Tsunami Anniversary Events Draws Criticism

[sriracha john]

Thai tsunami anniversary draws flak

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's bid to bring thousands of tsunami survivors and their families to a "song and dance" memorial service has drawn far fewer people than expected and triggered criticism that the event is in bad taste.

The week-long anniversary/New Year event which begins on December 26 has drawn flak from diplomats and the media, who say it puts too much emphasis on reviving tourism in Thailand's tourist mecca, Phuket island, and neighbouring provinces.

Bangkok Post columnist Boonsong Kositchotethana said the "song-and dance" events, which include a fireworks festival and a New Year's Eve countdown party, "simply reflects the insensitivity if not downright bad taste".

"The wise men in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, who came up with this half-baked plan, should be reminded, once again, that the planned fanfare shows great disrespect to the 5,395 people who died and 2,906 others who went missing in the affected areas in Thailand," he wrote in a recent column.

The idea for the event was first broached by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September during a cabinet meeting in the tsunami-hit Phang Nga province.

"We want to promote tourism in the three provinces," he told reporters. "On December 26, we will have memorial services and stone-laying ceremonies for a monument. Then from December 27, there will only be fun, entertainment and music."

But after protests from some foreign diplomats and the local media, the government said the $6.5 million ceremony would be held to thank the international community for helping Thailand cope with tsunami's aftermath.

Immediate family members of those killed or survivors of the tsunami will receive a free round-trip ticket to Thailand, airport pick-up and two nights accommodation to attend one of seven morning services to be held on December 26, officials said.

The simultaneous ceremonies will include wreath-layings and a minute of silence on seven beaches, including Phi Phi, Phuket and Phang Nga, where most of Thailand's deaths occurred.

A variety of tourist events will kick off on December 27 and continue to January 3. They include the "Andamans Cup" yacht race, a seafood fair, a beach volleyball tournament, and an Oscars-like awards night for Thailand's film industry.

On New Years Eve, Thaksin will attend "Andaman New Year Countdown" to be televised live from Phuket's Patong Beach.

The memorial/festivities have baffled Bangkok-based diplomats who said it may only make survivors angry and upset.

"They are going to be aggrieved and they are going to fall apart," a Western consular officer told Reuters. "It is not going to work."

Only 1,200 visitors from 40 countries who were injured or lost family members in the tsunami have accepted the government's invitation, far below the 10,000 Thailand had expected.

Foreign Ministry official Vitavas Srivihok said invitations had been extended to scores of heads of states and other dignitaries, including former U.S Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. But only 60 Bangkok-based diplomats from 40 embassies have agreed to attend.

[stumonster]

Poor response to memorial

From correspondents in Bangkok

December 17, 2005

THAI authorities are reporting a disappointing response to their offer to subsidise accommodation for tsunami victims and their relatives who plan to attend next weekend's tsunami anniversary events.

Only 180 hotel rooms in Phuket have been reserved so far under the plan – less than two per cent of the 10,000 rooms the government initially thought it would need to accommodate all the guests.

Australia will only be sending around 80 people, and the lack of international interest indicates a growing tussle between the government and hotel owners over the project.

The Australian Embassy in Bangkok has been granted permission by the Phuket provincial government to hold a half-hour memorial service at Patong Beach on the morning of December 26.

Prior to the public announcement of the "cheap rooms" plan, hotel industry analysts indicated they thought it was unfair for the government to ask them to break their commitments to package tour operators to release the rooms, especially at a time when tourist arrival numbers are beginning to return to normal.

Under the government's plan, one relative of each victim and around 7,000 people injured in the disaster were invited to stay as guests of the government in rooms at hotels classified as three stars or higher, the government picking up the tab for two nights' accommodation and round-trip air fare.

The Boxing Day disaster killed 280,000 people across South and South-East Asia and injured more than 500,000.

The six Thai provinces worst affected were Phuket, Phangnga, Ranong, Krabi, Trang and Satun.peMore than 5,395 Thai and foreign nationals lost their lives in the disaster while 2,817 are still missing. Some 8,500 people were injured, and it has still not been possible to estimate the amount of damage to assets and the country as a whole regarding the direct and indirect effects to the economy.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html

[Old Croc]

deleted. duplicate

Edited December 17, 2005 by Old Croc

[Dickie_Doo]

Plus if you get a free Thai Airways ticket, its a ticket that qualifies for air miles.

Not wishing to un-sensationalize the original story, but the 'Oscars' film night is the Bangkok Film Festival, which takes place in February, has been a regular event for years, and is nothing to do with tsunami commemorations. It is just a normally scheduled event

[sriracha john]

And for those few that ARE contemplating attending:

Australians warned of terrorist threats

Australia has issued a travel bulletin warning its citizens planning to attend the commemorative events in Thailand to mark the first anniversary of the Dec 26 tsunami tragedy to exercise a high degree of caution because of a threat of terrorist attacks. "We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners. You should read our full travel advice available at www.smartraveller.gov.au for further information.

"The tsunami anniversary is a deeply significant event for people of all nationalities. Thai authorities will maintain a high level of security preparedness during the commemorations, which will also attract a large number of dignitaries and international visitors,'' says Robin Hamilton-Coates, first secretary and consul, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra, in the bulletin.

The Australian embassy in Bangkok has scheduled an informal Australian gathering in Phuket on the morning of Dec 26. Australians will be responsible for making their own arrangements to attend memorial events, though Centrelink will offer financial assistance to enable immediate family members of victims of the tsunami to attend, says the advisory.