Additionally, to prevent scams, the Deputy Education Minister announced that the ministry will centrally manage all donations and aid distribution, offering a safer avenue for compassionate support.

 

As families grieve, these claims and investigations highlight wider social and regulatory issues, pressing a community already in mourning to seek resolutions and justice.

 

-- 2024-10-07

 

[steven100]

of course they will try .... shameless. 

[Fortunateson]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Concurrently, the National Anti-Corruption Commission is probing potential negligence, scrutinising whether state officials erred in allowing hazardous alterations to the bus, citing illegal gas tank installation as a possible factor in the tragedy.

“Potential negligence” “erred” - how about investigating bribery and other corruption?  Further “erred” is a mistake.  Certifying these buses as safe is a deliberate action, not a mistake

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, a lead figure at OAG's office for rights protection, emphasises that established processes aim to ensure justified distribution of funds to legitimate claimants. While the intention is to aid bereaved families and those injured, the complication of absent parents suddenly appearing to claim funds complicates matters.

Out of the woodwork they come.

[watchcat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

despite some not having raised the children.

 

[watchcat]

Just now, watchcat said:

 

 

thais are just in for the money,

[ikke1959]

Where the money is there are the people,although they don't have anything to do with it.....

[Ben Zioner]

13 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

thais are just in for the money,

Someone has to claim the due compensation, the legal guardian of the kids IMHO. What they will do with the money is a separate issue. 

Edited 37 minutes ago by Ben Zioner

[motdaeng]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

of course they will try .... shameless. 

 

my initial thought agrees with yours...

 

however, if this approach encourages thai people to follow the law, take responsibility, and understand that negligence has consequences, then it's worth pursuing for the potential benefits.

 

empty promises from politicians and ineffective law enforcement won't bring any changes ...

 

as i see it, the core issue will always be corruption ...

[bigt3116]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

stricter safety protocols, proposing that buses accommodating 40 or more passengers should have insurance covering at least 30 million baht in potential compensation.

 

How on earth does having additional insurance cover mean "stricter safety protocols"? 

 

All it actually means is next time, the government won't have to pay out as much.

[Asquith Production]

This whole story starting with the crash and finishing with compensation and probably who gets prosecuted boils down to corruption and money

[chiang mai]

A sad indictment that exposes the realities and priorities of life and the people here.

[Gottfrid]

This is a big problem, and it´s very good that they finally open up their eyes, about the fact soo many parents in Thailand are neglecting their children. However, this is not anything new, and they have been aware of the grand parents, aunts, sisters and other family members are bringing up the children. Especially the Thai schools, who see this fact on a daily basis.

 

Now the problem comes up, just because we are talking money, that is something which brings out the most bad in people. Here comes the money sniffing absent parents, demanding more and more as they see an opening to a better life. Not at all about their children, as money can´t replace a child, more than in a money hungry mind without shame. They just want to rake in the dough.

 

On the other side we have the authorities, that suddenly wake up and see the absent parents as a problem. Something we almost never hear about otherwise. Now it´s about money for them too, and they start to press on that being an absent parent and asking for more compensation will be a wrongful act. As right as they may be, it´s absolutely not the right time to bring such things up. Actually it´s the most bad timing ever. That shows that none of the sides, parents nor authorities have any feelings nor compassion.

 

Looking at it from another perspective: Who must be the one to claim compensation? According to Thai laws, that must be the legal guardian, which in this case will be the parents. Seen from that perspective, there are no other persons or family members that are in position to claim compensation, as they do not have the legal authority to do so. That makes me wonder why the authorities react like they do, as they must also be fully aware of such facts.

 

Looking from a moral aspect, it looks very bad that absent parent are included in the ones who make a run for claiming higher compensations. That makes it totally visible they were only in it for the money, and always saw their children as money cows they could milk later in life. A very sad fact, which has plagued Thailand for far too long time. All, comes down to a system that does not give nor protect older people, which only concentrate on submarines, fighter jets and though corruption lining their own pockets.

 

So, why is it like this? Does it have to do with that people have no shame in their bodies, and money rules it all? Of course it has, which has been a problem for long time. There are also other factors, like the keystone cops, authorities and government, who should be leading with knowledge, intelligence and understanding. Looking at the information below, it sure looks like they doesn´t have a clue. 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Concurrently, the National Anti-Corruption Commission is probing potential negligence, scrutinising whether state officials erred in allowing hazardous alterations to the bus, citing illegal gas tank installation as a possible factor in the tragedy.

What? They are probing a potential negligence of state officials? This is horrendous! They know very well, that there is no thing such as negligence here. It´s money talking again, and officials as well as authorities, well aware of what´s going on, taking the bribes and overlooking the faults and dangers. Just signing off, on a paper that led to over 20 school children burnt to death in an illegally modified and on inspection approved bus.