Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts.NGO,Status Roster

His Excellency Yoshihiko Noda
Prime Minister of Japan


The Hague,may 8,
2012 Petition: 210
Subject: Political will to keep lasting peace in South East Asia.

Excellency,

Many politicians focus on an ideal, one which they can present to voters and which will also continue them in power.Lasting peace is such an ideal, in particular if it furthers the economy. The United States has in their global strategies the ideal of lasting peace, and was quick to protect their commercial interests with their military might.After World War Two Japan, not so long ago the second economic power in the world, contributed to lasting peace with their economic successes. The favorable conditions Japan obtained with the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty provided the basis to that success. However economic powers are shifting and the United States of America needs to seek alliances with the new powers in China and India. Both nations, who remember Japan's past vividly, will question the United States of America's close military cooperation with Japan and how this relationship will maintain lasting peace.

Prime Minister,

We believe Japan has the political will to keep peace in Asia between the growing new powers and must continue to stress this to all parties concerned. those parties, including the Dutch from former Dutch East Indies, will however only see Japan's efforts towards this in the context of how Japan acknowledges its past and deals with it moral obligations stemming from the conduct of Japan's military during the last World War. Despite the difficult economic conditions globally it is now the time to demonstrate that Japan did not forget its military past. Come forward with lasting plans to bridge the gap between verbal proclamations and doing, in fact, nothing. If there is a genuine political will to keep lasting peace invest in a genuine resolution of the past and in a truthful account of your country's history. In knowing your countries history one will more likely accept the moral obligations stemming from violation of human rights, unnecessarily harsh treatment of prisoners of war and in concentration camps, racial discrimination and organized compulsive sexual exploitation.

It takes courage for a politician to take the long term view in particular in a country where history is glorified and misconduct is neglected. We believe that you have that courage and look forward to your actions.

On behalf of the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts,

J.F. Van Wagtendonk
President.


Website www.jesinfo.org

This petition was handed over on May 8, 2012, and I was happy I was part of it.On Tuesday May 8, my husband Ruud, my girlfriend from England Sheena Tuffs, my sister in law Carla Hoogendijk drove to The Hague to participate at the demonstration in front of the Japanese Embassy. Mr. Wagtendonk and Brigitte van Halder handed the 210 petition over to the Japanese Prime Minister.
After they returned from their meeting with the Ambassador we sang THE CAPTIVES' HYMN.
It was so nice to see everybody, particular my friend Elizabeth van Kampen. Elizabeth turned 85 years old this year.

After the demonstration we went to a nice restaurant and were offered a nice lunch.All and all a very fruitful day and we were thankful to be part of it.

The gathering of the former Dutch East Indies prisoners of war was a joy to see,
We are happy to live in a world now free.
Years have gone by and memories stay
We cannot forget the price we paid.
The atrocities of the past,
Of those who suffered, in memory last!
Those hopeless days of pain and fear
One day one month not knowing the year.
We survived through starvation and brutality
Men, women and children dying without hope of reality.
Now old and getting frail we try to find peace at last,
PLEASE Japan let us come to terms with the past,
Can we in modern time appeal?
The prison camps from then, it's mortality seal?
Accept the blame,
Remove the shame!

As soon as we arrived in front of the Japanese Embassy, the curtains closed. Why?

I know why, because your are ashamed. Why can't you accept the blame? If you do; there will be no more shame!

Here we are, in front of the Japanese Embassy. Carla my sister in law, my friend Sheena from England and me, Thea.

Ruud and his sister Carla hanging up the signs.

The Japanese Embassy in the background. The curtains stayed closed.I wonder; are they ever going to face the truth? Accept your wrong doings!

Here we are with mrs. Elizabeth van Kampen.85 years old and still traveling by train to participate at the demonstration every month.She and her mother and two sisters were in Banjoebiroe 10, where my mother and I were taken on August 1, 1945 to be liquidated by the Japanese.Thanks to LITTLE BOY FATMAN (the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) our lives were saved.

This poem by Win Rainer, wife of a FEPOW.

Can one ever come to terms with the past?
One has to, To move on, although memories last,
There is not perfection in man alone
But a strong ability to atone,
Strength of mind and heart is why
A future with faith of oneself lies.

----------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion of Three men against Japan.

Jan did not wanted to wake up. He was dreaming about walking through the forest his horse by his side.A flock of parrots in the trees.The beautiful sunset behind the mountains. This is heaven, this is paradise.

Sunbeam of hope.

A flock of parrots at dusk.

Beautiful sunsets over the mountains.In this world no war exists, here this word does not even exist in the dictionary.Only Mother Nature, we sometimes have to fight.


He could not wait to try to escape.The only difficulty was that Tuindersma's condition , already weakened before he arrived in this hellhole,had even more deteriorated through the ill-mistreatment and malnutrition.
One evening the Japanese guard arrived again, for a visit with the Chinese guy. He sat down and laid down his gun in front of him on the floor.
Without being perceived Jan got closer, where the two of them sat. When Jan lifted his hands to grab the Japanese by the throat, Tuindersma suddenly yelled:"No!..don't do it,..Jan!"
The Japanese jumped up. Although Jan had taken on an indifferent posture, the guard felt the strange and strained atmosphere.He took his weapon and disappeared.He never came back.
At the last moment Tuindersma had changed his mind.He was afraid that the Kempetai, if the escape would succeed,would take revenge, and punish the other prisoners. That's why at the last minute he decided against it.This decision would cost the brave and gallant officer his life.A few days later all prisoners had to assemble in the courtyard.Eleven names were called; the one who's name was called had to get ready..... Everybody knew what this meant.
There they stood, eleven of them, in the middle of the courtyard, including Tuindersma and Kelter.They stood there with their heads high, their faces white and serious.For the last time they gave their friends a handshake. It was the worst sad day since they had met, and had gone through months of resistance,terror,tension and danger together.The condemned men got into the standby motor-cars, a tarp hid them from the glances of their stunned friends.Jan tried to contain himself, but suddenly he burst out in sobs, when the cars with his friends disappeared from the gate, towards a senseless death.

Shortly after Jan was taken back to the internment camp; his two friends stayed behind, because of inexplicable reasons,they had to stay in prison. He only was back at the internment camp for two days, when he was ordered to get into a waiting truck.To his surprise the Tall guy and the Pimpel were in the truck, they were handcuffed to each other.They drove up to the building of the Japanese council of war and were interrogated by a Japanese officer. Jan took the stand and talked for the three of them.He had a good feeling that he had convinced the officer of their innocents.A few days later when they were waiting for their verdict in an internment camp in Batavia,where the leader was the notorious commandant Sonei, they heard their sentence: three years in prison.
Jan and the Pimpel where physical in decent shape, were taken to Sumatra, to work as convicts on a railroad track. The Tall guy's physical conditions was so weakened after all the abuse he received while in prison that he was not able to be used for slave work.They locked him up in a prison in Ambon.Here he met his destiny. Somehow somebody had been indiscreet, and the Kempetai on Java became aware of their illegal actions, which the three of them committed.A new criminal case was opened and all three got the death penalty.The Tall guy was dragged from his prison cell in Ambon and died in front of a firing squad in Batavia.As a hero he gave his young life.
The other two,Jan and the Pimpel, thanks to poorly administration from the Japanese, where not to be traced.
This is where the story ends about the three friends. Jan Luxinger returned to the Netherlands and worked at an large firm in Amsterdam.
The Pimpel was not able to say goodbye to the Dutch-Indies; he went back in the army, and as a corporal with the cavalry, he became active in the police force.

This is the man, who was called the Pimpel. After the war and his precarious adventures with his friends, during the occupation of Java, he went back in the military and became a Corporal with the cavalry.


This story is dedicated to all the Dutch men, who carried the load against the Japanese, under the heat of the tropical sun. This story had to be told as a thank you for those who lost their lives on Java and elsewhere in the archipelago,and died for the Dutch East Indies.
This story is for those who's battle, suffering and death, often only witnessed by the rustle of the palm trees or the walls of their prison cell.May they rest in peace, whether in a war cemetery,or never be found, or some where in the jungle, or in an unmarked grave.
May they rest in Peace.
With hatred they were murdered by the usurper, their houses plundered and destroyed, their family pulled apart,often not even one single photograph was spared.
But in the rustle of the paddy and the wave of the palms in the breeze, they will live forever and they will never be forgotten.
May their father-land realize what they owe their sons, their country will be forever in debt!
They cannot remunerate those who died, but to those, who were their loved ones,and who they thought off in their last moments of their life, are still in our midst.They are the ones who are in need of support.

It's very sad to say, but that never happened!

Palm trees standing guard.

A War Cemetery in Indonesia. May they rest in peace.

The sky turns into the color red, on the cemetery in Indonesia.

A lonely seagull keeps guard over the cemetery.

My father and my uncle died for their country, my mother and my aunt with their children, suffered terrible in Japanese prison camps,they never received support.All they heard was:" Get on with your life, look at the future, forget the past!"

Now can anybody tell me how you do that?

They never did...yes they got on with their lives, but for the sake of their children.They never were able to leave that part of their lives behind.They forgave, but they could never forget.

Many people today still say; oh get on with it, forget it!

Just let me remind you what George Santayana said:

George Santayana reminds us that the lessons of history are invaluable"Those who forget the past, are condemned to repeat it".

CONCLUSION.

After the war captain Sonei was tried for war-crimes, and executed by firing squad. He was tried before the Dutch Council of War in Batavia.

Captain Sonei appeared in front of the Dutch Council of War and takes a humble bow.

Captain Sonei listens to the Dutch Council of War in Batavia.

The number of people who could testify to this monster was so overwhelming that nothing could save him.

This Japanese man was one of many Japanese who committed war crimes. Even their own men admitted being scared of him. They described him as a psychopath.
Captain Sonei described himself as a civilized and cultured man.
He was a brutal and sadistic man, who delighted in humiliation and torture of his victims, a maniac who outdid himself in cruelty and perversion.

There were many of them. Often being very mean to their own kind. The military had chosen them well.They would do anything for their emperor of Japan.

On their way to the Council of War. Japanese war criminals. The roles are reversed. These two were taken from Tokyo to Singapore and were guilty of ferocious crimes against military and internees from different countries in South-East-Asia

Three men against Japan brings the horror and losses of World War II in Java off the battlefields and military POW camps back to my past. My mother, was separated from her husband and my father taken away from me.We never saw him again.Forced into Japanese prison camps in 1942, where my mother and her sister, with their young children would suffer until the end of 1945.We endured starvation, disease, isolation and uncertainty for three and a half year.
Civilian suffering in war is an under-explored topic but nothing illustrates wartime anguish more than the stories of innocents.
Three men against Japan is an inspiring story about the human spirit and the resiliency that can be found in families.

LEST WE FORGET!

Soekaboemi,a picturesque mountain village, suffered tremendously during the war, in the hands of thugs and after the capitulation of Japan it was destroyed and looted by the extremists.

Houses and buildings destroyed.

Soekaboemi,a picturesque village.

A school for girls in Soekaboemi before the war.

A cultivation school in Soekaboemi, before the war.

A Wedding-procession in front of a Mosque in Soekaboemi, before the war.

Hospital of the Police in Soekaboemi, before the war.

Part XVIII, Three men against Japan.

In a cell in prison in Buitenzorg.

A few minutes later Jan looked out the small window and saw the Pimpel heavy shackled, walking in the courtyard; a Japanese holding a piece of wood walked behind him.Then he saw Smit (Tuindersma)coming from the commanders office. Smit was hanging in between two Japanese. They came strait to the cell where Jan was.The door flew open and the body of Tuindersma fell on the floor.When the guards had left, Jan heard bit by bit what they had done to him.The captain had understood that the Kempeitai not really knew about his organization, but only knew that he was involved with the weapon business with Slijkhuis.As discussed he had denied this,that's when the Japanese became so angry, he kept hitting him with a stick at the same spot in his neck.Because of these constant hits in his neck he had lost his equilibrium., but he kept silent.
The captain was in critical condition after these sustained injuries.Jan called the guard and asked for coffee for his wounded friend. Even this Japanese felt sorry for the badly wounded blanda (White man), because seconds later he came back with a cold drink.In the meantime the Tall guy had passed the cell where Jan was held. His hair stuck to his forhead and he looked strangely haggard.He was locked up in a cell next to Jan.A few minutes later the Pimpel was dragged by two Japanese through the hall way. His mouth was foaming, he moaned softly and monotonous. They threw him into the adjacent cell on the other side.Each of the cells had a hole in the floor with a lid.That hole was the toilet. The waste-pipe ran under all the cells and they were able to use these as a speaking-tube.Jan was able to use it to get in contact with the Pimpel and the Tall guy in the other cells.He heard that the Tall guy had been tortured with the electric apparatus; the poor guy felt miserable, but he assured Jan that no matter what they would do to him,they will not get a word out of me.The Pimpel had been tortured the worst.They hung him for a couple of hours from his arms, not able to touch the floor, his arms were totally numb. On top of that the bullies had burned his body with hot objects.
Later that night more Dutch men were brought in. One of them was so horrible tortured, that he fell unconscious. For weeks this man received daily punishments.This time an old Japanese chastisement was applied to him.The victim first gets a hose in his mouth and they fill him up with water, they than lay him on the ground, and on his swollen stomach they lay a board (it's hard to describe, tears are welling up in my eyes), and two Japanese bullies (without conscious) are dancing on either side of the board----an unbearable vexation.

b>I wonder....is this what Japan taught their military, was this really to please the Emperor of Japan?What was his name again? Hirihito?His whole family were crooks!....Is Japan ever going to apologize? For how many more years will Japan be in denial?

Suddenly bright shining lights went on in the dark cells.By that bright shining light they had to sleep, they were lying on the bare ground,the room was way too small for all of them, and all the time they touched each other and woke up.
To live in a cell was not easy. Dark and monotonous days went by, days became weeks. Jan did not have to come for a hearing anymore.Tuindersma still was being examined a couple more times, but was not mistreated anymore.The Tall guy and the Pimpel were taken from their cells many more times and were repeatedly tortured.
A message arrived that the Kelter had been spotted in an internment camp in Bandoeng and was taken prison.Jan did not worry too much about these circumstances.Kelter always had kept his connections very secret and he was not a man to reticent. Indeed it was evidence that Kelter even after the most horrible ill-treatment kept silent.In the meanwhile ir. Cranen was arrested as well. His case was connected with the Kelter case, except it was not connected to Tuindersma.The foursome were under suspicion of co-operation with the weapon smuggle from Slijkhuis.Because they kept persistence deny the charges the suspicion weakened.The Kempetai started to believe that Slijkhuis named the four persons just to unburden himself.Daily the optimism from the four grew.Apart from that their existence was anything but pleasure and comfortable.From breathing fresh air or having a bath was out of the question. After the hearings definitely had finished, the four prisoners were allowed under a watchful eye to take a bath in one of the showers.Each morning in the early hours of the day they had to do gymnastics in the court yard, on which occasions Jan was the leader.Those were the only times they were able to see each other, but there were always guards and it was strict forbidden to talk.
One day all of a sudden every prisoner was called to come from their cell and had to come to the
hearing-room.They had to sign a statement and under their thumb-print they had to put their signature.The writing was done in Japanese characters; a malayan translation was read in speed tempo, nobody knew exactly what it mend and why they had to have their thumb-print signed.Still everybody did what they were asked; to refuse would mean to expose yourself to new ill-treatment.
After this procedure the tension grew, what would the future bring.Kelter and a number of other suspected persons had heard already via other routes that they would get the dead penalty.The only thing they wondered about,in which way the sentence would be executed.Jan had heard from one of the guards that he would be acquitted and had to return to the internment camp.Some days later the Kempetai involved the prisoners in a somewhat comical tragi-comedy .A film was going to be produced, in which they would show the excellent and humane care the Kempetai looked after their European prisoners and how they were pampered, this had to be put on film.All prisoners were for this spectacle taken to the courtyard. Everybody received a tall glass of milk and a few bananas.Some had to take the glass to their lips and some had to pretend they eat the banana, they had to act as if they were eating and drinking.But it was strictly forbidden to either sip one drop of milk or one bite of the banana. Anyone who would take a sip of milk or a bite from the banana would be severely punished.As soon as this lovely act of eating and drinking and smiling prisoners was put on film they had to hand in their glass with milk and the bananas...

During this comedy the Commander of the Kempetai had inspected the cells.He had found a book, a lighter and some cigarettes in the cell from Tuindersma and Jan. He shoved the objects on the tip of his sword to the middle of the cell. That's how Jan found them.Suspecting trouble he tied the objects in a bag which he hang with a little string under the side of the lid from the toilet.Barely finished the prisoners were all called outside again.The sergeant who was responsible, a notorious bully, was rebuked by his commandant about the found objects.The man now took revenge at the prisoners, who were thrashed and whacked by other Japanese while he went in search of the items and the prisoners who had broken his rules.Those persons would get severely punished.Because a guard would never come close to the lid from the toilet, probably to afraid to contract a contagious disease, Jan's bag was never found.
That's how each day of prison life went by, every day with constant vexation and teasing.
When the days went by, Tuindersma became more and more depressed. He could not stand to be locked up, day in and day out. In his mind he worked out a plan to escape.He discussed the plan with Jan, who right away agreed.In the cell from Jan and Tuindersma was also a young Chinese fellow. This guy was very friendly with one of the Japanese guards,who did the shopping for the other guards.He often stopped by at night to chat in the cell with the Chinese,he always closed the windows and doors as a precaution.As soon as they saw they had a chance Jan would attack the guard from the back and would take his weapons.Jan and Tuindersma would free the Pimpel and the Tall guy and the four of them would climb through the window behind the building
and reach the railroad tracks.It would give them a sufficient start to reach the Zuidergebergte.(South mountains), where they would be relatively safe.

Will continue:

Next: The conclusion.

Part XVII, Three men against Japan.

Barbaric practices from the Kempetai--The last days in prison camp-- Eleven Dutch men in front of the fire squad---The end of the Tall guy.

Jan was standing staring in the distance, trying to control his terror and his bitter feelings.He stared to the road which you could see from the gate. Suddenly he noticed a convoy of motor-cars followed by trucks,driving in full speed towards the camp.On the trucks were standing and squatting Japanese soldiers and on the roof of each truck stood a machine gun.The gate way swung open and the motor-cars drove into the court yard of the camp, followed by two trucks, the other trucks stopped in front of the gate.

Camp Java

Jans instinct told him that this was it.A calm came over him, and slowly he walked back to the barracks, and gave Smit a stealthy look.The dreaded moment had come. He found his two friends in the same frame of mind. In the mean time the smaller gate which was the entrance into the rubber plantation behind the camp, was guarded by Japanese soldiers.All internees had to ensemble into the court yard, where the air was very hot from the midday sun. In front of the gate were a number of Kempetai and the Dutch camp leaders.Room by room the internees names were called;they were checked over, searched and had to march through the gate into the rubber gardens.

When Jans name was called one of the Kempetai jumped up and pointed at him that he had to step out of the line, at the same moment another Japanese put Jan in handcufs. A third Japanese gave him a punch in the face. Immediately Jan was forced to point out who "captain Smit" was.When Jan answered that he had no idea, they punched him in the face a couple of times.Blood came out of his mouth and he had the feeling that his nose and jaw-bones were shattered.He gave no sign of pain; with a mockery smile he looked the bullies in the face.Short after they took Jan to the main building, to a large room which was heavy guarded, where he saw The Pimpel and the Tall guy.Thank God just the other night they got rid of their guns and had buried them near the river in a deep hole.
Now they were cross examened. Again they asked, who is "captain Smit"? The Kempetai had no idea, because the name Smit was a very common name, there were six at the camp with that name.The three friends kept quiet and alternately they were serious ill-treated.At one moment Jan fell while he suddenly got an unexpected blow in the face.

Immediately the JAPS started to kick him with their heavy boots. Jan kicked as a wild man around him, to keep the torturers at a distance. Jan seized a foot with both hands, which wanted to kick him in the face; out of control and in a rage of self-preservation he bit in the bare leg.Screaming from pain the Jap jerked his foot from Jans hands and kicked him with so much force in the face,that he fell unconscious.When Jan regained consciousness, he noticed a man in the room, who's name was Smit, and he was being severely tortured.It was the former director of the Police academy in Soekaboemi.After some time the Dutch man was able to prove that he was not the Smit they were searching for, and they let him go.Now the concentration and anger of the Japanese turned again at the three-some.In the meantime Smit had heard that the Japanese were looking for him and that his three co-operators because of him were inhumanly mistreated.He reported himself immediately and was brought up in front of the Kempetai-officer, who asked him if he was the same person as Tuindersma, Dutch Captain of general staff. When Smit did not answer right away, one of the Japs hit him with a piece of wood on the head with so much force that the wood broke.Smit staggered, but managed to stay upright his face impassive. He asked if this was their way to handle imprisoned enemy officers; he would, he said proudly, only answer questions if he was treated as an officer.Upon this they handcuffed him and took him to a waiting motor-car. Jan, the Pimpel and the Tall guy were each taken to an individual motor-car.Soldiers with weapons were standing on the foot-boards of the motor-cars and beside each of the men sat a Kempetai-man with his gun pointed at them. Behind the four motor-cars was a truck with about thirty heavy armed soldiers. The convoy moved and in his mind Jan was saying goodbye to nature, the sawah's (rice-fields) the cassava-fiels, the rubber gardens and the blue clear sky, in which the tropical sun was burning.

Beautiful sawah's (rice-fields near Bandoeng. Java

Cassava fields Java

Casava plants

Cassava.Would he ever taste the cassava pudding again?.

Would he ever ride his horse over the rubber plantation again?

How he loved the blue skies and the heat of the sun

The convoy slowly drove through villages and stopped in front of the Kempetai, the former "General secretary's office" in Buitenzorg.

The four prisoners were taken to a bare hall, from which a door looked out at a very long hall-way and on both sides of this hallway were two rows of heavy prison cell doors.A tall, very sturdy Japanese, who would later get the Dutch nickname of "respectable", was the guard of the four men. Each of the men had to stand in a corner of the room.They stood there for a very long time.
Through the window Jan saw the railroad tracks, where he and the Kelter stood while they broke-in into this building not that long ago,though it seemed years ago.He was considering if it was worth to try to jump out the window to freedom, but his hands were tied together, so he was powerless.Dusk was settling, and in the tropics it would be dark soon.Halve a day they stood there, each in a corner, with no food and nothing to drink.Jan's head was swollen, the coagulated blood irritated his skin, and every spot on his body was hurting from internal and external bruises.Exhausted he dropped to the floor.And when the guard ordered him to stand up,all Jan could do was shake his head and said that he was sick and needed some water to drink.While the guard was gone to get some water, the four men made some last agreements.If each of them would keep the agreement, the Kempetai would not be able to find out about the organization.It was probably Slijkhuis, who had betrayed them, but really speaking he did not know much about the organization.Indeed it looked like as if Slijkhuis had named their names, although you could not say that he had betrayed them.He had kept his mouth for a long time while being tortured with many instruments.Not until the Kempetai-men threatened to torture his wife he broke down.
Finally late in the evening a number of non-commissioned officers of the Kempetai walked in and started the hearing.Tuindersma was taken to the room of the commandant,and each of the other three were taken with an officer to a separate room.Jan had regained his composure. In spite of his wounds he walked with an energy and his head high. When he sat opposite his interrogator, he looked him strait and calm in the eyes. The JAP, obvious surprised about this attitude, asked if the blanda (white man)knew what was in store for him! Jan answered that he had seen how they handled their victims and that he was prepared.The Kempetai with a big smirk on his face pointed at the walls, on which a few torture instruments were hanging.On the table between the two men, stood an apparatus, meant to send electric shocks through the body.The JAP looked Jan for a few minutes strait in the eyes and started in English to ask some questions. Jan did not answer, he pointed at his hands and said also in English, that he would not try to escape if they would untie his hands.After a little hesitation the JAP stood up and untied his hands. He asked where Jan was born,which nationality he was and which rank he had in the army. He was surprised to hear that Jan was not an officer but just a simple soldier.Then he asked why Jan slipped out the camp at night, and if he knew something about the weapons which Slijkhuis gave him. Where are they?
The agreement he and his friends had decided on was to answer that they did not know anything about weapons, however they had left the camp at night, just to try to find some food.The JAP became angry and stood up to grab one of the torture instruments.But with all his convincing power Jan assured him that he did not know anything about weapons.If he indeed had smuggled guns into the camp, than the Japanese should have found them; because Jan said; you Japanese are so thorough,Slijkhuis probably had mend something else.His three friends would stand behind him with the same answers.You can torture me whatever you like and how long you want, but that is the answer.So go ahead make my day.
For one moment the JAP wavered and with an inquiry look he looked Jan in the eyes.From that split moment Jan made use to change the subject and took control of the situation.With a look full of hypocrite admiration he pointed at the muscular bundle of the arms from the officer; he asked which sport gave him such muscles? He caught him off guard and this son of Nippon seemed also to be passionate about the sport fencing.The Jap sat down on his chair and started an ample story about his training in the Japanese military and about all the prizes which he had won with fencing. Jan answered that he too loved the sport,he probably was not as good as his interrogator, but he admired the sportsmanship and the qualities of the Japanese soldiers.The officer , nature wise probably was not as peaceable as he was trying to be, started to talk friendly to Jan and said that they should compete each other to see who had the best muscular strength.He pushed the torture machine aside, and both of them put their elbows on the table, grasped each others hand and tightened their muscles.At first slowly Jan let his arm down, but at one point he could not control himself and with all his muscle he pushed the JAPS hand down with ease.The JAP looked at Jan with fright in his eyes, and asked him if the blanda (White man) had been a champion."Indeed," Jan said,"I was an European champion. You can tell your comrades that you won a couple of times from a true-bred champion from Europe." That's when the enthusiasm from the Japanese reached it's highest level.He was ready to go fencing with Jan.They each took a stick and the Japanese attacked the Dutch man with a loud scream, which Jan with a smile on his face warded off, it seemed that the JAP was a moderate fencer, who had soon pulled back in one of the corners of the room.When finally they were seated again at the table, a servant with a tray with ice cold coffee appeared.The officer took a glass from the serving platter and Jan took a glass of this delicious cold drink from the serving platter as well and put it on his lips.Smiling he thanked the Japanese for this gesture and the Japanese could do nothing other then to safe his face,and offer Jan a cigarette too.He asked Jan some insignificant questions and wrote them down in Japanese characters and suddenly told Jan that the hearing was finished.If Jan could make a list from the articles of his possessions , he the officer would make sure that he would receive them.The cell in which Jan was locked up,was dark; he could barely see the faces from his fellow prisoners.When entering the cell and wanted to ask the faces in the dark some questions, a guard snarled that he had to sit down and keep his mouth shut.Later when the guard had disappeared he discovered that he was in a small cell which he shared with some of the organization members from Kelter.He heard that Kelter was still on the run.Looking through a tiny window Jan could see in the court yard of the building.Suddenly he heard the well known voice of his friend the Tall guy, who was howling from pain.It was for sure the voice of his friend and with each howl Jan cringed.

Will continue,

Part XVI, Three men against Japan.

A fight between the Japanese and the guerrilla fighters on the hills of the volcano Salak.
Caught and in the hands of the barbaric Kempetai.

The rain had stopped and the walk back through the cassave fields and the forest went without any incidents.Except for some leeches, nasty things!
Arriving back at the barbwire they noticed that the Japanese patrol were back at their posts.After the rain had stopped they were walking their one hundred steps back and forwards by the light of the search-lights.They had to get back into the camp.It would be a disaster for the organization if they would not be at the roll call tomorrow morning."We have to get into the camp," whispered Jan, while they were lying on the ground in front of the barbwire.The footsteps from the guard came closer.His shadow passed over them. As a flash of lightening Jan crawled through the discharge gutter towards the fence,jumped up against the tough bamboo and as if he had a jumping-pole he flew over the fence.The Pimpel followed suit, but while he climbed over the fence, one of the bamboo poles broke. The guard had returned and came closer.Jan and the Pimpel were holding their breath. The guard passed them......that's when they signaled the Tall guy, he crawled as low and as fast as he could through the gutter, reached for the fence and climbed over. But now the bamboo pole broke all the way and the fence not having the support of the pole anymore fell over.The Tall guy, was sitting on top of the fallen fence, and was an easy target for the guards.An uncontrollable quiet laughter kept the Tall guy from moving; he was shaking so much that the bamboo was squeaking. The mocking humor of his situation had such an hold of him; he could not stop thinking how funny it was that he was trying so hard to get back into the prison camp! With a quick move the two others grabbed his legs and pulled him down from the half broken fence not a second to soon. On the other site of the fence they heard the nervous voices from the guards,at the spot where the bamboo had partial sagged down.They ran to their barracks, undressed, hid their muddy clothes and threw themselves on their mattresses. Just when they pretended that they were fast asleep, the shrill alarm signals sounded through the whole camp. A roll call was taking place in the middle of the night.Nobody was missing. A new puzzle for the Japanese, that was never resolved.
The next morning the camp was still troubled because of the unexpected roll call.Jan understood that an another escape was going to be very difficult.He decided that only he and the Tall guy should go on their next expedition.While he was thinking about which was the best way to leave the camp and how to get back in, he noticed in a corner from the building a ladder.
With help from the ladder, and the Pimpel and one more trustworthy internment, the two of them were able to climb into the tree.The branches gave them protection from the area with the searchlights.While the guards were walking back and forth, Jan and the Tall guy climbed over the thickest branches from the tree and jumped over the barbwire on the ground on the other side.They arrived at the house from Slijkhuis without incidents. However Jan could only give him a small amount of the promised money,the organization was short of money at the moment, said Smit. He was waiting for a large sum of money from the outside, and they were working at it how to smuggle this money inside the camp.Slijkhuis was not very happy that he had to wait so lang for his money; he was very nervous and extremely irritable.He claimed that a hadji, who lived across the road, was keeping an eye on him. Jan had gone outside and saw a few shadows moving about in the yard from the hadji they moved in a wide circle around the house from Slijkhuis they looked suspicious.He told Slijkhuis that he was right he had to watch out for his neighbor across the road.Do not believe anything, I think they are two faced.Before they went on their way back Jan promised again to discuss the money question with Smit.Both men were now in the position of a gun,Slijkhuis had received a note from the captain to hand them each a gun.
It was still too early to return back to the camp; the Pimpel and the other man would not be back on their post.Through the cassave-fields they walked in the direction of the highway and arrived at a house of one of Jan's best friends.Light was on everywhere,Jan knocked on the door but nobody answered.Jan kept knocking on the door, after awhile he heard the voice of his friend who told his quests they had to leave, he wished no visitors tonight.Surprised and disappointed the friends left.Later they heard that that afternoon one of the family had passed away.
It was still not time to go back to the camp.They walked to the stables from the Japanese cavalry, they liked to have a look at the horses, which they might have to use later, when Smit had his plan ready.As far as they knew no guards were at the stables; they walked over a small path, which led to the dark buildings.

They arrived at a place where some lights were on and the Tall guy stood still. Jan however kept walking.Suddenly in the distance Jan saw two Japanese soldiers coming his way. It seemed that the stables were being guarded anyway.Jan stood still not knowing what to do. If he kept walking towards them he would surely been questioned and they would discover that he escaped the camp.Running away was not a good idea either, that would for sure be suspicious. One of the Japanese called out to him,and asked who he was, Jan turned around and walked slowly back the way he had come from.His body tense, he expected to be shot any moment. It seemed endless to return to where the Tall guy had stopped.Suddenly he noticed him standing in the bushes. Jan took a big leap into the bushes and pulling the Tall guy with him. They ran further into the thick brushwood.

Behind them they heard shots and screams from the Japanese soldiers.To make sure the soldiers would not suspect that they were escaped from the camp they ran in to the opposite direction.The Japanese were following them, they heard branches breaking and the Japanese were getting closer. Suddenly they arrived at a large ditch.Without hesitating they went into the water which reached up to their shoulders. Quickly they pulled some sword-grass over their heads and stood still, as if they were some river-god statues, but their hearts were racing in their chests.The enemy had now reached the ditch, they shined their torches over the water and on the outlines of the ditch.
There was a big chance that they could get bitten any moment by one of the many reptiles which lived in these ditches.When the Japanese finally could not figure out which way the escaped victims had gone, they continued their chase in the opposite direction.The two Dutch men were in no time at the friendly tree, which was their safety bridge....into the prison camp.They imitated the call of a screech-owl, and they heard the others on the other site of the fence.In no time they were back in the barracks, with shattering teeth they took off their wet clothes.
How they longed to be free again and enjoy an evening sitting on their veranda watching the beautiful sunset over the mountains.Why was this all happening? Why were people making life so miserable!

The next day Jan talked to Smit and told him what had happened the night before.

A few days later they received the devastating news that Mr. Slijkhuis was arrested. His neighbor hadji across the road had betrayed him. Still worse was the fact that thirty Japanese had dug up the whole garden and had found all the guns.
For the organization some days of panic followed. They heard that Slijkhuis was being tortured mercilessness; it would not take long for him to talk. Jan discussed a plan to escape. But Smit wished that they had to wait.After two weeks of torture, the Kempetai had not gotten one single name from Slijkhuis.They all decided to wait a few more days before they would try to escape the camp.Smit was waiting anxiously of word from the outside,which did not come.After four days Jan told the captain that he could not longer wait with the plans to escape; they would try to break out the next night with eight men.They were in the possession of three guns and liked to join the guerrillas in the mountains of the volcano Salak.They had heard that a group of guerrilla fighters were active again and were hiding in the mountains.

But in the afternoon on the night before they were planning to escape the camp something happened.Suddenly from the hills of the volcano Salak came the sound of heavy artillery. The ground shook from explosions from airplane bombers. From the camp they saw Japanese bombers target the hills of the mountain Salak.

A lonely guerrilla fighter at the edge of the volcano Salak. West Java.

In the evening it became quiet again., and the first rumors entered the camp.The guerrilla fighters had planned an attack on the town. That was the message Smit had waited for.The Japanese espionage had discovered the plan and the Japanese had fired at a small kampung-village which was the outpost of the guerrilla fighters, and for an hour they had fired at the kampung and killed about three hundred natives.

Around eighty guerrilla fighters were taken prison.But the Japanese had suffered many losses as well. Many were taken to an emergency hospital, they figured there were about thirty dead and seventy wounded.The guerrilla fighters were chained together and driven through the streets of Buitenzorg; the residents had to see how powerful the Japanese were, and how difficult it was to fight the Nippons.

Jan had no hope that his escape plans would succeed, after this defeat. The camp was now guarded by more then three hundred soldiers, around the fence the Japanese had put up machine gun posts.There was no chance to escape. That same night they had a meeting with Smit and they discussed;in case one of them would ever be caught and questioned by the Kempetai, they would all give the same explanation.

When Jan as usually early in the morning, planned to go to the river to take a bath, where part of the river was fenced in specially for the purpose so the prisoners could bath, he was stopped by four Japanese soldiers and was told that from now on it was forbidden to get near the river.


Will continue.

next: Barbaric practices by the Kempetai--The last days in prison--Eleven Dutch men in front of a fire squad--The end of the Tall guy.