http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,185513,00.html?
S'porean killed in Terror Attack
Your pain... is our pain
Many, including strangers, turn up for S'pore terror victim Lo Hwei Yen's wake while tributes from Netizens pour in
By Andre Yeo and Liew Hanqing
December 03, 2008
SOLEMN: A queue at the wake of Ms Lo Hwei Yen.
SHE was a stranger to him, and he to her.
But reading about his fellow-Singaporean in the newspapers made him feel he could connect with her.
So, like several others before him, he made his way to her wake to pay his last respects.
Customer service officer Andrew Lee, 32, was at Teresa Ville condominium, Lower Delta Road, yesterday evening to attend the wake of lawyer Lo Hwei Yen, 28.
Many others, who had also never met her, have paid their own tributes in cyberspace.
Ms Lo was taken hostage and later killed when terrorists stormed the Oberoi Trident hotel in Mumbai.
SUPPORT: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and his wife (left) at the wake of Ms Lo Hwei Yen. TNP PICTURES: JONATHAN CHOO
Her body arrived in Singapore on Sunday morning.
Mr Lee, who was alone, said from newspaper reports he could tell that Ms Lo was someone special.
He said: 'She was an outstanding Singaporean. To lose someone so young is not easy for the family.
'It's only right to let people know that we want to show our concern.'
He said he could relate to the family's grief as his mother had succumbed to cancer this year and he still found it hard to accept it.
He added: 'After I came here, I can start to understand how to appreciate life. You can open yourself up to life and be more proactive in life.'
Yesterday, a steady stream of visitors made their way to the wake.
One woman, a resident in the estate, said she did not know the family personally but decided to spend a few moments in the marquee.
Rows of flowers lined the road leading to the marquee as van after van delivered wreaths every few minutes.
Horror of terrorism
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong arrived at 7pm to pay his respects as Ms Lo's father-in-law, Mr S Puhaindran, had been one of his most senior grassroots leaders in Marine Parade.
Mr Goh said he and his wife had known the Puhaindrans for more than 30 years and called it a very sad and emotional time for the affected families.
He said: 'It's very difficult to accept her loss.
'I think it will take a long time for those who knew her to come to accept the situation.'
Calling the circumstances that led to her death very unusual, Mr Goh said it brought home to Singaporeans the horror of terrorism.
He said: 'It's not like an accident. It's (being) held hostage in a faraway country. And it was the first time she went to India.
'The first time, first night and this thing happened.'
Referring to the impact on Singapore's fight against terrorism, he said the incident had brought home very vividly that terrorism and the threats it posed to Singaporeans were very real.
He added: 'We can be anywhere, Singaporeans can be anywhere and if we are caught in the crossfire of terrorism... you could just perish.
'We will continue to be vigilant and this particular tragedy has reinforced our... determination to make sure this thing doesn't happen in Singapore.'
Meaningless loss
There were also thousands of messages of support from the online community.
Netizens have flooded cyberspace with tributes to Ms Lo, in the form of blog entries, a Facebook group, and messages on online forums.
The Facebook group, called 'In Memoriam: Ms Lo Hwei Yen', was set up on Sunday to remember her.
Since the group was created, about 5,000 members have joined - including many who did not know Ms Lo personally.
More than 700 messages have been posted by members on the group's page, extending condolences to her family and loved ones.
One group member, Marieza Undasan-Chapman, wrote: 'I am unknown to you and your family, but I feel great sadness for this meaningless loss of such a young and obviously beautiful life.
'My thoughts are with the family. May you find the strength to survive this tragedy and draw comfort from all those around you.'
Another netizen, Gerry Chan, wrote: 'My wife and I are of similar age to Hwei Yen, just got married this year and have travelled to India on many occasions. We feel connected to her in many ways.
'It has shocked us immensely that this has occurred and we are greatly saddened. She will also be remembered by us.'
Netizens have also created video tributes to Ms Lo, which have been posted on video-sharing site YouTube.
One tribute was a slideshow featuring pictures of Ms Lo taken over the years. Since they were uploaded, each of the tributes have attracted more than 2,000 views each.
Local bloggers have also expressed grief over the senseless attacks that claimed Ms Lo's life.
Affected
Wrote blogger musesofmine: 'I am quite affected by the senseless death of Lo Hwei Yen, our first Singaporean fatality in an act of terror. Although I do not know her, the fact that she is a fellow countrywoman - a young one at that - and she was killed while on a business trip, is disturbing and of course saddening.
'While I share the pain of her family members over her demise, I cannot do anything but hope for them to stay strong during this trying period.'
Another blogger, NunBun, condemned the Mumbai attacks.
He wrote: 'The recent Mumbai terror attack which claimed a Singaporean life made me sick. I feel like one of my relatives passed away. My heart goes out to the family of Ms Lo Hwei Yen.
'It must be so surreal for them. I cannot imagine the pain that her husband went through in Mumbai and now in Singapore.
'I know how a sudden death in the family feels like, but I cannot begin to even think about a demise such as this.'
An online obituary has also been created for Ms Lo on memorial website www.obituaries.com.sg, where well-wishers have left messages for her family and loved ones, and expressed grief over Ms Lo's sudden death.
S'porean killed in Terror Attack
Your pain... is our pain
Many, including strangers, turn up for S'pore terror victim Lo Hwei Yen's wake while tributes from Netizens pour in
By Andre Yeo and Liew Hanqing
December 03, 2008
SOLEMN: A queue at the wake of Ms Lo Hwei Yen.
SHE was a stranger to him, and he to her.
But reading about his fellow-Singaporean in the newspapers made him feel he could connect with her.
So, like several others before him, he made his way to her wake to pay his last respects.
Customer service officer Andrew Lee, 32, was at Teresa Ville condominium, Lower Delta Road, yesterday evening to attend the wake of lawyer Lo Hwei Yen, 28.
Many others, who had also never met her, have paid their own tributes in cyberspace.
Ms Lo was taken hostage and later killed when terrorists stormed the Oberoi Trident hotel in Mumbai.
SUPPORT: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and his wife (left) at the wake of Ms Lo Hwei Yen. TNP PICTURES: JONATHAN CHOO
Her body arrived in Singapore on Sunday morning.
Mr Lee, who was alone, said from newspaper reports he could tell that Ms Lo was someone special.
He said: 'She was an outstanding Singaporean. To lose someone so young is not easy for the family.
'It's only right to let people know that we want to show our concern.'
He said he could relate to the family's grief as his mother had succumbed to cancer this year and he still found it hard to accept it.
He added: 'After I came here, I can start to understand how to appreciate life. You can open yourself up to life and be more proactive in life.'
Yesterday, a steady stream of visitors made their way to the wake.
One woman, a resident in the estate, said she did not know the family personally but decided to spend a few moments in the marquee.
Rows of flowers lined the road leading to the marquee as van after van delivered wreaths every few minutes.
Horror of terrorism
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong arrived at 7pm to pay his respects as Ms Lo's father-in-law, Mr S Puhaindran, had been one of his most senior grassroots leaders in Marine Parade.
Mr Goh said he and his wife had known the Puhaindrans for more than 30 years and called it a very sad and emotional time for the affected families.
He said: 'It's very difficult to accept her loss.
'I think it will take a long time for those who knew her to come to accept the situation.'
Calling the circumstances that led to her death very unusual, Mr Goh said it brought home to Singaporeans the horror of terrorism.
He said: 'It's not like an accident. It's (being) held hostage in a faraway country. And it was the first time she went to India.
'The first time, first night and this thing happened.'
Referring to the impact on Singapore's fight against terrorism, he said the incident had brought home very vividly that terrorism and the threats it posed to Singaporeans were very real.
He added: 'We can be anywhere, Singaporeans can be anywhere and if we are caught in the crossfire of terrorism... you could just perish.
'We will continue to be vigilant and this particular tragedy has reinforced our... determination to make sure this thing doesn't happen in Singapore.'
Meaningless loss
There were also thousands of messages of support from the online community.
Netizens have flooded cyberspace with tributes to Ms Lo, in the form of blog entries, a Facebook group, and messages on online forums.
The Facebook group, called 'In Memoriam: Ms Lo Hwei Yen', was set up on Sunday to remember her.
Since the group was created, about 5,000 members have joined - including many who did not know Ms Lo personally.
More than 700 messages have been posted by members on the group's page, extending condolences to her family and loved ones.
One group member, Marieza Undasan-Chapman, wrote: 'I am unknown to you and your family, but I feel great sadness for this meaningless loss of such a young and obviously beautiful life.
'My thoughts are with the family. May you find the strength to survive this tragedy and draw comfort from all those around you.'
Another netizen, Gerry Chan, wrote: 'My wife and I are of similar age to Hwei Yen, just got married this year and have travelled to India on many occasions. We feel connected to her in many ways.
'It has shocked us immensely that this has occurred and we are greatly saddened. She will also be remembered by us.'
Netizens have also created video tributes to Ms Lo, which have been posted on video-sharing site YouTube.
One tribute was a slideshow featuring pictures of Ms Lo taken over the years. Since they were uploaded, each of the tributes have attracted more than 2,000 views each.
Local bloggers have also expressed grief over the senseless attacks that claimed Ms Lo's life.
Affected
Wrote blogger musesofmine: 'I am quite affected by the senseless death of Lo Hwei Yen, our first Singaporean fatality in an act of terror. Although I do not know her, the fact that she is a fellow countrywoman - a young one at that - and she was killed while on a business trip, is disturbing and of course saddening.
'While I share the pain of her family members over her demise, I cannot do anything but hope for them to stay strong during this trying period.'
Another blogger, NunBun, condemned the Mumbai attacks.
He wrote: 'The recent Mumbai terror attack which claimed a Singaporean life made me sick. I feel like one of my relatives passed away. My heart goes out to the family of Ms Lo Hwei Yen.
'It must be so surreal for them. I cannot imagine the pain that her husband went through in Mumbai and now in Singapore.
'I know how a sudden death in the family feels like, but I cannot begin to even think about a demise such as this.'
An online obituary has also been created for Ms Lo on memorial website www.obituaries.com.sg, where well-wishers have left messages for her family and loved ones, and expressed grief over Ms Lo's sudden death.
