Japanese envoy visits war cemetery

Japanese envoy visits war cemetery

JAKARTA (JP): Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Taizo Watanabe,
and his wife visited yesterday a hero's cemetery in Pontianak,
West Kalimantan, where over 21,000 local residents were killed by
Japanese troops.

According to the head of West Kalimantan's public relations
department, Ya Ibrahim, the ambassador was in the province for a
one-day to visit the cemetery, as well as other historical sites
in the area, the Antara news agency reported.

Located in the district of Mandor, 80 kilometers from
Pontianak, the cemetery is the site where 21,037 community
leaders, intellectuals, sultans, and journalists were killed by
the occupying Japanese forces in 1944.

Prior to independence, Indonesia was under Japanese rule from
1942 to 1945.

Prior to his visit to the cemetery, Watanabe paid a courtesy
call on the police chief Col. Zakaria Rapudin, while Mrs. Haruko
Watanabe visited the Negeri museum.

Later yesterday evening, Watanabe was scheduled to attend a
dinner hosted by Pontianak Mayor R.A. Siregar.

Watanabe and his wife will continue their journey to East
Kalimantan today. (mds)