Father of sixteen-year-old girl asks her to marry friend who attempted to rape her

June 19, 2009

WCRP: On the evening of June 15th, Ma L—L—H— was in her room at her father’s house in Mahachai when she heard a man enter into her room. This man then tried to rape the 16-year-old girl, WCRP learned after speaking with her mother.

The mother added that it was at this time that Ma L—L—H—’s father came home amidst the heated situation. But instead of taking her side, he quickly told his daughter that she was to marry this man, Maung Seik, who was a friend of his.

Ma L—L—H— refused and began to cry. When she refused her father beat her.

The mother, who is divorced and lives in a separate house in Mahachai, said that her ex-husband then again told their daughter, “You have to marry him.”

Crying, Ma L—L—H— pleaded with her father: “he [Maung Seik] didn’t rape me. He is not my sweetheart, and I cannot marry him.”

In traditional Mon Culture, extra-marital sexual relations are considered undignified and oftentimes families have been known to force the victims of sexual violence to marry the transgressor as a way of saving face.

Instead of acquiescing to her father’s demand, Ma L—L—H— fled and moved to her mother’s house, a two-bus trip away, said the mother to a WCRP field reporter. Her mother is a Burmese migrant worker, like her ex-husband and her son (who lives with the father); she is employed at the Thai Union office.

Ma L—L—H— is from Karoat-pi village, Thanbyuzayat Township. She works during the day at the Garland factory in Mahachai and her father also works nights there.

The mother added that 10 people, all migrant workers from Burma, were staying at Ma L—L—H—’s father’s house before her daughter ran away.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News