One million baht compensation for each death at Hat Yai Airport

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s government has agreed to offer a million baht compensation to the families of those who were killed by the bomb blast at the Hat Yai airport last Sunday. Those injured are to receive 800,000 baht each.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chaturon Chaiseang made the announcement after a meeting with officials on Friday discussing ways to help those injured and killed during the recent increase in violence in the three southern border provinces.

The deputy prime minister said officials had agreed to set up a working committee to look after the financial compensation for families of victims of the violence and to process claims.

The Airport Authority of Thailand has agreed to pay a million baht each to the families of the two who died in the bomb attack at Hat Yai Airport in the southern Songkla province on the weekend. Those injured would receive 800,000 baht each, Mr. Chaturon.

The government will mediate in negotiations on compensation with the owner of a department store which was also bombed, the deputy PM said. The government would provide legal assistance for any of the injured who decide to take their cases to court.

Southern Thailand has been swept by a wave of violent unrest since early last year leaving more than 600 people dead.

--TNA 2005-04-08

Arrests over Thai triple bombing

From correspondents in Bangkok

April 11, 2005

TWO people have been arrested in connection with the triple bomb attacks last week in southern Thailand that killed two and injured more than 70 people, senior government officials said today.

The two were arrested in Hat Yai, the city where bombs struck an airport, a hotel and a supermarket on April 3, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasathidya said.

He did not say when the two were arrested or how they were linked to the bombings.

"We are questioning them and investigating them," he told reporters.

The attacks, which injured four foreigners, came as the government launched a series of efforts to reduce tension in the mainly Muslim, southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

Almost daily violence blamed on Islamic insurgents has claimed more than 640 lives since January last year.

Two people were killed in the airport attack while two other bombs exploded at a Carrefour supermarket and a hotel in the city in Songkhla province.

The attack raised fears that the insurgency could be spreading outside the provinces near the Malaysian border, and sparked heightened security around the country ahead of Buddhist new year celebrations that start Wednesday.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html