Help for families whose children go missing

Help for families whose children go missing

Police collect database from mums to help them identify abducted kids

An officer at the Institute of Forensic Medicine collects DNA samples from Montha Sirithai, of Pathum Thani, who believes her daughter was abducted by someone she knew a decade ago. (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)
An officer at the Institute of Forensic Medicine collects DNA samples from Montha Sirithai, of Pathum Thani, who believes her daughter was abducted by someone she knew a decade ago. (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)

Some desperate mothers of missing children are still waiting for their beloved ones to return 10 years after they went missing.

"People often asked me to have another child to replace the lost one. I could not look after the only one I had. How could I have another one?'' said Sureerat Buanark, mother of Narudol Yeunnoowong, or Nong Oat, who went missing from his neighbourhood in March 2002.

Ms Sureerat, from Samut Sakhon's Krathum Baen district, is among three mothers who have lost their children for more than 10 years who were taken yesterday to have their DNA collected for a maternity test.

The Institute of Forensic Medicine provided the tests under a newly launched campaign by the Royal Thai Police called "Thailand DNA-Prokids Project".

The project aims to identify missing children based on genetic data and protect children vulnerable to exploitation by human trafficking rings and forced labour.

"During the first three years, I would go out and search for my son at tourist attractions, but it was all hopeless. I never received any clues,'' she told the Bangkok Post.

"Busy places are usually the riskiest for our children,'' Ms Sureerat said, trying to hold back tears.

Montha Sirithai, a shopkeeper at Klong Luang market in Pathum Thani province, believes her daughter was abducted by someone she knew.

"My daughter Nong Ploy was playing around in front of my shop while I was chatting with a customer. In the blink of an eye, she was gone,'' she recalled.

Nong Ploy, whose full name is Benrat Wongprajun, should have celebrated her 14th birthday with her mum last April, and has been missing since she was aged four.

"She was a bit quiet. She did not talk to strangers and would not have accompanied someone she didn't know. I was sure she was kidnapped by someone we knew," Ms Montha said.

She also shared her bitter experience during the early years of her child's abduction.

"I used to received many calls saying my daughter was dead. They found her body, some said, but in fact no one's body was found. They made fun of my grief,'' she told.

Soraya Dankeaukool, who last saw her son Chaipas "Nong Ten" Danguagul 10 years ago, still hopes one day they will see each other again.

"I never lose hope, even if I feel like I want to give up. My life is filled with hope that I will see my son again,'' she said, holding her son's photo close to her chest.

"I am still waiting for him," she added.

Pol Col Chaiwat Burana, a chief of the Criminal Records Division's Sub-division 2, says police are trying to teach the young how to protect themselves.

"Most abducted children are minors and do not know how to protect themselves. Kids need to learn tactics on how to recognise the suspect's face. At least they can help us investigate too,'' he said.

His sub-division is responsible for producing identikit images.

About 7,000 Matthayom students at seven schools in Bangkok have been trained in how to memorise a suspect's facial identity, Pol Col Chaiwat.

Pol Col Chaiwat is planning to extend the training programme to other schools to teach children how to observe and differentiate those who are trustworthy and who are not.

The Mirror Foundation's Missing Persons Centre says nearly two-thirds of about 3,000 children abducted since 2003 were girls.

According to the figures, 592 children comprising 155 boys and 437 girls were kidnapped last year, while as of July this year, 67 boys and 197 girls have been reported missing.

"Kids go missing everyday and regardless of their gender, they can be sexually exploited,'' a staff member from the foundation said.

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