The Phuket police chief has confirmed that a nationwide order to enforce bar and entertainment venue closing times will be enforced in the wake of a British tourist being raped in Chiang Rai.
After local police blamed the crime on late closing hours at bars and the victim being “drunk and senseless,” the crackdown was ordered by Royal Thai Police and local officers will be held responsible for any entertainment venues trading late throughout the country.
“If any jurisdiction allows any establishment to disobey the closing time, the officers in charge will be punished for negligence,” said Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner Pol Gen Wutthi Phuawade.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Col. Teeraphol Thipjaroen confirmed the crackdown will be rolled out in Phuket, but will be done so in coordination with “provincial policy,” The Phuket News reported.
Meanwhile, the victim of the rape in Pai spoke out to CityNews and told her side of the story.
“The statements made by the police general blaming me for being senseless and the guy’s first statement about how I said I loved him is so far from the truth I wanted to tell my side of the story.”
In a detailed account, the victim said the alleged rapist offered to take her back to the guesthouse late at night on Oct. 25 because Pai has no public transportation, but instead he stopped in a wooded area and assaulted her.
“I was afraid for my life,” she said.
This wasn’t the first time Thai officials, who usually hold conservative values, have blamed social factors for rape instead of the people who committed the crime.
In the infamous Koh Tao rape and murder case last year, Prayuth Chan-ocha was heavily criticized for making a statement about how tourists in bikinis may not be safe, unless they’re ugly.
Related:
Prayuth: Women in bikinis may not be safe – unless they’re ugly
Cops blame alcohol, tourist’s ‘senseless, drunk’ actions for her rape
Reader Interactions