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I hear they plan to build a memorial, so that's more government funds presumably, perhaps they hope to attract tourists to the island that way.
I can't see people wanting to use that bridge, they should simply close it off and use the entire bridge as a memorial.
People can walk away from an encounter with a water cannon while having serious internal injuries such as a ruptured spleen. If true and if such injuries are ignored, death could occur later. This is if the operators are trained, it is my own experience that they are normally used to disburse protesters and unruly crowds/rioters. The use of a water cannon in this type of celebratory crowd in a confined space displays poor judgment on the chain of command and who if anyone gave the order. Just because you carry a weapon, does not mean you know when to use it. There is a protocol for the use of force in law enforcement and in the military it is Rules of Engagement.
I saw on Bayon TV that there was a crush of several hundred people on the bridge and the police and other helpers were pouring water from bottles on them to cool them down since it was so hard to get people out.
They were literally jam packed in there but showed visible relief when covered with the water as they were so hot and exhausted.
It seemed really hard to get people out of there because they had fallen and crushed each other to such a great extent.
I haven't seen any footage of the water cannon yet though so hard to say whether it was used properly or to positive effect or not.
I believe that we know who is a major shareholder in koh pic.
Heard second hand resports yesterday from barang doctors who work in the two major hospitals telling of helpless people dying in the corridors.
Then I read a quote in the paper by the khmer doctor saying how do we know what internal injuries these people have?
Of course.
How many injured will have had an x ray or a scan?
Does either calamete or russie have a scanner-I doubt it.
I know when stewie was in calamet emergency two years ago they had no respirator.
Emergency rooms are also very small,as they are in the west.
I know that overseas help was offered and rejected.
i would guess that the US could have flown in highly trained and well equipped teams in maybe 48 hours and probably saved countless lives.
I am just amazed that an accident like this has never happened here before,the numbers of people are so vast during the water festival.
Other forums have threatened banning members for disrespectful comments and bickering amongst each other-what do people think is a decent interval before commenting on shortcomings by officials or the common people involved?
How many lexies does it take to buy a ct scanner?
I am guessing,if there are six and a half LX470s to a million,then about 13 would buy a scanner Im guessing?
Food for thought isnt it?
M.L. A good post and I agree with you 100%, also that other forum I refuse to post on there again.
All I can say is Condolences to all of the Khmer People and may the victims.
R.I.P.
I'm so angry
So am I Violet.
Very Very Angry because I know that a lot that happened is being covered up.
As Foreigners in Cambodia there is little we can do to correct the wrong that is being done to the Poor people of this country.
Cheers. Banker
Banker wrote: "Very Very Angry because I know that a lot that happened is being covered up."
You mean in general, or specifically to do with Koh Pich?
Many years ago, I was in a street party (SF Castro during Halloween) where we had a similar density of people in the street. It was wall-to-wall bodies where each person was in contact with 4-5 others--a pickpocket's paradise. I was tall enough to see over the crowd and noticed a small group of people fall over on the other side of the street. A chain-reaction ensued and the whole crowd (200+ people, I'm guessing) eventually toppled over.
We were packed tightly enough that you couldn't move your feet to catch your balance, so you just fell on top of the person next to you (and had a few fall on you too). Getting up wasn't easy because all you could do is push against the bodies below you and if you had several others on top, you'd just have to wait.
The people at Koh Pich were panicked, and that's a big difference. I think some must have been injured by the struggles of those on top to get out. Once the panic spread, people were probably pushing harder and this compacted the crowd even more. Not a good situation to be in.
One thing I'm curious about is why the bridge was so densely packed to begin with. Did some sort of event finish on the island just before the crush? If you look at the videos, there's plenty of walking-around space on the approach to the Naga side of the bridge. What about the island-side? How dense was it over there?
Also, none of photos or videos that I've seen show any sort of police checkpoint on the Naga side of the bridge. My assumption is that there must have been one before the crush started and it was removed when things went bad. Something must have restrained the people from simply walking away towards Naga. A simple movable barrier like the ones the police set up all over the city would have been enough to keep people in there.
If there actually was a barrier located at the edge of the crush zone, then a large part of the responsibility for the tragedy lies with those who set it up.
Could not agree more and it is for that reason that the NGO's and the WB, IMF and ADB should wake up and admit it. Stop lining everyone's pocket, the money is not being put to good visible use. I am sure that donors are starting to ask hard questions about where is all the money going? We are beating a dead horse here, 4 years ago I came here to make a difference and have lost that idealistic view.
rigger: you're right about the ghostly superstitions ... most of the khmers living near me say they'll never set foot on koh pich again, regardlessof what's being offered there ... and most of these people weren't even there last week ...
as such, wonder how popular the new ice skating rink's going to be ... ? ...
talking about superstitions, anyone else noticed the sudden price hike on bunches of green bananas ... ? ... from 1,000 riel a bunch to 25,000 riel a bunch, to by-advance-order only ... ...
andyturk: island side of the bridge wasn't overly crowded, plenty of walk-space available ... on the naga side, there weren't any barriers, removable or otherwise ... the nearest set of removable barriers were at the intersection of sothearos & sihanouk blvds ...
the mirrors take on it.
Not all of them are bad...as some of you seem to think
A student who was collecting donations for the victims spoke of a beggar who donated some of his money for the victims. In a time of tragedy like this, Cambodians everywhere seemed to come out and show their love for their fellow people, and this clearly was a moment of social unity.
http://bit.ly/hYPdu0
Story is doing the Khmer rounds that most weddings on Koh Pich since that day now only getting several tables of guests showing up and are financial failures. Many many now canceling and moving to new locations.
not surprised...its going to take one hell of a monk blessing to get rid of those ghosts on the island now.
Maybe change the name from Koh Pich to Koh Dumbrei Saaw (white elephant island)