Thai Cabinet Approves Border Troops Compensation Fund

BANGKOK — 12 May 2026, Thailand's Cabinet has approved 452.35 million baht in compensation for military personnel affected by clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border, with families of soldiers killed or permanently disabled to receive 10 million baht each, the defence minister said on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen said the Cabinet approved the Defence Ministry's request for emergency central budget funding for the 2026 fiscal year to assist personnel affected by the border situation.

A total of 91 military personnel qualified for compensation, including 29 killed, 12 permanently disabled, 39 seriously injured and 11 classified as severely injured, he said.

Under the scheme:

Families of personnel killed will receive 10 million baht each. Permanently disabled personnel will receive 10 million baht each. Seriously injured personnel will receive 1 million baht each. Personnel classified as severely injured will receive 500,000 baht each.

Adul said the measures reflected the government's concern for military personnel and the families of those who sacrificed themselves while protecting the country.

"The government will not abandon those who perform their duties for the nation," he said, adding that the Defence Ministry would continue supporting affected personnel and their families through welfare benefits, compensation and long-term rehabilitation assistance.

The ministry defined "killed" as deaths directly resulting from or linked to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.

"Permanent disability" refers to the loss of major organs or permanent physical impairment caused directly or indirectly by the conflict, including the loss of limbs, eyesight or the function of vital organs.

"Seriously injured" refers to personnel admitted to hospital for more than 20 days as a result of the conflict.

"Severely injured" refers to personnel hospitalised for between two and 20 days because of the incidents.