After British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 during the second war, Japan started to occupy Singapore. It applied the Sook Ching massacre operation towards Chinese in Singapore but later on, it was also extended to Chinese Malayans.
Sook Ching (肅清) operation was taken to purge the local Chinese who had the strong faithfulness to either the Britain or Republic of China. Japanese military was mainly targeting the activists in China Relief Fund, adherents of Tan Kah Kee, Hainanese, China-born Chinese who came to Malaya after the Second Sino-Japanese War, men with tattoos, Chinese who joined the Singapore Overseas Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, civil servants and those who were likely to sympathise with the British. The massacre was done through screening and killing process. All Chinese men from 18 to 50 years old would have to report to Kempetai and be examined by them. They would receive “Examined” paper or stamp if they passed the check. On the contrary, they would lose their precious life once being dragged to the truck and sent to killing site. There were no accurate numbers of people who were taken away and massacred but it was estimated for about 50,000 people.
This “four giant chopsticks” were started to construct on 23rd April 1966 at Beach Road (near City hall MRT station) for the purpose of commemorating the civilian victims of Japanese occupancy. The 70 meters height pillars represent the unity of four major races in Singapore which are Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races.
It displays 3 different languages (Chinese, Malay and English) for the visitors to understand the meaning of the memorial.
If we take the closer look, we will find that it has several merlions’ heads that represent Singapore.
Wish to know more?
Click at here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_War_Memorial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sook_Ching_massacre
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