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Source:
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SPEECH BY MR LEE BOON YANG,MINISTER
FOR INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AT 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
END OF WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATION CEREMONY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2005, 7.00 AM
AT KRANJI WAR CEMETERY |
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An Excerpt |
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Today, we are gathered here at the Kranji
War Cemetery, to remember and to reflect on all those who had made the
ultimate sacrifice in the terrible war that ended sixty years ago. |
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This ceremony is our sincere expression of
gratitude to all the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the war that
ended sixty years ago and who had been laid to rest within this
Cemetery. |
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Sixty years is not a very long time in the
history of some nations. But it is for Singapore. Barely a month ago, we
had celebrated our 40th National Day. |
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We are a young nation and the passage of
sixty years has seen the birth of new generations of Singaporeans who
know about World War II only from the history books. |
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Sixty years have also dimmed the memories of
even the survivors who had to endure the hardship and horrors of the war
and occupation. |
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However two dates will remain etched
indelibly and deeply in the history of Singapore. |
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On February 15, 1942, some 100,000 British
Commonwealth troops led by Lt-Gen Arthur E. Percival, General Officer
Commanding Malaya, surrendered to the invading Japanese army of about
30,000 men commanded by Lt-Gen Yamashita Tomoyuki. |
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Singapore fell, some 30 days ahead of the
Japanese schedule, and was transformed into a hub for Japanese
operational plans for the region as Syonan-to (Light of the South). |
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The fall of Singapore was a new chapter in
Singapore¡¯s history, marked by bloodshed, misery and unimaginable
suffering. But it was also a chapter marked by great sacrifice, courage
and perseverance among the many who lived through that period. |
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Three years later, on September 12, 1945,
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in SE Asia,
accepted the surrender of Japanese troops in the region with the signing
of the surrender document by Gen Seishiro Itagaki at the Municipal
Building (City Hall) and the ceremony was followed by a parade of
victorious allied troops.... |
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Preserving the memories |
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While the memories of the War and the
horrors of the Occupation are still vivid in the minds of the survivors,
we will ensure that future generations of Singaporeans appreciate and
understand the heroism, hardships and sacrifices of those who had to
live through this painful period of our history. |
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It is for this reason that we have
committed resources to the preservation of our WWII heritage sites
at Bukit Timah, Pasir Panjang and other parts of Singapore. |
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We have marked these sites so as to
remember those who came from many lands to defend Singapore ¨C from
Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, India, then Malaya, Nepal, New
Zealand -- and also our local militia and unnamed volunteers. |
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Many soldiers made the ultimate
sacrifice in carrying out their duties. This Kranji War Cemetery
honours the military casualties while the War Memorial Park in the
city honours the civilians victims helping to ensure that memory of
the War and occupation would not fade away with each passing year. |
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Moving On |
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Today¡¯s ceremony has a particular
significance in that by the end of this decade, the ranks will be
too thin and the survivors too frail for the veterans of 1945 to
muster yet again ¨C be it on the Normandy beaches in France and
elsewhere or at memorials like the Kranji War Cemetery in the
Asia-Pacific theatre. |
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In April this year, Japan¡¯s Prime
Minister Mr Junichiro Koizumi made a formal apology at the 50th
anniversary of the Non-aligned Movement summit of Asian and African
leaders in Bandung. He reiterated Japan¡¯s apology more recently in
Tokyo on August 15 2005 while at an event marking the 60th
anniversary of the end of WWII. |
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We must face history squarely so that we
can move on to build a new chapter. In Singapore, we have taken
pains to educate our younger generations on the lessons of the War
so that we can build a better future. |
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Today¡¯s ceremony is important in
reminding us of the tragedy of war. This remembrance ceremony honors
the sacrifice and suffering of many during the dark years of WWII.
For those who lived through the war, the wounds have taken a long
time to heal and the memories will not be forgotten. |
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As we reflect on the 60th Anniversary of
the end of that war, it is time for us to heal these old wounds and
to look towards strengthening peace, stability and friendly
cooperation for the future. |
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Full Text of Speech |
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Related Links: |
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Our Heritage
:
World War
II |
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Source:
www.gov.sg Media Release 12 Sep 2005 |
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60th anniversary of the end of World War II
