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An unusual
discovery at Punggol beach dug up a slice of history that many
Singaporeans are not aware of. Punggol beach used to be one of the
Japanese killing fields. So were the beaches at Sentosa and Changi.
WILEEN CHANG reports
A MAN digging for
earthworms to use as fishing bait, at the stretch of beach along
Punggol jetty, found parts of a human skeleton instead.
There was a skull with two gold teeth, parts of an arm and leg.
Although it hardly seems like it, this quiet stretch of beach at
the end of Punggol Road, near Punggol jetty was a Japanese killing
field during the Second World War.
The skeletons are believed to be the remains of about 300 to 400
Chinese civilians who were gunned down there on Feb 28, 1942 by
the bojo kempei (Japanese auxiliary military police) firing
squads.
Mr Ang, 37, a gas supplier, was at the scene when the human
remains were discovered on Dec 30 last year.
"It was the gold teeth which led to this discovery because the sun
was shining on them and they sparkled.
"Curious, the man dug further and further until a whole skull was
uncovered.
"Someone let out a loud yell, so a lot of people including
children fishing at the jetty ran down to have a look.
"When I saw the remains, I found that it looked very peaceful as
if it was sleeping with one hand tucked under the chin.
"The man who uncovered the remains quickly kept the gold teeth at
a secure place before the police arrived for fear that someone
might steal them," he said.
All the remains were handed over to the police.
Regulars at the Punggol beach were not surprised.
"Every once in a while, someone will pick up some human remains
from the beach, " said Mr Lok Ah See, 64, an attendant at the
petrol kiosk near the beach.
"After the war, my father and a lot of villagers staying around
this area helped dig up the sea bed in search of human skeletons."
During World War II, on Feb 28, 1942, about 1,000 Chinese from the
area around Upper Serangoon Road were rounded up by the Japanese
as part of the Sook Ching or mopping-up operation.
They were detained.
Then, they were executed, presumably because of tattoos spotted on
their bodies - a sign believed then to be linked to the triad
societies.
A regular fisherman at Punggol jetty said: "It is not unusual for
us to fish up a set of teeth belonging to those who had been
executed."
"Most people are usually quite 'pantang' (superstitious).
"So, even if they see any human skeletons lying around, they will
pretend not to see it.
"We too will not dig it up purposely.
THE SITES
PUNGGOL beach is now on the National Heritage Board's list of
historical sites.
The marking of the Punggol beach massacre site was part of a
series organised in 1995 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of
the end of World War II.
The other two sites during the Sook Ching operation were Changi
beach and Sentosa.
CHANGI:
Changi beach is believed to be one of the first killing grounds.
Sixty-six Chinese men were killed by the Japanese auxiliary
military police firing squads at the water's edge along the
stretch of Changi off Nicoll Drive.
Today it is a popular recreational venue.
SENTOSA:
From Feb 20 till Feb 28, 1942, several hundred Chinese civilians,
bound hand and foot, and tied back-to-back in groups of three or
four, were transported by the boat-loads from the docks at Tanjong
Pagar to the surrounding waters.
There, in the open sea, they were hurled into the waters and fired
upon by the Japanese captors. Many of the dead were swept out to
the sea by strong currents.
Some 300 bodies were washed ashore by the tide to the island of
Blakang Mati (Sentosa's old name). A memorial plaque (picture,
above) site at Sentosa's Serapong Golf Course marks the massacre
at sea.
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
Memorial plaques outlining the history of these three sites have
been installed in permanent memory of the Chinese civilians who
were massacred during the Japanese Occupation.
Generally, a site must be linked to a significant historical event
or the life and activities of organisations that have made
important contributions to the nation before it is listed as a
historical site.
First published in The New Paper, Feb 10,
1998
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