[Is it not strange that these heinous crimes get hushed up in Goa? Eddie]
Headline: HOLIDAY PARADISE RAPE WAS JUST START OF HELL Source: The Mirror. Jul 29 2002 [The mirror is a major UK tabloid with a circulation of over 2 million copies daily]. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12071933&method=full&siteid=50143 HOLIDAY PARADISE RAPE WAS JUST START OF HELL By Sara Nuwar HAZEL Smith wants justice - and she is prepared to fly 5,000 miles to make sure that the man she says raped her is punished. Her rape in the Indian paradise holiday resort of Goa was a brutal, terrifying ordeal. But what happened to her afterwards turned her life into a waking nightmare. While the 36-year-old former travel firm director was still shocked and bleeding from her assault, Indian police: -MADE her go back to the scene of the crime just an hour after the rape; -FORCED her to pick up the rapist's clothes from the floor for use as evidence; -ASKED her to travel alone in the back of the police van with the man who had raped her; -LEFT her to sit and listen while police beat her attacker up at the police station; -MADE her wait for six hours for medical tests even though she had been badly injured. Now, speaking for the first time Hazel says: "I just want justice. I also want tourists to be more aware of the dangers." (Four tourists were reportedly raped in Goa in January, but none of them reported the attacks to police.) "I know a lot of people have to deal with much more awful things," Hazel says. "But I still have dreadful nightmares and it haunts me." Hazel's ordeal began in January during a three-week holiday at the popular destination. On the night of the assault, she had gone for a traditional Indian massage on one of the busiest streets in Baga. Hazel, from Gillingham in Kent, who has travelled to India three times, says: "The place looked reputable and the man showed me all his certificates and recommendations from other tourists. He put me at ease. "It all seemed very normal. But then he started to touch my breasts and I noticed he had locked the door." AS SHE struggled to get to her feet the 23-year-old masseuse lunged at her, grabbing her by the throat. He pinned her against the wall before raping her. "I really thought I was going to die. I was screaming and crying," she says. "When he'd finished he walked to the bathroom and I made a run for the door. I managed to unbolt it and ran into the street, trying to grab my clothes on the way." After going back to her hotel, she was helped to the local police station by another tourist. Officers then took her back to the scene of the crime to point out her attacker. Although her hair was matted with blood from grazes sustained during the attack, she was not seen by a doctor. "About an hour and a half after it had happened I was back there with eight or ten armed police officers and the Commissioner of Police. "I identified the man and he lunged at me again. I was then asked to pick up his clothes and a shawl I had been wearing and any other evidence I thought was relevant." At this point the terrified businesswoman was asked by police to get into the back of a police van with her attacker. "He was arrested and they said I had to get into the back of the vehicle with him. I refused. I was hysterical. I was in a nightmare." Once back at the police station she claims she then heard officers beating up the suspect. A woman, a complete stranger called in off the street, was brought in to act as a translator so that Hazel could give a statement. Hours later a doctor eventually saw her - and without her knowledge gave her a sedative. Police then told her she still had to be examined for forensic evidence and she was not been allowed to drink or go to the toilet in case this interfered with the tests. She was eventually taken to the hospital six hours after the rape. "I just wanted to have a bath. I felt disgusting. In the end I was able to have a shower," she says. To her further horror, when she returned to her hotel, staff had thrown out her belongings. Hazel, who has travelled all over the world as a tour executive, says: "All my stuff had been thrown outside. It was everywhere. They wanted me out as quickly as possible. They didn't want to be associated with a rape." The following day, accompanied by a representative from the British Consular Office, she was asked to attend an identity parade. The man she eventually picked out as her attacker had been allowed to change his appearance by shaving his hair and moustache. "I was trembling as I had to put my hand on his shoulder to say it was him," she says. She then had to describe the attack in intimate detail to a judge in front of all the members of the ID parade. When she finally got out of the courtroom, she collapsed. Hazel, whose travel firm had been in financial difficulties since the September 11 attacks, was then told by authorities that it would be best if she stayed in Goa. She remained there for a further three weeks but the extra time off work was the final nail in the coffin for her struggling business. She says: "India is still my favourite country in the world. Its people are warm and generous, but what I experienced was horrific. I DON'T want my complaint to harm the tourist industry there, I just want people to be more aware of the dangers. Maybe I was too naive." She was assured that her long stay in India meant she would not have to fly back to give evidence at the trial. But this week she was told she should go back to witness the hearing to secure a conviction. "Last week I was told the hearing was on Tuesday, but now I've been told it's been postponed and that I could be going any time in the next month. It's hard to get on with my life with this hanging over me. "But I've been told he could walk free if I don't go back." She added: "I'm terrified and scared they will blame me for the attack. Perhaps they see me as a blonde Westerner who was asking for it. But I have to fight for justice. "I've been told that if I pay money to the police I could ensure that the man, who faces a maximum seven years in jail, would definitely be found guilty. "But I don't want to do things that way. I want it done fair and square. "Going back by myself though is something I'm dreading. Some people have advised me to just drop it all, but I can't now, not after what I've been through." Hazel has been told she will have a body guard for her own protection, as the alleged rapist was granted bail and is currently a free man. She will also have to find her own accommodation there, but she is hopeful of a conviction and believes the court hearing will help her to put the incident behind her. "I think I will have to pay for my flight back out there, which will be a struggle, and I've not been told whether I need a solicitor." "The court case has already been postponed once due to lost forensic evidence. "I still don't know if they have found that. Luckily, I have medical papers that I took home to show my GP. "These state clearly that the doctor who assessed me thought there was a strong case of 'forcible sexual intercourse'. My friends have been an awesome support. I've spoken to lots of people about it and one admitted to me that she had also been raped in Goa. "She had never told anyone. If speaking up prevents this happening again, then it's worth it." A spokesman from the Foreign Office said: "We have been advised that the lady involved doesn't have to go back to Goa but it will help her case if she goes back. "We are asking the authorities there to assure us they can condense the case to two to three days if she does go back." -JOLEEN Sketchley, 23, was also raped in Goa in January 2000 after being drugged at a bar. Joleen, from Kent, later took an overdose in a bid to wipe out memories of the assault and died of a heart attack. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Also in The Mirror, 29 Jul. 2002: TERROR ABROAD -Foreign Office figures show the number of rapes abroad have risen sharply in recent years due to the explosion in cheap package holidays. Three million tourists visited Goa, a south Indian beach resort on the country's west coast every year. Most people visit between December and February during the Indian winter. …On India the Foreign Office warns: "Do not walk alone in isolated spots in the popular tourist areas especially after dark... There have been several recent incidents of sexual assault against women in Goa." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Don't forget - you saw it on GoaNet! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
