A solemn memorial stone for the gruelling Siam-Burma Railway legacy

A poignant ceremony will be held on May 1st at Chedi Niramam, Wat Thaworn Wararam, to unveil a memorial dedicated to the Asian laborers who perished building the infamous Siam-Burma Railway during World War II.

This initiative, spearheaded by Malaysians and Indians in Bangkok (MIB), aims to finally recognise the immense suffering endured by these forgotten victims of forced labor.

Honouring the forgotten “Romusha”

The memorial, a granite “memorial stone” crafted in Madurai, India, will stand as a permanent tribute to the estimated 100,000 laborers who died constructing the 415-kilometer railway, also known as the Death Railway.

The vast majority were Tamils from Malaya, with others being ethnic Chinese and Malays from Malaya and Singapore.

Their remains, discovered during construction work in the 1950s, now rest within a “Chedi” (Thai stupa) located near the planned memorial site.

The Thai-Burma Railway, built by the Japanese Imperial Army between 1942 and 1943, remains a stark reminder of the brutality of war.

Tens of thousands of Asian labourers, known as “Romusha,” were subjected to horrific working conditions, forced to endure malnutrition, disease, and harsh treatment.

The exact number of labourers who perished will likely never be known.

Seeking closure through a memorial stone

Dr. Silva Kumar, Chairman of MIB, emphasises the importance of finally recognising the sacrifices of these labourers.

“Their contributions and sacrifices should never be forgotten,” he stated to Bernama earlier this year.

“This project aims to bring a sense of closure to the families who lost loved ones and educate future generations about this dark chapter in history.”

The MIB has worked tirelessly for five years, collaborating with the Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Jojie Samuel, to secure permission for the memorial’s installation.

“Thanks to the invaluable support of American historian Dr JJ Kawarcki, Professors David Boggett and Andy Barraclough through their research and papers, we finally secured permission to instal the hero stone,” he said.

The “memorial stone” serves a dual purpose: to honour the memory of the fallen and to educate the public about this often overlooked aspect of World War II.

This initiative ensures that the stories of these labourers will be remembered for generations to come.