Buhay Bangkok

Today’s issue of The Nation reported that a 51-year-old Thai woman died yesterday after getting crushed by a mob intent on buying amulets in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The report said nearly 10,000 people forced their way into a technical school which was selling coupons for the much-coveted Chatukam Ramthep amulets. Reports said the people have encamped in the area as early as midnight.

It took the hundred or so cops guarding the event some time to break up the mob. Only then were they able to rescue the women and old people who were injured in the stampede.

The abbot of Wat Phra Nakhom observed that three groups of people were involved: those who believe in the magical abilities of the amulet; businessmen who trade in amulets; and teen-agers hired by these same businessmen to buy amulets in their behalf, thus boosting the number of their goods.

Though the report didn’t state how much each amulet costs, an officemate of mine told me it can be bought for as low as 100 Baht but the price can increase tenfold if sold by a middleman.

As usual, the authorities—both the police and the temple officials—promised a speedy investigation and meting out of justice. “Never again,” seems to be the favorite motto of authorities irrespective of race and creed during tragedies.

This report reminded me of similar incidents in the Philippines. The annual Nazarene feast in Quiapo and the Wowowee TV variety show stampeded in Pasig City two years ago come to mind.

The Quiapo is a well-known religious event. Thousands of devotees, garbed in maroon, would gather in Quiapo every January for the feast. Selected male devotees would pull the carriage bearing the life-size Nazarene image out of the old church, parade it around the block, amidst a sea of humanity. Thousands of devotees brave the heat, the exhaustion—and yes, the danger of a—stampede just so they can a glimpse—or better yet, get near and touch the sacred relic, in the belief it would bring a miracle in their lives.

It’s a different story in the Wowowee incident. Thousands of people encamped at the former ULTRA compound where the show would hold a remote telecast the following day. The people went there to try their luck. Most of them were poor, some were even from the provinces who had borrowed fare money just to get a chance to have a shot at the prizes awaiting them in the variety show: passenger jeepneys and tricycles, house and lot packages and cash.

In both cases, people were injured, and some died, because of the stampede that followed. What drove these people to face such risks? Desperation, whether rooted in material want or a sense of helplessness over their own lives.

Manna and miracle. Faith and profit. Either can be had with the quick fix offered by amulets and TV variety shows. But for a steep price.