Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra presided over
Thailand’s Tsunami Memorial foundation stone laying ceremony at Khao
Lak-Lamroo National Park in the southern resort province of Phang-nga the
day after Christmas. The auspicious ceremony, held at Had Lek or the Lek
Beach inside the Khao Lak-Lamroo National Park, was set at 4:39 p.m.
The event began with the prime minister’s speech
indicating that last year’s tsunami destruction on several countries
adjacent to the Indian Ocean in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, as well
as South Asia and even some parts of Africa, was the worst disaster the
kingdom of Thailand has ever encountered.
Thaksin believes that once the construction of the
Tsunami Memorial is complete, it would represent a historic reference and
witness of the country’s unprecedented natural calamity, as well as an
eternal remembrance of those who perished in the disaster on December 26,
2004.
The monument, embedded within a tsunami museum, would
also become a center for learning not only of the tsunami disaster itself,
but also of proper ways for people to harmoniously co-exist with nature,
said the Thai leader. The memorial would also remind people, both Thais and
foreign visitors alike, to be consciously aware of possible disasters with
preparations for safety, he noted.
Thaksin thanked thousands of distinguished guests
attending the ceremony, including members of the international diplomatic
corps, ministers and officials of countries concerned, as well as survivors
and relatives of the tsunami victims. Miss Universe 2005 Natalia Glebova of
Canada and Sanya Kunakorn, a famous Thai game show host, were invited as
mediators. The prime minister then laid the foundation stone for the Tsunami
Memorial, followed by Buddhist rites and prayers, as well as other
activities.
Prior to the main ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat
Liptapanlop, who headed the government committee in charge of organizing the
first anniversary of the tsunami, presided over Brahmin religious rites. A
one-minute silence to pay homage to those who lost their lives in the
calamity was observed.
Several Thai cabinet members and parliamentary leaders
also attended the ceremony, including Deputy Prime Minister and Justice
Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai,
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce
Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minsiter and Industry Minister
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon, as well as
House Speaker Bhokin Bhalakula and Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrue.
The deputy premier separately presided over the official
tsunami memorial service held simultaneously at seven venues of the
country’s tsunami-affected areas Monday morning.
Thailand’s six southern Andaman coastal provinces,
including Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun were battered by
last year’s tsunami, leaving 5,395 people dead and more than 2,000 still
missing - most of whom were holidaymakers.
Construction of Thailand’s Tsunami Memorial is likely
to begin soon after the selection of the winning architectural design, which
will be announced in May 2006. More than 600 international competitors
entered the competition. At the ceremony, it was announced that the
competition has been narrowed down to five finalists, selected by a
preliminary seven-member international judge panel. The five finalists are
from Australia, China, Finland, Spain and the United States.
A nine-member judge panel, comprising of five foreign
experts and four Thais, will oversee the construction and timely completion
of the Memorial.
Criteria for the winning design of the historic monument
reportedly include being ecologically friendly to the Khao Lak-Lamroo
National Park and surrounding areas, being a natural-architecturally
designed structure and being a comprehensive knowledge-based source of the
tsunami.
Friday evening, Princess Ubonrattana, who also lost her
only son Khun Poom Jensen in the tsunami disaster, presided over the
Interfaith Memorial Service held at Bang Niang Beach in Pang-nga, the
hardest hit area. There, an 11-year-old British girl, Tilly Smith, was
invited to read a memorial poem in English. Tilly was named the “Angel of
the beach” for having saved several people’s lives with her shouting
alarm of the word “tsunami” at the time of the tragedy. Also reading
poems was a young Thai boy who survived the disaster. (TNA)
