The Romusha (Forced Labour During The Japanese Occupancy)

The Japanese continued where the Dutch left off on March 8, 1942. As the intensity of WW2 escalated, the Japanese began to use a large number of Indonesians as forced labor on the construction of many vital military installations and buildings. Prior to being transported to their respective work sites, the workers were usually promised a rank of labour personnel or romusha. In reality, they were put to work as forced labor without adequate food or water, claiming the lives of many workers.