RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen appeals for more witnesses to a gang rape to come forward at a news conference Thursday. (CBC)RCMP are pleading for more people who saw the gang rape of a 16-year-old at a large party near Vancouver two weeks ago to come forward.

Two witnesses have contacted investigators so far, Sgt. Peter Thiessen told a news conference Thursday.

Police said the girl was drugged and sexually assaulted by several people while other teens took photographs they posted on the internet.

The girl's parents issued a written statement on Thursday, saying their daughter is struggling to return to a normal life.

"Our daughter is a very beautiful and brave individual," the girl's parents said in a statement distributed by RCMP.

'We respect the courage that it took for these two young adults to come forward under extreme peer pressure.' —RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen

"She is strong. She has returned to school and is trying to get some normalcy back in her life. There are a lot of kids out there supporting her, and that's also making a big difference."

The parents, who can't be named to protect the identity of the girl, said they appreciated the support from the community and her school, but they need privacy as they heal.

They also gratefully declined offers for donations to help their daughter: "We do not in any way want to benefit financially from this tragedy."

The RCMP have said the girl was assaulted on Sept. 10 at a party on a rural property in Pitt Meadows, east of Vancouver.

Two arrests

There have been two arrests — a 16-year-old who could face child pornography charges, and an 18-year-old for whom police are recommending charges of sexual assault. Both have been released as police and prosecutors consider charges.

Police have described the attack as a gang rape and said there were multiple suspects, but on Thursday refuted earlier media reports that between five and seven people took part in the assault.

Thiessen said that number referred only to the total number of people police initially believed were present, including witnesses.

RCMP investigate a party where a sexual assault was reported. (RCMP)Investigators are only prepared to say "several" people were involved in the actual assault, he said.

Thiessen said the RCMP now believe there were as many as a dozen people watching, but so far only two witnesses have spoken with police. Thiessen wouldn't say what they saw or how they are connected to the case.

"We respect the courage that it took for these two young adults to come forward under extreme peer pressure," Thiessen told a news conference in nearby Maple Ridge.

"What's really important now is that others need to follow their example.... They can do this anonymously, they can do this through Twitter, through Facebook, through texting or phoning Crime Stoppers, all of which are anonymous, and we encourage them to take those courageous steps."

Unknowingly drugged

He also expressed regret over the RCMP's repeated use of the phrase "gang rape" to describe the attack.

"There are many terms you could use for what occurred, and gang rape could be one of them based on the information that we have," he said.

"I really, really wish we could maybe not use that term anymore, because it's going to continue to revictimize this young girl."

The rural property where police say the sexual assaults took place. (CBC) Thiessen did not suggest another way the incident could be described.

In the days that followed the attack, the RCMP said the photos were spreading quickly on the internet, despite warnings that anyone passing them around was distributing child pornography.

Thiessen said police have had more success in the past week, but he said the internet postings haven't abated completely.

Thiessen also addressed what he described as the "debate" that appears to be raging among young people, particularly on social networking websites, about what exactly happened.

Some high school students in the area have appeared in news reports questioning whether drugging and having sex with a 16-year-old girl even constitutes rape.

Thiessen acknowledged the investigation is still underway, but he suggested that, for investigators, there was no debate.

"We strongly have reason to believe that she was impaired by drugs, that she did not take these drugs willingly," he said.