Child sexual abuse in Thailand

[margaretcarnes]

This is a very difficult situation for Mr P - if there IS abuse going on the head of security, who is also a policeman - can't be excluded from it either. As we all know repercussions can be severe.
But the alleged fact that the boy is the guys' son doesn't preclude abuse either.
Unfortunately in Thailand, unlike many other countries, there is no organisation which these suspicions can be reported to in complete confidence. And little if any chance of protection for people who would report things even if they could.
I don't know how good your Thai is Mr P but if you are fluent enough to begin to pass the time of day with the guard - strike up a friendship - walk to and fro to give the excuse to stop for a chat kind of thing - and if your neighbours could gradually start to do the same - he might be discouraged from taking any risks.
He might of course simply take his activities elsewhere. But even if you took action which got him sacked I suspect it wouldn't stop him sadly.

[MrPlum]

I wonder why this piece of vital information was omitted from the OP.

Because at the time of posting I was unaware of it.

I agree it could be innocent and would very much like to believe so. I have lots of experience of being found 'guilty' without a fair trail and I do not wish to have unfounded fears running around my brain. I may 'pontificate' about world affairs but I do not attack Thailand, nor do I pay attention to those who continually moan about it. It puts a damper on the Thailand experience.

You can often tell someone's guilt or innocence by their behaviour. Actions speak louder than words. The old chap normally smiles at me every time I pass. The following morning he would not look me in the eye and he looked troubled. Likewise when I returned later in the day. I believe, and of course, I'm speculating, that he thinks I know and it's on his mind. Maybe he thinks he might lose his job. Maybe he missed his breakfast.

The fact that he's his son, doesn't alter what I saw, or the behaviour. As Margaret says relatives are often victims.

I'm quite willing to see innocence rather than guilt. So, you tell me. The father is seen exiting doing up his fly. The son is seen inside pulling up his shorts. It is 8pm. The hut cannot be observed from either the road or the houses.

Please provide an innocent explanation.

Assuming he's guilty, the question is, what next? There is a process that people go through when they receive a shock. It is called SARAH. SARAH stands for shock, anger, rejection, acceptance and help. First you are shocked, then you become angry, perhaps you reject others (and appeals to reason), finally you accept, then you seek help.

Most people react in this way. I could become angry, demand the owner of the development sack the guard or police arrest him, be outraged that such things take place, call the Thai child protection agency (if they have one) keep the children under lock and key, move house immediately, curse this godforsaken country, and so on.

It might give me some short term satisfaction that I've 'got this paedophile off the streets' but then you have to deal with the consequences, as has been mentioned. The possibility of retaliation. What would happen to the child if the social services took him into care? If all his other children are taken into care? Are the child and other children really better off? Or worse? Was the sexual act (if one took place) serious or minor?

Time and again I see people react as if they are still in Europe. They demand Justice, go through the courts and end up disillusioned and broke. The idea that Thailand has the same mindset, morality and legal system as we are used to, is a delusion. This is a male-dominated society which gives men more power and protection than we receive.

Reacting with anger can have serious consequences. But then so can doing nothing.

I've said what I will do. Teach the children to be street-wise and watch him to make sure he's not enticing other youngsters into his hut. Because then I will know it's not confined to just him and his son. You are then dealing with a different animal. A sexual predator.

[Big Boy]

Before I respond, I would like it known that I'm neither saying the guy is guilty nor innocent. However, I still believe the moment was lost when you didn't confront him immediately.

Please provide an innocent explanation.

I assume the guard spends many hours in his hut. Maybe he was having a slash in a bucket as you approached, at the same time as his son was getting changed. OK, probably far fetched, but as much foundation as your fears.

I'm quite willing to see innocence rather than guilt.

It might give me some short term satisfaction that I've 'got this paedophile off the streets

Judge Jefferies is on a mission. This is obviously going to turn into yet another Plumesque discussion - I will not be drawn further into such drivel.

One final comment from me - I think you are very wise to take no chances in this matter, because nobody except the guy and his son know the truth. Advising your kids to keep well clear of the hut is probably the most sensible course of action open at the moment.

[kendo]

As i have said watch him like a hawk and try and get some sort of hard evidence then this really is up for debate.

Now its not uncommon for a thai to take a piss up against a bush tree etc or pick his nose in front of you i have even seen an old lady in town squat over a drain just outside Poolsuk Plaza on a band night.

Kendo.

[MrPlum]

Judge Jefferies is on a mission. This is obviously going to turn into yet another Plumesque discussion - I will not be drawn further into such drivel.

Wrong topic for that. Thanks for the feedback. If in the future anyone else has a similar experience, they may recall the suggestions mentioned here.

[bill]

be careful. in europe you see something like this and report it the perverts life is ruined forever. in thailand it may be your life ruined forever. stay out of it for the good of your family.

[richard]

Having lived in the wilds of Africa and Isaan I have experienced things which the western mind would consider bestial and revolting

Young girls are always kept at the back of the mud huts in Zimbabwe to prevent marauding drunken family males from dragging them out into the bush. To a certain degree the same applies in Isaan villages

Many times in the Isaan village I have asked the wife who is the father of your young (15) niece? only to be told 'her uncle'. I'm not even sure if the dogs, buffalo and cattle are safe!!!!!

I can empathise with the OP as I've been through the same experience and the mind conjures up the possible dark scenarios but at the end of the day and maybe I'm being selfish and burying my head in the sand, but me, family and friends come first.

Screw the rest (to coin a phrase)

[Takiap]

be careful. in europe you see something like this and report it the perverts life is ruined forever. in thailand it may be your life ruined forever. stay out of it for the good of your family.

Yes, but in Europe, if you falsely accuse, your life can also be ruined, at least financially. It's an extremely serious allegation after all.


As others have said, just tread very carefully. People die here for much lesser things. The way I see it Plum, if he is up to something, you'll have to allow him enough rope to hang himself, and then act.

[pharvey]

Not a great situation all around........

Should this situation have arose in a country where this kind of abuse was extremely unlikely, perhaps the vast majority of us wouldn't be jumping to the conclusions that we are no doubt. Unfortunately, Thailand is not one of those countries (if indeed there really is one these days). Like Richard, I have lived and worked in many countries including several African nations where this kind of abuse is all too common and indeed would agree with his comments in keeping young females ''out of sight''...

Several years ago whilst living and working in Rayong, I was to meet my then Thai girlfriend and her family in Chang Mai. The family actually lived in Bangkok and her much younger brother (around 8 or so at the time) was being schooled there. Having known the family for several years and being trusted, I was asked to travel with him to Chang Mai (the family had traveled a day earlier). In order to do this however, I needed a letter from the family, stamped/approved by the police or relevant authority basically saying I wasn't a pervert/pedophile..... Now, that's not going to happen unless a country has some serious problems - foreign or otherwise

Mr P - I think you're doing the right thing in the circumstances. Warn the kids, keep a keen eye out - life is cheap in Thailand and the repercussions on yourself and/or family could be severe should you chose the wrong course of action.

You can certainly be a pain in the @rse on this forum with your views at times , but I for one would not like to see harm come to anyone in any situation such as this. So, be wise - take care.

[MrPlum]

Problem solved. The security guard nipped out to pick his son up from school on Friday.. only takes a few minutes. Bad timing. The owner of the development showed up, to find there was no security in attendance. Fired him today.

He's gone.

[richard]

Problem not solved just moved on to a new location

[Lung Per]

Not that I take the case on hand lightly (pedophiles should by hung by their testicles in violin a-strings), but it does remind me of an old anecdote:
A French school class, 5th grade I guess, was having English lessons. The English teacher, a French woman, asked the students to create a sentence containing the word "Probably" (pronounced with the usual heavy French accent): Student No. 1, Yvette, said: "Yesterdee when I come 'ome from school, my mama was putting flour on ze kitchen table. She was "probably" going to make a bread." "Vere good, teacher exclaimed. "And now you, Jaques". Jaques says: "Yesterdee, when I come 'ome from school, my sister has piano lessons with 'er private teacher. My sister was sitting on the piano with 'er pants down, the teacher was standing in front of 'er with his pants down. They were "probably" going to pee in ze piano."

[kendo]

Problem solved. The security guard nipped out to pick his son up from school on Friday.. only takes a few minutes. Bad timing. The owner of the development showed up, to find there was no security in attendance. Fired him today.

He's gone.

Mr Plum, if you have any real bollocks about you, more oppertunity to shop him with less recorse if he has been sacked if it is a real issue follow your heart.
If you wish to nail him easy done we all know the right people it's just a cupa a tea

IF YOU ARE REALLY SURE DONT DISS MISS THIS ........ FOR THE SAKE OF CHILDREN !!!

Regards Kendo Palini and baby Amelie.

[poosmate]

"Collected his son from school last Friday"?
Thought they were on holiday?
Another figment of someone's imagination I wonder
If not why not tell us the name of the security company so someone else will maybe want to inform them to prevent further abuse.

[BingoBango]

I find it hard to believe that Mr Plum has witnessed this but only told his children not to go in the hut, as a father regardless of where I was in the world and regardless of any possible repercussions my natural reaction would be to expose the nonce.

What kind of father would turn a blind eye to this situation and ask qwerty friends for their advice whilst this abuse could still be going on.

I hope this is not true because its terrible to think that as long as Mr Plum is safe and well its ok for a 12 year old boy to be allegedly abused.

I'm Glad I am not that boy or Mr Plum end.