HUAI YAI, Thailand – Families of five murder victims in Chonburi province have received a total of 1.5 million baht in state compensation. But the public ceremony raises questions: should grieving families have to pose for official photos?
The handover took place on August 12 at the Huai Yai municipal disaster prevention building in Bang Lamung district. Relatives got 300,000 baht for each of the five victims, according to Thai media Siam Rath and Daily News.
Payout of 300,000 baht per victim
The victims included Russian siblings Diana and Roman and three members of a Thai family. Their bodies were found buried near Huai Yai on Mab Fak Thong hill.
Thai media reported that two suspects have confessed to the killings.
State aid needed but limited
The payment followed Thailand’s Compensation for Victims and Accused Persons Act. This is state victim support, not damages from the alleged perpetrators.
For families, the money can cover funeral costs, travel, lost income and legal expenses. But 300,000 baht cannot replace a life.
Three hundred thousand baht can provide financial relief, but it is not compensation in a human sense. A lost son, a killed daughter or a murdered family member cannot be balanced by a fixed lump sum.
said a report quoted by Siam Rath.
Why the public handover
Officials from the Justice Ministry, the Chonburi Provincial Justice Office, Huai Yai municipality and other agencies attended the ceremony. Additional aid from social organisations, a foundation and insurance firms was also mentioned.
It remains unclear whether the public handover was legally required or could have been done privately.
Criticism targets authorities, not families
The criticism is not aimed at the relatives but at the responsible authorities and organisations. No one should have to explain why they accept support after a violent crime.
Authorities can provide help without putting mourners in front of cameras and the public.