The father of a Melbourne teenager who was fatally poisoned by tainted alcohol in Laos has vowed to stop the backpacker hostel at the centre of the tragedy from reopening under a different name.
Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, died alongside four other tourists after they sustained methanol poisoning from drinks served on a night out in the party town of Vang Vieng.
All six people who died were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
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The hostel closed following the deaths, however it is understood Nana Backpacker Hostel now plans to accept guests under the new name of Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel.
It’s available for bookings online and is reportedly advertising free shots at the venue, Ben Fordham reported today on 2GB.
Holly’s heartbroken father Shaun told Fordham he is going to do everything in his power to stop the hostel from opening up to travellers again.
“The potential of this happening to someone else is very real because obviously they haven’t changed their ways,” Shaun said.
“We’re gonna put our heads together with some people and we’re gonna do everything we can to make sure that that place doesn’t reopen, because it’s just not right.
“To have no justice and to find out that they’re going to reopen the backpackers… it’s just the worst news.”
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Shaun said there has been nothing but “radio silence” from the local government in Laos regarding the investigation into the six deaths.
He said he doesn’t believe the Laos officials have taken the deaths seriously.
“They tell us that it’s sitting with the prosecutors but… we can’t even get a meeting with the Laos ambassador to Australia in Canberra to ask some questions and to find out some answers,” he added.
This week will be Holly’s birthday, the first the Bowles family will mark without their beloved daughter.
Shaun told Fordham the news of the backpacker hostel’s plans to reopen has added to their already “unfathomable” pain.
”We remember her so fondly,” he added.
“Someone needs to be held accountable.”
Online listings for Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel are available to view online through sites such as TripAdvisor.
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Travellers staying in the area reported to BBC that construction work was underway at the address.
Last month, families of the victims were also left enraged after discovering the former manager of Nana Backpacker hostel had opened up a luxury resort just 450 metres up the road.
9News spoke to the former manager of Nana Backpacker, known as Pikachu, who confirmed his connection to the 4-star hotel in the heart of Vang Vieng’s party district.
The revelations were yet another blow for the Australian families and their search for justice.
“As parents of Holly and Bianca we are angered at the recent news from Laos,” the families said in a joint statement.
“We are disappointed in the Australian government as we are again the last to know.”
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