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13:11pm, December 31 - Foreign embassies in Bangkok demand their nationals contact their loved ones

As message boards are being flooded with missing person posts and embassies are overwhelmed with requests as well, the foreign embassies in Bangkok are insisting that foreigners living in any part of Thailand let their loved ones know they are okay. Many people outside of Thailand seem to think that the disaster impacted the entire country--even Bangkok. The truth is that Thailand is a huge country and only a small section of its huge coastline was hit.

Info from today's Manager Daily translated and summarized by Wisarut: There is another report that even Phangnga alone has more than 4000 corpses so there could be a lot more uncollected corpses. The bodies at Phangnga have piled up in such extend that many rescue officers have vomited and need to put ammonia into their masks. Rescue Offices have reported that they can see those farang ghosts swimming on the beaches around Phi Phi island even though Phi Phi Island is closed to anyone except local people and rescue officers. So some officers have to make a day trip from the mainland to Phi Phi since they feel very scarred from those ghosts and do not want to stay overnight there. The forensic officers said they need surgery officers and surgery instruments so as to help them identify the rotting corpses from DNA in addition to special spectacles to prevent the contact with blood and liquid. Survivors in Phangnga have to stay in the hills and mountains since they are too scared to go back to their houses which have been trashed by the tsunami. They need electric torches and radio as well as cooking utensils. Satun has more land subsidence--now a seventh giant hole. Also more than 1000 fishermen's ships are missing-- 90% of them are from the small fishermen. The Ministry of the Interior is working to clear Patong beach to become serviceable again next year. The Ministry of Agriculture is working to clear Ban Nam Khem fishermen's village in Phang Nga since this village has been utterly trashed. They have to remove at least 80 fishermen's ships. Now, the HTMS Chakkri Narubet (the aircraft carrier in the Royal Thai Navy) has reached Phi Phi island to perform rescue, medical aids, and finding any missing in the sea by flying Sea Hawk helicopter.

Karabao song about the tragedy Mr. Ad of Karabao Band composed a new song named "Zap Namta Andaman" or "Mop up the tears of Andaman" which was played for the first time on iTV Thursday night (November 30).

Update on minor islands Earlier this week we asked about the fates of Ko Similan, Ko Surin and the Muslim fishing village on Ko Panyi. Wisarut reports: For the case of Similan and Surin National park, they were spared from catastrophe by coral reefs in the shallow water which protected both from being hit hard by the waves. However, the coral was badly damaged.

However, Phang Nga Naval Base has been utterly trashed by the tsunami to such an extent that the Royal Thai Navy cannot run their ships to help fishermen stranded around the islands. Even the house of the Commander and Deputy Commander of Phang Nga Naval base has been pushed into the sea.

Translations from Thai-language newspapers: Matichon, December 30, 2004

• Mr. Boonchub Zaeaiew, a 40-year-old resident of Amphur Kratoo, Phuket , is one of the victims who survived and told his story to the press with tears in his eyes. He has nothing left. He, his wife, and his daughter sold food at the ground floor of Ocean Plaza Department store. He and his wife survived, but his daughter has been missing for four days so far. He complains why nobody has helped him to find his 14-year-old daughter. He says since he is not a famous person and not rich, nobody cares about this. Now he has no job, lost his daughter, and his car was broken up under the building. He has not got any help from the government. He wants nothing except his daughter’s body.

• In Phuket, Ms. Kanjana Adunyanukoson, the head of the Rare Animal Group at the Research Institute of Sea Resources helped a sea cow (dugong). It weighed 300 kgs, was 2.60 meters long, and 40 years old. It was thrown by a giant wave from the sea and when the water retreated it could not swim and was stuck in a moat. After it was found, the officer releases it back into the sea near a bridge at a military base.

• Maew [nickname of PM Thaksin] confirmed that the election day will not be postponed. Mr. Suranun Vejchachiwa, the spokesman of the TRT party, pointed out that MP just gave their individual opinions (about the election being postponed), but that the party do not want to postpone. He said that TRT candidates do not dare distribute money and belongings to six provinces (which might violate election laws). The candidates help out as being coordinators only.

Translations from Thai-language newspapers: Manager Online, December 30, 2004

• An English tourists who faced the tsunami still has a lot of stress and cannot accept it. He drinks whisky secretly for relief and then tries to kill himself by jumping off a building at Thammasat University Rangsit [where tourists returning from the Phuket area are staying].

• On December 30, the news reported that Mr. Samit Thammasaroj, the former general director of the Department of Meteorology said that the PM will set him up to be a Deputy of the Prime Minister's office and the chairperson to set the an Advance Warning Danger System for the country.

• The team of Siriraj Hospital doctors complains that the coordination for assistance in the south is bad. The communication also fails so things go very slowly.

• Ms. Praethongtarn Shinawatra, the PM's daughter, and her friends apply to be interpreters for victims at Thammasat Rangsit where tourists returning from the Phuket area are staying. However, there are plenty of of volunteers already so they will put her on the list if they need more. She and her friends will help to organize clothes and other donations.

Translations from Thai-language newspapers: ThaiRath, December 30, 2004

• It is expected that the overall death toll from the tsunami will be 100,000. At Takuapa, Pang-nga there are 4000 dead bodies. Thaksin flew in to inspect in Krabi, Pang-nga, Ranong and Phuket again. The government asks all religious institutions to commemorate the victims.

• Royals express concern for suffering victims of the tidal wave disaster in the six southern provinces. The Crown Prince gave 240 coffins [Matichon reported 275 coffins] including 54 plastic cloths that cover dead bodies and 1000 bags. Meanwhile the Crown Princess denotes 2 million baht from the merit fund. Somdej Pratep gave 20 million baht from the Chaipattana Foundation to the victims.

• On December 29 at 5:00pm, at the Election Commission Office, Mr. Parinya Nakchattri reveals that after discussing with the representative of Interior Ministry and People's Register Office they decided to survey voters to determine who is alive or dead in the six southern provinces. Also who needs a new ID card to vote.

What's on Thai TV

Wisarut reports: From the telephones the conversion between Khun Sorayut (a TV host in Thailand) and officers at Krabi Provincial Hall who handle body collecting, as well as Dr. Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand [the famous forensic expert]: Those who work as corpse collectors at Phi Phi Island said they are too exhausted and frustrated with this job since they get very bad cooperation from Krabi Provincial Hall. The Governor of Krabi tried to find the executes so as to dodge any responsibilities for the frustration of the rescue officers. Khunying Pornthip also complained about the poor communication system. Khunying Pornthip and her coworkers in Phang Nga said AIS seems to let down their customers by failing to restore the mobile phone network while DTAC successfully restored their mobile phone networks on time. Furthermore, she needs more plastic bags to hold corpses as well as cooking utensils since the rations donated from the government require hot water to cook.

• * * URGENT - RH(-) BLOOD DONORS REQUIRED * * *

There is an IMMEDIATE need for "RH, Negative" blood, of any group ('A', 'B', 'AB', 'O', etc.) at the National Blood Center (near Chulalongkorn Hopital). Tel: 0-2256-4300 or 0-2251-3111 ext: 114, 157, 161, 162 from 8.00 am-7.30 pm everyday - www.redcross.or.th We understand that alternative donation points (from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm) are at the following Government Hospitals but please telephone in advance to ensure that your donation can be taken. 1. Chulalongkorn Hospital, Lumpini Pathumwan Rd - Tel. 02 252 8131-9 2. Police Hospital, Rama I Road, Pathumwan - Tel. 02-25281111-25 (NOT TAKING DONATIONS) 3. Phramongkutklao Hospital, Rajvithee Road, Rajthevee - Tel. 02 246 1400-24 4. Rajavithi Hospital, Prayathai Road, Rajatevee - Tel. 02354-8108-9 5. Siriraj Hospital, Pran-nok Road, Bangkok-noi - Tel. 02 419 7000 6. Lert Sin Hospital, Silom Road - Tel. 02 0-2353-9798-9 My thanks to David Tuck of Weber Shandwick for the following first-hand observations and information:- I've just come back from the Thai Red Cross. Things are pretty hectic there. The main points I think you could share in an update are: 1) The over-riding priority is for RH Negative blood. 2) The Red Cross DON'T have any facilities to test on the spot whether your blood is Rh positive or negative. They are only doing this AFTER you've donated. 3) From start to finish the donation process is currently taking well over an hour - unless you know you are Rh negative in which case you'll be taken care of almost at once. 4) If you're unwell and are taking any medication (or have been in the past week), have high blood pressure or other contrary indicators, you may not be able to give blood (although I think if you're Rh negative they'd be much more lenient). In summary, I think that the best advice is that if you know for sure that you are Rh negative - please do what you can to donate. But if you don't know, then it may actually be less helpful to go along, because of system overload.

• * * FINANCIAL DONATIONS * * *

Many people have asked how they may make a financial donation to the emergency relief effort in Phuket. Our current information is the following:- H.M. THE KING'S FOUNDATION (Rajaprajanugros Foundation) Currently donations can only be accepted via cheque to : 1034 Krungkasem Road, Khlong Mahanak, Pom Prab Sattru Phai Bangkok 10100 Tel. 02 281 1902 , 02 628 3467 , 02 282 9595-6 THAI RED CROSS Name of Account: Thai Red Cross Bank: Siam Commercial Bank. Account No.: 045-2-88000-6 Type of Account: savings Branch: Thai Red Cross If you would like a receipt for your donation please fax a copy of the pay-in slip to the Thai Red Cross at fax: 0 2252 7976 Alternatively, send an SMS to 4520000 with keyword "rc" for donation to the relief effort. The service enables consumers that have a DTAC, AIS or Orange subscription to make a 10 baht donation by submitting an SMS with keyword "rc" to access number 4520000. The consumer will receive a thank you message from the Thai Red Cross confirming that the donation has been received. The service is now publicised on the Thai Red Cross Home Page:

OVERDRIVE: The warnings were in the names

Published on December 31, 2004

Some time ago my 13-year old niece challenged me with this riddle: “Can you name a province that elephants are afraid to live in?” she asked. I thought for a while, but could not come up with an answer. I gave in.

“Well, it’s Phang Nga,” she said with a big laugh, knowing that she had succeeded in fooling me with her tricky word play. Phang (destroy; destruction) Nga (elephant’s tusk) really is not a welcome place for elephants if you break down the two words and take them in their literal sense.

Thanks to the deadly tsunami on Sunday December 26, which could become one of the world’s severest natural disasters, you now begin to see the dark omens concealed in the names of the places long described as Thailand’s paradise on the Andaman Sea. With the death toll rising to several thousand people, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Ranong and the Andaman will never be the same again. The double meanings lurking in these names and places are collectively rising up to become a twisted image that will continue to haunt for a long time to come.

Phang Nga has faced total destruction (phang) to suit its literal meaning. An account from a chronicle of King Rama II said the name Phang Nga comes from the Malay words kra phu nga, which means estuary or river mouth. Over time it became known as Phu Nga and finally Phang Nga.

Another local legend has it that Grandpa Yomdung was looking after his elephant. One day the elephant ran away in heat. Grandpa Yomdung followed the elephant to Phang Nga and used a spear to subdue it. The elephant died, but then became Khao Chang (Mount Elephant), the symbol of Phang Nga. Grandpa Yomdung took the elephant’s tusks and placed them atop the mountain in the middle of the city. The city became known as khao phing nga (tusks leaning at the mountain), giving us the name Phang Nga.

Another local account has it that the name of the province originally came from pha nga, which means a beautiful lady. There is a mountain there which looks like a sleeping beauty. A sleeping beauty is a girl who never dies, but who will never wake up.

Phang Nga’s Khao Lak, where most of the tourists perished from the tidal waves, is a geographical mark dividing Thung Takua Pa and Thai Muang. The area was rich with tin and mining was prosperous in the past. But the local people call tin takua, or lead. Thung Ta Kua Pa is literally the Forest of Lead.

The now-obsolete mines overlooking Phang Nga’s Khao Lak stand as a testimony to the exploitation of the past, leaving the areas scattered with large holes.

Krabi prides itself as a world-class resort sandwiched between Phuket and Phang Nga. The name Krabi is probably also derived from the Malay language, coming to be known as Dan Khanon Estuary.

In the Thai version of “Ramayana”, Krabi is a monkey character. Foremost of all soldier monkeys in the “Ramakian” or “Ramakirti” is Hanuman, the Monkey God, who helps Lord Rama of Ayodhya organise an army to do battle against Ravana, the 10-headed giant Thosakan, in Lanka and who wins back the Goddess Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. The epic is a battle between good an evil, a battle between the army of monkeys and an army of giants possible of creating turbulence deep beneath the surface and wiping out the whole world.

Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong all face the charming and mysterious Andaman Sea to the west of Thailand. Don’t be confused by the word Andaman, which derives from Handuman, or Hanuman. The Monkey God is said to have used these islands as stepping stones on his way to Sri Lanka to save the Goddess Sita.

And don’t forget 2004 is the Year of the Monkey, a known trickster.

Krabi also can mean “sword”. When you cross the Rama IX Bridge from Bangkok to Thonburi, you’ll confront the towering building that serves as the headquarters of Kasikornthai Bank. The bank’s headquarters rises high to a pointed top, which looks like a sword. The sword is a symbol to counter the bridge, which cuts across the bank’s territory. Krabi, the province, was not able to raise its sword when the tsunami came with overwhelming force.

Off Krabi is the world-famous Phi Phi Island, another area devastated by the tsunami. Phi Phi is the language of the tribal fishermen (chao lay) indigenous to the area. They called the island Pu Lao Pi Ar Pi, or the island of mangroves. Later on the island has come to be known as Phi Phi Island. But it was Pee Pee Island for the foreign tourists coming over in search of paradise. And if you pronounce Phi Phi with a higher vowel sound, you’ll get Phi Phi as in “ghost, ghost”. When Thai people see a ghost, they cry out “phi, phi!” with their hair standing on end.

Phuket is Bukit in the Malay language, which means mountain. Phuket is the pearl of the Andaman Sea. John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl” is a tale of greed and treachery. In the end, the pearl finds its way back to where it belongs – in the bottom of the ocean. The dark colour of the pearl is so tempting. If you see TV footage of the destruction in Aceh, where the tsunami started, you’ll see the black seismic waves roaring in fury over the fearful cries.

In Ranong, which was also badly hit by the tsunami, there are lots of minerals. Raenong (rae means “mineral” and nong “full of”) has come to be known as Ranong. But ranong is also an adjective meaning “full of damage or losses”.

Indeed, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Phi Phi Island, the Andaman and Ranong will continue to haunt us for a long time because of the dark meanings lurking just beneath our understanding.

THANONG KHANTHONG