Over Child Adoption Saga...HANCI Speaks Out
Over Child Adoption Saga...HANCI Speaks Out
Written by The Exclusive News Paper
Saturday, 07 November 2009
“HANCI started their work in Makeni in 1996 by opening a centre for war orphans and abandoned children. An orphanage was built the same year at Back of Birch Memorial Secondary School,” an excerpt of a press release issued by HANCI yesterday reads.
The release went on to explain their involvement with the adopted children and parents: “When the American organisation MAPS joined us we started another orphanage at No. 3 Mission Road for children whose parents wanted their children to be adopted overseas (USA).
There were 33 children.”The adoption of 23 of that number, according to the press release, was facilitated by HANCI with the consent of the parents. “Each parent completed and signed an agreement document.
Those documents are in our possession and could be examined by those interested,” the statement reads. According HANCI, this is a familiar story that has continue to come up since 2004 when the matter was first charged to court and subsequently discharged because, according to HANCI, “the court could not find any evidence of wrong doing.”
The release went on to state that when the matter was under investigation, the police spent several days in Makeni interviewing aggrieved parents. None of the parents, according HANCI denied having consented to the adoption. “All they wanted was to have access to information concerning the welfare of their adopted children,” HANCI argued.
The release went on, “there has been a turn in demands of the parents who now deny having given their consent to the adoption.”According to HANCI, they have documentary evidence in their possession which they are prepared to present in any court of law.
“We also want to inform the public that a humanitarian solution is the best option since there is no reluctance from the American Adoptive parents to make visits in order to know the roots of their adopted children. What they need is reassurance and facilitation by the state authorities who MAPS recognises as the sole authority on the issue,” the release concluded.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 07 November 2009 )