Tsunami ghosts at peace

2005-09-06 21:25

Khao Lak - Ghosts of tsunami victims no longer haunt Thailand's beaches, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Tuesday.

Many visitors, especially Asian tourists, have shunned beaches hit by the December 26 tsunami for fear of ghosts, which many Thais have reported hearing or seeing after the deadly waves struck.

But Thaksin, who was in the hardest-hit province of Phang Nga for a special cabinet meeting, said the spirits of the dead had already been reborn in line with Buddhist belief.

"I slept well last night," said Thaksin.

"My daughter called and asked me to pray before going to bed and I told her that all of the spirits were already reborn. I have no amulets to ward off ghosts," he said.

Nearly 5 400 people were killed by the tsunami in Thailand, roughly half of them believed to be foreign holidaymakers.

- AFP