NAY PYI TAW September 4
Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services,who has attended the 7th Thailand-Myanmar High Level Committee Meeting, left Wing 6 of Royal Thai Air Force for Kanchanaburi District by helicopter of Royal Thai Armed Forces. On arrival at the Wing 6 of Royal Thai Air Force, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party were seen off by Chief of Defence Forces of Royal Thai Armed Forces General Ponpipaat Benyasri and wife. At Kanchanaburi District, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party were welcomed and greeted by Maj.Gen. Takad Lordsiri,Commander of No 9 Infantry Division,and officials.
Next, the Senior General and party paid a visit to JEATH War Museum near Bridge on the River Kwai where they were conducted by the officials and then the Senior General raised queries and posed for a documentary photo.
The museum was founded in 1977 by the chief abbot of Wat Chaichurapol Venerable Phra Theppanyasuthee. The acronym JEATH stands for the primary nationalities involved in the construction of the railway: Japanese,English, Australian, Thai and Holland. The museum is divided into two sections, one depicting the construction of the Death Railway which is meant to recreate the quarters used by Allied POWs, and the other consisting of reconstructed bamboo huts containing such items as paintings, drawings and photos of and by former prisoners, weapons, tools, and maps. Mr. Arun Jansiri, the owner of interior items, collected interior items starting the age of 15 and now he has turned 83.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party went on a visit to Bridge on the River Kwai where they posed for a documentary group photo. Then, the Senior General presented gifts to the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Kanchanaburi District.
Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the tourist destinations and it is a historically unique place in the Second World War.There are walkways on the bridge and it can be crossed on foot. It was bombed by allied forces on 28 November in 1944. The commemoration ceremony of Bridge on the River Kwai is annually held on 28 November.
Next, the Senior General and party continued the journey to Tham Kra Sae station by No 257 train through Bridge on the River Kwai station. During the train trip,the Senior General and party viewed scenery along the railway road. They paid homage to Buddha images in a small cave near Tham Kra Sae station. This small cave was a rest shelter for POWs and forced labourers during the construction of the Death Railway.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party left Kanchanaburi District for the 15th Military Circle Command in Hua Hin,Prachuap Khiri Khan District by helicopter of Royal Thai Air Force and they were seen off by Maj.Gen. Takad Lordsiri, Commander of No 9 Infantry Division and wife. They were welcomed by Col. Prayook Aoonaab,head of the 15th Military Circle Command and officials at Hua Hin Airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan District. At the hotel where they would put up, the Senior General and party were welcomed by Lt-Gen. Kumrom Kearwichyajane, Director of Department of Border Affairs and wife.
