The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of Bt100 million (US$28 million) to assist people affected by the recent United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) anti-government protest in the capital.
Deputy government spokesman Vachara Kannikar said the Cabinet approved the Red Shirt victim relief budget as proposed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
The ministry earlier allocated Bt40 million ($11 million) to 803 persons. The additional budget will be offered to 833 others.
The anti-government Red Shirt protesters began protesting at the capital’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue in mid-March, demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the lower house of Parliament for a fresh election.
via Cabinet approves Bt100million for protest victims.
Authorities have extended emergency rule until July, but say under the government’s reconciliation plan, elections could be held early next year. Red Shirt supporters in Udon Thani say they are willing to wait for elections. But many also say if the probe into the protest violence is one-sided, the country’s divisions will only deepen.
