PHUKET: A seven-year-old flower seller who says she is from Vietnam has been taken into protective custody on Phuket as inquiries continue into how she arrived in Thailand and the cause of bruises on her body.
The girl, according to Chuanchom Jantawong of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, had been selling flowers to tourists in Patong along beach road and in the Soi Bangla walking street.
A ''good citizen'' told authorities about the girl on Tuesday, Khun Chuanchom told a regular meeting of police and local authorities at Provincial Hall in Phuket City today.
Several representatives from different authorities went in search of the girl and found her in Patong on Wednesday, Khun Chuanchom said.
''When we asked where she was from, the girl said 'Vietnam,''' Khun Chuanchom told Phuketwan after the meeting.
''She is now in care and we will only ask her further questions once we are sure she is recovering and able to respond.''
The girl, now in a refuge, had one black eye and marks on her body that were consistent with her being beaten, Khun Chuanchom said.
''She told us she lived with a Thai woman she called 'Mum' who had children of her own.''
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha took a close interest when he heard about the case today and asked all authorities to get to the bottom of the cause for the girl being a flower-seller and her treatment.
Tourists to Phuket frequently complain when they see children selling flowers in restaurants and bars in Patong, Kata, Karon and other west coast destinations.
The girl, according to Chuanchom Jantawong of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, had been selling flowers to tourists in Patong along beach road and in the Soi Bangla walking street.
A ''good citizen'' told authorities about the girl on Tuesday, Khun Chuanchom told a regular meeting of police and local authorities at Provincial Hall in Phuket City today.
Several representatives from different authorities went in search of the girl and found her in Patong on Wednesday, Khun Chuanchom said.
''When we asked where she was from, the girl said 'Vietnam,''' Khun Chuanchom told Phuketwan after the meeting.
''She is now in care and we will only ask her further questions once we are sure she is recovering and able to respond.''
The girl, now in a refuge, had one black eye and marks on her body that were consistent with her being beaten, Khun Chuanchom said.
''She told us she lived with a Thai woman she called 'Mum' who had children of her own.''
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha took a close interest when he heard about the case today and asked all authorities to get to the bottom of the cause for the girl being a flower-seller and her treatment.
Tourists to Phuket frequently complain when they see children selling flowers in restaurants and bars in Patong, Kata, Karon and other west coast destinations.
I've seen these children selling flowers in the Nanai area and the old Patong market recently. They get dropped off by someone on a motorbike, then wander through the bars and eateries selling their wares.
The Thais I've asked say they are not Thai children, probably Burmese or Cambodian (or obviously Vietnamese).
Their 'handlers' must find that exploiting children for the 'aww, how cute' factor is acceptable and quite profitable. I find it despicable.
I can only hope people refuse to buy from them so as not to encourage this practice.
Posted by Relox on January 27, 2012 15:46