Suspect in train rape already in court
The suspect in the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nong Kaem early this month on the overnight train to Bangkok and his accomplice were charged yesterday. The Hua Hin Provincial Court has scheduled its first hearing on Tuesday.
The accomplice, who previously stated that he had been on the lookout, has withdrawn his statement. He now denies any involvement. The two men are currently being held in a prison in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The prosecutors are sure they have a strong case against the two.
In previous posts I have already mentioned in detail how the rape and murder happened. I came across one new detail Brunch, the Sunday magazine of Bangkok Post. Columnist Andrew Bigs writes that the suspect bumped into the girl when she went to the toilet.
Women's carriage
From August 1, every night train will have a carriage that is only accessible to women and children under the age of 10. The measure has been suggested by the dismissed governor of the railways and has now been confirmed by the Board of Directors. A separate women's carriage was introduced on the night train to Chiang Mai in 2001, but disappeared months later because there was no interest in it.
Install Wi-Fi
The acting governor has been asked [by whom?] to consider installing WiFi in sleeping cars and at Hua Hin station. Private companies, which are hired to clean the wagons and toilets, will be better monitored, recently appointed Executive Board chairman Omsin Chivapreuk said.
The Executive Board and the railway management have been instructed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport to come up with a plan within 15 days to eliminate the huge losses of the railways.
Police do not take reports seriously
Naiyana Supapueng, former commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, pleaded for better support for rape victims at a seminar yesterday. It still happens too often that victims do not dare to report the crime because the police do not take it seriously.
Naiyanan says some officers accused victims of dressing too provocatively. The train suspect got away with a previous rape because the victim was afraid to report it. If this had not happened, Nong Kaem's death would have been prevented, according to Naiyana.
“Police should treat rape victims with respect. The police must be discreet and respect the feelings of the victims. […] Those things should not be lost among other crimes.'
Another speaker at the seminar blamed the Thai TV soap operas and advertisements. In soap operas, women are often sexually assaulted by men, after which they fall in love with them. And advertisements suggest that attractiveness is the most important quality of women. They thus contribute to the rape culture, according to Kemporn Virunrapat.
(Source: Bangkok Post, July 17, 2014)
There is another new line on the night train BKK-CNX.
Forbidden since a week to consume alcohol. Also no more beer in the dining car!
There was sometimes a lot of atmosphere and good music, almost a rolling discotheque.
Now no one sits there anymore, unless they eat something and leave. Sad ! Could this also have something to do with that murder?
Yes, that also has to do with the rape and murder of that girl:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/nieuws/nieuws-uit-thailand-9-juli-2014/
I repeat what I wrote there: both a women's car and a ban on alcohol seem to me to be the solution. More control (staff selection, supervision of passengers and staff if they are drunk, noisy or exhibit other undesirable and possibly dangerous behavior, etc.). Women traveling together are of no use to a women's wagon, it would not have helped this poor girl. Alcohol and drugs are at best a means that lowers the threshold for various crimes (violence, sexual violence) for some people. Which of course does not mean that all people under the influence do those kinds of things... So both are measures for the stage, I'm afraid, and will hardly reduce the real risk of these kinds of nauseous things...
I also think that the ban on alcohol in the restaurant car is a pity. It was, as you say, often a place with a lot of ambiance, where you could often meet fellow travelers for a chat. But the rape and murder? Ah, there are no words for that. I don't know if the Thai soap has anything to do with it. What I do know is that they are terrible.
Whether a woman or girl is dressed provocatively or not, you can't touch it.
And the excuse that you've had too much to drink and don't know what you're doing is the biggest nonsense or
under the influence of drugs.
Here in the Netherlands you get less punishment if you say that you bought a pill from someone.
Just a hefty punishment is in order. In the case of that 13-year-old girl, no punishment is big enough.