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River Kwae week marks 60th anniversary

BANGKOK, November 2, (TNA) – The construction of the River Kwae Bridge 60 years ago – immortalised in the movie ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ – is to be marked this year with a massive light and sound extravaganza, which will also seek to cement peace between Thailand and Japan.

Government and private sector organizations have now begun fervent preparations for the annual River Kwae Bridge Week, which this year will run from 28 November – 7 December.

Leading the preparations is the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), along with Kanchanaburi Province, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and a number of private sector organizations.

The first trains rumbled across the River Kwae Bridge (known erroneously to westerners as the River Kwai Bridge) on 25 October 1944. Built by allied prisoners of war, who were held in jungle camps by Japanese troops, the bridge was notorious for the death toll it extracted on the labourers. Estimates put the number of dead at over 90,000.

In recognition of this year’s important anniversary, Kanchanaburi Provincial Governor Rungrit Makornphong hopes that this year’s festival will not only help boost tourism and promote Thailand’s cultural heritage, but will also commemorate the Southeast Asian war.

Rather than simply focus on the cruelty and torture involved in the construction of the bridge, this year the festival will also look at the assistance and support given by the local Thai population to the POWs, and the mutual support among the prisoners themselves. To mark this, the theme of this year’s festival has been designated ‘An end to war: friendship follows’.

The light and sound show – the undoubted highlight of the festival – is being organized by the Kantana entertainment group using the latest technlogy. The show will be held each day at 19.30 hours, with additional shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 21.00 hours. Foreigners will be able to listen to the show in a choice of four languages – English, Japanese, Chinese and French.

The 10-day festival will also offer a wealth of other entertainment, including nightly concerts of Thai pop music, a ‘Miss Peace’ beauty pageant, a Thai-Japanese ‘friendship boxing’ contest, a transsexual beauty contest and a singing contest for village headmen. On sale will be One Tambon One Product goods, and stalls will be open supporting the Red Cross. (TNA)

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Kan Win

Don't fancy seeing the "Miss Tutt" beauty contest AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

As in most websites and postings on the Thai-Burma railway ,the many tens of thousands

of Asian labourers ,who experienced a far higher death rate than the Allied POW's ,barely rate a mention.

In Kan Win's posting POWs are mentioned twice,but Asian labourers...........not at all. Ah!but they were " coolies"-a label used on one Australian website-and besides some "volunteered" to work for the Japanese Army.

Is it 10 days starting on OCt 25 then?

As in most websites and postings on the Thai-Burma railway ,the many tens of thousands

of  Asian labourers ,who experienced a far higher death rate than the Allied POW's ,barely rate a mention.

In Kan Win's posting  POWs are mentioned twice,but Asian labourers...........not at all. Ah!but they were " coolies"-a label used on one Australian website-and besides some "volunteered" to work for the Japanese Army.

This was quoted by:-

MCOT.ORG

http://www.mcot.org/

maybe you should adderss this one to them.

Thank you for your comments, and view, we all are sad about this, but life must go on.

Is it 10 days starting on OCt 25 then?

The annual River Kwae Bridge Week, which this year will run from 28 November – 7 December.