With more than 125,000 dead, hundreds of thousands injured and millions made homeless by the devastating earthquake and tsunami wave, the passage of 2004 was to be marked by candle-lit vigils and calls for prayer; a somber mood of mourning, and the struggle for survival; people looking back to the events of the past few days, not forward to 2005.
Phuket, Thailand - Grieving friends, family and survivors of the Asian tsunami disaster gathered on New Year's Eve on Friday, pausing for a few hours to reflect on the tragic end to a sometimes brutal year.
In the holiday resorts that in a few seconds of Sunday morning became churning killing grounds, authorities urged people to tone down any planned celebrations, hotel owners in Sri Lanka and in Thailand told AFP, and most people agreed.
"We are having a gathering of the staff and all our guests are invited to light candles with them at midnight for the people who have died," said Thanarat Jadpatananon, who owns the Sawasdee hotel on Patong beach, Phuket, a place where hundreds died.
"We are giving everyone free food and drinks but there will no alcohol. This is definitely not a party or time to celebrate," she said. Fireworks displays normally held across the island had all been cancelled.
Some resorts said the government had urged them to cancel celebrations.
"In Thailand, the government office announced that there shouldn't be any party or festival," said a front office assistant at the Phuket Merlin Hotel. "Lots of people died. We cannot celebrate."
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also asked government agencies not to hold New Year celebrations and traditional countdowns in Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai were cancelled, replaced by Buddhist merit-making ceremonies for the dead on New Year morning.
In the once-idyllic resort island of Phi Phi, where hundreds died, a candlelight vigil and Buddhist ceremony will be held.
In Sri Lanka, a country where more than 28,000 have died and thousands more are still missing, deluxe hotels scrapped champagne dinners and canned plans for other events to mark the New Year as the government announced an official day of mourning.
The five-star Taj Samudra said it had cancelled its Roman-themed New Year's Eve bash and called off all other celebrations in the hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean, general manager Praveen Nair said.
"There will be no music in the hotel," Nair said.
Local radio and television networks played somber music on Friday while lottery companies announced suspending sales till next year.
In India's capital New Delhi, clubs and the elite hotels also cancelled their planned festivities. More than 11,000 are dead in India and nearly a million people badly affected.
New Delhi's presidential palace set the example by deciding not to illuminate the historic building for the first time in years.
However, the financial and entertainment capital of Bombay on India's western coast plans to go ahead with the festivities in a string of plush hotels and restaurants.
But in Indonesia, the country where the largest number of victims died, with nearly 80,000 dead, the authorities in the capital Jakarta scrapped a lavish New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Jakarta governor Sutiyoso said the money that would have been spent on the fireworks, a regular year-end fixture held at Indonesia's Monas national monument in the city centre, would go to help the victims.
Outside the immediately affected region, authorities were split between ordering a toning down of the celebrations for New Year and allowing them to go ahead but asking for contributions to be made to the Asian disaster appeal.
In Australia, the traditional fireworks display in Sydney harbour, always one of the first to celebrate in the world, was also to go ahead.
But it was to be turned into a fundraiser for the victims of the disaster and artistic director Leo Schofield announced there would be a minute's silence before the first of two displays.
In Tokyo, the Japanese were planning for celebrations as normal in what is traditionally a major holiday and in Taiwan, authorities were to stage a countdown party at the country's tallest building, the Taipei 101 tower.
But in both countries contributions were being made to the Asian appeal.
In Singapore, an annual broadcast of the countdown to New Year was cancelled, but a planned party was set to go ahead.
Malaysia scrapped planned public events and withdrew licences for fireworks displays.
In a country where New Year celebrations are not a tradition, Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered the country's national flag to be flown at half-mast for three days starting January 1 in a mark of respect for the dead.
In London, over 150,000 people are expected to line the banks of the River Thames for a massive fireworks display aimed at promoting the city's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, despite calls for the show to be called off.
Up to 400,000 people are also expected to hit the streets of London from midday on Saturday and enjoy the carnival atmosphere of a parade featuring 10,000 clowns, dancers, and other entertainers.
Organisers have said profits from the event would go towards the Asia disaster victims. [AFP/CHANNEL NEWSASIA]
No Buddha statues damaged in tsunami
By Asanga Warnakulasuriya
Colombo - A survey by the Sri Lanka Buddha Sasana Ministry in Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts had revealed that not a single Buddha statue in those districts had been damaged in Sunday's tidal waves which caused severe damage to other property.
Minister of Public Security, Law and Order and Buddhasasana Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said yesterday that although most temples in those districts were devastated by tidal waves, Buddha statues in temples were unharmed.
"It's quite remarkable how Buddha statues were preserved in such extreme conditions where other property crumbled down to earth," Minister said.
"According to reports we have received so far only Ven. Meegoda Pannaloka Thera had fallen victim to the tidal waves and died," the Minister said.
A survey had also revealed that 39 temples in the above districts were badly damaged by the tidal waves.
The ministry has estimated that Rs. 36 million needs to be allocated to reconstruct the temples in four districts. The Government has already allocated Rs. 4.5 million, the Minister said. [LANKA DAILY NEWS]
Chinese Buddhists send condolences to tsunami-hit countries
Beijing - The Buddhist Association of China has expressed its condolence over the heavy loss of lives and property to the tsunami-hit countries.
In a message sent over to the tsunami-ravaged countries, the association said that on behalf of Chinese Buddhists, it wishes toexpress sincere sympathy and solicitude to the people in those countries and heartfelt condolences over the disaster victims.
The message was sent to eight countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Maldives.
As the main Buddhism principle of loving kindness, sharing happiness and sufferings with all living beings, "Chinese Buddhists also experience the disaster you have suffered," it said.
"We believe that your country and people will certainly overcome the hardships and rebuild your homeland," it said.
According to Sheng Hui, vice president of the association, the association has called on Chinese Buddhist circles to hold prayer services for no more disasters.
"Whenever a country suffers heavy natural disasters, we should extend our hands to support them," he said, adding that Chinese Buddhists are carrying out a donation move to that effect. [XINHUA]
Hongkong Buddhist Association donates HKD1 million
By Dhamma Times News Editor
Hongkong - Extending a helping hand to victims and relief efforts of the affected countries, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association donated HKD1 million to the Red Cross.
On 30th December, Venerable Jue Guang handed over the cheque to the Red Cross representative. He also announced that the temples and schools under the Hong Kong Buddhist Association will raise funds for the disaster relief efforts.
Venerable Jue Guang encourage all to donate generously to aid the affected areas and people as to manifest the Buddhist spirit of Great Compassion.
The Hong Kong Buddhist Association is holding a memorial service to dedicate merits to the victims. Other Buddhist temples are also actively contributing towards to relief fund. [DHAMMA TIMES]
Dalai Lama prays for victims
Colombo - The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said today he and a congregation of monks and nuns would pray for the thousands of people killed in Buddhist Sri Lanka by tsunamis.
"I am especially very saddened by the great loss of lives and devastation that has taken place in Sri Lanka," the 69-year-old spiritual leader said in a message to President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Sri Lanka has consistently rejected requests to issue the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the island and worship at two of Buddhism's holiest sites in the island.
Buddhist leaders have said Sri Lanka is the only Buddhist nation that has barred the Dalai Lama.
Pressure from China, which accuses the Dalai Lama of being a separatist, is said to be responsible for Colombo's stance.
"As is our tradition we are organising a special offering of prayers by a congregation of monks and nuns both for those who have lost their lives and those who are bereaved," the Dalai Lama said. [AFP/NEWS.COM.AU]
Tzu Chi launches global fundraising campaign for tsunami victims
Taipei - Members of the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation around the world starts a campaign to raise funds for earthquake and tsunami victims in South Asia on 1 January. The campaign in Taiwan will last three months until 31 March.
After Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, made an open appeal on Dec. 28 for donations of love to South Asia, various Tzu Chi groups and the public have responded enthusiastically.
Employees of the Taichung-based Vitalon Food Co. donated half-month salaries, totaling NT$5.4 million (US$163,000) to Tzu Chi on 28 December in response to the appeal.
Several residents in the eastern city of Hualien visited Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Center in the past two days to make donations, as well as some patients. Physicians and nurses supported the campaign by donating valuable articles for charity sale at a corner of the hospital's lobby.
A three-day charity sale was held at the Jing Si Hall from Dec. 30 for staff members of Tzu Chi's organizations to make contributions.
Many individual and group visitors also made donations when they visited Jing Si Abode. A middle-aged lady donated NT$200,000 (US$6,000) on 30 December.
Tzu Chi's educational institutions, including Tzu Chi University, Tzu Chi College of Technology, Tzu Chi Junior High School, and Tzu Chi Elementary School, decided to donate one-day's incomes.
Over 200 Tzu Chi collegiate members from 12 countries, who are attending a leadership camp at Tzu Chi Headquarters at the Jing Si Abode, have donated their pocket money totaling US$1,500.
Master Cheng Yen said that the donations will not only help relieve the suffering of the victims, but also inspire the people's kindness, adding that as all people live under the same sky and stand on the same land, “When disaster strikes on region, everyone everywhere ought to help.”
It is estimated that more than half a million Tzu Chi members around the world will take to the streets to solicit thoughts and donations of love in the coming weeks in Taiwan, the United States, Malaysia and other countries where there are Tzu Chi offices.
This is the third time that Tzu Chi, a humanitarian institution established in 1966, has launched a large-scale fundraising campaign for international relief effort. In 1998, Tzu Chi raised funds to aid hurricane victims in Central and South America. In 1999, Tzu Chi solicited donations to help victims of the 17 August earthquake in Turkey.
UPDATE ON TZU CHI RELIEF ACTIVITIES
Volunteers located in Jakarta transported 12 tons of daily necessities to the hard-stricken Aceh Province on 28 December, while those in Malaysia provided emergency aid and medical care for tsunami victims in Penang and Kedah.
A relief team headed by Sugianto Kusuma, an executive of Tzu Chi's Indonesia Chapter, left Jakarta's Halim Airport at 04:00 on 28 December for Aceh via Medan aboard an F-28 aircraft. Three physicians affiliated with the Tzu Chi International Medical Association went there together.
Tzu Chi's relief goods airlifted to Aceh included 25 boxes of instant noodles, 500 bags of washroom articles such as towels, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, 248 bottles of ointment, 185 sheets, 20,000 small boxes of pain-relieving pills, 256 bottles of salve for skin disease, as well as raincoats and boots.
Additional relief goods ready for shipment to Aceh from Jakarta include 50 boxes of instant noodles, 19 bags of sheets and 40 bags of rice.
In Malaysia, Tzu Chi volunteers divided into seven teams to provide assistance and care for the affected victims. In the first three days after the tidal waves struck the area, the volunteers had provided emergency cash worth US$48,200 to 1,023 families, and distributed US$21,400 worth of relief materials (including daily necessities, mats, bean powder, and instant noodles) to 1,023 families. They had also provided hot meals for 2,270 people.
Seven medical personnel belonging to the Tzu Chi International Medical Association gave medical care and consultations to 128 patients in Kedah.
In Thailand, nine volunteers left for Phuket Island from Bangkok on 26 December to assess what kind of assistance Tzu Chi could offer. They have decided to provide 2,000 body bags and 1,000 surgical gloves.
Meanwhile, a 36-member Tzu Chi relief team consisting of medical personnel and volunteers left Taipei for Colombo, Sri Lanka, via Singapore on the afternoon of 29 December. They brought with them two tons of medicines and medical instruments.
Master Cheng Yen, founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation, received members of the mission before their departure, encouraging them to display the spirit of compassion to help relieve the suffering of the victims and to assess the situation in preparation for subsequent assistance efforts.
The mission, headed by Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Center Vice President Wang Li-shinn, will focus their efforts in the southeastern city of Hambantota. [DHAMMA TIMES]
TZU CHI CONTACTS WORLDWIDE
Taiwan Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
21, Kanglo Village, Shinchen,
Hualien County 971
Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: 886-3-826-6779 Fax: 886-3-826-7776
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Malaysia Branch)
52, Tunku Abdul Rahman,
10350 Penang, Malaysia
TEL:60-4-227-1013 FAX:60-4-229-7213
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Thailand Branch)
322/207 Soi Yucharon
Rachadapisek 3Rd,
Dindaeng, Bangkok 10320, Thailand
TEL:66-2-642-1888 FAX:66-2-642-1890
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Indonesia Branch)
Jl. Mangga Dua Raya,
Gedung ITC Lt. 6
Jakarta 14430, Indonesia
TEL:62-21-601-6332 FAX:62-21-601-6334
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch)
25, Trengganu Street #01-01
Singapore 058467
Tel: 65-324-6889 Fax: 65-324-6656
Tzu Chi Foundation, US National Headquarter
1100 S. Valley Center Ave.,
San Dimas, CA 91773-3728
U.S.A.
Tel: 909-447-7799 Fax: 909-447-7948
Dharma Drum brings together global compassion for disaster relief
Medan, Indonesia - Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) charitable foundation vice-general manager Wong Che Hsiung, the Taipei fire department and ten other people, flew to Medan to listen to assistant deputy governor's communiqué for the temporary disaster relief center.
Recognizing that Aceh Province's external communication and telecommunication are in an interruptible state. The habitants of the disaster area's need for basic material are still to be confirmed. Therefore, the investigation group traveled on 29 December by military aircraft arranged through the Indonesian government went to Aceh Province to examine the actual damage and to find out the local situation.
At present the group has grasped the most recent situation, confirmed that Meulaboh City is the most serious hits by disaster. Approximately 2/3 of residents have died. And survivors are only approximately 3,000 people.
Master Sheng Yen is deeply concerned about this catastrophe and has specially beseeches all the followers of South Asian countries such as the Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong to practice the spirit of Bodhisattva to rescue the needy.
The numbers of death of the victims are climbing each day in the South Asian countries. Seven countries are affected at the same time, they all urgently waits for our rescue. DDM's personnel have certainly collected the global compassion donation for the disaster relief. [DHAMMA TIMES]
If you would like to make a vow donation, please make your cheque out to "The Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation" and state "Tsunami Earthquake Charity Fund" in the memo area by pencil. Kindly send your donation to:
The Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
2F, No. 388, Chengte Rd., Sec. 7, Peitou 112,
Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-28276060 ext.209
Fax: 886-2-28238204
Sri Lankan monks beg alms for victims
By Chamikara Weerasinghe
Colombo - The city of Colombo gleamed with yellow robes yesterday as Buddhist monks from Mahamevuna and distant forest monasteries, went from house to house with their alms-bowls, begging alms from householders in keeping with their ancient Buddhist tradition.
The round of alms-begging continued until 12 noon with a request to rally as one nation to help the Tsunami victims and not to forget the disaster in a couple of weeks or months.
The Bhikkhus were led by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera. Among them were Viharadhipathi of Washington Vihara Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Thera, Ven. Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera, Ven. Kolonnawe Sumangala Thera and 50 monastery Bhikkhus.
The bhikkhus set off from the Asapuwa at the Sulaiman Terrace with their alms-bowls. Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Inspector General of Police were also present.
The bhikkhus went from house to house and begged alms through the passage across Thimbirigasyaya junction until they reached Kollupitiya. Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera told the Daily News that they were determined to build houses for tidal wave victims throughout the country from Colombo to Jaffna. Commenting on the disaster, he said the sea had given signal to us that we should abstain from all evil actions and set on the path of righteousness.
"We asked the people to extend their kindness to tsunami victims," the Thera said. [LANKA DAILY NEWS]
Indian police continue search for missing Buddha head
India - The 5th-century Buddha head of Sarnath remained untraced a day after it was found missing from glasscase in the archaeological gallery of the Indian Museum in the metropolis.
"So far, there was no arrest. The search and investigation are on", Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department), Kolkata police, Piyush Pande told PTI.
Police have sealed the entire area and fingerprint experts and dog squads were engaged to recover the head belonging to Gupta period.
"It is a priceless piece with immense antique value. The intricate design on sandstone made it one of the most interesting exhibits of the museum", said an official of the museum.
In 1974, an organised gang had stolen 16 stone sculptures of Gupta period. But the police recovered all these stolen sculpures in a fortnight's time. [PTI/NEW KERALA]
Buddhists open temple to homeless Catholics
By Don Melvin
Kuda Payagala, Sri Lanka - It was Sunday morning and, in this deeply religious land, almost everyone was in church.
But Gerard Perera was on the beach preparing for his day as a fisherman.
"I saw the tide was coming inland," he said, "and I shouted. I ran to the church. My family was in the church, celebrating the Sunday Mass."
All along the road in this area, 35 miles south of Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital, lies evidence of the force of nature's wrath.
The earthquake-induced tsunamis that struck this south Asian island last Sunday turned houses to kindling and swept cars and trucks into the forest. Concrete walls were demolished, foundations swept clean of the homes they once supported. The road is littered with the shards of fishing boats.
But whatever the force of those waves, many people in Sri Lanka think faith is just as powerful. Perera believes God alerted him to the coming tsunamis and directed him to warn the others.
Those who were not already in the Santa Maria Catholic Church ran to it when they heard his cries. And as the people of this coastal area huddled inside it, their homes were flattened while the church was spared.
"I cannot swim," said Bhacy Fernando, a 49-year-old mother of three. "So I am 100 percent sure that if I had stayed in my home, I would have gone under."
The church withstood the force of the waves but the danger was not over. The water was rising. The parish priest told the congregation to seek higher ground.
Go, he said, to the temple.
The people ran from the church, across the road and up the hill to the Buddhist temple. There they were welcomed by the Rev. Malegoda Nanda, the priest who presides over the complex.
Nanda, who has an easy smile and a rueful giggle, has lived here for 50 of his 60 years. Never once has a homeless person sought refuge. But when crowds of Catholics ran up the road seeking help, he hesitated not a minute. He told them to stay as long as they needed.
"I am ready to give them what they need," he said.
Now, he presides with equanimity over 4,000 homeless people, almost all of them Catholic, who are living in the various buildings of the Pushparama Buddhist Temple complex.
The situation is not unique. Catholicism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Portuguese and Dutch colonizers who rarely penetrated the interior of the island. So, although the country is 70 percent Buddhist and only 8 percent Christian (the rest being mostly Hindu and Muslim), Catholics predominate along the coast in some areas.
And Buddhists around the country have opened their hearts and their shrines to homeless Catholics.
Faith is enormously important to Sri Lankans. In Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka, the country's name means "Holy Land." But the particular variety is of less importance.
"They are really a very religious people," said the Rev. Wickrema Fonseka, a Catholic priest just down the road from the temple. When Sri Lankan Catholics arrive in a town, he said, they often look first for a church and, failing to find one, go to a temple.
The 4,000 or so Catholics now inhabiting the Pushparama Buddhist Temple, a complex of orange-roofed buildings among the tall palms, feel in no way out of place.
"First I went to the church," Perera said. "But I believe we came to a temple because here also lives a God." [COX NEWS SERVICE]
News in pictures
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SENA VIDANAGAMA/AFP/ Getty Images
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Sri Lanka's national flag flies at half-mast next to a giant Buddha statue, as the government declared a day of national mourning for tsunami's victims, 31 December 2004. |
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RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images
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Sri Lankan Buddhist monks distribute food to people made homeless by the tsunami disaster in the southern Sri Lankan city of Galle, 31 December 2004. |
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SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images
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Tired Thai rescue workers take rest sitting under the statue of Buddha at the last sunset of the year 2004 at a temple in Takuapa, 31 December 2004. |
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JOHANNES SIMON/AFP/ Getty Images
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A Buddhist monk looks at tidal wave victims at Khao Lak's main crisis center 30 December 2004. Identifying the victims promptly, so that they may be buried has become a priority, as the race against disease outbreaks is on. |
STR/AFP/Getty Images |
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Thai Buddhist monks chant during prayers for the victims at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, 30 December 2004. Tens of thousands of Buddhist monks across Thailand offered prayers and chants for almost 2,400 people killed by catastrophic tsunamis that struck Thailand. |
