The Hindu : International : Europe pays silent homage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

International

International

Europe pays silent homage

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN. 5. A hushed silence fell all over Europe at noon on Wednesday as millions of people across the continent stopped work and stood still for three minutes as a mark of respect to the victims of the tsunami disaster.

Traffic came to a halt in London, Paris and Berlin, pedestrians stopped in their tracks and radio and TV networks, including the BBC, interrupted their broadcasts to join the tribute. A special programme "Asia Remembered'' was broadcast by the BBC to remind the world of the scale of the tragedy and its implications.

Show of solidarity

In an unprecedented show of solidarity with tsunami victims, stock exchanges, notably the German stock exchange in Frankfurt, stopped trading — as did banks and other commercial establishments. In schools, children stood with their heads bowed in silent prayer — a rare sight in the otherwise noisy classrooms.

In Britain, flags on Government buildings and at Buckingham Palace flew at half-mast and the royal family joined the nation in paying homage to the people affected by the catastrophe.

At airports and in trains, announcements were made telling people to observe the silence. The Government earlier urged employers to make sure that their staff were able to pay homage.

"This is to commemorate the victims of the catastrophe in South-East Asia and is in solidarity with the people of the affected countries. The Government hopes that employers will do all they can to ensure that employees are able to observe the silence and pay their respects,'' said Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture.

Special prayers were held in cathedrals, churches, temples and other places of worship throughout Europe.

The symbolic outpouring of solidarity was matched by more pledges of material aid by Governments, including Britain. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said his Government would eventually give "hundreds of millions'' of pounds in aid to the affected countries.

In a BBC radio interview, Mr. Blair defended himself against criticism that he continued to enjoy his holiday in Egypt despite the tsunami crisis. He said he had been "intimately engaged'' in "all decisions at all times''.

Pope's appeal

AP reports:

In the Vatican, Pope John Paul II prayed in silence for three minutes for the tsunami victims and appealed to others to extend their prayers to those struck by the disaster.

``Once more, I ask all to join my prayers for the many dead and for the populations in grave difficulties,'' he said during his weekly audience at the Vatican.

The new year is ``marked by a deep concern for the sufferings which the people of South-East Asia are presently undergoing,'' said the Pope, who has made repeated appeals for assistance for tsunami victims.

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