Congressman Smith seeking co-sponsors for Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013

Cosponsor the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013

From: The Honorable Christopher H. Smith
Bill: H.R. 3212
Date: 10/8/2013

Cosponsor the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013

Co-Sponsors:  James Moran, Michael Burgess, George Holding, Joseph Kennedy, Dan Lipinski, Mark Meadows, Juan Vargas, Brad Sherman, Frank Wolf

Organizations:  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Bring Sean Home Foundation, BacHome, Kizuna Child-Parent Reunion, The Japan Children’s Rights Network, iChapeau Association, Children’s Rights Council of Japan, James Moran, Michael Burgess, George Holding, Joseph Kennedy, Dan Lipinski, Mark Meadows, Juan Vargas, Brad Sherman, Frank Wolf,

Dear Colleague,

I urge you to cosponsor the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013 (H.R. 3212).  Please respond by Thursday, October 10, at 10 am.

Most, if not every, member of Congress has constituents suffering the pain of separation, crippling worry, and interminable waiting caused by international parental child abduction.  More than one thousand outgoing international child abductions are reported to the State Department Office of Children’s Issues every year.  Abducted children are at risk of serious emotional and psychological problems and have been found to experience anxiety, eating problems, nightmares, mood swings, sleep disturbances, aggressive behavior, resentment, guilt and fearfulness, and as adults may struggle with identity issues, personal relationships, and parenting.

In 1983, the U.S. joined the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental Child Abduction in order to have a non-criminal, legal framework for the quick and orderly resolution of abductions.  However, 40% of abductions occur to countries where the Hague Convention does not apply.  Even where it does apply, less than half of our children are coming home.

David Goldman and his son Sean know this only too well.  Sean’s mother took him on a two week vacation to Brazil only to arrive and call Sean’s father to tell him that their marriage was over, that she was staying in Brazil, and that she was keeping Sean there regardless of David’s custody rights as his father.  It was a textbook case of “wrongful retention” abduction—a clear violation of the Hague Convention.  Although Brazil was a signatory to the Hague Convention and should have returned Sean to the United States within 6 weeks, David and Sean suffered numbing setbacks and delays in Brazil’s courts for 4 years.  David was never allowed to see his son; Sean was deprived of his right to see his father.  Even after David’s wife died and David was the only living parent, Brazil still would not return Sean to the United States.

The House of Representatives intervened and passed legislation (H. Res. 125) spotlighting the issue of international child abduction and calling on Brazil to abide by its commitments under the Hague Convention and immediately return Sean Goldman to the United States.  There were multiple press conferences, congressional letters and trips to Brazil.  Multiple levers were pulled and eventually Sean came home.

While the State Department’s cumulative case numbers are conceded to be incomplete and unreliable, we know there are at least one thousand new international abductions every year in which children are taken from the U.S. to a foreign country and separated from their American parent.  All of these children need assertive intervention from our government.

To that end, I have introduced H.R. 3212, to empower the President to respond with a range of a dozen mutually reinforcing sanctions against a country that has been persistently non-cooperative in the resolution of abduction cases.  My bill would also empower the Secretary of State to enter into Memoranda of Understanding with non-Hague countries for the quick and orderly return of American children who have been abducted to countries that are not signatories to the Convention, including the children of U.S. servicemen and women who are kidnapped from parents serving overseas.  H.R. 3212 will also ensure that the State Department, which is already designated by U.S. law to facilitate Hague Convention cases, is more accountable to parents and is reporting all relevant information that will assist U.S. judges in determinations of custody and travel for children when abduction is a risk. The State Department must advocate on behalf of U.S. citizen and left-behind parents and their children.

Now is the time to act.  We can and must do more when a country refuses to return abducted American children.  We can and must do all we can to bring our children home.

If you have any questions about the Goldman Act, please feel free to contact Piero Tozzi at (202) 225-3765 or piero.tozzi@mail.house.gov or Allison Hollabaugh at ahollabaugh@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Member of Congress

JIM MORAN

Member of Congress

Government of Japan Refuses 74 Kidnapping Letters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs9ENSzcSs0#t=56

Update regarding application process for Hague Article 21 access program

In a previous posting we had provided an email address to send your information to, but instead please submit your application via the following link:

http://www.bachome.org/wordpress/hague/

Video of “Black Hole” protest on September 8

Here is a link to video of the protest at the Consulate-General of Japan booth at the Aki Matsuri festival at the Bellevue College Main Campus in Bellevue, WA:

 

http://www.bachome.org/wordpress/2012/09/the-government-of-japan-is-monitoring-bachome-org/

Call to action to support Senate Resolution 543-International Parental Child Abduction

Thanks to Jeffery Morehouse and Randy Collins of BACHome for their hard work on this.  They have contacted all 85 Senate offices that have not yet co-sponsored Senate Resolution 543 and are continuing to follow up with them, and they need your help with this effort.  Please contact senators you are constituents of and ask them to co-sponsor and support this legislation.

The following is a link to the bachome.org site with contact information for the Senate offices, and we have also republished it below for your immediate reference.

http://www.bachome.org/wordpress/2012/08/contact-your-senator-about-intl-child-abduction/

Contact Your Senator About Intl. Child Abduction

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

In 2011 at least 1367 American children were abducted by a parent to a foreign country. Most will never have a chance to come home to their families and communities in the U.S.

You can help today by emailing your U.S. Senator(s) and urging them to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 543  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112sres543is/pdf/BILLS-112sres543is.pdf

Here’s how:

1) Use the chart below to find your Senator(s)

2) If they haven’t already co-sponsored, click the email link to their staff member

3) Email them* (Optionally you can call)

4) Ask your friends and family to do the same by sending them this link.

With your commitment to help we can create change to protect families in the future and help bring abducted children home now.

______________________________________________________________________________________

*HERE IS THE SUGGESTED EMAIL

Subject Line: S. Res 543- International Parental Child Abduction

I am a registered voter and a constituent. I would like the Senator to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 543

because American children need to be protected. In 2011 alone, at least 1367 American children were abducted by a parent to a foreign country.

Sincerely Yours,

[First & Last Name]

[City, State]

______________________________________________________________________________________

URGENT: The Deadline to Contact Your Senator(s) to Co-Sponsor S. Res 543 is in 16 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes

SENATOR INFO			STAFF MEMBER INFO
First	Last Name	State	First	Last	e-mail address	Phone            (202 Area Code)	S. Res. 543                      Co-sponsor Status
Mark	Begich	AK	David	Ramseur	david_ramseur@begich.senate.gov	224-3004
Lisa	Murkowski	AK	Nathan	Bergerbest	nathan_bergerbest@murkowski.senate.gov	224-6665
Richard	Shelby	AL	Kevin	Kane	kevin_kane@shelby.senate.gov	224-5744
John	Boozman	AR	Toni-Marie	Higgins	toni-marie_higgins@boozman.senate.gov	224-4843
Mark	Pryor	AR	Sarah	Holland	sarah_holland@pryor.senate.gov	224-2353
Jon	Kyl	AZ	Tim	Morrison	tim_morrison@kyl.senate.gov	224-4521
John	McCain	AZ	Elizabeth	Lopez	elizabeth_lopez@mccain.senate.gov	224-2235
Barbara	Boxer	CA	Ariana	Reks	ariana_reks@boxer.senate.gov	224-3553	Sponsor
Diane	Feinstein	CA	Richard	Harper	richard_harper@feinstein.senate.gov	224-3841	Co-sponsor
Michael	Bennet	CO	Sergio	Gonzales	sergio_gonzales@bennet.senate.gov	224-5852
Mark	Udall	CO	Casey	Howard	casey_howard@markudall.senate.gov	224-5941
Richard	Blumenthal	CT	Ethan	Saxon	ethan_saxon@blumenthal.senate.gov	224-2823
Joe	Lieberman	CT	?	?	?	224-4041
Thomas	Carper	DE	Olivia	Hayden	olivia_hayden@carper.senate.gov	224-2441
Christopher	Coons	DE	Halie	Soifer	halie_soifer@coons.senate.gov	224-5042
Bill	Nelson	FL	Marin	Stein	marin_stein@billnelson.senate.gov	224-5274
Marco	Rubio	FL	Victor	Cervino	victor_cervino@rubio.senate.gov	224-3041	Co-sponsor
Saxby	Chambliss	GA	Brandon	Bell	brandon_bell@chambliss.senate.gov	224-3521
Johnny	Isakson	GA	Chris	Sullivan	chris_sullivan@isakson.senate.gov	224-3643
Daniel	Akaka	HI	Nick	Ikeda	nick_ikeda@akaka.senate.gov	224-6361
Daniel	Inouye	HI	Mary	Yoshioka	mary_yoshioka@inouye.senate.gov	224-3934
Chuck	Grassley	IA	Kurt	Kovarik	kurt_kovarik@grassley.senate.gov	224-3744
Tom	Harkin	IA	Rosemary	Gutierrez	rosemary_gutierrez@harkin.senate.gov	224-3254
Mike	Crapo	ID	Ken	Flanz	ken_flanz@crapo.senate.gov	224-6142
James	Risch	ID	Chris	Socha	chris_socha@risch.senate.gov	224-2752
Richard	Durbin	IL	Ms. Erum	Ibrahim	erum_ibrahim@durbin.senate.gov	224-2152
Mark	Kirk	IL	Gretchen	Blum	gretchen_blum@kirk.senate.gov	224-2854	Co-sponsor
Daniel	Coats	IN	Terry	Snell	terry_snell@coats.senate.gov	224-5623
Richard	Lugar*	IN	Keith	Luse	keith_luse@lugar.senate.gov	224-4814	Co-sponsor
Jerry	Moran	KS	Jason	Wiens	jason_wiens@moran.senate.gov	224-6521
Pat	Roberts	KS	Theda	Owens	theda_owens@roberts.senate.gov	224-4774
Mitch	McConnell	KY	Reb	Brownell	reb_brownell@mcconnell.senate.gov	224-2541
Rand	Paul	KY	Brandon	Brooker	brandon_brooker@HSGAC.senate.gov	224-4343
Mary	Landrieu	LA	Libby	Whitbeck	libby_whitbeck@landrieu.senate.gov	224-5824	Co-sponsor
David	Vitter	LA	Josh	Hodges	josh_hodges@vitter.senate.gov	224-4623
Scott	Brown	MA	William	Wright	william_wright@scottbrown.senate.gov	224-4543
John	Kerry**	MA	Jeremy	D’Aliosio	jeremy_d’aloisio@kerry.senate.gov	224-2742	Co-sponsor
Benjamin	Cardin	MD	Katharine	Beamer	katharine_beamer@cardin.senate.gov	224-4524	Co-sponsor
Barbara	Mikulski	MD	Erin	Neill	erin_neill@mikulski.senate.gov	224-4654	Co-sponsor
Susan	Collins	ME	Peter	Halvorsen	peter_halvorsen@collins.senate.gov	224-2523
Olympia	Snowe	ME	Don	Green	don_green@snowe.senate.gov	224-5344
Carl	Levin	MI	Michael	Kuiken	michael_kuiken@armed-services.senate.com	224-6221
Debbie	Stabenow	MI	Doug	Messana	doug_messana@stabenow.senate.gov	224-4822
Al	Franken	MN	Jeff	Lomonaco	jeff_lomonaco@franken.senate.gov	224-5641
Amy	Klobuchar	MN	Marian	Grove	marian_grove@klobuchar.senate.gov	224-3244
Roy	Blunt	MO	Brian	Diffell	brian_diffell@blunt.senate.gov	224-5721
Claire	McCaskill	MO	Jason	Rauch	jason_rauch@mccaskill.senate.gov	224-6154
Thad	Cochran	MS	Will	Todd	will_todd@cochran.senate.gov	224-5054
Roger	Wicker	MS	Sarah	Drake	sarah_drake@wicker.senate.gov	224-6253
Max	Baucus	MT	Brittany	Beaulieu	brittany_beaulieu@baucus.senate.gov	224-2651
Jon	Tester	MT	Tony	McClain	tony_mcclain@tester.senate.gov	224-2644
Richard	Burr	NC	Cynthia	Ramos	cynthia_ramos@burr.senate.gov	224-3154
Kay	Hagan	NC	Rikkia	Ramsey	rikkia_ramsey@hagan.senate.gov	224-6342
Kent	Conrad	ND	Nathaniel	Luvtosky	nathaniel_luvtosky@conrad.senate.gov	224-2043
John	Hoeven	ND	Josh	Carter	josh_carter@hoeven.senate.gov	224-2551
Mike	Johanns	NE	Erin	Jeffery	erin_jeffery@johanns.senate.gov	224-4224
Ben	Nelson	NE	Ryan	Ehly	ryan_ehly@bennelson.senate.gov	224-6551
Kelly	Ayotte	NH	Brad	Bowman	brad_bowman@ayotte.senate.gov	224-3324
Jeanne	Shaheen	NH	Joel	Colony	joel_colony@shaheen.senate.gov	224-2841
Frank	Lautenberg	NJ	Allison	Peters	allinson_peters@lautenberg.senate.gov	224-3224	Co-sponsor
Robert	Menendez	NJ	Ryan	Sellinger	ryan_sellinger@menendez.senate.gov	224-4744
Jeff	Bingaman	NM	Jeffry	Phan	jeffry_phan@bingaman.senate.gov	224-5521
Tom	Udall	NM	Matthew	Padilla	matthew_padilla@tomudall.senate.gov	224-6621
Dean	Heller	NV	Josh	Finestone	josh_finestone@heller.senate.gov	224-6244
Harry	Reid	NV	Jessica	Lewis	jessica_lewis@reid.senate.gov	224-3542
Kirsten	Gillibrand	NY	Elena	Broitman	elena_broitman@gillibrand.senate.gov	224-4451	Co-sponsor
Chuck	Schumer	NY	Erin	Vaughn	erin_vaughn@schumer.senate.gov	224-6542
Sherrod	Brown	OH	Doug	Babcock	doug_babcock@brown.senate.gov	224-2315
Rob	Portman	OH	Brent	Bombach	brent_bombach@portman.senate.gov	224-3353
Tom	Coburn	OK	Jeremy	Hayes	jeremy_hayes@coburn.senate.gov	224-5754
James	Inhofe	OK	Joel	Starr	joel_starr@inhofe.senate.gov	224-4721	Co-sponsor
Jeff	Merkley	OR	Will	White	will_white@merkley.senate.gov	224-3753	Co-sponsor
Ron	Wyden	OR	Isaiah	Akin	isaiah_akin@wyden.senate.gov	224-5244
Robert	Casey	PA	Damian	Murphy	damian_murphy@casey.senate.gov	224-6324
Patrick	Toomey	PA	Dan	Adelstein	dan_adelstein@toomey.senate.gov	224-4254
Jack	Reed	RI	Carolyn	Chuhta	carolyn_chuhta@reed.senate.gov	224-4642
Sheldon	Whitehouse	RI	Ben	Weiner	ben_weiner@whitehouse.senate.gov	224-2921
Jim	DeMint	SC	Robert	Moore	robert_moore@demint.senate.gov	224-6121
Lindsey	Graham	SC	Matt	Rimkunas	matt_rimkunas@graham.senate.gov	224-5972
Tim	Johnson	SD	Karen	Kunze	karen_kunze@johnson.senate.gov	224-5842
John	Thune	SD	Jason	VanBeek	jason_vanbeek@thune.senate.gov	224-2321
Lamar	Alexander	TN	Erin	Reif	erin_reif@alexander.senate.gov	224-4944
Bob	Corker	TN	Stacie	Oliver	stacie_oliver@corker.senate.gov	224-3344
John	Cornyn	TX	E. Grace	Smitham	grace_smitham@cornyn.senate.gov	224-2934
Kay Bailey	Hutchison	TX	Coalter	Baker	coalter_baker@hutchison.senate.gov	224-5922
Orrin	Hatch	UT	William	Castle	william_castle@hatch.senate.gov	224-5251
Mike	Lee	UT	Miriam	Harmer	miriam_harmer@lee.senate.gov	224-5444
Mark	Warner	VA	Manica	Noziglia	manica_noziglia@warner.senate.gov	224-2023
Jim	Webb	VA	Marta	McLellanRoss	marta_mclellanross@webb.senate.gov	224-4024
Patrick	Leahy	VT	Tim	Rieser	tim_rieser@leahy.senate.gov	224-4242	Co-sponsor
Bernard	Sanders	VT	Huck	Gutman	huck_gutman@sanders.senate.gov	224-5141
Maria	Cantwell	WA	Spencer	Launer	spencer_launer@cantwell.senate.gov	224-3441
Patty	Murray	WA	Lauren Renee	Overman	lauren_overman@murray.senate.gov	224-4607	Co-sponsor
Ron	Johnson	WI	Alan	Elias	alan_elias@ronjohnson.senate.gov	224-5323
Herb	Kohl	WI	Harry	Stein	harry_stein@kohl.senate.gov	224-5653
Joe	Manchin	WV	Mr. Lee	Garton	lee_garton@manchin.senate.gov	224-3954
John	Rockefeller	WV	Nate	Adler	nate_adler@rockefeller.senate.gov	224-6472
John	Barrasso	WY	Amber	Bland	amber_bland@barrasso.senate.gov	224-6441
Michael	Enzi	WY	Wendy	Gnehm	wendy_gnehm@enzi.senate.gov	224-3424

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“Black Hole” protest planned in Seattle area on September 8, 1:30 PM PDT

https://www.facebook.com/events/455708434462771/

If you are in the Seattle area, come join in the protest at the Consulate-General of Japan booth at the Aki Matsuri festival at the Bellevue College Main Campus 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. Contact Jeffery Morehouse with any specific questions. We will meet up at the Tully’s Coffee at 3080 148th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98007 to hand out the “Black Hole” t-shirts in advance.

Article about Patrick McPike & other cases

http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/parents-urge-japan-to-return-abducted-children/2012/07/10

 

Parents urge Japan to return abducted children

BY ZACH SPARKS · JULY 10, 2012 · NO COMMENTS
·

Imagine getting a phone call stating that your children have been kidnapped. Your spouse has taken your kids to Japan, using the country’s laws to maintain custody. Every day becomes an exhausting task of contacting government officials to help, but little is accomplished.

This scenario is very real to Patrick McPike and the parents of nearly 400 abducted U.S. children living in Japan. Including Japanese children, an estimated 10,000 have been abducted by parents within Japan.

Japan has never returned any of them.

McPike traveled with his family to Japan to complete an assignment for his company. His marriage strained and his wife did the unthinkable.

“It seemed like a good opportunity to provide my wife’s family with an opportunity to spend some time with their grandchildren while they were still young,” McPike said. “When my assignment was up and it was time to come home, my wife abducted the children.”

McPike’s wife cut him off from communication with his two sons, Kai and Koh. The children became victims of Japanese law, which treats child abduction as a custody dispute rather than a felony crime. His wife is living in Japan, but could not be reached or found for comment.

Japan’s view of child abduction is different from the rest of the world. They are not a member of The Hague Convention – a treaty designed to return internationally abducted children to their home nations – and their courts favor one parent having sole custody. In 90 percent of cases, the rights go to the mother.

Japan is revising laws to open the possibility ratifying The Hague, but these changes may not be a total acceptance of The Hague in its current form.

“If we look at the domestic laws submitted by the government in order to execute the Convention, changes have been made with current Japanese public opinion and family court practices in mind, and it is questionable whether the intent of the Hague Convention has been incorporated,” said Takao Tanase, a professor who specializes in Japanese law.

During a U.S. Department of State briefing on U.S. child abductions to Japan, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke about persuading Japan to join The Hague.

“The President also very strongly affirmed the Japanese decision to enter into The Hague Convention,” Campbell said. “He asked that these steps be taken clearly and that the necessary implementing legislation would be addressed.

“This is a human tragedy, that unless you get to experience and get to know these brave parents, it’s just impossible to imagine,” Campbell said.

Getting Japan to join The Hague would be helpful, but McPike says it will not be enough, by itself, to bring back all the missing children.

“The Hague is not enforceable,” McPike said. “The decision to comply with a Hague return is determined by the courts of the abducting country. To solve the problem requires reform of the Japanese system.  They need to hold courts and judges responsible for following the law.  They need to enforce kidnapping laws consistently and they need to provide for joint-custody.”

There have also been concerns about the lack of action from the U.S. per policy, the U.S. Department of State has not formally requested from Japan the return of any abducted U.S. children.

Kai and Koh together laughing in happier times. (Courtesy photo.)

Susan Jacobs, a special adviser for children’s issues for the U.S. Department of State, said that individual cases are raised with the permission of parents and the parents are updated on these discussions. However, most parents say they have not been told of their personal cases being discussed with Japanese government officials.

Ironically, Japan refuses to return U.S. children but they want their own citizens who are abducted to be returned. From 1978-1981, about 16 Japanese teenagers were abducted by North Korea. Five of those children were returned and about six have died. The others are still missing. Japan has come to the U.S. and the U.N. asking for help to get North Korea to return these children.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama have met with Japanese families and assured they would provide help. Yet they have not met with any U.S. parents about their children being abducted to Japan, giving the appearance that they are more concerned with helping Japan.

Parents also question efforts by the U.S. Department of State because of the Mary Lake case.

In 2005, William Lake’s daughter was abducted by his ex-wife and taken to Japan. No one in the Lake family was Japanese, but William’s ex-wife knew of Japan’s custody laws.

On August 24, 2011, Mary Lake went to the U.S. Consulate in Japan and spoke with an official who told her to return home to her abductor since she did not have the money for a plane ticket to the states. Pressure was put on the U.S. Consulate and they aided Mary Lake’s effort to go home to her father the second time.

The return of Mary Lake gave parents of abducted children a small glimmer of hope for their own cases. For McPike and others like Jeffrey Morehouse and Randy Collins, getting their children back has become a daily job.

Morehouse and Collins serve as regional directors for Bring Abducted Children Home (BACHome), an organization established in 2010 to raise awareness of the missing U.S. citizen children kidnapped to in Japan.

Both men testified before the California State Senate Judiciary Committee for Senate Bill 1206 – Child Abduction Prevention. This is just one of many hearings they have attended to gather support.

During his testimony, Morehouse explained that he dropped his son Mochi off with his ex-wife for a parental visit in 2010. His ex-wife had threatened to kidnap Mochi before but the passport policy stated “when both parents have custody of the child, and the child is taken out of the country by one of the parents without consent of the other parent, it is punishable by criminal law.”

The Portland consulate violated the policy and provided his ex-wife with the passport for Mochi. Six days later he received a phone call from the police telling him his wife and child were missing. His wife kidnapped their son to Japan.

“In that moment, my life was shattered,” Morehouse said. “My days became consumed with dealing with local law enforcement, the U.S. Department of State, Japanese consular officials and anything I could think of to find my little boy.

“Every morning I wake up twice. The first time, I rush out of bed and prepare to get him ready for school. I can hear his voice in my head and my heart skips a beat. And then I really wake up and realize he’s still missing. The ongoing nightmare continues. The last time I held his hand, the last time I heard his voice was on Father’s Day 2010 and I’m still spending every day trying to locate my son.”

Morehouse, Collins and the other members of BacHome continue to exhaust their resources to locate their children.

They recently wrote a letter in advance of Clinton’s July 8 trip to Japan. Urging officials to help return their children, it was addressed to the Prime Minister to the Los Angeles consulate, four other Japanese consulates, members of the media, the Department of State, White House Office staff, all U.S. Senate offices, and members of the House of Representatives.

During Clinton’s visit about 40 parents of abducted children in Japan participated in a rally attempting to secure her help in pressuring Japan to address the issue of child custody.

Parents will continue to fight and hope that those in charge take notice and urge Japan to return their children.

“Imagine that tomorrow your child is going to be abducted,” Collins said. “What would you do today to prevent that from happening tomorrow?”

“I haven’t seen or heard from my son in almost four years. I don’t know what he’s thinking. But I did everything my government told me I was supposed to do to protect my son. I did everything that the courts told me to do to protect my son. Nobody protected my son.”

Japan–The Grinch That Stole Christmas

Very well written, by Douglass Berg of Bachome:

http://www.bachome.org/wordpress/2011/12/japan-the-grinch-that-stole-christmas/

Left-behind parents send letter to Joe Biden

http://www.prurgent.com/2011-08-19/pressrelease190498.htm

BACHome (Bring Abducted Children Home) parents and members sent Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a letter concerning his upcoming meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister. BACHome is urging the Vice President to publicly address the ongoing issue of children taken from the United States and abducted to Japan. At the time of BACHome’s letter to Vice President Biden, there were 123 known active cases, involving 173 American children who remain detained in Japan by their abducting parent.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT BACHome (Bring Abducted Children Home) parents and members sent Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a letter concerning his upcoming meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan. BACHome is urging the Vice President to publicly address the ongoing issue of children taken from the United States and abducted to Japan. BACHome is also encouraging the Vice President to discuss this heartbreaking and grave issue while in his private meeting with the Prime Minister. Currently the U.S. Department of State has been successful in resolving zero cases. At the time of BACHome’s letter to Vice President Biden, there were 123 known active cases, involving 173 American children who remain detained in Japan by their abducting parent. Neither diplomatic or political means nor the Japanese courts have been able to come to a positive resolution concerning not just American citizens abducted to Japan, but from other countries as well. The closed-door negotiations between the U.S. Department of State and the Japanese governmen have come to a crawl. During his testimony at a July 28th Congressional hearing, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dr. Kurt Campbell made a comparison to the similar problem we had with Germany in the 1990s and how it was resolved. At that time, U.S. President Clinton stepped in making strong, public statements, which then lead Germany to take action and resolve open cases. Today, the Obama Administration finds itself experiencing the same ongoing problem with Japan. BACHome and other parents hope Vice President Biden will take up a similar leadership role during his trip to Japan. Vice President Biden will be meeting with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, between August 22nd and August 24th. The Prime Minister is scheduled for a future visit to the United States, in September 2011.

Contact Info BACHome PO Box 16254 Arlington, VA 22215   Phone: (703) 300-3411   Website: http://www.bachome.org