Archive for March 9th, 2008
09
In light of the latest reports on the danger to tourists in Goa and a family’s fight for justice to find out the truth about their daughter Scarlett Keeling’s death or as they suspect murder is going to be tough. Ok when I first heard that she had been left with an Indian tour guide whilst her mother and other siblings toured another part of India I thought that was irresponsible. The problem is that Goa is sold as this idyllic, cheap getaway with friendly people. As tourists very often the ’safeguards’ you would have at home you suddenly forget when you’re abroad ‘in paradise’. However, to have your daughter taken from you in such a way deserves justice and publicity.
This story is just one of many British tourists who have ‘died’ in India. It seems that there is a seedy side of Goa that is run by the ‘criminal underworld’ who target tourists there. I know that ‘nasty’ things happen there as a friend of mine was drugged whilst having an afternoon drink on a beach bar and raped in Goa… not something you really bargain for from a holiday!
Unfortunately, scantily clad liberated holiday makers are easy prey for rapists/murderers who want to exploit them especially if the justice system is hard to negotiate and full of corruption. The widespread image of hippies and drug fuelled beach parties in paradise make it easy for the police to dismiss any tourist deaths as suicide and not investigate them properly.
There was a time when I wanted to visit Goa but not any more!