Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Peter ToRot - part II

More on Peter ToRot and his Bascilica at Rakunai

The Japanese decided to forbid Christian worship and all types of religious gatherings, public and private. Subsequently, the repression became more violent. Peter was arrested in April or May 1945. He was held in a concentration camp which had been set up in a cave. A prison mate said: "He was often visited in prison by his aged mother and his wife, who brought him food every day. At one of their last visits, To Rot said to his mother: the police have told me that the Japanese doctor will be coming to give me some medicine. I suspect that this is a trick. I am really not ill at all and I cannot think what all this means".

Despite the precautions of the Japanese, Arap To Binabak, a prisoner, could see the brightly lit room where Peter had been summoned after the doctor arrived. The doctor gave Peter an injection, then something to drink and finally stuffed his ears and nose with cotton wool.

Then the doctor and two police officers made him lie down. Peter was stricken with convulsions. The "doctor" covered his mouth and kept it closed. The convulsions continued for a time, while the doctor held him still. Peter fell into unconsciousness and after a long while drew his last breath. The same eye witness gently spread the terrible news of Peter's death to his companions. Several prisoners, taking advantage of the night-time absence of the Japanese, wanted to see his body. Thus they verified his horrible death.

This information came from this internet site.

14 comments:

Marcel said...

Two very interesting posts. Thanks.

Donna said...

God in Heaven........hughugs

Hilda said...

What a horrible story! ='(

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

My God. How awful.

ancient one said...

Even though these two posts are hard to hear.. we must know these things..Thanks for sharing..

I have an award for you at:

http://everlastingmercy.blogspot.com/2008/07/sharing-love.html

Come see..

M.Benaut said...

Brilliant shots!
I've read the links and said my bit, so..
I just love the language, "OL PIPEL BLONG GOD" !
Huge !!

Marie said...

This is a terrible story, Jules. Thank you for telling us.

dive said...

A genuine martyr, Jules. The Basilica is beautiful and a fitting tribute to a wonderful man.

Anonymous said...

The Japanese were not nice people at war. In fact they were the worst kind of human beings. I have lived among them for several years and they are not so evil now, but that could change like it did before.

A horrible way to die and something the Japanese loved to do. Make people suffer.

Abraham Lincoln
—Brookville Daily Photo

M.Benaut said...

Wise words Mr. Lincoln;

There's nothing more certain in the universe than change.

alicesg said...

It is scary about these stories. Many scary terrible stories from older generations tortured during the Japanese Occupation could be here in my country too.

Willow said...

Very interesting! I didn't know about Peter To Rot. Thanks for posting this important story, so we don't ever forget.

And welcome back!

Dina said...

I will never understand. . .

Jules said...

Thanks for your comments - it is not a pleasant story but one worth telling !!