Two-minute silence on Friday to honor the dead in New Zealand
A two-minute silence will be held on Friday to
commemorate the one-week anniversary of last week's massacre, NZ Herald paper
reported on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement
during a visit to Christchurch today.
In a separate event, state broadcasters Radio NZ and
TVNZ will also play the Islamic call to prayer.
Two minutes' silence was chosen over the usual one
minute because of the magnitude of the tragedy; a two-minute silence also took
place to commemorate the Pike River explosions in 2010.
The first burial of those who died took place today
- two refugees from Syria - and Ardern said they should have been safe in New
Zealand.
She confirmed 30 of the 50 bodies of those who died
had now been returned to their families.
Many families have expressed frustration at the
length of time it has taken for bodies to be returned, and Ardern said she
shared that frustration.
That had nothing to do with a lack of resources, she
said, but the complex process of identification.
