Goa's tourism boss links sexual assaults to bikinis

Global Post ^ | Jason Overdorf

[Tom Hawks]

Once upon a time, the beaches of Goa were known for free love. But as a string of high-profile sexual assaults on tourists culminated in the alleged rape of a 9-year-old Russian girl last week, the idyllic strip of sand along the Arabian Sea is fast gaining a fearful reputation.

The answer? According to the state's ministry of tourism, those cute pre-teens in two-pieces are asking for it.

“You can't blame the locals; they have never seen such women. Foreign tourists must maintain a certain degree of modesty in their clothing. Walking on the beaches half-naked is bound to titillate the senses,” New Delhi's Mail Today newspaper quoted Pamela Mascarhenas, Goa's deputy director of tourism, as saying Friday.

GlobalPost could not reach Mascarhenas for comment. But a spokesman for the Goa tourism department confirmed that — far from marking a departure from official policy — the official's remark echoed previous statements by the tourism minister himself.

“I have not talked to her [Mascarhenas] on this issue directly,” said Swapnil Naik, director of the Goa tourism department. “But I think that sentiment has also been echoed by our minister in one or two statements. There is a degree of cultural shock for our native population when they see certain type of dressing.”

Goa has been on the boil since Jan. 28, when a 9-year-old Russian girl was allegedly raped by two Indian men. Following close on the heels of the alleged rape and murde

[Tom Hawks]

Ok, now I understand the whole idea that one should not tempt fate by being overly provocative whether that be the way one dresses or acts, but come on this is just stupid.

It takes a certain element of evil to even contemplate raping any one let alone a 9 year old girl. From the Police report is says that one man kept the mother busy in a conversation while the other guy raped the girl.

Any dirt bag that would rape anyone should be taken out and whipped with a cat of 9 tails and then dipped into a salty bathwater solution before being executed by having honey poured upon their naked body and fires ants set up him.

I had an older sister raped when she was 13, if I had been older I would have made sure the guy never reached his next birthday. I really detest those who will find any excuse to justify evil behavior. Kind of reminds me of the way liberals are always excusing all sorts of evil depraved behavior in order to destroy the very society who's constitution allowed them the freedom to be stupid in the first place.

[TornadoAlley3]

Breaking News?

[Red Badger]

Honey is unnecessary with fire ants.................

[AuH2ORepublican]

The article’s headline is:

“Goa’s tourism boss links sexual assaults to bikinis”

I think that the thread’s title should be fixed.

[Perdogg]

People here on FR lately have been dumping everything into breaking news. It needs to stop.

[silverleaf]

If the Russians would be permitted to do their own interrogation of the rapists, the problem of tourist attire would no longer be a problem.

[Perdogg]

Being Russian, I am surprised she had that on.

[a fool in paradise]

There is a degree of cultural shock for our native population when they see certain type of dressing.

Doesn't the native population approve of child prostitution?

[TSgt]

People here on FR lately have been dumping everything into breaking news. It needs to stop.

AGREED!

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

“You can't blame the locals; they have never seen such women. Foreign tourists must maintain a certain degree of modesty in their clothing. Walking on the beaches half-naked is bound to titillate the senses,”

Well, okay, when we're not talking about 9-year old girls, there is a certain amount of truth to the proposition that young women walking around on a beach wearing the equivalent of a dishrag is "titillating."

But at the same time, you'd think responsibility should lie primarily with the one who couldn't exercise enough self-control to not, you know, rape someone else.

[Retired COB]

if I had been older I would have made sure the guy never reached his next birthday.

It's not too late. You can take care of the problem when he gets out of jail.

[HighlyOpinionated]

So are all these Goans Muzlems whose leader says they don’t have to control their lusts?

[Tom Hawks]

As I recall it was well over 40 years ago and the guy received a 6 mo suspended sentence for time served awaiting trial.

He was well known with good connections. Other then that I really do not know much more about it because my father moved us away from Cincinnati less then a year later. So I ended up growing up in San Antonio Texas, where I guarantee you if it happened there, the guy would be somewhere in the desert collecting bugs.

What was that great line in Casino where Joe Pesci’s (sp?) character said, “The secret to burying a body in the desert is to have the whole dug first, or you may be there all night killing and a shoveling.”burying people.

As for the breaking news post, I really thought I hit extended news, sorry. In the title I missed the word rape at the end, I wanted a more provocative headline to grab everyone’s attention.

I was leaving the house and the dog was barking and my wife was complaining about her car and I should have waited to post it for later when I arrived at work.

[Tom Hawks]

Thanks for fixing it, next time I will stick with the original headline, and I will double check to make sure I don’t categorize it incorrectly. I really did mean to click extended news. Again sorry to all.

[humblegunner]

honey poured upon their naked body and fires ants set up him.

Someone set up ants the bomb!

[James C. Bennett]

Actually, they are Catholics.

The name, ‘Mascarenhas’ should have given that away.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Give GOA back to the Portugese! It used to be their version of Hong Kong!

[James C. Bennett]

The Dutch will then demand New Amsterdam, ahem, New York.

Besides, who is going to do the “giving”?