PHUKET: Thailand's leading forensic expert, Dr Porntip Rojanasunan, is to appear at a tsunami memorial service and a public workshop at this year's anniversary on December 26.
Next year's anniversary marks 10 years and it's expected to attract survivors, volunteers, and those who played a part in the identification of bodies from around the world.
Dr Porntip played a key part in the identification process during the first 40 days. She told Phuketwan: ''On Thursday at the Baan Bang Maruan cemetery, where 380 unidentified victims are still buried, we will be reviewing the lessons of the 2004 tsunami in advance of the tenth anniversary.
''We learned a tremendous amount about body identification [5400 tourists and residents were killed] but the big lesson remains how to cooperate better at every level during a natural disaster.''
The seminar will be followed on the evening of December 26 by a sky lantern release at the cemetery. A fair has been operating every evening outside the cemetery and locals have the grounds neatly trimmed and ready.
The identification of about 3000 nameless bodies by a team of Thai and international police, dentists and others was the remarkable forensic success story that followed the tsunami.
Students will paint the walls at the cemetery on December 25. The cemetery is just down the road from the 7-Eleven store in the village, on the main road not far on from the turnoff to Nam Khem, a fishing port where about 800 perished.
The ceremony in Nam Khem will begin about 9am on December 26. It is usually one of the most touching places to be.
On Phuket, the beach at Patong will be covered in candles during the evening of December 26. A multi-religious ceremony takes place at the Mai Khao Tsunami Wall of Remembrance - now among the construction site for the region 8 Police headquarters - at 8am.
Next year's anniversary marks 10 years and it's expected to attract survivors, volunteers, and those who played a part in the identification of bodies from around the world.
Dr Porntip played a key part in the identification process during the first 40 days. She told Phuketwan: ''On Thursday at the Baan Bang Maruan cemetery, where 380 unidentified victims are still buried, we will be reviewing the lessons of the 2004 tsunami in advance of the tenth anniversary.
''We learned a tremendous amount about body identification [5400 tourists and residents were killed] but the big lesson remains how to cooperate better at every level during a natural disaster.''
The seminar will be followed on the evening of December 26 by a sky lantern release at the cemetery. A fair has been operating every evening outside the cemetery and locals have the grounds neatly trimmed and ready.
The identification of about 3000 nameless bodies by a team of Thai and international police, dentists and others was the remarkable forensic success story that followed the tsunami.
Students will paint the walls at the cemetery on December 25. The cemetery is just down the road from the 7-Eleven store in the village, on the main road not far on from the turnoff to Nam Khem, a fishing port where about 800 perished.
The ceremony in Nam Khem will begin about 9am on December 26. It is usually one of the most touching places to be.
On Phuket, the beach at Patong will be covered in candles during the evening of December 26. A multi-religious ceremony takes place at the Mai Khao Tsunami Wall of Remembrance - now among the construction site for the region 8 Police headquarters - at 8am.
