Sea of Sabang is the entrance to Straits of Malacca.
It looks far off the sea, occasionally tanker or vessel-laden containers pass by.
It is imagined that the past World War 2 was American warships and allies.
The Japanese coastal defense type gun fired bullets toward the vessels so that they did not enter the Strait of Malacca as the entrance to the Southeast Asian region, the area which at the end of World War 2 was ruled by Japan.
- Bunker and Fortress
The history of Sabang cannot be separated from the Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese colonial history in World War 2.
On 12 March 1942 at 00:00, with the password "Operation T", a battalion of the Army Division Kobayashi Imperial Japan, landed in Sabang.
In the period 1942 – 1945, Sabang became a large Japanese naval base to confront the Allies.
No wonder if the island of Weh is a lot of Japanese military relics.
There are many bunkers that can still be visited, former fortress, even the former killing site that is heartbreaking.
Some of the bunker and fortress that are still maintained and easy to visit are the Anoi Itam fortress in Anoi Itam area and the former fortress in the Sabang Fair area.
Sabang Fair is right on the beachfront overlooking the mouth of Sabang Bay, north side of Pulau Weh.
On the beach row, precisely on the left side there is Sabang port.
There was a former cannon room and ammunition.
Unfortunately, the barrel was not in the Bunkernya, but it was transferred to the Sabang Fair page.
Walking towards the south through a seamless asphalt road, about half an hour (approximately 12 kilometers), we will reach the fortress Anoi Itam.
This fort is very strategic location.
It is located on the top of the seaside cliff, facing the mouth of the Straits of Malacca from the Andaman Sea.
There are several bunkers storing ammunition and a bunker or fortress defense with a coastal defense cannon.
Unfortunately, the gun was not intact, only to stay in the run.
To reach this place, we must climb the stairs.
The first Bunker is on the right ladder.
About 10 meters above the left side, there is a bunker of ammunition inside the stone walls.
The Bunkernya door backs the beach, so it is very protected by utilizing natural stone walls.
Down the footpath, at the end appears the entrance at the back of the cannon bunker.
The historical trail location was well maintained. The spacious parking lot with several gazebos by the beach is next to it.
There is also a building as a historical tourist site information Center. There is only one seller of food and soft drinks.
Maybe, more if during weekends or holiday season.
Not only tour the history, enjoy the beach from the top of the cliff around the cannon bunker can also be an alternative option.
There are several half-circle seating made of cement.
- Massacre Monument
Besides the relics of bunker and fortress, there is another heartbreaking historical relics.
From Fort Anoi Itam back to Sabang Fair then southwards through the road Cut Nyak Dhien.
About 10 kilometers (18 minutes by car) down the seamless asphalt road, on the right side there is a stele.
The location of the week is easy to pass.
There is only a small nameplate mounted in front at the door of a fence made of BRC iron.
Its name is Batee Shoek fishing monument.
The monument is approximately 3 meters tall it seemed uncared for.
Because it is located in a resident garden, it is no wonder if the base of the monument of approximately 6 x 5 meters is often used for drying firewood or the garden of the inhabitants.
The monument building at Keneukai Village, Batee Shoek, Sukakarya was built to commemorate the massacre of Sabang people (supposedly there are also those remaining Allied forces) by the Japanese Army in 1944.
They were executed for being regarded as Allied spies and endangering Japan.
The victims of this massacre are said to be buried in the holes under this monument.
There are 21 names listed on the inscription next to this monument.
It's no wonder that many consider this historical tourist site quite mystical.
In addition to the three relics above, there are still many traces of Japanese occupation in Sabang.
It can all be an alternative tourist option while in Sabang.
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