Damsel in Distress Saved by Couple
It happened a little over two weeks ago. Jope Koroisavou was driving back home with his wife, Alanieta, along Kings Road near Laqere when they noticed a young woman being chased by a group of men. “I was turning to go into Nepani when my wife said the girl, was in trouble. I turned the car around and upon reaching the main road, I saw she was running into Pilling Road,” Mr Koroisavou said.
“I called out to the girl but she kept on running. When my wife called out, she dropped onto the ground and started crying.
“I think it was the voice of a woman that made her realise that help was there. She was shaking.” Mr Koroisavou said there were ten boys chasing the girl. He asked the girl what had happened, she replied that she had been assaulted and kicked in the stomach. Mr Koroisavou said the boys responded that the girl was mentally challenged.
“I was angry by the way this particular girl was being treated by this bunch of boys. What was also of concern was that nobody was bothered that a young woman was being chased in that manner,” Mr Koroisavou expressed his disappointment.
“What is becoming of our society? Are we too busy minding our own business that we are not even able to help someone who is in genuine trouble? This is very sad.
“I cannot imagine what would have happened if we had not stopped to help the young woman.” According to Mr Koroisavou, he would have entered into a confrontation with the young men if the Police had not arrived.
He said the Police were from Valelevu Police Station and they assured him that they would handle the matter.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said she was checking with the Valelevu Police Station if a complaint had been lodged with the Police.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali said there
What is becoming of our society? Are we too busy minding our own business that we are not even able to help someone who is in genuine trouble? This is very sad. Jope Koroisavou Concerned citizen
was a great need for such bystander intervention. She said there have been cases where women and children have been injured with people watching and not helping the victims at all.
She said it was the responsibility of everyone to ensure that people were safe from violence. Edited by Susana Tuilau