Congressman James Moran will introduce House Resolution condemning Japan over Child Abduction

Washington, District of Columbia - May 5, 2010

Congressman James Moran (D-VA), will introduce to the House of Representatives, a House Resolution condemning Japan’s refusal to return a single child abducted in 58 years. 

The House Resolution calls upon Japan to facilitate the immediate return of all children unlawfully abducted to their country.  Since Japan signed the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952, ending United States occupation, Japan has failed to cooperate to resolve the matter of International Child Abduction.

A Capitol Hill press conference will be conducted from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (location TBD), to discuss this House Resolution.  Congressman James Moran (D-VA), Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Christopher Savoie, Patrick Braden, Douglass Berg and victims of this crime will speak and be available for questions. 

April 15, 2010, U.S. Senator Jim M. Inhofe (R-OK), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, gave a written statement for the hearing on US-Japan relations, “I understand these American children living in Japan are often denied access to their American parent after a parental separation or divorce. And, to my knowledge, there are no joint custody or visitation rights in Japan. As a result, these children are alienated from their loving American parent, and the psychological trauma is extremely damaging. This tragedy for these American children and their left-behind American parents is overwhelming and must come to an end.”

It is clear with the introduction of this Resolution that members of the House are taking the matter of International Child Abduction seriously. 

Left-behind parent and BACHome member, John Gomez stated, “This historic day, the Children’s Day national holiday in Japan, will serve as the beginning of the process where left-behind American parents are reunited with their children by means of this House Resolution.

Left-behind parent and BACHome co-founder, Douglass Berg, a veteran of the United Stated Navy stated; “I have seen the loss of my mother and sister when I was a child.  I survived cancer.  I am now in the fight of my life for my children.  The right to raise and be a part of my children’s life is a God-given right.  I am not giving up, oh no, there is no way I am giving up this fight or my children.”

With the help of Congressman James Moran’s Resolution, left-behind parents and children unlawfully detained in Japan may one day be reunited ending years of pain and confusion caused by child abduction.

Ken Connelly, a former abducted child, member of BACHome and author of “Throwing Stones; Parental Child Abduction through the Eyes of a Child,” stated:  “This Resolution is a first step in the right direction.  Japan needs to enter into the 21^st century and sign the International Treaty on child abduction.  Japan follows a civil code system that is designed to break up and destroy the parent-child bond.  I hope that our national leaders take notice and quickly sign this resolution into law.

William Lake, left-behind parent and member of BACHome stated, “As the father of non-Japanese child, abducted to Japan, I am caught in a legal dead zone due to Japanese denial of an American court order.  Their deliberate refusal of my rights as an American father to deny my requests for the release of my daughter is appalling.”

Grieving and loving father, Randy Collins stated, “Japanese nationals come over here and apply for green cards, student, and work visas, thereby agreeing to abide by the laws of this country later abducting our children against United States law and in direct violation of existing jurisdictional orders.” 

The Bring Abducted Children (BAC) Home organization, consisting of victim parents of child abduction, will head to the Japanese Embassy for a 4:00 PM rally where the parents will take turns reading lines from the resolution in front of the embassy.  Later that evening at 7:30 PM, BAC Home will hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Japanese Ambassador’s residence to remember and pray for the return of the 200+ abducted children.

BAC Home plans to continue its work with the United States Department of State and all legislative offices to bring not only abducted children home, but also to prevent this tragic crime from happening in the future.

www.bachome.org