Child Abduction Issue Explodes

[Samurai_Jerk]

I sometimes can't understand how some relationships really break down to this level.

I don't get it either. I can't imagine denying the other parent access to their kids unless you seriously thought doing so would put them in danger. My parents fucking hated each other and were as dysfunctional as they come but they both made sure that my siblings and I were able to maintain a relationship with both of them after they divorced.

[matsuki]

The HAGUE CONVENTION DOES NOT PASS

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120908a2.html

[Bucky]

Japan is at last goaded into signing the Hague Treaty. . . Reportedly
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20130120a3.html

It will be interesting to see if they adhere to it.

[matsuki]

"The government is intending to go through the necessary procedures for the early signing of the treaty," Kishida told a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We will make our best efforts so that the early ratification of the convention will be achieved."

The DPJ government's position initially heartened U.S. officials, but their hopes dimmed as it delayed action on the treaty and indicated that a ratification would only apply to future cases.

TIJ

Domestic critics of the Hague Convention have previously argued the country needs to protect Japanese women from abusive foreign spouses.

I still don't understand how this shit holds any water with anyone except nationalist/racist nutjobs in Japan, especially when it involves a US father/ JPN mother...I'd never heard of so much domestic abuse in my life until I came to Japan and I'd say less than 1% ever gets reported and has some sort of action taken. The few cases I heard about from friends in the US were all reported to the police and charges were filed. When DV occurs in first world countries, the police actually investigate and if there is enough to substantiate the claims, the abuser gets locked up. Male or female, husband or wife, married or divorced, citizen or foreigner.

[yanpa]

Screening of documentary film "From the Shadows", Friday, February 8th, 2013 / Omotesando, Tokyo

TPC’s monthly meeting for February will feature the documentary film, “From the Shadows”, produced and directed by David Hearn and Matt Antell. The film, many years in the making, is a documentary about child abduction to/within Japan that focuses on the efforts of five left-behind parents to see their abducted children. The film had it’s world premier at the Philadelphia Film Festival last October.

International child abduction is an alarming social issue in Japan. The film makers hope to raise awareness of this situation and how devastating it can be to everyone involved. The TPC members are fortunate to have the opportunity to view this film and invite all those interested in learning more about this important issue to join us at the event on Friday evening, February 8th, at the Tokyo Union Church B1 Fellowship Hall. David Hearn will attend and participate in a discussion after the film.

More information on “From the Shadows” can be found at the following web site: http://www.fromtheshadowsmovie.com/ .



TIME: Doors open at 6:30, with the meeting getting under-way at 7 pm.

COST: TPC members free, non-members 1000 yen at the door.

VENUE: The meetings are held in the basement of the Tokyo Union Church,
(map) http://www.tokyopc.org/venue/omote_map.html ,
on Omotesando Dori, a short walk from the A-1 exit of the Omotesando
subway station on the Ginza, Hanzomon, and Chiyoda Lines.

http://tokyopc.org/

[Mike Oxlong]

Girl abducted by mother entitled to victim's compensation, judge says
Being whisked away to Japan caused mental harm, father contended

A judge has ruled that a Fox Point girl whose mother took her to Japan for four years in violation of a Wisconsin court order is entitled to payment from the state's Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Rachel Pings, a state administrative law judge, found that Moises Garcia met his burden of proof in showing that his ex-wife Emiko Inoue had committed the compensable crime of "causing mental harm to a child," and that it was irrelevant that she was neither charged nor convicted of that specific offense.

Pings cited records and testimony Garcia introduced at a Jan. 31 hearing that showed the mental harm the experience caused his daughter, including those of a therapist who worked extensively with the girl for months after her return to Wisconsin.

The Department of Justice had denied the claim, saying the program - which paid out nearly $3.6 million last year - was not intended for children who suffer harm in a divorce context.

Pings disagreed, saying in a Feb. 20 order, "While I understand the floodgates nature of this argument, it does not apply here."

Rather than parents merely speaking ill of each other in front of their children, which is common in many divorces, the girl was abducted to a foreign country for four years, with virtually no contact with her father's side of her family or her prior life in Wisconsin, Pings wrote.

"The record contained no credible evidence" that Inoue took her daughter for the girl's best interests, Pings found. "Rather, it appears that Ms. Inoue completely disregarded (her daughter's) interests and mental well-being."

Pings also rejected the DOJ's argument that the girl's mental harm resulted as much from her return to the United States as from her illegal removal to Japan. Pings said while that may be partially true, "to adopt the Department's logic would be circular and not representative of the truth."

Pings' decision sent the claim back to the Department of Justice to determine how much the girl should receive from the fund.

A DOJ spokeswoman said the department was reviewing the decision, which is appealable...

MoAr @ Milwaukee Sentinel

[GomiGirl]

Ouch - what about the MOJ trying to recoup this from the mother. New twist to it all.

[matsuki]

Ouch - what about the MOJ trying to recoup this from the mother. New twist to it all.

I don't know if the DOJ actually goes after criminals financially like that but I doubt it.

[wagyl]

Ouch - what about the MOJ trying to recoup this from the mother. New twist to it all.

I don't know if the DOJ actually goes after criminals financially like that but I doubt it.

I know for a fact that in some jurisdictions they do. Granted, many offenders have few assets, so many times reimbursement efforts are abandoned almost before they are begun, but in my view it would be irresponsible for the bureaucracy to ignore this potential revenue stream.

[matsuki]

Ouch - what about the MOJ trying to recoup this from the mother. New twist to it all.

I don't know if the DOJ actually goes after criminals financially like that but I doubt it.

I know for a fact that in some jurisdictions they do. Granted, many offenders have few assets, so many times reimbursement efforts are abandoned almost before they are begun,

Isn't the DOJ federal? How would that apply differently to different jurisdictions?

but in my view it would be irresponsible for the bureaucracy to ignore this potential revenue stream.

...quite true and I totally agree BUT would you really be surprised if they were ignoring it?

[wagyl]

Isn't the DOJ federal? How would that apply differently to different jurisdictions?

...in violation of a Wisconsin court order is entitled to payment from the state's Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Although we are getting a long way away from directly Japan related content, and although my hands on experience in an earlier life with Criminal Injuries Compensation was in a jurisdiction which would be more familiar in style to Gomigirl's experience than yours, I will say that often the power (and duty) to pursue the offender for reimbursement of compensation paid was an essential element to secure political and legislative support for the establishment of a whole new agency and tribunal system. Otherwise that agency and tribunal system becomes no more than another way to hemorrhage taxes. I haven't seen raw poll data but I am not sure that there are that many votes from bashing and rape victims.
Of course, there are times when the United States can seem to be a whole different planet so my experience may be completely irrelevant here.

[matsuki]

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with you at all...just wondering if anyone actually gets pursued. In this case, without a conviction, I just can't imagine that happening.

[wagyl]

More to the point, the person they would try to seek compensation from is not even in Wisconsin, which makes it even easier to flip them the bird when they ask for cash.

[matsuki]

More to the point, the person they would try to seek compensation from is not even in Wisconsin, which makes it even easier to flip them the bird when they ask for cash.

Not in this case...if she wants to see her daughter

[IparryU]

More to the point, the person they would try to seek compensation from is not even in Wisconsin, which makes it even easier to flip them the bird when they ask for cash.

Not in this case...if she wants to see her daughter

I thought she had to be in the state of WI for a determined period of time or something?

This is still a huge milestone... it being the first case where a child was brought back and all.

[matsuki]

Yep...but anytime I mention it to regular J-people, they start the bleeding heart speech about hearing the father is a wife beater and pepper in how they can't comprehend it being "criminal" to steal "one's own child."

[Coligny]

Yep...but anytime I mention it to regular J-people, they start the bleeding heart speech about hearing the father is a wife beater and pepper in how they can't comprehend it being "criminal" to steal "one's own child."

and then you punch them in the crotch ?

[matsuki]

Yep...but anytime I mention it to regular J-people, they start the bleeding heart speech about hearing the father is a wife beater and pepper in how they can't comprehend it being "criminal" to steal "one's own child."

and then you punch them in the crotch ?

Most being female, I want to hang them from the nearest Sakura tree with an umbrella...

[yanpa]

Thankyou for illustrating your post with a picture of an umbrella, it has cleared up any doubt in my mind as to what an "umbrella" is

[Samurai_Jerk]

Yep...but anytime I mention it to regular J-people, they start the bleeding heart speech about hearing the father is a wife beater and pepper in how they can't comprehend it being "criminal" to steal "one's own child."

and then you punch them in the crotch ?

Is choko short enough to punch a Nipponese in the crotch?

[Coligny]

Is choko short enough to punch a Nipponese in the crotch?

I think the word "chibi" can be used without risking to be considered as an excessive approximation.

[matsuki]

Thankyou for illustrating your post with a picture of an umbrella, it has cleared up any doubt in my mind as to what an "umbrella" is

Hey now, it's the shape of the handle that's important

[yanpa]

Thankyou for illustrating your post with a picture of an umbrella, it has cleared up any doubt in my mind as to what an "umbrella" is

Hey now, it's the shape of the handle that's important

naruhodo

[IparryU]

Yep...but anytime I mention it to regular J-people, they start the bleeding heart speech about hearing the father is a wife beater and pepper in how they can't comprehend it being "criminal" to steal "one's own child."

and then you punch them in the crotch ?

Most being female, I want to hang them from the nearest Sakura tree with an umbrella...

my ex-wife said the same thing about how can you steal your own child... it is called court order for joint custody IN that country.

sorta wierd how there are "rules" for doing everyday things (putting your phone on manner mode, covering your mouth when you are on the phone to muffle the sound, or saying oishiii~!~!~!~ when you eat someone else's food) BUT when the court gives a direct fucking order not to do something (like take the child out of the state... or stop stalking someone...) they act like it is ok to do what they want

[matsuki]

Playing by whatever rules suit their bitchy selfishness at the time. I don't doubt there are men who do this as well but I honestly wonder what the stats are on J-fathers pulling this vs. J-mothers. The vibe I get from most divorced fathers here is "the kids need their mom too" whereas nearly every single mother I've met has completely cut out the father from their lives. (and I would agree it's for the better in many cases BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child.")

[J.A.F.O]

(and I would agree it's for the better in many cases BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child.")

Attitudes like this can get people killed.

[GomiGirl]

BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child."

This is such a sucky attitude.

The child isn't property or chattel to be used as leverage in a fight with another person. They are a person with their own rights and needs that should come second to the prejudices and battles of their genetic origins. Like it or not, the child has two parents and that needs to be respected. Telling a child that half of their genetic makeup came from a bad person just makes them confused about themselves.

But sadly, many selfish, weak and cowardly people don't fight fairly and the collateral damage falls onto the innocent.

[matsuki]

(and I would agree it's for the better in many cases BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child.")

Attitudes like this can get people killed.

I wouldn't be surprised...this kinda thing brings out the fangs in people.

[IparryU]

BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child."

This is such a sucky attitude.

The child isn't property or chattel to be used as leverage in a fight with another person. They are a person with their own rights and needs that should come second to the prejudices and battles of their genetic origins. Like it or not, the child has two parents and that needs to be respected. Telling a child that half of their genetic makeup came from a bad person just makes them confused about themselves.

But sadly, many selfish, weak and cowardly people don't fight fairly and the collateral damage falls onto the innocent.

This is the major issue in Japan. The dad just makes money and does fuck all for the family despite driving them places and picking up the tab, leaving the mothers with 100% responsibility with everything and they inherit the attitude of, "my children".

My ex changed my kids last names and was demanding a higher rate of child support and threatened to get lawyers on me if I didn't pay. Luckily, I did my research and talked to a few lawyers about this, and since she changed their names, the obligation to pay child support severely decreases in court as my sons are, "not mine" anymore and the child support I am paying now can be cut in half if lawyers are involved as I am paying much more than I need to and my ex is also receiving "single mother" allowance/benefits from the country.

Mind you, I told her this and she STFU really quick. She also threatened to call my office and I kindly notified her that she would be invoiced for time spent by my directors if she did.

Money talks, bullshit walks.

[Samurai_Jerk]

BUT sometimes they just come across as "I hate him! I'll never let him see MY child."

This is such a sucky attitude.

The child isn't property or chattel to be used as leverage in a fight with another person. They are a person with their own rights and needs that should come second to the prejudices and battles of their genetic origins. Like it or not, the child has two parents and that needs to be respected. Telling a child that half of their genetic makeup came from a bad person just makes them confused about themselves.

But sadly, many selfish, weak and cowardly people don't fight fairly and the collateral damage falls onto the innocent.

This is the major issue in Japan. The dad just makes money and does fuck all for the family despite driving them places and picking up the tab, leaving the mothers with 100% responsibility with everything and they inherit the attitude of, "my children".

My ex changed my kids last names and was demanding a higher rate of child support and threatened to get lawyers on me if I didn't pay. Luckily, I did my research and talked to a few lawyers about this, and since she changed their names, the obligation to pay child support severely decreases in court as my sons are, "not mine" anymore and the child support I am paying now can be cut in half if lawyers are involved as I am paying much more than I need to and my ex is also receiving "single mother" allowance/benefits from the country.

Mind you, I told her this and she STFU really quick. She also threatened to call my office and I kindly notified her that she would be invoiced for time spent by my directors if she did.

Money talks, bullshit walks.

Did you consent to the name change or does she have right to do it without your consent?