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At the Tsunami Disaster Memorial Service, PM Lee extends his condolences

to those who have lost someone dear to them, and to every community which
has been ripped apart by the devastating catastrophe. He acknowledges
the massive spontaneous outpouring of compassion and generosity by
Singaporeans, who responded as one people, on a scale unlike any Singapore
has ever witnessed. He also acknowledges the cooperation and help that the
authorities in neighbouring countries have provided to Singaporeans who
have lost loved ones, and to our humanitarian assistance teams there who
have demonstrated leadership, determination and selflessness. Finally, PM
Lee reminds Singaporeans that as we remember those who have perished in
this calamity, we must also help to restore the living. He spurs Singaporeans
to marshall the will to rebuild homes and lives, and resume the journey
forward with hope and determination, as individuals and families, as a nation
together and as part of the global community.

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE

TSUNAMI DISASTER MEMORIAL SERVICE

9 January 2005

1. On 26 December, an earthquake occurred off the northern tip of Sumatra.

It was the strongest the world had seen in 40 years, so massive that the earth
shook on its axis. The quake unleashed tsunamis that traveled thousands of
miles, and sent terrifying walls of water smashing into coastlines around the
Indian Ocean, as far away as Africa.

2. In the following days, the world was transfixed and horrified by

television images of the tsunamis thundering onto beaches, tossing aside
buildings, and destroying everything in their path. People fled in terror,
scrambled to higher ground, or were swallowed up by the waters.

3. It took a few days for the world to realise the scale of the disaster.
Twelve countries suffered direct hits. The worst hit were Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
India, Thailand, and the Maldives. We have seen pictures of Banda Aceh
reduced to rubble, leaving only the historic mosque still standing. And Phuket
with the streets clogged with debris, bodies scattered around. The tragedy is
awful enough on television. But it must have been many times more
overwhelming and terrifying for those caught in the path of the tsunamis.

4. On Tuesday, I visited Aceh. We flew by Chinook helicopter up the West

coast of Sumatra to Meulaboh, and then to Banda Aceh. We saw how for 250
kilometers, the coast had been battered and gouged out by the giant waves.
Whole towns and villages had been wiped bare. Where houses once stood, there
only remained piles of planking or rubble. Sometimes even the ground was gone,
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and dry land had become sea. We shuddered at what must have happened to the
people who used to live there. We saw few signs of survivors. Entire
communities must have perished, probably swept out to sea.

5. Meulaboh itself was ground zero, close to the epicentre of the earthquake.
Large parts of the town had been flattened. Probably one third of the residents
had died. The smell of death hung in the air. As the Indonesian local military
commander, a colonel, said to me, the scene looked like Hiroshima after the
atomic bomb.

6. Other communities around the Indian Ocean suffered badly too Banda
Aceh in Indonesia, Khao Lak in Thailand, Nagapattinam in India, Galle in Sri
Lanka and the many small islands of the Maldives, Andaman and Nicobar.
Altogether, at least 150,000 people were killed. Thousands more are still
missing. Millions survived, but are homeless, injured and in shock.

7. Countries outside the affected region also suffered losses. The casualties
came from at least 35 different countries. Many tourists were holidaying in
coastal or island resorts like Phuket, Penang and the Maldives when the
tsunamis hit. Amongst the visitors, those from Scandinavia and Germany
suffered particularly grievous losses. Although Singa-pore island itself was not
hit by the tsunamis, we too suffered casualties. 9 Singaporeans died, and 15
more are missing.

8. Behind the numbers, each death is a tragic story of a human life

suddenly snuffed out, a family left behind to grieve the loss, or in many cases a
whole family wiped out in one fell swoop. People rushed to rescue others, only
to lose their own lives. Mothers clung on desperately to their children, but were
finally defeated by the waters. Others fought to hold on to two loved ones but
had to make wrenching decisions to let one go. Young couples on the threshold
of their lives together were suddenly parted forever. We do not have to know the
victims to understand the anguish of a man who lost his wife, a mother who lost
her son, a child who has been orphaned, or a family still searching for missing
members, hoping against hope that somehow, somewhere they are safe. We
have our own families, and know what they mean to us.

9. This evening, we gather to remember all those who have died in this
calamity, whatever their nationality or race, and to mourn with their families and
loved ones. Our deepest condolences go to every person who has lost someone
dear, and to every community which has been ripped apart by this cruel wave.
We hope you find comfort knowing that you do not mourn alone. Today the
Singapore flag flies at half-mast. It stands as a mark of our nations respect,
condolence and solidarity, with our fellow men across the world, as we mourn
for all the victims of the disaster.

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10. To those whose loved ones are missing, our hearts are with you at this
trying, anxious time. We have read miraculous tales of survivors being found
alive after many days, at sea or under the rubble. We hope that some of the
missing may still be found. But two weeks have passed since the disaster. We
have to prepare ourselves to face the eventuality that many of the missing will
not be found, and their fates will never be known. That will be a painful loss,
difficult to bear.

11. We mourn for those who have died, and we pray for the missing. But we
must also help the millions who survived, who need medical treatment, food,
shelter and assistance to rebuild their lives. We have a collective responsibility
to help them at this time of dire need.

12. The plight of the victims has touched a deep emotional chord among
Singaporeans. We share a common humanity with those who have been hit. We
had to act and try to make a difference to them.

13. We have responded as one people, with a massive, spontaneous

outpouring of compassion and generosity, on a scale unlike any Singapore has
ever witnessed. Young or old, rich or poor, alone or in groups, you gave of your
time and resources. In just a few days, hundreds of volunteers came forward,
millions of dollars were raised, and tons of food, clothing and other essentials
were collected. Children broke open piggy banks to contribute their savings.
Schools organized fund-raising activities. Grassroots groups rallied support
across the island. Doctors, nurses and those still in training volunteered to go.
Temples, churches and mosques passed the hat around their flocks, and
organised voluntary relief missions. Companies mobilised their staff and their
assets to join the worldwide effort to help the stricken. I want to acknowledge
these and many other efforts of Singaporeans and Singapore residents. When we
saw our fellow human beings in desperate need, we did not pass by on the other
side.

14. As a government, we are mounting our largest overseas relief effort ever.
Our uniformed personnel, our doctors and nurses, and other volunteers are doing
their utmost. They are providing relief, carrying out search and rescue
operations, and doing forensic work to help identify the victims. I met many of
them in Aceh. We also have teams in Phuket, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Our
people are doing magnificently. They are professional, resourceful, tireless, and
keeping their own spirits high in an emotionally draining environment. When
the task force in Meulaboh managed to open landing points to supply the town
by sea, all Singaporeans rejoiced in their breakthrough.

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15. To the men and women of the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore
Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the ministries and agencies,
the charitable and religious organizations, and every volunteer and helper, let me
thank you and salute you. You make us proud to be Singaporeans.

16. I also want to acknowledge the co-operation and help that the authorities
in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are providing to
Singaporeans who have lost loved ones, and to our humanitarian assistance
teams there. These officials have seen their homelands devastated. Many have
themselves lost family members. Yet they soldier on faithfully at their posts.
Their leadership, determination and selflessness are an inspiration to us all.

17. Rebuilding the affected areas is a monumental task that will take several
years. The international community has been generous in committing to help.
Singapore will do our part. The affected countries will need to take the lead,
because they know their own needs and priorities best. I believe they have the
will to do so. Among the survivors I met, I sensed a strong determination to
recover and not to give up. People are retrieving their belongings, displaced
families are staying with fellow villagers, shops are re-opening, and children
smiled and waved as we passed. Amid the trauma and grief there was resilience,
strength and hope.

18. This unforeseen natural catastrophe is a reminder of how vulnerable we

are, how precious and fragile life is, and how resilient we must be in the face of
adversity. In previous crises Singaporeans have responded with courage and
compassion, most recently during the SARS outbreak. This tsunami disaster is
different. The events are taking place far beyond our shores, most of our people
were not in danger, and our losses are fewer. But still we have reached out to
those from all over the world who have lost their loved ones, and strived to help
our neighbours in their hour of need, because we felt it right to do so. This
experience has drawn Singaporeans closer to one another as one nation. This is
the Singapore spirit a small nation with a big heart.

19. Today, as we remember all those who have perished, let us also help to
restore the living. However destructive the forces of nature, may we marshall the
will to rebuild homes and lives. However painful the loss, may we find the
strength to go on living. May those grieving find peace and solace. And may all
of us resume our journey forward with hope and determination, as individuals
and families, as a nation together and as part of the global community.

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