Tsunami anniversary song-and-dance

* Nopporn Wong-Anan 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.”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 occured.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.-Nampa-ReutersBangkok 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.”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 occured.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.-Nampa-Reuters