Life at the Erawan Shrine, one year after the bomb
On the anniversary of the Erawan bombing (Aug 17), we meet with the people who work and worship at the shrine to see how their lives have been affected one year later.
7 years ago
Prasert Wonginta, 49, Caretaker
How long have you been working here?
I came from Roi Et and started working here in 1996. When the bomb went off, I was standing about four meters away from the blast and severely injured my neck and my legs. I didn’t break any bones luckily. I was hospitalized for a month and stayed at home for two more months.
How has the bomb affected your life?
My vocal cords are permanently damaged so speaking is a bit painful, and I can no longer hear properly due to ear damage. My legs still hurt and I can’t move as well as I used to. I was so afraid that I would never be able to work again but the Erawan hotel's Than Tao Mahaprom foundation, which distributes funds to hospitals all over Thailand, kindly let me stay here and continue my work despite my physical limitations, which I am very grateful for.
Did you feel safe coming back here?
Honestly, I didn’t feel scared at all. The thing that worried me most was losing my job and not being able to work again. Personally I don’t think that this kind of incident will happen again. And if it does, dying doesn’t scare me anymore. One of my co-workers passed away at that time but I survived despite being so close to the bomb. It should have been my time then but I made it through. This place is like a home to me and I couldn’t imagine working elsewhere.
Kotchaporn Boonorn, 21, Traditional Dancer
Has the bombing affected your profession?
I was dancing when the bomb went off but none of the dancers were injured because we were a bit further away from the blast. Some of us suffered from ruptured eardrums and bone pain from the impact but there were no severe injuries.
How do you feel about the security here now?
I was quite anxious and frightened about coming back to work but I needed the money for my education. I have been working here for four years. They’ve now put more security cameras in the area and given the guards metal detectors but I’m still worried because a lot of people come and go every day. I think there could still be more security presence here. Still, I believe that the holiness of the shrine will protect us from dangers based on the fact that none of the dancers were hurt at that time.
Ake Chimkum, 34, Motorcycle Taxi Driver
Where were you when the bomb went off?
I was near the shrine about five minutes before the bomb went off. Luckily I had reached the other side of the road at the time of the blast so I was not hurt.
What was your feeling at that moment?
I was shocked and didn’t know what to do for a while, then I called my family. They told me to go home but I decided that I needed to help the injured people because I once took a first aid course. As I was crossing the road to the shrine, it was so slippery. I could only help give CPR to people who were outside the fenced area, then the rescue team arrived shortly after that. After I came home, I couldn’t sleep that night as I had never seen such a tragic accident before. I couldn’t cope with that.
Has the bombing affected your income?
I used to make about B600 a day but I barely made B50 after the bombing because people were avoiding the area. After three months, I decided to change my job and became a messenger instead. Now I only work part- time as a motorcycle taxi driver here after my day job.
How do you feel about the security in the area?
I used to feel a bit concerned coming back here, but I think it is better now. Police and soldiers make people feel safer. However I think you can only half-trust security in Bangkok as we hear about things like broken CCTV cameras all the time.
Monop Thonglard, 60, Security Guard at Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel
How has working in the area changed since the bomb?
Police and soldiers are here 24/7. They constantly bring police dogs to check the place. As for me, I just moved from inside the hotel two weeks ago to work out here. The hotel has security guards here both day and night. I’m responsible for the day shift and have to count the number of visitors each day and look out for suspicious people.
Have you seen the number of visitors change since the bomb?
The number of people dropped a bit after the bomb, but it began to increase after just one month. Visitors still come to pay respect to the shrine every day and most of them are Chinese tourists despite the recent car accident.
Siriporn Thipparat, 49, Flower Vendor
How were you personally affected by the bomb?
I was scared at first. Days after we came back to sell we still saw people’s flesh on the footpath. But today we feel safe. There are new security protocols and people here keep an eye out for anything unusual.
How has the bomb affected your business?
The number of visitors has not declined tremendously. Lots of foreigners still come here. If tourists were to stop coming here then that would be very bad because Thais don’t usually visit this shrine. Our main concern now is the threat of eviction from the BMA. I don’t know where we would go to sell if that happened. I have been working here for about 30 years. This is my second home.
Sittichai U-tisanonth, 56, Tour Guide
Has the bombing affected your tour group numbers?
Yes, for a few weeks after the bomb it did. But the government was very quick to reassure tourists from Southeast Asian countries, who are my main clients. Overall, I think the bomb has had very little impact on tourism. Many foreigners still want to come to Thailand and this shrine is still one of the highlights of Bangkok.
Do you think anything in the situation was handled poorly?
Thai media should be quicker to distribute correct information. There were a lot of misleading reports that spread on social media very quickly. The international press also needs to check that it is reporting the correct information.
Aomjai Maneesup, 32, Flower Vendor
Did the bomb affect your business?
I was making less than B100 profit a day straight after the bomb, so me and other vendors decided to set our stalls up outside the shrine instead in order to make the area seem more bustling and to prove to people this is a safe place to visit. Customers soon began coming back.
How did you personally feel following the bomb?
I felt sorry for the loss of so many lives. At first, I was afraid to come back here but I still had to make money. However, I think the area is now perfectly safe. There are always police and military officers standing by.
Pol.Cpl. Nawaphon Phitukphon, 27, Police Officer
How long have you been stationed here?
Since after the bomb. Police officers from Lumphini, Phra Khanong and Klongton Police Station, together with soldiers, are relayed here 24/7. There needs to always be officers here on the lookout for suspicious characters. We also prohibit people from leaving their belongings unattended inside the shrine.
Do you feel there is enough security in the area?
I don’t think that people have to be worried about safety here. Everything is back to normal. We always have officers staying here and watching the place closely through security cameras.
The Worshippers
Thanabadin Poungphairoj, 22, Technology student
Why did you come to pay respect to the shrine today?
This is my first time here. I just came from Phetchaburi and started my first year at university so I came here to get blessings for my education and my life in Bangkok.
Did you feel safe to come here?
Yes. I believe in the holiness of this place as lots of people come here all the time. I also have faith in the security here, but surely we have to look after ourselves as well.
Ploychompoo Somwong, 30, Banker
Why did you come to pay respect to the shrine?
I walk past this place all the time but today is the first time I’ve ever visited it. I got some time off work today so decided to come and wish for good luck.
What is your opinion about the security here?
I was comfortable coming here during the day but might have second thoughts about coming at night. I don’t see that the security is any stricter now than before the bomb.
Tak Thilakun, 30, Sales Assistant
Why did you come to pay respect to the shrine?
This is my first time here. I’m hoping for good fortune.
How do you feel about the security here?
I think that it seems fine. Living in Bangkok, we have to be careful and look after ourselves as anything can happen at any time.
Ekkaphong Leelaprasertsin, 25, Self-employed
Why did you come to pay respect to the shrine?
This is my second time here. I believe in the shrine’s holiness.
Do you feel it’s safe here?
Yes. In my opinion, there’s no use increasing security after the bombing. It has already happened. The problem is that authorities are only on alert after something bad takes place.
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