Australia, NZ observe moment of silence for tsunami victims
Australia, NZ observe moment of silence for tsunami victims
Agencies, Canberra/Wellington
Australia and New Zealand fell silent on Sunday exactly three weeks after an Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 157,000 people in southern Asia.
The two countries observed 60 seconds' silence at the precise time that the earthquake struck on Dec. 26 - 11:59 a.m. (7:59 a.m. in Jakarta) on the Australian east coast and 1:59 p.m. in New Zealand.
Flags were flown at half mast to honor the victims, who included at least 23 Australians and six New Zealanders. Television and radio stations interrupted their programming with silence.
Television news reports showed Aborigines with their bodies painted holding traditional ceremonies in the Australian cities of Brisbane and Perth. Surfers, including some regular travelers to Indonesian beach resorts, gathered in circles off shore to commemorate the tragedy in numerous locations off the Australian coast.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard attended a Sydney mosque on Friday in recognition that most of the victims were Muslim Indonesians.
He attended an Anglican cathedral in Sydney on Sunday and planned to join in a Hindu ceremony on Sunday evening.
Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen told the congregation that the disaster should not shake people's faith in God.
"Some commentators have spoken with undue haste about the challenge that events such as this pose to belief in God," he said.
"At one level, so they do. We need to understand, however, that the Bible sees each event as part of a flow of history, as part of a design or pattern," he added.
Australians have donated nearly A$200 million ($152 million) so far for tsunami relief efforts, while the government made its largest aid commitment yet in pledging A$1 billion to Indonesia.
Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, Imron Cotan, released a statement to thank Australia for its support and financial aid.
"That Australia was first with offering aid, financial as well as in kind, demonstrates clearly that both countries are able and eager to work together," Cotan said.
At Sydney's Bondi beach, surfers paid their respects by paddling out to throw a wreath into the Pacific Ocean, while surfers at other beaches formed rings of remembrance.
In Western Australia, about 4,000 people gathered on the shores of the Indian Ocean for prayers from churches and members of the Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Baha'i and Aboriginal communities.
Play was interrupted at an Australia versus Pakistan limited- overs international cricket match in Tasmania to join in the minute's silence, and Australian military personnel working on the clean-up of Indonesia's devastated Aceh province paused at the same time.
In New Zealand, a bell tolled at a special multi-faith service in the northern city of Auckland attended by political leaders, dignitaries, diplomats and ordinary citizens.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said that "three weeks ago, the world began to watch in horror as a catastrophe without precedent in recent times unfolded around the Indian Ocean."
The aftermath of the "catastrophe has also seen human beings reach out to support each other on an unprecedented scale," she told a packed cathedral.
"Across religions, faiths, and beliefs, across ethnicities and national boundaries, the common humanity of people has shone through at this time of great adversity for so many," she said.
The focal point of national compassion was an interfaith memorial service at the Anglican Cathedral in Auckland attended by religious and civic leaders.
Clark said she hoped a permanent memorial for tsunami victims would bring "enhanced solidarity and a strengthened sense of community worldwide".
Bishop Richard Randerson, the cathedral's dean, said God was not responsible for the disaster, for which there were ready scientific explanations. But God had been found in the compassion and generosity towards those affected.
The New Zealand government has so far pledged 10 million New Zealand dollars ($7 million) in aid to tsunami-hit countries, with a larger relief package to be announced on Tuesday.
Public donations amount to nearly 10 million dollars, according to reports from aid agencies.