So Sad That I Couldn't Speak For Several Minutes
Cambodian general on search mission says finding rowers' bodies was devastating
November 28, 2007
By Kor Kian Beng in Cambodia
Electric News (Singapore)
FOR nearly three days, he had only two hours of sleep.
The Cambodian general's main concern: The five Singaporeans who were missing.
General Nhim Vanda, 59, was given full powers by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to oversee search efforts.
The first vice-president of the Cambodian National Disaster Management Committee could have left it to his rescue officers to do the job.
But this was a man who wanted to get involved personally.
The reason: Gratitude.
He told The New Paper that he wanted to do his utmost to locate the Singaporeans and help their families because his country had received aid from Singapore in the past.
He said during the early '90s there was a severe shortage of rice and fuel in Cambodia.
BORROWED RICE, FUEL
Gen Vanda, 59, who lost his left arm in a grenade attack in 1974, visited Singapore several times to try and get help from the business community.
He managed to get a Singapore company to lend Cambodia 5,000 tonnes of rice and 7,000 tonnes of fuel, which was repaid with rubber over two years.
He said: 'The investors from Singapore were kind to me. I appreciate very much the relationship with Singaporeans. That is why I wanted to return the favour.'
He said he also activated all the help possible because he had received direct orders from Mr Hun Sen to accede to whatever requests the Singapore ambassador had.
Ambassador Tan Yee Woan said she was appreciative of the Cambodian authorities' assistance and that they have been accommodating to almost all the demands and requests from her and the affected Singaporean families.
But it has been an extremely gruelling time for the general since the accident on Friday evening.
On Saturday, just after he got into bed for a much needed rest, he had to crawl out again at 2am when his officers called to tell him that a body was found.
He immediately made his way to the scene. It was the body of a Cambodian man, not one of the five Singaporeans.
He was back at the scene hours later, travelling up and down the river in a speedboat to supervise search efforts.
That was why he could remember with pinpoint accuracy the exact location and the time each body was found.
He said around 300 men, comprising policemen, military officers and members of the public, were mobilised for the search and rescue efforts during the 36-hour period.
He said he also wanted to help the families because the victims' profiles reminded him of his oldest son, aged 26.
Gen Vanda has four other children.
He said: 'As a father, I can understand the parents' worries. Fathers are the same everywhere. So are mothers. We all want to know that our children are safe.'
SLEEPLESS FOR TWO NIGHTS
For two nights, he couldn't sleep and even dreamt about the victims being found.
That is why he said he was shocked beyond words when he saw the bodies. He was on the speedboat with the Singapore ambassador when the bodies were found. He said all five were found by boats combing the river with nets underneath them.
He said: 'I was so shocked and saddened that I couldn't speak for several minutes. Seeing their bodies made me feel sympathetic towards their families.'
He also said he is relieved that they managed to find the bodies quickly, so that the families can at least find closure.
Said Gen Vanda: 'We tried our best to find them. We're sad, but we're also relieved to help the families find their beloved ones.'
Moving on, he said they will look into how they can tighten safety measures and prevent similar incidents.
He said: 'It's an expensive lesson we have from this. We will definitely try to improve from now on.'
Cambodian general on search mission says finding rowers' bodies was devastating
November 28, 2007
By Kor Kian Beng in Cambodia
Electric News (Singapore)
FOR nearly three days, he had only two hours of sleep.
The Cambodian general's main concern: The five Singaporeans who were missing.
General Nhim Vanda, 59, was given full powers by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to oversee search efforts.
The first vice-president of the Cambodian National Disaster Management Committee could have left it to his rescue officers to do the job.
But this was a man who wanted to get involved personally.
The reason: Gratitude.
He told The New Paper that he wanted to do his utmost to locate the Singaporeans and help their families because his country had received aid from Singapore in the past.
He said during the early '90s there was a severe shortage of rice and fuel in Cambodia.
BORROWED RICE, FUEL
Gen Vanda, 59, who lost his left arm in a grenade attack in 1974, visited Singapore several times to try and get help from the business community.
He managed to get a Singapore company to lend Cambodia 5,000 tonnes of rice and 7,000 tonnes of fuel, which was repaid with rubber over two years.
He said: 'The investors from Singapore were kind to me. I appreciate very much the relationship with Singaporeans. That is why I wanted to return the favour.'
He said he also activated all the help possible because he had received direct orders from Mr Hun Sen to accede to whatever requests the Singapore ambassador had.
Ambassador Tan Yee Woan said she was appreciative of the Cambodian authorities' assistance and that they have been accommodating to almost all the demands and requests from her and the affected Singaporean families.
But it has been an extremely gruelling time for the general since the accident on Friday evening.
On Saturday, just after he got into bed for a much needed rest, he had to crawl out again at 2am when his officers called to tell him that a body was found.
He immediately made his way to the scene. It was the body of a Cambodian man, not one of the five Singaporeans.
He was back at the scene hours later, travelling up and down the river in a speedboat to supervise search efforts.
That was why he could remember with pinpoint accuracy the exact location and the time each body was found.
He said around 300 men, comprising policemen, military officers and members of the public, were mobilised for the search and rescue efforts during the 36-hour period.
He said he also wanted to help the families because the victims' profiles reminded him of his oldest son, aged 26.
Gen Vanda has four other children.
He said: 'As a father, I can understand the parents' worries. Fathers are the same everywhere. So are mothers. We all want to know that our children are safe.'
SLEEPLESS FOR TWO NIGHTS
For two nights, he couldn't sleep and even dreamt about the victims being found.
That is why he said he was shocked beyond words when he saw the bodies. He was on the speedboat with the Singapore ambassador when the bodies were found. He said all five were found by boats combing the river with nets underneath them.
He said: 'I was so shocked and saddened that I couldn't speak for several minutes. Seeing their bodies made me feel sympathetic towards their families.'
He also said he is relieved that they managed to find the bodies quickly, so that the families can at least find closure.
Said Gen Vanda: 'We tried our best to find them. We're sad, but we're also relieved to help the families find their beloved ones.'
Moving on, he said they will look into how they can tighten safety measures and prevent similar incidents.
He said: 'It's an expensive lesson we have from this. We will definitely try to improve from now on.'
