Cambodian victims remembered

http://www.montrealgazette.com/

via CAAI
Crowds visit site of stampede during day of mourning

By MICHELLE FITZPATRICK, AFP November 26, 2010

Crowds of mourners offered flowers and incense yesterday at the site of a stampede that killed almost 350 people after panic spread over rumours an overcrowded bridge was about to collapse.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, dressed in black, wiped away a tear and burnt incense at the foot of the narrow bridge, as he led the country in a national day of mourning at a short service.

Flowers and food offerings for the souls of the deceased replaced the shoes, clothing and plastic bottles that were discarded by victims and had remained as grim reminders of Monday's disaster.

Officials said throngs of revellers celebrating the nation's annual water festival apparently panicked as rumours rippled through the crowds that the crossing to an island in Phnom Penh was about to give way.

The death toll was revised down to 347 from 456 because some victims had been mistakenly included twice, the social affairs ministry said.

Of those who perished, 221 were women. Hospitals reported 395 people were injured.

At the memorial ceremony, Hun Sen's wife, Bun Rany, stood at her husband's side and cried as a military band played a sombre tune.

Flags flew at half-staff at government buildings across the capital, and many women wore white shirts, a colour of mourning in Cambodia.

Streams of people, including foreigners, lined up to lay out fruit, rice and water for the spirits of the dead.

The offerings are part of Khmer tradition, said 28-year-old mourner Bou Rany, to appease the souls of the deceased.

"We do not know where their spirits will go," she said.

Also laying flowers was Soth Chay Heang, who said she was angry about the incident.

"I don't want the bridge to reopen now. That has to wait until the people have released all their sorrow," the 23-year-old graduate said.

Om Yentieng, the premier's top adviser, said the bridge would open to foot traffic again soon.

"The use of the bridge will continue," he told reporters at the memorial service.

Initial findings from a probe into the stampede released Wednesday suggested a combination of factors was to blame. A panel is investigating the tragedy.