Thailand mourns victims of trunami tragedy

The Thai national flag will fly at half-mast for three days and state agencies will cancel planned New Year celebrations, in honour of the victims of the tsunami tragedy.

From Dec 28-30, the flag will fly at half-mast to mourn the dead. People from all walks of life, religions and faiths are being urged to wear black and participate in a merit-making ceremony on Dec 30 at 7pm.

"The ceremony can be organised at religious venues or at home at your own convenience,'' said government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had cancelled all planned countdowns to New Year and ordered state agencies to call off any celebrations, said Mr Jakrapob.

The private sector was expected to do the same, he said.

The Foreign Ministry will waive passport regulations for the time being to help foreign tourists who lost their documents in the chaos to leave the country.

"If they have any kind of document or find a person who can identify them, they can leave for home,'' he said.

Several hundred foreigners have already left the country without passports.

Mr Jakrapob said the government believed no one would try to exploit the loophole for their benefit at such a time.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop is arranging transport and assistance for foreign tourists who want to return to their home countries, he said.

As part of steps to identify the dead, Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun will coordinate with the Police Immigration Bureau for information about foreigners who entered the country without providing information about planned departure dates or their contact addresses.

The Public Health Ministry has also proposed posting photos taken from the bodies on a website, , for families or relatives of missing persons to check with.

The Information and Communications Ministry has been assigned to coordinate with mobile phone service providers to set up a channel for the public to make donations.

The organisers of some of the biggest countdowns to New Year in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai have cancelled their three-day events.

A press release stated the cancellation of the Happy New Year 2005 Bangkok Countdown from Dec 29-31 at Rama VIII bridge was in honour of the victims.

The event had been jointly organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and several companies.

The Royal Thai Police secretary's office has also postponed its traditional New Year visit to statesman and chief privy councillor Gen Prem Tinsulanonda at his residence.

A source said that Gen Prem and senior police and military officers agreed it would be inappropriate for the visit to go ahead while the entire country was grieving.

Source: Agencies