Once again the newspapers gave moving tributes to the remembrance of our dead.

The rightful tribute was given to the men and women that took part in those dreadful wars.

For the first time ever, the Korean Veterans were given the recognition for The Forgotten War as it is generally known.

But not once in any parade, memorial or broadcast, did the Malayan Veterans get honoured or mentioned.

The Government still denies that this war ever took place. But while the Korean War was on and a few other little incidents were taking place, young men of 19 and 20 years of age, with no fighting or jungle experience, were thrown piecemeal into a situation that saw them die rather cruelly.

There are still men unaccounted for, lying somewhere in the Malayan jungles and there are still no real figures of the casualties. It has been the policy to sweep under the carpet any enquiries as to the real figures, but it totals somewhere in the region of 3,000 and not the 1,000 plus as is rolled out each time by the MOD.

The graves of our comrades in the cemeteries are forgotten and in disrepair. The headstones are crumbling because of inferior materials. The graves are being left unattended, and if it wasn't for the Perak Planters Association in Malaya, a lot of graves would disappear under the vegetation.

The Malayan campaign was designated a non-war and as such, the Government wash their hands of any responsibility to the men and women that died. It lasted for 12 years, more than the Korean and Vietnam Wars, more than Bosnia, the Falklands and the others, but you won't see our dead honoured as they are. After all, we are non-people aren't we? The same as this was a non-war and until the rubber plantations are in danger again, we always will be.

JOHN W MARTLAND

Asst national secretary

NMBVA (National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association)

Lincoln