| True Accounts of the Japanese OccupationOne day in February 1942, the people of Singapore were rudely awakened to the fact that the peace and freedom they enjoyed had been taken away. Japan, a strong military power, had invaded their land and began a reign of terror that lasted a nightmarish three and a half years. All expressions of human rights were lost overnight. Knowing well that complacency was not going to get them anywhere, the people registered their protest - some joined underground organizations and took up arms against the Jaanese; others showed defiance by adoting an attitude of non-cooperation, even in the face of torture and threat to their lives and those of their families. Before the Japanese marched into Singapore and Peninsula Malaysia, prominent figures from the business and cultural sectors had already collaborated to fight Japanese aggression. The then Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce was one of the leading forces in the anti-Japanese movement. The long and arduous road to justice was paid for in blood and human lives. Today, the world still has not forgotten their trauma of 1942-1945. The grieving for loves ones lost during the war continues for many. Their personal experiences serve as a grim reminder that national security should never be taken for granted.
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