Survey discovers Internet shops dens of drugs, sexual abuse and robbery

Many young people have been attacked, sexually abused and had money stolen at Internet cafes over the past three months.

This shocking data was found in a recent survey and is being released following two cases of sexual assault.

"This is worrying," says the director of the Academic Network for Community Happi-ness Observation and Research at Assumption Univer-sity.

Noppadon Kannika says "many respondents witnessed such things at Internet cafes".

The network found 25 per cent of those using cafes saw cases of extortion; more than 7 per cent witnessed drug use and about 6.5 per cent sexual abuse at Internet cafes.

"Based on these statistics, it's estimated as many as 60,600 children may have been extorted at cafes in this school break alone," Noppadon says.

"Some 57,600 children may have been physically attacked, while some 31,000 others may have been sexually abused."

He points out that almost 16 per cent of respondents now don't visit cafes because of gambling, glue-sniffing, smoking and alcohol abuse there, adding that cafes allowing alcohol consumption and smoking are worse.

According to the survey, teenagers spend two hours and 42 minutes a day at Internet cafes. Most play games, of which Internet cafes offer a variety of games.

Conducted from April 22 to 23, the survey questioned 2,276 respondents aged between seven and 19 living in Bangkok and nearby.

Parents face rap

Parents of young sex offenders can be held criminally liable for their children's offences against other minors, says Social Development and Human Security Ministry official Thitikallaya Wangjaroen. Under a 2003 law, parents whose children are victims of abuse can get in trouble, too.

The ministry is holding a May 12 seminar on hazards facing children outside of the home. The Phra Nakhon Internet cafe where a 17-year-old sexually abused one boy and another victim nearby may be closed for a month and fined Bt2,000.