Adopted babies traded like meat in transplant market

Adopted babies traded like meat in transplant market

JAKARTA (JP): The government is once again tightening adoption
laws after receiving chilling reports that babies intended for
adoption were ending up with organ trade syndicates.

The thrust of governments efforts is to decrease the number
Indonesian babies who can be adopted by foreigners.

The move is being taken amidst after reports that babies
intended for adoption ended up being traded by international
syndicates, often with the intent of obtaining their organs for
transplant purposes. According to officials, this ghastly trade
is now a lucrative business.

"We don't want our children to end up like that," Suyono
Yahya, secretary to the Coordinating Minister for People's
Welfare, told reporters on Tuesday in briefing about a limited
cabinet meeting presided by Minister Azwar Anas.

He said that while Indonesia would not ban inter-state
adoption outright, it would seek to minimize it as much as
possible. He added that the government would not introduce new
regulations on adoption. Instead, they would ensure that all the
procedures are fully complied with.

The procedure for foreigners to adopt Indonesian children is
regulated by a circular letter by the Chief Justice in 1983 which
stated that the courts of law, which rule on all adoptions, must
scrutinize the prospective parents with the aim of ensuring that
the welfare of the children are fully taken into account.

Since this circular was issued, the number of children adopted
by foreigners has fallen drastically, from between 20 and 30
monthly to between 60 and 66 annually. The adoptions are mostly
by European couples.

Approximately 20,000 children around the world are adopted by
people from another country annually, according to one estimate.

Suyono said many would-be parents have continued to exploit
loopholes in the regulations for adopting Indonesian children and
this had to stop.

He pointed out that many foreigners had gotten away with
adopting Indonesian children simply through notaries public in
contravention to the Chief Justice's 1983 circular letter.

"Now we want to stress that there are more rules to comply
with before they can adopt Indonesian children," he said. He
pointed out that the prospective parents should reside in
Indonesia at least for two years before they adopt and spend at
least two more years in the country after the adoption is
legalized. "Besides, they should go to the courts, not notaries
public."

The government has also ruled that adoptions of Indonesian
children by foreigners must be handled through one of the five
officially-appointed private institutions -- The Sayap Ibu in
Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Tiara Putra in Jakarta, Yayasan
Pemeliharaan Anak in Bandung and Surakarta, Panti Matahari Terbit
in Surabaya, Yayasan Pemeliharaan Ibu dan Anak in Pontianak.

Alcohol

Besides reviewing the problems in adoption, the coordinating
meeting on Tuesday also discussed about the on-going campaign
against the sales of illegal alcoholic drinks.

The Ministry of Industry has pledged to stop issuing new
licenses to manufacture liquor and will also clamp down against
illegal distillers and bottlers, Suyono said.

The ministry has also banned the production and distribution
of traditional tonics, locally known as obat kuat, which has high
percentage of alcohol, he said.

When asked about the tendency of the youth to mix water and
pure alcohol bought at drug stores, Suyono said he did not see
any indication that the problem existed. "Anyone who does such a
desperate act must be a true alcoholic," he said.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the first
anniversary of the National Family Day which falls on June 29.

Suyono said the celebration will be centered in Sidoarjo, East
Java, and will be attended by President Soeharto.

The theme of this year's anniversary is the need to create a
happy family as part of the country's drive to improve its human
resources development.

The government will also appeal to the more prosperous
families to help those who are less fortunate, Suyono said. (11)