Rank and file red shirts are 'losing faith'
Members say leaders ignore pleas for help
After almost six months with a red shirt-friendly Pheu Thai government, the movement's rank and file are losing hope.
Hundreds of red shirts who were either injured or lost loved ones during the April-May 2010 clashes are not hopeful a court case to decide compensation will provide a satisfactory outcome when it is due to conclude on March 30.
"I feel neglected by those at the top," said Somphan Phutajak, who was shot on Rama IV Road on May 17.
"Our future is getting bleak. We just sit waiting for the court's verdict."
Ms Somphan is among 64 plaintiffs being assisted by the 111 Foundation, an affiliation of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
The foundation has over the past months filed lawsuits for damages totalling more than 130 million baht against the Finance Ministry, Defence Ministry, army, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.
The mother of medical volunteer Kamonkade Akkahad, who was shot and killed in Wat Pathum Wanaram on May 19, filed a separate complaint demanding compensation of 8.3 million baht.
Payao Akkahad said she would make the public more aware that justice is not being done next week.
She said the government's excuse that it has to wait for a set compensation amount to be given to victims of other clashes, including the Krue Se and Tak Bai incidents, is incomprehensible.
"Don't let things drag on with yet another pledge," Mrs Payao said. "Remedy is the priority. After that, find out the truth of what happened.
"Without these we can not talk about reconciliation."
With help from the People's Information Centre, Pansak Srithep, father of Smaphan who was killed on May 15 near Ratchaprarop, and Waranit Asawasirimankong, wife of Thanuthat who was left disabled after a clash at Bon Kai on May 14, also filed separate lawsuits demanding 7 million and 2 million baht respectively.
Meanwhile, Somphan, 38, said she lost her job as a house maid after she was shot. The mother of three said she has had to sell her land and borrow from loan sharks to stay afloat over the past year.
Her husband's taxi was also confiscated after he failed to pay loan installments on time.
Suwan, Somphan's husband, said apart from a one-off payment a few months after the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest, his family has not received any assistance from either the present government whom they voted for at the last election or the red shirt cadres.
Another injury victim Rungsak, 36, who asked that his last name be withheld, said he was very disappointed that the "red shirt" government has turned a blind eye to the plight of low-ranking red shirt sympathisers.
"They just told us to wait. Will I ever get the 1.96 million baht [in compensation] for my right foot?" he asked.
The ligaments in Mr Rungsak's foot were damaged in a grenade blast on May 16 near Soi Ngamduplee.
"I've already lost my soul and dignity by being treated like a beggar whenever I reach out to bureaucrats and UDD bigwigs," said Mr Rungsak, a father of three small children.
Banjerd Fungklinchan, father of Terdsak who was killed on April 10, accused the UDD of adopting double standards.
His house in Pathum Thani was inundated during the recent flooding. During those months of suffering, he received only promises of help but no proper assistance from the UDD's core leaders.
"It hurts when I hear them tell the media they have helped many people who were killed or injured over these past two years," Mr Banjerd, 50, said.
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