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Luxembourg participated in the 10 year anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in Thailand
"... It wasn't devastation or death that won the day
It was humanity that triumphed
The shining victory of generosity, courage and love ..."
By Naowarat Pongpaiboon
This poem invokes the memory of those who died and the collective suffering and hope of the survivors during the tsunami event in the Indian Ocean on 26th December 2004.
On the 26th at Khao Lak in Thailand, an official ceremony chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha, was lead in honoring victims of the tsunami at the Patrol Boat Tor 813 Memorial, which was attended by over 1,300 participants of Thai and foreign public, high level representatives from Thai Government, diplomatic corps and foreign representatives from countries directly affected by the tsunami in 2004, included the Secretary General of the Ministry of European & Foreign Affairs, Marc Ungeheuer, and the Ambassador Robert Lauer.
The Prime Minister’s speech was followed by a minute of silence and a wreath-laying ceremony. A video presentation about the recovery of affected areas was then shown, demonstrating how communities in the Andaman have adjusted and developed emergency response steps in case another tsunami strikes. Following the presentation, there was a series of speeches from international guests and a poetry reading. The evening was concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony.