Govt asked to pay more compensation
Network urges payment of Bt7.75 million each to families of slain teachers
The government should increase compensation for families of teachers killed in the southern violence to Bt7.75 million each, equal to the sum paid to relatives of those killed in the political unrest, said Udsa Pasakul, president of a network that is helping teachers prepare for the Asean Economic Community.
Udsa raised the issue during a meeting with Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana at the ministry.
The network president said no governments have had a clear policy on compensation for teachers killed in the violence in the South. Even the parents of Khru Juling Pongkunmul, who died after being taken hostage in 2005, were awarded only Bt400,000. Juling was beaten brutally and spent eight months in a coma before passing away.
The compensation demand was a result of discussions between teachers’ representatives at all levels, Udsa said, adding that if approved it would help boost the morale of teachers in the deep southern provinces.
The government has agreed to pay a total of Bt7.75 million in compensation for each person killed in the political unrest between 2007 and 2010.
Yesterday’s survey showed that 125 schools in Songkhla’s Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi districts closed, as well as others in Pattani. Some 50 schools remained open.
Teachers’ federations in three southern provinces agreed to suspend classes yesterday and today following a series of fatal attacks on teachers.
They said the closing would allow time for security authorities to review and improve security systems and plans.
Some schools remained open because parents complained that their children may have not enough time to study and they could not stay home to take care of the children.
In Narathiwat, all but 32 of 378 schools in Rangae, Chanae, Joh I Rong, Rusoh and Si Sakhon districts closed. Security at the schools that remained open was tightened.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said that without the public’s cooperation, the violence in the deep South would not be resolved, even with the allocation by the government of a huge anti-insurgency budget.
The government has approved a new Bt7-billion budget to combat the southern insurgency, which has recently escalated and seen a series of fatal shootings of civilians and teachers.
The Army chief was speaking before accompanying Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on a trip to inspect the southern region and join a meeting of state officials in charge of security.
Prayuth said 70 per cent of the Bt7-billion budget would go to salaries and allowances for military forces on duty in the trouble-plagued provinces.
“Everyone has asked for total safety, which is impossible in the present situation. Not only teachers but state officials are prone to attacks,” he said. “In the past, some teachers did not want soldiers to be near them or provide security for their schools for fear of becoming the targets of attacks.”
He said the military is willing to withdraw its forces from the South if local security authorities, including defence volunteers and police, are ready to take care of the situation.
