Early Romusha suffered
The most outrageous and cruel aspect of the occupation of the Dai Nippon army is the suffering experienced by the romusha, and the acts of sexual violence against women. The use of romusha, which was propagated as an "economic warrior", apparently began without a plan in the early days of the occupation, through Putera's organization led by Sukarno. But it was only in 1944 that it had been organized and even instituted by the formation of the Romukyoku (office of workers' affairs) within the Naimubu neighborhood (the department of internal affairs). Soekarno himself even joined the pioneer, by registering himself as a member of the National Society.
The law on romusha mobilization is not so bad. He is voluntary for men aged 16-20, and women aged 16-25. However, in practice, they are not only employed in Indonesia but also in Southeast Asian countries. Without completely neglecting the welfare, the romushas have been forced to work making roads, airfields, seaports, or caring for plantations or performing other tasks for the smooth running of the Japanese warfare. Although no exact figures are found, it is estimated that more than a quarter of a million Indonesian romushas have been sent abroad and of this number only 70,000 are returning. It is difficult to consider from a moral point whether the leader who exerted the force was more meritorious to his people or help Japan.