A powerful "investigative report" has been done on the situation with the kidnapped children. I urge everyone to watch this with an open mind, rather than on the defensive. Upfront, there are inaccuracies in it. There are things that make inferences of connections that are not correct. Kids were not sold for $50K. The problems at Casa Quivira did not involve kidnapping. I could mention more. And yes, it was produced by al Jazeera.
But do not let those things cause you to discredit everything it is saying. I can not put into worst my dismay at the allegations of fraud at DNA collection! The mother's featured are not lying, their heartache is real. And while I am in no way directly involved in these cases or much "in the know", based on what I do know 95% of this report is accurate.
My opinion is that I hope the DOJ will work with the Guatemalan authorities. And I think David Smolin has excellent insight and recommendations for the families in the US who are victims here as well.
Lastly, this is all such a tragedy to a wonderful institution. We as adoptive parents need to understand and come to terms with the corruption that will always cast some shadow of doubt on our families, no matter how undeserved. So watch with an open mind, digest it, and then come to your own conclusions.
I wish we didn't have to be posting this sort of stuff. But we can't escape reality.
Peace!
The video and report can be found here:
http://familypreservation.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-i-am-going-to-guatemala.html
We're looking for the PAP(s) of a little guy named J. Enrique. We know where he is at and would love to get you in contact in the folks there. From what we hear, he's doing okay but having a hard time. So if anyone knows L.B., let her know to contact us.
The CNA has issued a statement directed at those of you who are still in process. You can find it here: http://www.cna.gob.gt/index.html or click on "more" for a translation.
The one thing I would ask of the CNA to clarify within this is the "status" or standing on who has control over the cases that did not have a birthmother interview conducted as I believe those are technically new cases, and thus under the jurisdiction of CNA.
We will also try to get some clarity on how one should go about contacting the consulate in DC.
I would strongly encourage everyone to help the Guatemalan authorities understand/document exactly who had cases started, who was told they did, where the children are, who the children are etc. I believe this helps to protect all parties involved.
A few years ago, we helped an AP that was caught in the fallout of one of the major adoption scandals. Little did we know for some time, Tammy Cochran was a country music star. If you do some research on her, you'll see this is someone with a huge heart.
Tammy's new album, 30 Something and Single, comes out Tuesday, and we humbly thank her for the thanks she has given us on the CD credits and in this interview: http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5943840_,00.html.
Four children who ahd been housed at the hogar Los Pinos (which we're told have closed) have been moved to Amor del Nino. They are all boys and their initials are H.E.S., B.B., B.R.N., and R.A.L.G. The folks at Amor del Nino would love to hear from you. You can contact them via their website at: http://www.lovethechild.org.
Today I lost a good friend. She was in her early forties and had everything going for her. Newly wed, a new grandma, starting an MBA, and embarkiing on a new career. She was a kind, honest, and hard working person. She was someone who could be an aspiration for single moms everywhere.
I first met her setting up an interview for my first job after grad school. She assured me the town wasn't too bad, after all they had just gotten a new chain steak restaurant. That went over well with the kid from Southern California. When I needed someone to help me create the song loop I used to go down the aisle at my wedding, she was there to help and figured it out. (Dead Man's party from Oingo Boingo if you're curious. But it was only the music, not the lyrics, I'm not that bad) She was one of the very few people that ever babysat my kids. Boy did they ever love her.
For the past two years when Guatadopt needed someone to design the calendar, she stepped in and did a marvelous job. Many of you corresponded with Lesa over missing pics, wrong pics, etc.
So in honor of Lesa, even in the small way she touched our community, please take a look at those calendars, think about all the good things of friends and family, and thank her with a prayer, thought, smile, whatever. She was a wonderful person and the world is undoubtedly worse without her. I'll miss you Lesa...
A group of in-process families, led by some from Semillas de Amor, have orgaanized a march and candlelihgt vigil in Wahington DC on june 17th as part of the the "Guatemala 900" initiative. I am told that they have obtained all necessary permits required to do this. You can find the information by clicking on "more". Speaking from experience, a day of social activism in our nation's capital is always a memorable one. So why not come out if you can. I'm going to try to be there if I can...
JCICS has created and launched a short survey in an attempt to quantify and identify the in-process cases. If you are a PAP still waiting to complete an adoption from Guatemala, I can't think of a good reason why you would not fill this out.
You can find it through the JCICS site (with more information) or directly here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vBcHg1mPyh_2bJ1631MrNM0A_3d_3d
Numerous stories alleging past abuses in the Guatemalan adoption system have hit the presses. As you can see from the links below, some are from official government communications. Admittedly, I'm havng a hard time following the exact details of these. And I apologize that we do not have translations for the links.
Basically you have one account of an allegedly kidnapped child adopted to the US. The child's picture apparently was used in numerous files. Paperwork was provided with at least two names. There's also an investigation into a judge who declared this child abandoned. Charges apparently being brought against someone in the US who is not named. Lastly is mention of "research" done about what authorities are discovering in regards to where and how corruption occurred.
My commentary on this is take it seriously. We all have a sad legacy of corruption and aggregious crimes to contend with, not to mention of course the direct victims. Secondly, don't jump to conclusions. Trust me that the complexity and intricacies of the old system made anything possible. There's no way to know who knew what. We can't differentiate well between what may have been pathetically weak homework and what may have been active involvement in a crime. I could go on and on about this but will leave it at that.
I can't express my dismay regarding these things. They are not areas I ever imagined possible that have any tie to how we all grew our families. They are not a reflection on all adoptions. Yet they are something we all have have to address with our children...
http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/mayo/25/312319.html
http://www.dca.gob.gt/nacional4.html
A story appeared on the Teledario news Saturday. It is about how PGN is concerned about the number of newborns being abandoned. It mentions four in the "last days", two of whom sadly did not survive. While we can not say that these children would otherwise have been relinquished, it has to make one think...
The story can be found here: http://www.telediario.com.gt/index.php?id=191&id_seccion=187&id_noticia=4278
The following appeared today in Guatemalan newspaper(s). I apologize that I don't have a link. I have no further information than what is included in the notice. It seems to me like an attempt to better understand the status of all cases, the whereabouts of the children, and to verify their well being.
Click on more for a translation...
I was supposed to have posted htis weeks ago. Sorry to our pals in Buffalo that I was out of town with site problems at the time, and then just plain old forgot. But here it is..
The Buffalo CIS office opened a new email address specific for G-884 inquiries. It should only be used if inquiring about the status of G884 for children who came to the US on an IR3 visa. The e-mail address is: BUF-G884@DHS.GOV
We're a little behind the times but two stories of interest.
1.) There is a new head of the CNA named Byron Velasquez. I know nothing more about him or why the chnage was made on Tuesday.
2.) Not adoption related is a controversy gripping Guatemala. It involved someone who was murdered and had filmed a video that would blame Pres. Colom for his murder. Pres. Colom has of course denied the allegations and is asking for international assistance in investigating the matter. You can find a story on it here.
One Wednesday at 12:00 est I will be appearing on Dawn Davenport's "Creating a Family" internet-radio adoption show. The title of the show is "Guatemalan Adoptions: What Does the Future Hold".
You can find all the info on how to listen (you can listen anytime after it airs via the internet), who else is on it, and how to call in here:
We have received numerous questions regarding letters that went out to APs and PAPs from the Embassy. The letters indicate that the case is being closed because of no activity for 12 months. IN PROCESS folks that received them, DON'T Panic. Click on more to get the scoop.
