Freedom at Last: 37 Liberian Kids Survive Illegal Adoption; Trafficking Denied

Freedom at Last: 37 Liberian Kids Survive Illegal Adoption; Trafficking

Denied

03/26/09 - Mae Azango, mazango@FrontPageAfrica.com

FREEDOM DAY: Some of the 37 children rescued from the West African

Support Network(WACSN). A source from Don Bosco Homes confided in

FrontPageAfrica that many of the children released from the WACSN

compound are malnourished and were very hungry upon arrival at the

homes.

Monrovia -

Thirty-seven Liberian children who have been kept at the West African

Children Support Network (WACSN), an adoption agency for several

months without access to their parents in violation to a Liberian

government moratorium on adoption have finally gained freedom through

the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Save the

Children, Don Bosco Homes, the United Nations Children Fund and other

local and international agencies as they are now in the care of Don

Bosco Homes after been released Thursday.

The Children have been placed in the temporary care of Don Bosco

Homes, a local children rehabilitation center for care until they are

reunited with their families.

Members of the Liberian National Police take children freed from the

West African Support Network Thursday.

On last Saturday, the owner of the West African Children Support

Network (WACSN) Madam Maria Luyken with the aid of several top

officials of the Liberian government including River Gee County Junior

Senator Nathaniel Williams, Deputy Managing Director of the Liberia

Produce and Marketing Corporation, Cllr, John Caranda resisted

attempts by a team from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Don

Bosco Homes and Save the Children along with four police officers to

take delivery of the children.

The head of WACSN locked the doors of the fence to the compound in

which the children were kept as Cllr. Caranda and another lawyer only

identified as Cllr. Mathias began calling top police officials and the

Minister of Justice Philip Banks to withdraw the police that had gone

to seek the release of the children.

After several calls to top officials of government and threats against

the four police officers, top officials of the Liberian National

Police ordered the four police officers to leave the vicinity of

WACSN, something that forced representatives from the Ministry of

Health, Don Bosco Homes and Save the Children United Kingdom to also

leave their quest to have the children release feeling insecured.

Few days later, WACSN called selected journalists and denied

information that they were keeping the children illegally.

Ms. Luyken disclosed that the program was established since 1995 and

started operating in Liberia 1997 and they have given over 300

children out for adoption and their contract states that the adopted

parents are to give update reports on the children adopted, which she

said they are cooperating.

Responding to information that parents have been denied access to

their children, Ms. Luyken said “The Ministry of Health came along

with some police Officers to have the Children removed without a Court

order, so I stopped them, because they can’t just barge here because

of an allegation and demand to have the kids removed without any

document to that effect. If the government wants to close down the

agency they can go ahead, but I’m disappointed over the reaction from

the government about adoption, what is the difference from past

governments? It is the same, but different players.”

She told the few journalists that there are 37 kids in their adoption

home with over 200 children on Todee Mission which she said WACSN is

supporting.

“We also have over forty children on scholarships in various schools

including the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine. The parents

themselves bring their kids to us because they cannot afford to

support their children due to the hard cost of living in the Country”,

Ms. Luyken explained.

Stating her own past life, madam Luyken said she is a born and bred

Liberian and her parents didn’t give any of them out for adoption,

because her parents could afford it at the time; unlike now, after the

series of wars in Liberia when poverty is on the increase.

Commenting on information that they are involved in child trafficking

and the sale of children to adopted parents, Maria said they are not

involved in child trafficking; neither do they sell children to

adopted parents.

“We are not involved in child trafficking and we don’t take money from

adopted parents but they do pay an adoption fee of US$ 8,000.00 which

is universal. After the adopted parents pay the US$8,000 to us, they

also pay a lot of money to the US government”, Ms. Luyken told

journalists.

Maria concluded that there are 23 Americans including a millionaire

arriving in Liberia to bring investment because of the French family,

“We have written the President to meet with 45 Americans who are due

in the Country soon; but she has not called us yet, maybe the next

government will be friendly”.

After Maria Luyken’s press conference at the West African Children

support Network (WACSN) located on the Old Road, Sinkor Wednesday, the

WACSN compound was a scene of sorrow and excitement Thursday when

onlookers stood to watch the Ministry of Health in collaboration with

Save the Children, Don Bosco Homes and Officers of the Ministry of

Justice remove 37 children from the Orphanage home on the Old Road and

take them to Don Bosco Homes in Paynesville operated by the Catholic

Organization.

The children are to be kept for some period and later reunited with

their families after the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare along

with Don Bosco Homes, Save the Children UK, United Nations Children

Fund (UNICEF) went to the compound of WACSN on Thursday with a pickup

fill with officers of the Liberian National Police to seek the release

of the children.

When FrontPageAfrica arrived on the scene where the Kids were being

removed, a lot of white Missionaries invited by WACSN for a crusade

that is to take place soon were seen sad while some could not hold

back their tears when the children were taken away.

The two adopted parents, Mr. and Mrs. French who adopted five Children

three Years ago were also present, and expressed sorrow. Mrs. French

was seen in tears, while Mr. French said sadly, but briefly almost in

tears that he understands what it is to be a Christian.

FrontPageAfrica also visited the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

and briefly spoke with Mr. Joseph W. Geebro, Deputy Minister for

welfare, who said he was getting ready to leave for the Justice

Ministry to pick up a document which will enable the removal of the

Children from the Orphanage Home.

Responding to earlier reports that the Ministry was denied entrance to

the WACSN compound, Deputy Minister Geebro said he was in a hurry; but

said they were not going to rest until the Children are removed from

the Orphanage. However, there will be a press Conference this Friday;

to comment on the entire saga concerning the children.

A source from Don Bosco Homes confided in FrontPageAfrica that many of

the children released from the WACSN compound are malnourished and

were very hungry upon arrival at the homes.

According to the source, the children were fighting to have meals,

when they were served food and soft drinks, with some fighting each

other for food.

The source who said, it is unprofessional to comment on the well-being

of the children to the media, said the condition of the children was

deteriorating.

“Even if you want to adopt these children why can’t you give them

enough food to make them appear healthy, see how the children look,

how will somebody even feel encouraged to adopt them, I think these

children were kept for a different purpose”, the top Don Bosco

official lamented.

The top Don Bosco official said one of the children spoke in a one on

one, that nearly made those around to share tears.

“The Children were starving and when the little girl saw the food she

said, we never use to eat plenty food when we were to that place..o

they can put three people together in small pan”, our Don Bosco source

explained.

The Liberian government about three months ago banned adoption, acting

on information that many adopted children are not protected when taken

away from Liberia.

President Sirleaf said, she placed the ban on adoption until the

neccesray legal framework to protect adopted children is put in place.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare then ordered all adoption

agencies to release children in their possession to their parents’ in

adherence to the presidential mandate; until the ban is lifted.

The West African Children Support Network has been keeping the 37

children defying the ban on adoption.

Now that the children are freed and living at Don Bosco Homes, it is

not clear what action will be taken against WACSN for disobeying a

presidential mandate, banning adoption by keeping the 37 children.

Investigation continues.

Reporter Mae Azango can be reached at 06-545-960 or

mazango@FrontPageAfrica.com.For comments and suggestions to this story

write to FrontPageAfrica.com located on Camp Johnson Road at the

corner of Camp Johnson Road & MacDonald Street, Monrovia, Liberia.

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