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Michel Reybier et Gérard Depardieu vendent leur pétrole cubain

INDUSTRIE • ÉNERGIE
La société d'exploration pétrolière créée par Gérard Bourgoin avec quelques amis, dont Gérard Depardieu, et dirigée par Michel Reybier, va être rachetée par Maurel & Prom.

Michel Reybier et Gérard Depardieu vendent leur pétrole cubain

Les Echos n° 18896 du 28 Avril 2003 • page 14

Un début et une fin. La fin de l'aventure pétrolière pour Michel Reybier (ancien propriétaire des Jambons d'Aoste), Gérard Depardieu, Roger Zannier et quelques autres, et un nouvel essor pour une petite compagnie pétrolière qui monte : Maurel & Prom. Jean-François Hénin (gérant) et Frédéric Boulet (directeur général) de Maurel & Prom ont signé en fin de semaine dernière avec Michel Reybier, président du conseil d'administration de Peberinvest, un accord leur donnant une option d'achat sur les 66 % de Pebercan, que détient Peberinvest. Maurel & Prom, qui possède déjà 20 % de Pebercan, dispose d'un mois pour lever cette option et lancer alors une OPA sur le reste du capital.

Gerard Depardieu, Roger Zannier

Lancement du réseau des volontaires de l’adoption internationale

Launch of Network of voluntaries for international adoption
Joint press conference by Secretary of State for foreign affairs and human rights, Ms. Rama Yade, Mr. Jean-Marie Colombani and Mr. Gérard Depardieu


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Introductory Mrs Yade

(Paris, 28 July 2008)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Jean-Marie Colombani,

Dear Gérard Depardieu,

Dear Mr. Zannier,

Dear all,

"We have to imagine initiatives ...".

It is a call to action and by these words that the president wanted, as well as Prime Minister in the engagement letter addressed to you, dear Jean-Marie Colombani last October, stimulating reform of the adoption in France.

There was urgency in effect while it represents 80% of adoptions in France international adoptions decline since 2005.

The stagnation of national adoptions aggravates the hardship and frustration of our compatriots who want to adopt, it is obvious. The President has understood immediately that we could not remain inert. The failure in politics is still a lack of imagination.

I would therefore like to announce today the launch of "voluntary network of international adoption."

This is an initiative of the ground, because it is also on the in these countries, we are failing.

These volunteers will be a sort of "peace corps" where we train will young people to use their generosity and talent to a beautiful cause: children without families, abandoned or orphaned.

It is also a shared initiative, and it's up to you dear Gérard Depardieu that we must be able to immediately associate partners in this project. You know how happy I am for your commitment to serve all these children, all families. You are a fine example of generosity and solidarity. You have put your heart and your humanity, and for that I thank you.

In this project, the state actually could not act alone. In today's world, we must be able to act in partnership with associations and companies. And by setting the highest standards of ethical requirement. I wish to commend and thank those who have agreed to commit to our side. They are with us to possibly answer your questions.

I think first of all to Mr. Jacques Godfrain, president of the French Association of Volunteers of Progress without the competence and expertise which the project could not see the day.

Roger Zannier, who is also honorary president of the Foundation Zannier-Holybaby, which agreed to finance the first program we will open next month in Cambodia.

Mrs Janice Peyré  and Helena Mahéo respectively presidents of the Federation of Children and Families Adoption and the Movement for Adoption Without Borders, who have agreed to combine their movements to the Committee of Experts on the network to train volunteers and carry with them ongoing mentoring throughout their missions, thus ensuring ethical thing especially when acts with children.

The parliamentarians, who are often asked by families who were willing to contribute to our thinking in working with us, with heart and also with conviction and in particular Ms. Michèle Tabarot, member of the Alpes-Maritimes, president of the Higher Council of 'Adoption and co-chair of the Group of Studies at the National Assembly on the family and adoption. She was kind enough to join us today. I also think Mrs Patricia Adam, member of Finistère, also co-chair of the Task Force.

And of course you, dear Jean-Marie Colombani, who have spontaneously offered to chair the conference of contributors that we meet to complement the financing of state funding of local authorities, if they wish, and companies that agree to join us in this great adventure.

The mission of these volunteers, what is it? It is clear: we must help children out of institutions with the partnership of countries of origin of course. For help and support of an institution, as perfect as it is, does not give the affection of a family. It is the child, family, I want to put at the heart of this project. With ethics-driven, it is important.

The effectiveness as a mode of action. Happiness for children and families is the goal.

We must therefore focus on two things: speed up the release of children in these institutions in order to accommodate others, abandoned or orphaned, and help them build a family life the most viable and as soon as possible.

The volunteers will primarily seek all opportunities existing in the country of mission.

When these are insufficient, and we know that this is still often the case, they will support projects of international adoption.

The needs are immense. I think we should stop saying that the number of children without families falling. Wrong. We must increase our efforts to find concrete solutions, local and international adoption are complementary. What counts anywhere and any time is the interest of the child. That is the message I want to bring the countries where we operate, together with Nadine Morano who is also working remarkably on the topic of adoption, ithat s the message that will have the volunteers on the ground and it is a great ambition.

This network, we will explore with Bernard Kouchner, my minister, to bring this network close to the committed humanitarian embassies. Real synergies can be built.

It is an idea on which Bernard Kouchner is keen, and I will make sure to respect that.

I announce the launch of the first program of this network, in Cambodia next month.

There is a great tradition of solidarity with children between France and Cambodia. I've found with Michèle Tabarot when we visited Cambodia. I also believe that Gérard Depardieu was there also this summer.

But this country, Cambodia has suffered from the excesses of some often committed out of desperation in processes irregular adoption. Although these are very isolated behavior and a minority, where distress has its share, everyone pays the price: children, families, all those who work with heart and generosity for children on place.

So we must be uncompromising with the abuses. You do not play with children. There are major international conventions, including that of The Hague and they must be respected. The texts are valid only when applied. It is time to show that Cambodian families in France do not market children at home but on the contrary, working with them for the benefit of children. This message and the exemplary behavior in the name of the Government and in consultation with Nadine Morano, I would like, and I share whenever I visit a country with which France practices, or enters into discussions on , foreign adoption.

That is also why, along with sending a first volunteer in Cambodia next month, I also decided to reserve 400 000 euros to support financially the work of UNICEF in Cambodia. UNICEF Cambodia pilots the establishment of procedures for the Hague with the Cambodian government.

In 2008 again we will launch four other programs which will subsequently be expanded to 20 countries in 2009.

This experimental network will be an additional tool to serve the strategy for international adoption recommended by the report of Jean-Marie Colombani.

Dear Jean-Marie, you've actually done a remarkable job, which now gives us a lot! And so much the better! Because as you know the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agrees with your conclusions on international adoption and applies to its building since the submission of your report in March.

I am also pleased to present Ambassador Jean-Paul Monchau, who was appointed last June 25 in the Council of Ministers' ambassador for international adoption "with the mission, as you proposed, Mr Colombani, to develop a concerted strategy for international adoption in 2009.

At the beginning of next August 21, it is anticipated that there will be a joint submission with Nadine Morano. We will present all this communication to the Cabinet and it will review the findings of the report Colombani.

I can confirm that this ministry will reform in the sense that you proposed to fully assume its responsibility to pilot France's action in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

We try to give us the means, especially with Alain Joyandet, we decided to make the protection of children neglected an important focus of our policy of international cooperation and development assistance. I asked the ambassador Monchau to consider training for international adoption of our agents abroad. Proposals will be made to improve the functioning and capabilities of our operators, whether the French Agency for Adoption or OAA, ie private organizations dealing with the Adoption.

Finally, as announced by my colleague from the family, these actions will well in a wider reform of the adoption in its two components, national and international, driven by an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Adoption decided by the President of the Republic and chaired by the Prime Minister.

Ladies and gentlemen, I talked a lot but there was so much to say! I took the problem of international adoption to grips since my arrival in trying to understand why it was a road of the cross to adopt in France. We deblocked a lot of individual files with the collaboration of the Quai d'Orsay which proved exceptional in that groundwork and finding new solutions. You are more than one by helping us to find solutions.

So today let's give this ministry the means for a great policy that balances the adoption of both generosity, efficiency, clarity and ethics and that puts the child at the heart of our concerns and that does not rock illusions of families. This is a diplomacy of action in the service of people, confronted with reality.

Thank you. /.

 

Lancement du réseau des volontaires de l’adoption internationale

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Lancement du réseau des volontaires de l’adoption internationale

Conférence de presse conjointe du Secrétaire d’état chargé d’affaires étrangères et des droits de l’homme, Mme Rama Yade, de M. Jean-Marie Colombani et de M. Gérard Dépardieu

Propos introductifs de Mme Yade

(Paris, 28 juillet 2008)

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Cher Jean-Marie Colombani,

Cher Gérard Depardieu,

Cher Monsieur Zannier,

Chers tous,

"Nous devons imaginer les initiatives …".

C’est un appel à l’action et par ces mots que le président de la République a voulu, ainsi que le Premier ministre dans la lettre de mission qu’ils vous ont adressée, cher Jean-Marie Colombani en octobre dernier, impulser la réforme de l’adoption en France.

Il y avait bien urgence en effet : alors qu’elle représente 80 % des adoptions en France, l’adoption internationale régresse depuis 2005.

La stagnation des adoptions nationales aggrave la détresse et la frustration de nos compatriotes qui veulent adopter, c’est bien évident. Le Président l’a compris tout de suite : nous ne pouvions pas rester inertes. L’échec, en politique, c’est toujours le manque d’imagination.

Je voudrais donc aujourd’hui vous annoncer le lancement de l’initiative de "réseau des volontaires de l’adoption internationale".

C’est une initiative de terrain parce que c’est bien aussi sur le terrain, dans ces pays, que nous sommes défaillants.

Ces volontaires seront une sorte de "peace corps" où des jeunes que nous allons former vont mettre leur générosité et leur talent au service d’une belle cause : les enfants privés de famille, abandonnés ou orphelins.

C’est aussi une initiative partagée, et c’est à vous cher Gérard Depardieu que nous devons d’avoir réussi à associer d’emblée des partenaires autour de ce projet. Vous savez combien je suis heureuse de votre engagement au service de tous ces enfants, de toutes les familles. Vous êtes un bel exemple de générosité et de solidarité. Vous y avez mis tout votre cœur et toute votre humanité, et pour cela je vous remercie.

Dans ce projet, l’Etat effectivement ne pouvait pas agir seul. Dans le monde d’aujourd’hui, on doit pouvoir agir en partenariat avec les associations et les entreprises. Et en se fixant le plus haut niveau d’exigence éthique. Je tiens à saluer et à remercier ceux qui ont accepté de s’engager à nos côtés. Ils sont présents parmi nous pour éventuellement répondre à vos questions.

Je pense tout d’abord à M. Jacques Godfrain, président de l’Association française des Volontaires du Progrès sans la compétence et l’expertise de laquelle le projet n’aurait pas pu voir le jour.

M. Roger Zannier, qui est là aussi, président d’honneur de la Fondation Zannier-Holybaby, qui a accepté de cofinancer le premier programme que nous allons ouvrir dès le mois prochain, au Cambodge.

Mmes Janice Peyré et Hélène Mahéo, respectivement présidentes de la Fédération Enfance et Familles d’Adoption et du Mouvement pour l’Adoption Sans Frontières, qui ont accepté d’associer leurs mouvements au comité d’experts du réseau pour assurer la formation des volontaires et exercer auprès d’eux un tutorat permanent tout au long de leurs missions, garantissant ainsi le respect de l’éthique qui s’impose surtout lorsqu’on agit auprès des enfants.

Les parlementaires aussi, qui sont souvent sollicités par les familles, qui ont bien voulu contribuer à notre réflexion en travaillant avec nous, avec cœur et avec conviction également et en particulier Mme Michèle Tabarot, députée des Alpes-Maritimes, présidente du Conseil supérieur de l’Adoption et coprésidente du Groupe d’Etudes à l’Assemblée nationale sur la famille et l’adoption. Elle a eu la gentillesse de nous rejoindre également aujourd’hui. Je pense aussi à Mme Patricia Adam, députée du Finistère, également co-présidente du Groupe d’Etudes.

Et vous bien sûr, cher Jean-Marie Colombani, qui avez spontanément proposé de présider la conférence des contributeurs que nous réunirons pour compléter les financements de l’Etat par les financements des collectivités territoriales, si elles le souhaitent, et des entreprises qui accepteront de nous rejoindre dans cette belle aventure.

La mission de ces volontaires, c’est quoi ? Elle est claire : il faut aider à sortir les enfants des institutions avec le partenariat des Etats d’origine bien évidemment. Car le secours et l’appui d’une institution, aussi parfaite soit-elle, ne vaut jamais l’affection d’une famille. C’est l’enfant, la famille, que je veux placer au cœur de ce projet. Avec l’éthique pour moteur, c’est important.

L’efficacité comme mode d’action. Le bonheur des enfants et des familles pour objectif.

Il faut donc viser deux choses : accélérer la sortie des enfants de ces institutions, pour en accueillir d’autres, abandonnés ou orphelins ; et les aider à construire un projet de vie familiale le plus viable et le plus rapidement possible.

Les volontaires devront en priorité chercher toutes les possibilités existantes dans le pays de mission.

Lorsque celles-ci sont insuffisantes, et nous savons que ce sera encore souvent le cas, ils devront soutenir des projets d’adoption internationale.

Les besoins sont immenses. Je crois qu’il faut arrêter de dire que le nombre d’enfants sans famille baisse. C’est faux. Nous devons accroître nos efforts pour trouver des solutions concrètes, adoption locale et internationale sont complémentaires. Ce qui compte partout et tout le temps, c’est l’intérêt de l’enfant. Voilà le message que je veux porter auprès des pays où nous agissons, en concertation avec Nadine Morano qui fait un travail sur le sujet de l’adoption également remarquable, voilà le message que devront concrétiser les volontaires sur le terrain et c’est une belle ambition.

Ce réseau, nous allons réfléchir avec Bernard Kouchner, mon ministre de tutelle, à le rapprocher du réseau des attachés humanitaires en ambassades. De vraies synergies de terrain peuvent se construire.

C’est une idée à laquelle tient beaucoup Bernard Kouchner, et que je veillerai à respecter.

Je vous annonce le lancement du premier programme de ce réseau, au Cambodge dès le mois prochain.

Il y a une grande tradition de solidarité avec les enfants entre la France et le Cambodge. Je l’ai constatée avec Michèle Tabarot lorsque nous nous sommes rendues au Cambodge. Je crois aussi que Gérard Depardieu y a également été.

Mais ce pays, le Cambodge, a souffert des dérives de quelques-uns engagés souvent par désespoir dans des démarches irrégulières d’adoption. Bien qu’il s’agisse de comportements très isolés et minoritaires, où la détresse a sa part, tout le monde en paye le prix : les enfants, les familles, tous ceux qui travaillent avec cœur et générosité en faveur de l’enfance sur place.

Alors il faut être intraitable avec les dérives. On ne joue pas avec les enfants. Il y a de grandes conventions internationales, notamment celle de La Haye et il faut les respecter. Les textes ne valent que lorsqu’ils sont appliqués. Le temps est venu de montrer aux cambodgiens que les familles de France ne viennent pas au marché à enfants chez eux mais bien au contraire, travaillent avec eux pour le bien des enfants. C’est ce message et ce comportement exemplaire qu’au nom du gouvernement et en concertation avec Nadine Morano, je souhaite porter, et que je porterai chaque fois que je visiterai le pays avec lequel la France a, ou entame des discussions sur les pratiques d’adoption à l’international.

C’est pourquoi aussi, aux côtés de l’envoi d’un premier volontaire au Cambodge dès le mois prochain, j’ai également décidé d’engager 400 000 euros pour soutenir financièrement l’action de l’UNICEF au Cambodge. L’UNICEF au Cambodge pilote la mise en place des procédures de La Haye auprès du gouvernement cambodgien.

En 2008 encore nous lancerons quatre autres programmes qui seront par la suite élargis à 20 pays en 2009.

Ce réseau qui sera expérimental sera un outil supplémentaire au service de la stratégie pour l’adoption internationale recommandée par le rapport de Jean-Marie Colombani.

Cher Jean-Marie, vous avez effectivement accompli un travail remarquable, qui maintenant nous en donne beaucoup ! Et c’est tant mieux ! Car comme vous le savez le ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes partage sans réserve vos conclusions sur l’adoption internationale et s’applique à les construire depuis la remise de votre rapport en mars dernier.

Je serais heureuse également de vous présenter l’ambassadeur Jean-Paul Monchau, qui a été nommé le 25 juin dernier en Conseil des ministres "ambassadeur pour l’adoption internationale" avec pour mission, comme vous l’avez proposé, Monsieur Colombani, d’élaborer une stratégie concertée pour l’adoption internationale en 2009.

A la rentrée prochaine, le 21 août, il est prévu qu’il y ait une communication commune avec Nadine Morano. Nous présenterons cette communication ensemble au Conseil des ministres et cela fera le point sur les conclusions du rapport Colombani.

Je vous confirme également que ce ministère va se réformer dans le sens que vous avez proposé pour assumer pleinement sa responsabilité de pilote de l’action de la France en matière d’adoption internationale.

Nous essaierons de nous en donner les moyens, en particulier avec Alain Joyandet, nous avons décidé de faire de la protection de l’enfance délaissée un axe important de notre politique de coopération internationale et d’aide au développement. J’ai demandé à l’ambassadeur Monchau de réfléchir à la formation à l’adoption internationale de nos agents à l’étranger. Des propositions seront faites pour améliorer le fonctionnement et les capacités de nos opérateurs, qu’il s’agisse de l’Agence française de l’Adoption ou des OAA, c’est-à-dire les organismes privés qui s’occupent de l’adoption.

Enfin, comme l’a annoncé ma collègue de la Famille, ces actions s’inscriront bien dans une réforme plus large de l’adoption dans ses deux composantes, nationale comme internationale, pilotée par un Comité interministériel de l’Adoption décidé par le président de la République et présidé par le Premier ministre.

Mesdames et Messieurs, j’ai beaucoup parlé mais il y avait tant à dire ! J’ai pris le problème de l’adoption internationale à bras le corps dès mon arrivée en essayant de comprendre pourquoi c’était un chemin de croix que d’adopter en France. On a débloqué beaucoup de dossiers individuels avec la collaboration des services du Quai d’Orsay qui se sont révélés exceptionnels dans ce travail de défrichage et de découverte de nouvelles solutions. Vous êtes plus d’un ici à nous avoir aidé à trouver des solutions.

Alors aujourd’hui, nous allons donner à ce ministère les moyens d’une grande politique de l’adoption qui concilie à la fois générosité, efficacité, lucidité et éthique et qui place l’enfant au cœur de nos préoccupations et qui ne berce pas d’illusions les familles. C’est une diplomatie d’action, au service des gens, confrontée au réel.

Je vous remercie./.

Roger Zannier, Gerard Depardieu, Rama Yade, Bernard Kouchner, Jean-Marie Colombani

Letter from Children and Parents to Roelie Post

Letter following presentation by Roelie Post at a conference organised by the German Central Authority. 

 

Oana Harvalia
Children and Parents e. V., Fundatia Parinti si Copii
Germany

JP Clement on egroup

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Vali Nas (Valentin Nas) (Liviu Valenas), Barones Emma Nicholson to Winterbourne, Jean-Pierre Clement
AFAENER

Dutch woman linked at least 3 adult adoptees from Chile to wrong birth families: report

Dutch woman Truus Kuijpers linked at least three people adopted from Chile as young children to the wrong biological family. She wrongly told a fourth that his biological mother could not be found, Trouw reports based on its own research.

Mirjam Hunze told Trouw how Kuijpers introduced her to a Chilean family and how she found out 20 years later that it wasn’t her actual biological family. The newspaper found two other women with the same experience. A fourth adoptee, Miguel Pacheco, paid Kuijpers 1,000 euros to find his birth mother and never heard from her again. According to Trouw, Kuijpers was already in contact with Pacheco’s birth mother when he contacted her - the woman asked Kuijpers to help track down her adopted son.

Kuijpers ran the children’s home Las Palmas in the Chilean capital of Santiago from 1976 to 2000. She also helped adult adoptees search for their biological family, sometimes even calling adoptees or their adoptive parents to offer her services. She charged varying amounts for these services, even though, in some cases, she had to do no more than check her own records, according to Trouw.

Nearly 850 children lived in Las Palmas until Kuijpers transferred the home to a Chilean foundation in 2000. According to Kuijpers, over 120 of these children were adopted to the Netherlands and she helped around 50 of them look for their biological families.

According to Trouw, several Chilean mothers also accuse Kuijpers of illegal or vague adoption. The newspaper spoke to several mothers who said Kuijpers put their children up for adoption in the Netherlands without their knowledge. Some also accused her of involvement in networks that told mothers in the hospital that their children had died.

Chile, Netherlands

Adopted girl goes missing, Karnataka artist couple ends life

UDUPI: A few hours after their 17-year-old adopted daughter went missing from home in Majoor village of Udupi district’s Kaup taluk, acclaimed theatre artist Leeladhar Shetty (68) and his wife Vasundhara L Shetty (59) hanged themselves with a nylon saree in their bedroom on Tuesday night.
Police sources said the girl was adopted by the couple about 16 years ago. Cops have registered a case of kidnapping and are conducting an investigation to trace the missing teen, on a complaint lodged by a relative of the Shettys.
 

 

Leeladhar once contested from Kaup assembly constituency and had served as head of Majoor gram panchayat. His well-regarded drama troupe reflected his popularity.

India

Foreign adoption freeze is new episode in long-running saga: 'Realize that this can be hard'

New procedures for intercountry adoption have been stopped for the time being. This is the result of a decision by the Flemish government not to recognize a central adoption service. “This is not a simple measure,” says Welfare Minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V).


Giving a child from abroad a better life in Belgium. That is the motivation for prospective parents to adopt. However, it has often become apparent that such adoptions do not proceed according to the book. Recently, an investigation into the files of twelve adoptees from Ethiopia showed that not all of them had been given up voluntarily. Information about their biological parents in their files also often turned out to be incorrect. The sector was plagued by scandals on the one hand, and by a major legal battle on the other.

This has now led to an adoption freeze. No service is anymore recognized to carry out intercountry adoptions. The government wants to wait until a new adoption decree has been adopted. “I realize that this is not a simple measure,” says Crevits. “This can be hard. But this way, everyone involved will have the opportunity to organize themselves in accordance with the new decree.”

The decision is a new episode in a long-running saga. The government hoped that the three existing adoption services would merge into one, because all expertise would then be brought together in one place. But the water between the different services turned out to be too deep. This spring, Het Klein Mirakel was designated by the Growing Up Agency as the organization that should be responsible for all future adoptions. But two other services, Ray of Hope and Fiac - which merged into VIA - objected to this.

 

Morocco, Belgium, Russia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Vietnam, The Gambia

Politician Yngvild Ingels sold as a baby for 6.500 frank: ​‘Thorough investigation needed’

There must be an investigation into the thousands of children that unmarried mothers of the church had to give up for adoption. This is what Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt said after the emotional testimony in the Chamber of Yngvild Ingels. The N-VA politician from Lauwe was also compulsorily given up for adoption at birth. 

The emotional testimony about Ingels' search for her biological mother makes a special impression on her colleagues in the House. The church forced the mother of the politician from Lauwe to give her up for adoption at birth. 

"I only know that I was born in the north of France, in Dunkirk. And that five days later I was dropped off by a Catholic organization, Caritas Catholica, at my parents' home here in Lauwe. I have an original birth certificate with a name on it that is no longer the same as it is today," says Yngvild Ingels. Although the politician hopes that she can one day tell her biological mother that she is doing well. 
 

"I hope that one day I can tell my biological mother that I ended up well, that my adoptive parents are fantastic and that I have been in a warm nest."

Yngvild Ingels

Netherlands

After 25-year search, woman traces son

CHENNAI: A 55-year-old woman is facing a tough situation, having to prove herself as the mother of her son who went missing at the age of three in 1978. This modern day King Solomon’s court drama is now being enacted after a couple from Holland adopted the child, after allegedly preparing false documents.

The petitioner Mary approached MKB Nagar police station on Thursday, seeking to unite with her son Manicka Yesuraj, who is now working in a bank in Holland.

According to Mary, her husband Philip who was working on a ship, left their home in 1978. Mary was left with two sons - Selvaraj and Manicka Yesuraj - and a daughter, Lourdu. Yesuraj admitted to a creche, which was functioning in the Church of Our Lady of Consolation at Vysarpadi.

‘‘I trusted the priest Fehlooz and admitted my son there. However, one day, my son went missing mysteriously. I had approached the local police station to trace my son, but they closed the file after declaring me as mentally deranged,’’ alleged Mary.

In 1988, she got a photograph of her son with some text written in Dutch through Gnanamariam, a worker in the church. Meanwhile, Lourdu had become a nurse and was employed in England. There, Lourdu tried to trace her brother with the photograph.

‘‘I inquired with my friends and got the address in Holland in 1998. I struggled for more than six years to trace Yesuraj. I approached many social service agencies, the Holland Embassy and even private detective agencies. Finally, when I finally got the address of Yesuraj in 2004, his adopted parent Tony Pijnenpurg, did not allow us to meet my brother. They had changed his name to Manicka Yesuraj Tony Pijnenpurg,’’ Lourdu told this website's newspaper.

According to her, Nagaraj of Nungambakkam, who claimed the boy was an orphan, adopted Yesuraj. With a new passport issued based on the Nungambakkam address, Yesuraj left India on March 14th, 1978.

‘‘We were cheated by the priest and the whole process of adoption is illegal,’’ Lourdu added.

After two years of struggle, the family was allowed to meet Yesuraj. However, taken aback by the new development, he said he would take a decision only after Mary proved she was his mother.

Based on the complaint of Mary, MKB Nagar police have registered a case and investigation is on.

‘‘We have received a petition and if necessary, we will re-open the original missing case registered in 1978,’’ an investigating officer said.

Netherlands, India

Catholic Church put up 30,000 children for adoption without mothers' consent

The Catholic Church sold around 30,000 children to adoptive parents without their mother's consent or knowledge, new testimonies reported by Het Laatste Nieuws reveal.

Created just after World War Two, institutions run by nuns took in underage girls and pregnant unmarried women until the late 1980s. These women were subjected to unpaid labour, humiliating conditions, and in some cases, sexual abuse.

During childbirth, some women were given general anaesthetic while others had to wear a mask – all ways to prevent mothers from seeing their child, who were immediately separated after birth. Some women were even sterilised. Others were forced to sign a document renouncing their child or were told the child was stillborn.

The children were then sold for large sums – between 10,000 and 30,000 Belgian francs (roughly between €250 and €750), sometimes much more – to adoptive families.

Unkept or destroyed files are now making reunion processes extremely difficult, says Debby Mattys (57), who was put up for adoption by the nuns and spent over 20 years looking for her birth mother. "My mother was 18 years old when she had an unwanted pregnancy," she told Het Laaste Nieuws.

Belgium
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