The Death Railway to be re-constructed

Jury-Chai – The Burmese government wants to re-construct the Death Railway along the Thai-Burma border which could not be finished by the fascist Japanese during World War II.

“The minister said that this Death Railway will be finished after reaching a peace agreement with the NMSP (New Mon State Party),” according to, U Hla Maung Shwe, a businessman and the Vice President of the Organization of Industrial Products, while recalling a speech by Minister U Aung Min at the special dinner held on February 24, before the NMSP and the government signed the ceasefire agreement.

The Union Minister and Minister of Railway, U Aung Min,and the Minister of Electricity and the Minister of Forestry attended that dinner.

The Death Railway, which was constructed by forced labourers and prisoners of war in 1942, stretched for over 170 miles from Thanbyuzayat in Burma to Nong Pladuk in Bangpong District, in Ratchaburi Province, in Thailand.

Approximately 780,000 Burmese nationals and thousands of allied prisoners died during its construction.

The minister also urged ethnic businessmen to participate in establishing industrial zones for local job creation, according to U Hla Maung Shwe.

After the special dinner on February 24, the NMSP and the government developed a ceasefire agreement and mutually agreed to have a political dialogue later.

The speech of Minister U Aung Min regarding the construction of the Death Railway can be related to the soon-to-be-constructed industrial zone in Three Pagodas Pass, on the Thai-Burma border, Nai Kao(Tala) Rot (retired Colonel), the military advisor of the NMSP said.