Thai Post Bangkok 2003 World Philatelic Exhibition

THAI POST on 3 March 2003 issued a First Day Cover stamp set in conjunction with the Bangkok 2003 World Philatelic Exhibition (2nd series), which was held during 4 till13 October 2003 at the IMPACT Convention Center, MUANG THONG. It was also coordinated to celebrate the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Thai postal service and postage stamps. Four stamps depicted a region of Thailand. The stamps carried a face value of  3.00 Baht, 3.00 Baht, 3.00 Baht 15.00 Baht. Thai British Security Printing Public Company Limited, Thailand printed the series.

Regions featured included: 

- Northern Region: Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai

- Central Region: Bridge over the Kwai, Kanchanaburi

- Northeast region: Phu Kradung, Loei

- South region: Maya Bay, Krabi

Bridge over the River Kwai postcard. The bridge shown here purportedly came originally from Indonesia. The Imperial Japanese army had it disassembled, shipped to and constructed in Thailand. There was a wooden bridge as well erected next to this iron bridge. The Allies bombed it, but it was later repaired. Today, the bridge and railway is not in use; instead, the historic landmarks are marketed essentially as tourist attractions. 

That said, I have nothing but profound respect for these veterans who laboured to build the Thai-Burma Railway. The brutality and suffering they -- British, Australian, Dutch and American POWs -- endured was immense in the construction of it.

In the West, we learn of the allied POWs, but rarely if ever the number of Asians -- 177,700 -- who were virtually slaves, having been recruited and promised a salary and good food in Thailand. 

In Malaya (Malaysia) alone, 75,000 worked on the Thai-Burma railway and Hellfire Pass. As many as 42,000 died there, often in unmarked graves. God bless them!

There should be a lesson in all of this, but when I look at the wars and conflicts since WWII the continued inhumanity is mind boggling.