Ronaprit
Ontian is helping rescue this 15-year-old girl whose drug-addicted relatives
were allegedly trying to force her to take methamphetamines.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
A local cable television reporter helped rescue a
15-year-old girl whose drug-addicted relatives were allegedly trying to
force her to take methamphetamines.
Ronaprit Ontian, 38, brought the girl to Child and Women
Protection Center Police Region 2 office to file a report against her mother
and grandmother and to request she be taken into custody by the Social
Welfare Department.
Ronaprit told police the girl - whose mother she’d known
for a long time - showed up at her central Pattaya home about two weeks ago,
asking to live there. She said she’d run away from her Soi Nong Hin home
because her relatives were trying to force her to take ya ba so she’d stop
complaining about their drug use.
While the girl was there, Ronaprit said, Banchong
Pansingh, the girl’s 62-year-old grandmother showed up with her 22-year-old
boyfriend and two teenagers and tried to forcibly take the girl away. The
reporter called police and the family fled.
The runaway girl told police she’d finished primary
school grade 3, but was forced to quit school by her mother to work. All the
money she earned, however, went to her mother’s ya ba habit. The girl said
she complained often about her mother and grandmother’s drug use and, sick
of it, the two addicts allegedly tried to get her hooked on ya ba as well.
Officers are investigating. Meanwhile, the girl has been
removed from the home and is now at the Banglamung Children’s Home under
caring and watchful eyes.
