At each embassy, President Bush wrote a short message of sympathy in a condolence book. Under his signature, first lady Laura Bush and former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush solemnly penned their names.
The high-powered delegation paid respects on behalf of the American people yesterday morning at the embassies of Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- the countries hit hardest by the tsunami in South Asia nine days ago. Earlier, at the White House, President Bush announced that his father and Clinton would lead an unprecedented U.S. effort to seek private contributions for disaster relief and reconstruction.
President Bush signs a book of condolences at the Thai Embassy. Behind him are, from left: Thai Ambassador Kasit Piromya; his wife, Chintana; first lady Laura Bush; and former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
(Kevin Lamarque -- Reuters)
|
|
Officials at the embassies said the joint visits by the three most recent American presidents was an important, symbolic gesture of support.
"This will be the number one story on the front pages of newspapers as well as on the television," said Gautam Bambawale, minister of information at the Embassy of India. "I'm searching for a word, but let me say that we feel happy that the United States is standing not just with India but with all the countries at this trying moment."
In an interview, Thai Ambassador Kasit Piromya went out of his way to say that his government was "very happy with the assistance extended so far" and to disagree with critics who have said that American personnel were slow to mobilize. "Your personnel was already in place from the very first day," he said.
The condolence calls were brief, none lasting more than about 25 minutes. Each caused some traffic disruptions as police shut down the streets.
Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen displayed a map of India and gave a short briefing on the hardest-hit areas, Bambawale said. Thai Ambassador Kasit Piromya said he told the president about the emergency measures taken so far along the 400-mile coastline affected by the tsunami and offered the use of his country as a regional hub for military and civilian aircraft involved in the relief effort.
President Bush and Laura Bush shared a limousine with Clinton and the elder Bush. The first lady offered a bouquet of pale-colored roses at each stop, according to interviews and a report by the White House pool reporter.
At the Indonesian Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue NW, Laura Bush gave the flowers to Suharti Brotodiningrat, the wife of the ambassador, Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat, according to the pool report. Brotodiningrat placed them on the steps of the building in the midst of a makeshift memorial that includes other bouquets, notes, candles and children's toys.
At the Indian Embassy, a block from the Indonesian facility on Embassy Row, the first lady's flowers were placed beside a small statue of Mohandas Gandhi, and the president and his group were offered tea. On their way out, an Indian journalist asked whether Bush would visit India, and the president said he intended to do so this year.
A military official greeted the president and his entourage at the Sri Lankan Embassy, a small, brick rowhouse-style building on Wyoming Avenue in Kalorama, the pool report said.
At the Thai Embassy, on Wisconsin Avenue near the C&O Canal in Georgetown, the proffered bouquet was placed on an end table next to a photo of Khun Poom Jensen, 21, a grandson of the king who was among those killed by the tsunami.
Piromya said the president and first lady shook hands with several embassy staff members before leaving the building.
Outside, a few dozen passersby, who had been prevented by police from continuing up the block, watched for a glimpse of the famous faces.
"President Bush, he gives a lot of honor to the Thai people today," said Suparat Chantieng, who arrived for work at the embassy after it was temporarily locked down by the Secret Service. "It means a lot to Thai people."
The president left the embassy at 12:10 p.m. and waved to onlookers before ducking into the limousine. Clinton followed a moment later and also waved, eliciting cheers.
Piromya and his wife stood on the sidewalk, bowing as the motorcade sped out of sight.
