Outrage in Kanchanaburi: Schoolgirls Sexual Assault Sparks Community Outcry
The quiet town of Kanchanaburi in Thailand was rocked by a disturbing incident that has left the community in shock and anger. Two female students from a renowned secondary school in the area were allegedly assaulted and blackmailed by six senior football players. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight, has sparked outrage and calls for immediate action to be taken.
The harrowing incident took place on Friday, August 23, when two first-year secondary school girls were lured into the football players’ dormitory and subjected to sexual assault. It is reported that the perpetrators, six senior students aged between 11 and 15, not only assaulted the girls but also filmed the ordeal and used the footage to blackmail the victims, adding another layer of trauma to the heinous crime.
The parents of the victims, desperate for help and justice, turned to the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page for assistance. Ekkapop Luangprasert, the founder of the page and assistant to the Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs, immediately sprang into action upon learning of the incident. He coordinated with relevant agencies and made a visit to the school to address the situation.
Law enforcement has also been alerted to the incident, and investigations have revealed the identities of the six students involved in the assault. These students are set to be questioned at the Kanchanaburi Provincial Prosecutor’s Office alongside multidisciplinary officers as the community demands justice for the victims.
Ekkapop has urged the Ministry of Education to look into the safety measures at the school and to determine if similar incidents have occurred in the past. He further warned that sharing the assault video would result in legal repercussions, emphasizing the need to protect the victims’ privacy and dignity.
One parent of a victim shared the heart-wrenching experience of learning about the assault from a relative, leading to the painful revelation from their daughter. Despite the school’s attempt to organize a meeting with the parents, the decision was made to report the incident to the Facebook page and the police instead, seeking swift and decisive action to be taken.
Upon arriving at Tha Ruea Police Station, Ekkapop accompanied the parents for a meeting with the Kanchanaburi Provincial Police Deputy Commander and Tha Ruea Police Station Chief. The police assured the parents that justice would be served for the victims, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that had engulfed the community.
The scene of the crime, a multimedia classroom repurposed as a temporary dormitory for the football team, was visited by Ekkapop and law enforcement officials. The dormitory, located adjacent to the school cafeteria, is a bustling area with frequent foot traffic, raising questions about the lack of security and oversight in such a high-traffic zone.
The school’s football coach stated that the dormitory accommodates 35 athletes and that on the day of the incident, online classes were being conducted due to an external sports event. He claimed that CCTV footage showed the girls entering the dormitory voluntarily, with no signs of distress observed during the assault. The lack of awareness among the fellow athletes further highlights the need for increased vigilance and education on consent and boundaries.
Following the site visit, Ekkapop engaged in discussions with the Kanchanaburi Secondary Education Service Area Office Director, revealing the formation of an investigation committee tasked with concluding their findings within seven days. Affected students have been granted a three-day leave, during which psychologists will provide much-needed support and counseling.
The future of the football dormitory is under review, with the school’s principal temporarily reassigned pending an internal investigation set to conclude within a week. The police will continue to gather statements and pursue legal action against the six students involved in the assault, seeking to hold them accountable for their reprehensible actions.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this appalling incident, there is a collective call for justice, accountability, and a reevaluation of safety measures within the school and the wider community. The scars left by such traumatic events run deep, but it is through unity, support, and unwavering determination that healing and progress can be achieved. Let this be a turning point in Kanchanaburi, a moment of reckoning and renewal, where the voices of the victims are heard, and justice is not just a promise but a reality.