I REFER to your report about a 16-year-old girl who had to endure frequent rapes by her father and brother for the past two years ("Raped by dad and brother" -- NST, July 10).

Her only possible saviour in the family was her mother but the latter apparently did not heed her pleas for help. My sympathy goes to the girl for her traumatic experience.

As a father of three young girls, I am deeply disturbed to read of children in their early teens being sexually victim- ised by their own fathers or brothers. My worry is that sexual abuse may be a new trend among fathers and/or sons to satisfy their lust with their daughters and/or siblings.

The girl's parents are supposed to provide protection to those under their care.

Many would agree with me that they were not fit to be her parents. I praise the girl's courage in lodging a police report, which was the right thing to do as there is no telling how much longer she would have had to suffer in silence if she had not done so.