Changi Beach
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Changi Beach is on the eastern coast of Singapore, facing the Strait of Johor. On February 20, 1942, during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army carried out mass executions on this beach as part of Operation Sook Ching.
The Massacre
Sook Ching, meaning “purge through cleansing” in Mandarin, was a systematic screening and execution of Chinese males in Singapore and Malaya. At Changi Beach, at least 66 men were lined up in rows of eight to twelve, marched into the sea, and shot. The bodies were left in the water.
The total Sook Ching death toll across Singapore is disputed. Japanese sources acknowledge 5,000. The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce documented 40,000-50,000. The most widely cited scholarly estimate is 25,000-50,000 across Singapore and Malaya.
The Reports
Visitors to Changi Beach at night have reported hearing screams, seeing figures in the water, and finding what appears to be blood on the sand that vanishes when examined. The accounts are consistent with the execution method: men walked into the sea and were shot from behind.
The Memorial
The Singapore National Heritage Board designated Changi Beach as a heritage site in 1992, installing a historical plaque. The site is maintained as a public park. The memorial is modest, a stone marker near the beach, proportionate to Singapore’s general approach to war memorials.
Visiting
Changi Beach Park is a public park, open at all hours. Entry is free. It is on the eastern tip of Singapore, accessible by bus or car. The memorial plaque is near the beach entrance. Changi Village nearby has food stalls and shops.