Tsunami Commemorative Ceremony

General Information

Overview

December 26
10 am-11 am: Simultaneous memorial ceremonies will take place at Patong Beach, Kamala Beach and Mai Khao Cemetery. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, with members of the Thai government and VIP guests, will lay wreathes at 10:30 am at Khao Lak. At 6:30 pm there will be multi-faith ceremonies at Chong Fah and Baan Bang Niang beaches, Phang Nga Province.

December 1-31
Post tsunami-themed art and sculpture exhibitions will take place along Patong and Kamala beaches. The month will also feature an International Seafood Festival at Patong Beach together with fashion shows and live jazz music.

December 27
“New leaf - New life” Symbolic tree and shrub planting ceremonies at Patong and Kamala Beaches.

27-30 December
International Beach Volleyball at Patong Beach.

December 31-January 1
Phuket Countdown Party 2006 at Patong Beach.
Fair, live bands. Phuket-Phang Nga Marathon, starting at midnight.

December 30-January 3
International Firework Shows on Patong Beach featuring pyrotechnic display teams from Belgium, China, England, Thailand and Japan.

December 31-January 2
The Andaman Music Festival – “The Rhythm of the Island” – plus dance show at Karon Beach.

January 1
One-Day International Tennis Tournament, featuring Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport, at Saphan Hin.

January 15-21
Bangkok-Phuket Tour of Siam 2006 International Bicycle Rally.

For additional information contact the Tsunami Center at Surakul Stadium, Tel: 076-217054; at Phuket International Airport, Tel: 076-327230-5; or at the Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, Tel: 076-370500.

On 26 December 2005, the Thai Government will be organizing a Tsunami commemorative event to remember those we lost, to celebrate life for those who survived and in gratitude for the sympathy and generosity Thailand received from the rest of the world in the aftermath of the Tsunami.

Event: A Commemorative Ceremony
Date: Monday 26 December 2005
Venue: Tsunami-affected areas in Phang-nga, Phuket and Krabi
see also the official site:

Tentative Programme

10.00-11.00 Tsunami Victims Memorial Service

9.00 Arrival of guests at the 6 venues as follows:

Phang-nga - Ban Namkem and Bang Niang Beach
Phuket -- Kamala Beach, Patong Beach and Mai Khao Memorial Wall
Krabi -- Phi Phi Islands
10.00 Speech by Deputy Prime Ministers or Ministers as representative of the Thai Government
10.10 Laying of flowers by VIPs
10.30 Minute of silence
10.35 Announcement of afternoon arrangements
10.40 Laying of flowers by relatives of victims and general participants

15.30 - 17.00 - Tsunami Memorial Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony

(VIPs and next-of-kin of tsunami victims only)

16.30 Speech by the Thai Prime Minister
16.39 Laying of the foundation stone for the Tsunami Memorial, to be presided over by the Thai Prime Minister at Haad Lek Beach, Khao Lak-Lam Roo National Park
16.45 Musical performance for commemoration
16.50 Poetry reading by children
17.00 Departure of participants for Chong Fah Beach, Phang-Nga

18.00-19.15 - Tsunami Commemorative Ceremony

16.00 Arrival of guests
18.00 Inter-faith memorial services, approximately 6 minutes for each religion

Buddhism, Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant),
Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism
18.30 Video of Tsunami Victims Memorial Service and Tsunami Memorial Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony
18.35 Speech by the Thai Prime Minister
18.40 Speech by the representative of the victims

Minute of silence
18.50 - Minute of silence

Musical performance by children choir
Lighting of candles and floating lanterns
19.15 End of ceremony and departure for hotels

Tentative Programme for Participants Sponsored by the Thai Government

Sunday 25 December 2005: Depart Bangkokfor Phuket by Thai Airways
Monday 26 December 2005: as per above Tentative Programme
Tuesday 27 December 2005: Return to Bangkok by Thai Airways

Participation: open to those who fall under the following categories:

Next-of-Kin of Tsunami Victims / Missing Persons

Next-of-kin is defined as the victim's / missing person’s spouse, children, parents, siblings or grandparents.
One-next-of-kin per Tsunami victim’s / missing person’s family will be invited as guest to the Commemorative Ceremony.
Each guest can apply for financial support for domestic transportation, which includes a Bangkok-Phuket return air-ticket, and accommodation between 25-27 December 2005 and funding for international flights.

The Injured

The injured is defined as those admitted to a hospital in the Tsunami-affected provinces of Thailand who can produce a record from the hospital to which they were admitted or related documentation issued by their government confirming their injuries.
Each of the injured will be invited as guest to the Ceremony under the same conditions applied to the victim’s / missing person’s next-of-kin.
Extra financial support can be arranged upon request for the injured who need to be accompanied by an assistant, whereby appropriate documentation from a hospital must be shown.

Those interested in attending the Commemorative Ceremony must submit an application form and related documentation by 6 November 2005. Those interested in financial sponsorship can indicate their requirements on the application form.

Financial sponsorship will be in a form of reimbursement under the terms and conditions below.

1. Reimbursement
	Those who have made their own flight and accommodation arrangements are strongly urged to keep their original reservation. Reimbursement for these items can then be made under the following conditions:
	Air tickets
	1.1)	The Thai Government will be responsible for air ticket expenses for all approved applicants. Reimbursement can be made with tickets of Thai Airways, any other airlines or chartered flights that fly into Thailand.
	1.2)	The maximum allowable reimbursement for airfare is Thai Airways' round trip economy net fare of booking class "H". In the case where the applicants' airfare is lower than Thai Airways' round trip economy net fare of booking class "H", reimbursement will be made at the actual rate shown on the receipt.
	1.3)	In the case where there is no Thai Airways service in your country of origin or city, Thai Airways' round trip economy net fare of booking class "H" of the nearest country / city with Thai Airways service (the applicable or equivalent international sectors operated by Thai Airways) will apply.
	1.4)	Reimbursement must take place within Thailand (date and location to be informed).
	1.5)	Payment will be made in Thai baht at the exchange rate calculated on the day of reimbursement.
	1.6)	Original passport, air ticket, receipt of air ticket, confirmation of sponsorship from the Thai Authority and a photocopy of each must be produced for the reimbursement.
	Accommodation
	1.7)	Two nights accommodation (room with breakfast), on the nights of 25 and 26 December 2005, can be reimbursed at the actual rate shown on the receipt, but not exceeding the rate set by the Thai Government during the above dates (details to be confirmed).
	1.8)	Reimbursement must take place within Thailand (date and location to be informed).
	1.9)	Payment will be made in Thai baht at the exchange rate calculated on the day of reimbursement.
	1.10)	Original passport, hotel receipt, confirmation of sponsorship from the Thai Authority and a photocopy of each must be produced for the reimbursement.
		* Expenses other than the above items cannot be reimbursed.
2. For approved applicants who have not made any arrangements:
	2.1)	Approved applicants are strongly advised to make flight reservations with Thai Airways or other airlines (please see terms and conditions no. 1). If flights are full and a reservation cannot be made, please contact the nearest Thai Airways office for assistance.
	2.2)	Travel and reception arrangements will include:
	i.	Return economy class international air ticket from country of origin or nearest port with Thai Airways service and return economy class Bangkok-Phuket air ticket.
	ii.	Accommodation (room with breakfast) from 25-27 December 2005 (two nights of 25 and 26 December 2005)
Note: Arrangements for all approved applicants will include:
		- Return transportation between Phuket International Airport and hotel on 25 and 27 December 2005
		- Return transportation between hotel and official ceremony on 26 December 2005

Once the application form and requested documents have been submitted, the applicant will be given a password which they need to retain in case the application needs to be edited or additional documents need to be submitted.

Approved applicants will be contacted and given further details on travel and reception arrangements.

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(As of 27 October 2005) Sourse form http://www.mfa.go.th/tsunami/General.php

see also the official site: