In a recent interview this month, Dutch-American WWII survivor Ronny Herman de Jong opened up about her time in Japanese-run internment camps across Southeast Asia. It’s a painful reminder of the suffering women and children endured under the Japanese Imperial Army during the war. 😔
De Jong, who was just a teenager when she and her family were captured, recalls long hours of forced labor, severe malnourishment, and the constant threat of violence. “They treated us like outsiders,” she says. “We had no rights, no voice.”
More harrowing still were the stories of sexual abuse and beatings inflicted on the most vulnerable. De Jong’s call to action is simple yet powerful: she’s urging Tokyo to issue a formal apology to all victims and survivors. 🕊️
“An apology isn’t just words on paper,” she explains. “It’s a step toward healing and acknowledging the truth.” With fewer survivors like de Jong left to tell these stories, she stresses the importance of remembering history—so future generations never repeat it.
As 2025 winds down, de Jong’s message resonates with a new wave of young activists and history buffs across South and Southeast Asia. They’re leveraging social media to amplify survivors’ voices, using hashtags like #NeverForget and #HistoryMatters to spark conversations about justice, memory, and reconciliation.
Whether you’re into history documentaries on your commute or debating justice on your group chat, de Jong’s plea is a stark reminder: understanding our past is key to shaping a better future. ✨
Reference(s):
WWII survivor recalls Japan's wartime atrocities against women, children
cgtn.com
