The most outrageous and cruel aspect of the occupation of the Dai Nippon army is the suffering experienced by the romusha, and the acts of sexual violence against women. The use of romusha, which was propagated as an "economic warrior", apparently began without a plan in the early days of the occupation, through Putera's organization led by Sukarno. But it was only in 1944 that it had been organized and even instituted by the formation of the Romukyoku (office of workers' affairs) within the Naimubu neighborhood (the department of internal affairs). Soekarno himself even joined the pioneer, by registering himself as a member of the National Academy.
The law on romusha mobilization is not so bad. He is voluntary for men aged 16-20, and women aged 16-25. However, in practice, they are not only employed in Indonesia but also in the countries of Southeast Asia. Without completely neglecting the welfare, the romushas have been forced to work making roads, airfields, seaports, or caring for plantations or performing other tasks for the smooth running of the Japanese warfare. Although no exact figures are found, it is estimated that more than a quarter of a million Indonesian romushas have been sent abroad and of this number only 70,000 are returning. It is difficult to consider from a moral point whether the leader who exerted the forced force was more meritorious to his people or helped Japan.
The recruits for Romusha; Third party reference
Female forced laborers are generally deployed in mass works, which are worked on, such as planting spacings, spinning, or singing in the streets to entertain working men. But aside from the likes of the Komomom, as already mentioned, women are involved in the work that must sacrifice their honor. And as has also been alluded to, the unfortunate fate also befall the Indo-Dutch women, who are known to be beautiful.
The bad luck that happened to Indo girls, among others, can be read in the memoir of Police General Hoegeng Iman Santoso, who during the Japanese occupation served as a police officer in Pekalongan, Central Java. The former Chief of Police of the Republic of Indonesia said, when the Dutch and other Europeans and their families entered Japan into the prison camps, the Indo people were initially left free. Those who work in government offices are released, but not to be left alone. Then their vacant positions were filled by Indonesians. The Indos then became merchants, opened workshops, and others. "Another Indo girl," Hoegeng said.
No doubt, the occupation government does require many women to meet the sexual needs of the army and its civil servants. For that they recruit women forcibly and in large numbers to be made that we then know as jugun ianfu. The women were partially placed in officials' houses and military barracks, some inhabiting brothels that were purposefully built for the purpose.
That jugun ianfu is the official decision of the Tokyo government, actually only revealed after on January 13, 1992 Prof. Yoshiaki Yoshumi, a historian from Chuo University, discovered an official military command document in 1938. The document contains that every battalion needs to have "brothels". And a Japanese investigation team that examined at least 127 of 131 documents, found that the jugun ianfu women were not only from Japan but also from China, Korea, Taiwan, Burma, the Philippines and Indonesia, which were much larger than those originating from Japan itself.
Dai Nippon Army; Third party reference
Four of the documents mentioned Indonesia. First, a report from the Japanese government in South Sulawesi on how to manage brothels, their salaries, and their food. Second, documents from the commander of the Japanese occupation forces in Taiwan who requested an additional 50 comfort women from Borneo. Third, a document from a Japanese army chief of staff in Taiwan to a Defense Ministry aide in Tokyo to request an additional 20 women from Borneo. Fourth, document on the management of places of prostitution for Japanese soldiers in Java. This document does not mention in the city or region where the brothels were built.
In modern warfare, it seems that not only does logistical supply, which is also compounded by occupation forces, but also requires women as "lubricants" that can smooth out the course of war machines. Commanders and soldiers who have fulfilled their sexual needs will be spared from a variety of crumpled thoughts