"death Railway" In Thailand Proposed To Be New World Heritage

[george]

"Death Railway" in Thailand proposed to be new World Heritage

BANGKOK: -- A historic railway in western Thailand constructed by Allied Prisoners of Wars (POWs) during the World War II is proposed to be a new "World Heritage".

A former Japanese military interpreter who was involved in interrogations of World War II prisoners during the construction of the railway linking Thailand with Burma, now Myanmar, is scheduled to visit Thailand this week, beginning on February 15, to urge the Thai government to seek to have the ruins of the railway designated as a World Heritage site.

''I want to make the railway an antiwar symbol in order to remind the Japanese of the need to reflect on their past conduct,'' the 87-year-old former Japanese military interpreter, Takashi Nagase, who is now an English teacher in Kurashiki, Japan's Okayama Prefecture, was quoted by a news report of Kyodo News Agency as saying on Saturday.

Kumiko Hashimoto, the wife of former Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, would accompany him as her husband, whose constituency was in Okayama, has supported his longstanding efforts to promote reconciliation between former Allied POWs and Japanese

soldiers, said the Kyodo news reports disseminated to TNA on Sunday.

He is scheduled to meet with a Thai member of parliament (MP) from the western Kanchanaburi bordering Myanmar, where museums related to the railway and a cemetery for Allied POWs are located.

On February. 20, Nagase will visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to lobby for the site's registration by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Nagase witnessed Japanese troops torture POWs in Kanchanaburi in the last years of World War II.

Shortly after the war, he was deployed by the Allied Forces on a mission to search for bodies of Allied soldiers who perished while building the railroad and confirmed the remains of more than 13,000 POWs.

The notorious railway is known as the ''Death Railway'' as about 16,000 Allied POWs, including British, Dutch and Australian nationals, as well as 80,000 to 100,000 Asians perished while they were forced to build it.

The 415-kilometer railway linking Thailand and Myanmar, was completed in October 1943 after about 18 months of construction work with a labor force of some 400,000.

But most of it was abandoned due partly to high maintenance costs after the war and currently the railway operates along a portion of only about 130 kilometres in Thailand.

To atone for his wartime activities, Nagase has visited Thailand more than 120 times since 1964.

In 1976, he organized a meeting of reconciliation between the former Japanese army members and POWs and together with them Nagase crossed over the ''Death Railroad" bridge on the River Kwai in western Thailand.

He has also engaged in philanthropic work for local Thai people.

''A lot of tourists visit the railway, but I hope there will be more and more people who come to the site to mourn the war dead,'' he said.

His campaign is also aimed at issuing a warning to Japanese society, which he perceives as ''increasingly heading toward war'' again.

Nagase said he has been concerned about attempts by some Japanese to whitewash wartime atrocities.

The man, who believes the World Heritage designation of the railway is his last mission in his lifetime, said that since he first unveiled the idea last summer he has received no objections.

''When I introduced my plan at an annual memorial service to commemorate POWs at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama last August, representatives of Britain and other Allied countries all welcomed the idea,'' Nagase said.

He organizes a memorial service every year for Commonwealth soldiers who died in detention in Japan during World War II.

The British government honored him in 2002 for his role in making efforts to reconcile Japan with its former British POWs.

Some former Japanese soldiers told him that even though they cannot openly campaign for the World Heritage status because they abused the POWs and Asian workers, they would be glad if the railway which they built is recognized by UNESCO, according to Nagase.

''Many infamous war-related sites, including the A-bomb Dome in Hiroshima, have been registered as World Heritage sites; so why not this railway?'' Nagase said.

''Former POWs would not tolerate lobbying for UNESCO designation by ordinary Japanese, but some of them acknowledge my postwar activities.

That is why I can be proactive,'' he said.

Nagase said he could ask museums related to the railway in Kanchanaburi to collect signatures from visitors who support the idea of the World Heritage registration.

The railway was the subject of the famous 1957 film ''The Bridge on the River Kwai.

--TNA 2006-02-12

[Maejo Man]

...and so it should be, but according to Japanese school history books, it doesn't exist

[Donz]

did you know that the Japanese no absolutely nothing about world war 2?

They only find out when then travel abroad mostly

[JXXXL]

I visited the bridge for the first time recently and I found it a bit disturbing. I didn't think the site was treated with the solemn respect that it deserves. This railroad project is a prime example of the brutality of the Japanese and I think more should be done to get people to understand the magnitude of the tragedy. Yea, it should be a world heritage site, but I don't think the Thais will display it in the proper light.

I suppose I would fee the same if I visited a Nazi death camp and saw tourists jumping around laughing and snapping group pictures.

[Donz]

i Actually thought it was treated very well. And did you take the train ride plus another bus to the hel_l fire pass.

The museum was very good and explained alot. I went along with a Japanese friend who was very very shoked and it took awhile for him to relise what the Japanese had done. And this museum made him understand very well the magnatude of it.

The Museum at the beging of the bridge was utter rubbish and they need to upgrade the toilet

[chownah]

I know that Thailand's railways are old but I think that they have been upgrades since WWII...haven't they?.....and I know that they aren't the safest in the world but I wouldn't call them a "death Railway" by any stretch of the imagination.....now the trains in Mexico....deadly!

[chuchok]

did you know that the Japanese no absolutely nothing about world war 2?

They only find out when then travel abroad mostly

really?

[Maejo Man]

I know that Thailand's railways are old but I think that they have been upgrades since WWII...haven't they?.....and I know that they aren't the safest in the world but I wouldn't call them a "death Railway" by any stretch of the imagination.....now the trains in Mexico....deadly!

It's called the Death Railway on account of the allied POWs that gave their lives building it, or did you miss the point completely?

[Donz]

did you know that the Japanese no absolutely nothing about world war 2?

They only find out when then travel abroad mostly

really?

Yes really.

Thats what my friend said, she was on holidays in australia and came with me to Thailand and was very shocked when we watched a short film on what Japan did to people.

I was even very surprised.

[sierra01]

I visited the bridge for the first time recently and I found it a bit disturbing. I didn't think the site was treated with the solemn respect that it deserves. This railroad project is a prime example of the brutality of the Japanese and I think more should be done to get people to understand the magnitude of the tragedy. Yea, it should be a world heritage site, but I don't think the Thais will display it in the proper light.

I suppose I would fee the same if I visited a Nazi death camp and saw tourists jumping around laughing and snapping group pictures.

It's a very sad place, so many lives lost. I took my parents there a couple of years ago, my Dad stood in the middle of the bridge and cried, for all the lives lost and for the friends that he lost there, very very moving.

WW2 had far less impact on Thailand than it did on many other countries, I don't think the Thai people don't really understand the significance of the bridge, so I'm not surprised to see happy people there.

A few years ago I went to a forest outside of Vilnius in Lithuania, the Germans murdered 100,000 Jews there. It's the most eerie and weird place I've ever been to, I was there for 2 hours and not once did I hear a bird sing, just total silence. There, the people understand....all too well.

[tuky]

I vote for it.

ANZAC day at Hellfire pass would be an amazing experience, one that is on my list of "to do's".

The bridge itself is very impressive, very market like but a sobering experience all the same.

[JXXXL]

I visited the bridge for the first time recently and I found it a bit disturbing. I didn't think the site was treated with the solemn respect that it deserves. This railroad project is a prime example of the brutality of the Japanese and I think more should be done to get people to understand the magnitude of the tragedy. Yea, it should be a world heritage site, but I don't think the Thais will display it in the proper light.

I suppose I would fee the same if I visited a Nazi death camp and saw tourists jumping around laughing and snapping group pictures.

It's a very sad place, so many lives lost. I took my parents there a couple of years ago, my Dad stood in the middle of the bridge and cried, for all the lives lost and for the friends that he lost there, very very moving.

WW2 had far less impact on Thailand than it did on many other countries, I don't think the Thai people don't really understand the significance of the bridge, so I'm not surprised to see happy people there.

A few years ago I went to a forest outside of Vilnius in Lithuania, the Germans murdered 100,000 Jews there. It's the most eerie and weird place I've ever been to, I was there for 2 hours and not once did I hear a bird sing, just total silence. There, the people understand....all too well.

There's a very good documentary running on NatGeo about the railway. Not only did POW's die, but 10s of 000s of asian slave laborers as well.

I think if you make something like this a tourist attraction, you have an obligation to educate the visitors. Otherwise they should just leave it alone - too late for that I guess.

If my Dad was a veteran, I would hate to take him there unless it was some sort of official rememberance.

[chownah]

So what is it about the bridge that represents heritage? Is wartime slavery a heritage to be revered? Is making a place where people with anti-Japanese sentiment can go and indulge in their prejudice a sign of promoting some anti-Japanese heritage?

Just whose heritage is it and what is the heritage exactly?

[chuchok]

So what is it about the bridge that represents heritage? Is wartime slavery a heritage to be revered? Is making a place where people with anti-Japanese sentiment can go and indulge in their prejudice a sign of promoting some anti-Japanese heritage?

Just whose heritage is it and what is the heritage exactly?

It's rembering those that were murdered. Don't you get it?

You never cease to amaze me.

[tuky]

So what is it about the bridge that represents heritage? Is wartime slavery a heritage to be revered? Is making a place where people with anti-Japanese sentiment can go and indulge in their prejudice a sign of promoting some anti-Japanese heritage?

Just whose heritage is it and what is the heritage exactly?

Us Aussies hold that place, Gallipoli and the Kokoda trail pretty close to our hearts. I would say it is our heritage.

I was visiting there recently and was quite impressed to see the number of Japanese there, so I would say that it is an anti war monument rather than anything else 2nd only to preserve the memory of the poor sould that perished building the thing.

[sierra01]

I visited the bridge for the first time recently and I found it a bit disturbing. I didn't think the site was treated with the solemn respect that it deserves. This railroad project is a prime example of the brutality of the Japanese and I think more should be done to get people to understand the magnitude of the tragedy. Yea, it should be a world heritage site, but I don't think the Thais will display it in the proper light.

I suppose I would fee the same if I visited a Nazi death camp and saw tourists jumping around laughing and snapping group pictures.

It's a very sad place, so many lives lost. I took my parents there a couple of years ago, my Dad stood in the middle of the bridge and cried, for all the lives lost and for the friends that he lost there, very very moving.

WW2 had far less impact on Thailand than it did on many other countries, I don't think the Thai people don't really understand the significance of the bridge, so I'm not surprised to see happy people there.

A few years ago I went to a forest outside of Vilnius in Lithuania, the Germans murdered 100,000 Jews there. It's the most eerie and weird place I've ever been to, I was there for 2 hours and not once did I hear a bird sing, just total silence. There, the people understand....all too well.

There's a very good documentary running on NatGeo about the railway. Not only did POW's die, but 10s of 000s of asian slave laborers as well.

Something like 16,000 allied POW's died building the railway, and around 100,000 Asians.

I think if you make something like this a tourist attraction, you have an obligation to educate the visitors. Otherwise they should just leave it alone - too late for that I guess.

If my Dad was a veteran, I would hate to take him there unless it was some sort of official rememberance.

My Dad specifically asked to go there. Again at his request we visited the big cemetery nearby, he wrote down the details of all the men from the East Anglian and Suffolk regiments buried there, and took photos of each grave. He is a member of both regiments old soldiers clubs (I can't remember the proper name for them!) and knows that many relatives of the fallen have never been able to visit the site to pay their last respects, they were all extremely grateful by what he did for them.

[Maejo Man]

Just whose heritage is it and what is the heritage exactly?

Obviously still in nappies, and definately not Australian, must have achieved a Z-minus in history too.....Oh well

[Kan Win]

Death Railway

The Famous Bridge of the River Kwae

Viaduct with the Tourist Train

R.I.P. to all that died there.

[chuchok]

Just whose heritage is it and what is the heritage exactly?

Obviously still in nappies, and definately not Australian, must have achieved a Z-minus in history too.....Oh well

Not just Aussies died here.....

Workers on the Death Railway Total Forced Labour Total Deaths

Asian Labourers 200,000 +/- 80,000

British POW's 30,000 6,540

Dutch POW's 18,000 2,830

Australian POW's 13,000 2,710

American POW's 700 +/- 356

Korean & Japanese soldiers 15,000 1,000

hellfirepass.com

[chownah]

I went out to the UNESCO World Heritage web site to see if I was so far off the mark for wondering what the heritage is concerning the "death Railway" and fankly I think my question is a good one. There are many hundreds of world heritage sites so I just skimmed through several dozen of them and they are all things like The Acropolis in Greece, or the ancient cliff dwellings on SW America, or the ancient city of Palenke, or other famous architecture from ancient times. These sites contain artifacts that are maintained to celebrate some cultural heritage. I don't see how alot of prisoners of war being maltreated and forced to work in slavery celebrates some world heritage. When I think of the famous bridge (and I am not still in nappies and I do know about what happened more or less) and how people react to it I mostly think of war atrocities and anti Japanese sentiment....to me this is not some heritage that needs to be preserved. Maybe the memorial should be preserved but to me, with my limited knowledge of what seems to qualify as a world heritage site, I think it does not represent what a heritage site is supposed to be.....maybe you people who have responded so negatively to my post should go out to the UNESCO World Heritage web site and get educated too.

[skylar]

I'm wondering why we pronounce it as Kwai when Thais call it Kwae...

[JXXXL]

I'm wondering why we pronounce it as Kwai when Thais call it Kwae...

I was with some Thai friends and when I pronounced it "kwai" they all had a great laugh and corrected me with "kwae. However, I pointed to the marquee on the hotel and it was spelled Kwai. I think the famous movie, they mistakenly pronounced it Kwai as well.

[Donz]

I'm wondering why we pronounce it as Kwai when Thais call it Kwae...

Probaly the same as we say Left and they say Reft

[JXXXL]

When I think of the famous bridge (and I am not still in nappies and I do know about what happened more or less) and how people react to it I mostly think of war atrocities and anti Japanese sentiment....to me this is not some heritage that needs to be preserved.

You wouldn't happen to work for the Japanese ministry of education would you?

[Frozen]

There is also no German concentration camp on the list.

So I don't think it's the best way to keep the deaths in remembrance...

[tuky]

As always, "The Colonel" comes through with some great pics.

You Kan always find a place for a pic or two mate, thanks.

[jaapfries]

When I think of the famous bridge (and I am not still in nappies and I do know about what happened more or less) and how people react to it I mostly think of war atrocities and anti Japanese sentiment....to me this is not some heritage that needs to be preserved.

You wouldn't happen to work for the Japanese ministry of education would you?

==============================================================

"CHOWNAH" you are very obviously a very ill-informed person, with no regard for other people's feelings. I strongly suggest that you stop any further hurtfull comments, because you are hurting a lot of people.

My own grandfather carried HIS father for many miles down this "Railway-Of-Death" and he didn't even know his father had died miles ago . . . . . . . Yes Sir; he was one of those 18,000 odd Dutch unfortunate, - but extremely brave P.O.W.'s who gave his life, so that "people like you", also, may enjoy freedom & democracy !

Show a little gratitude and hope & pray YOU don't ever have to go through that hel_l that stands for "The Bride Over The River Kwai".

I'll thank you very much for refraining from any further commenting on this topic.

[Kan Win]

I'm wondering why we pronounce it as Kwai when Thais call it Kwae...

Probaly the same as we say Left and they say Reft

This time around Donz you are wong…..

The REAL sign for you all

both in Thai and in English

Now we all know.

Happy Days,

Yours truly,

Kan Win

P.S.

Kwai = Buffalo,

Kwae = tributary (me tink) or small rivers joining together.

[chownah]

When I think of the famous bridge (and I am not still in nappies and I do know about what happened more or less) and how people react to it I mostly think of war atrocities and anti Japanese sentiment....to me this is not some heritage that needs to be preserved.

You wouldn't happen to work for the Japanese ministry of education would you?

==============================================================

"CHOWNAH" you are very obviously a very ill-informed person, with no regard for other people's feelings. I strongly suggest that you stop any further hurtfull comments, because you are hurting a lot of people.

My own grandfather carried HIS father for many miles down this "Railway-Of-Death" and he didn't even know his father had died miles ago . . . . . . . Yes Sir; he was one of those 18,000 odd Dutch unfortunate, - but extremely brave P.O.W.'s who gave his life, so that "people like you", also, may enjoy freedom & democracy !

Show a little gratitude and hope & pray YOU don't ever have to go through that hel_l that stands for "The Bride Over The River Kwai".

I'll thank you very much for refraining from any further commenting on this topic.

I can't see that I have made any hurtful comments. The topic of this thread is about a proposal for the "death Railway" to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site....and I'm against it. If people are hurt because of my views then perhaps they are too sensitive to be reading about it on ThaiVisa. Do you think that there will be no controversy on this topic? Do you think that all opposing views should be censored? We mostly all have loved ones who have died in war. We mostly all have loved ones who have killed someone elses loved ones in war. This is not a heritage to be celebrated but a great mistake to be remembered so that it won't be repeated....to me there is a huge difference between these two.

I guess you wont be thanking me very much since I haven't refrained.

[sunreader]

The way we farang say "Kwai" I think means buffalo in Thai...should be "kway".

Went to the bridge recently and was a bit surprised to see engineering plates there saying "Made in Japan"....anyone else notice this?!

If travelling don't forget to go to the JEATH museum

Japan

England

Australia

Thailand

Holland

http://www.thaistudents.com/guidebook/k_museum.html

Nice monks established it and look after it.