Bangkok: The Prime Minister opened the event "24 Years of Assisting Innocent Victims," stating that the payment of 8 billion baht in compensation was a disgrace. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening ceremony of the national event titled "24 Years of Swift, Comprehensive, and Fair Assistance to Innocent Victims, Because Delayed Justice is Injustice." Also attending were Police Lieutenant General Ruddhaphol Naowarat, Minister of Justice; Mrs. Pongsawat Neelayothin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice; and representatives from various partner networks. In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister stated that any nation capable of maintaining stability and harmony must be founded on justice and the rule of law, protecting and assisting citizens who are victims of the justice system and who are innocent.
According to Thai News Agency, in cases where innocent people are implicated in criminal cases, facing abuse, injury, damage to their reputation, loss of freedom, and even death, the government must not overlook this. It must play a crucial role in protecting and assisting the rights of innocent people and filling the gaps and shortcomings in the justice system.
The Prime Minister further stated that since the enactment of the Act on Compensation for Victims and Defendants in Criminal Cases in 2001, the government has assisted over 145,000 innocent victims of the justice system, totaling over 8 billion baht. This also includes over 1,000 foreign nationals, with assistance totaling over 47 million baht. He emphasized that this is not an achievement, but rather a shameful situation-the inability to bring truly guilty individuals to justice, instead falsely accusing and falsely implicating those innocent, forcing them to fight their cases and face hardship. Over 145,000 Thai citizens have been wrongly victimized by the justice system, ultimately resulting in over 8 billion baht in assistance and compensation. He stressed the need to consider how to ensure full justice for all.
The Prime Minister recounted his experiences in the United States, where he observed the daily pledge to ensure justice for all, not just for some, as a foundation for national unity. He affirmed that the government will firmly stand by innocent citizens who are victims of the justice system, providing protection, assistance, and compensation. He highlighted the necessity of prioritizing the rule of law to prevent new victims from emerging and emphasized that failure to deliver justice should result in severe consequences for those responsible.
Mr. Anutin addressed the perception of these victims as marginalized members of society, quoting a saying that highlights the importance of how a nation treats its most vulnerable citizens as a measure of its civilization and development. He emphasized the need to bridge this gap to ensure Thailand is recognized as a civilized country. As Thailand prepares to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the nation is committed to fostering civilization and enhancing its credibility on the global stage.
The Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to developing and upgrading assistance for victims in the justice system to meet international standards, aiming to create an efficient, swift, comprehensive, and fair system. This commitment, he stated, would help build public trust and reflect a positive image of Thailand's justice system to the world, ensuring its credibility and confidence.