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[justinm at ucr.edu]

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2009-0511 - VNA - Mistreated teenage girl rescued from Laos

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=48654

Thanh Nien News | Society | Mistreated teenage girl rescued from Laos

Mistreated teenage girl rescued from Laos

Nguyen Thi Thu Thao at the Cau Treo border station in Ha Tinh Province after being rescued from a Vietnamese couple in Laos

Border security forces in the central province of Ha Tinh have teamed up with Lao police to rescue a teenaged girl who was reportedly being mistreated by her Vietnamese employers in Vientiane.

Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, 16, was introduced by Phuong, a woman who hails from the same town in Ha Tinh Province, to work for a Vietnamese couple in Laos in late January.

Her family was paid VND10 million (around US$563) by the couple Ho Thi Nhu and Tran Thanh Cau before Thao was taken to Vientiane in February.

Thao and four other Vietnamese girls had to work from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and were frequently beaten by their owners.

Nhu once hit Thao’s head with a knife, giving her a bad headache and making her vomit, Thao said.

Early this month, the five girls were driven to Lac Xao Town to work at the couple’s stall in a fair.

On learning that the fair was just 30 kilometers from the Cau Treo border gate, Thao managed to escape, but was found by her employer after walking more than 10 kilometers.

After driving her back to Vientiane, Nhu called Thao’s mother, Nguyen Thi Thanh and demanded a payment of VND36 million for sending her daughter back.

The distraught mother appealed to the border security forces for help soon after.

On Friday, Vietnamese border security forces coordinated with police in Laos to rescue Thao when she was driven to Lac Xao Town again.

Nguyen Thi Hong, vice chairwoman of the Ha Tinh Province Women’s Union, said Thao will attend a vocational training course and a job will be provided for her after she completes it.

Two of the other four girls, Hien and Hoa, have also managed to escape to their homeland while Giang and Thang are still stuck in Laos, police said.

The case is under further investigation.

Reported by Khanh Hoan

Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 11 May, 2009, 17:22:59 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News

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Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu