Herostone Anniversary In Kanchanaburi Honours Asian Forced Labourers

By Kenny Teng

KANCHANABURI (Thailand), May 2 (Bernama) -- A tribute to Asian forced labourers on the Thailand–Burma Railway took centre stage in Kanchanaburi as Malaysians and Indians in Bangkok (MIB) marked the second anniversary of the Nadukal–Herostone memorial with a commemorative song and video launch.

MIB Director Dr Silva Kumar said the initiative aims to raise awareness of the largely overlooked plight of Asian labourers, known as “romusha”, particularly among museums and researchers documenting the railway.

“As part of the commemoration, a piece authored by Amigo Ganesa Sockalingam and performed in both Tamil and English was presented, capturing the plight and resilience of the labourers.”

“We are proud to have brought closure to the cries of the romusha and to establish a presence in Kanchanaburi,” he told Bernama after the ceremony on Friday.

For decades, Silva said, the experiences of these labourers remained largely unknown, adding that the memorial marks an important step towards recognising the immense suffering endured by Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian forced labourers during the construction of the 415-kilometre railway.

While the exact death toll is unknown, estimates suggest that about 100,000 people perished, including around 12,000 Allied POWs and tens of thousands of romusha, who were forced to work under harsh and often deadly conditions.

The ceremony was attended by Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Kanchanaburi Governor Waritha Sanguansermsri, and Counsellor from the Embassy of India in Thailand R. Muthu.

Wan Zaidi said the Nadukal, or Herostone, rooted in ancient tradition, serves as a cultural symbol used to honour fallen heroes who displayed courage and sacrifice.

“By placing a Herostone here, we extend that tradition to commemorate the labourers who endured unimaginable suffering. Though they were not soldiers, their resilience and sacrifice embody a quiet heroism that transcends time and place,” he said.

He also highlighted the strong and enduring ties between Malaysia and Thailand, noting that cooperation on initiatives such as the Herostone reflects mutual respect and a shared commitment to preserving history and honouring those who came before.

“As we remember the past, we reaffirm our responsibility to ensure such tragedies are never repeated,” he said.

-- BERNAMA