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   Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs

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Topic: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs (Read 147 times)

Rhune
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Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 1:41pm »

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Pope: Trafficking of children vile
Thursday, January 6, 2005 Posted: 1339 GMT (2139 HKT)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Pope John Paul condemned the "vile" trafficking of children and prayed for the youngest victims of the Asia tsunami disaster on Thursday, the Catholic feast day of the Epiphany.

"While I renew my prayers for the young victims of the earthquake in Asia, I do not forget those children who are victims of hunger and sickness, war and terrorism, or those children kidnapped, lost or exploited in vile trafficking," the Pope told tens of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.

Children account for at least a third of the 150,000 killed by the December 26 earthquake and the United Nations has said Asia's "tsunami generation" are likely to suffer more than adults as they struggle to secure food, water and to withstand disease.

Stories of orphaned or disoriented children being snatched by criminal gangs bent on selling them into slavery has increased fears for the most vulnerable.

The 84-year old Pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and has difficulty speaking, made his prayer on the feast of the Epiphany, celebrated as the day when three Kings came to worship the infant Jesus. In Italy, the feast is marked by the giving of sweets and presents to children.

The Polish Pope also sent his regards to the Eastern Orthodox Church which celebrates Christmas this week. Healing the 1054 schism between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity is one of the main aims of his pontificate.

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Copyright 2005 Reuters.

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Rhune
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #1 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 2:07pm »

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Police: Swedish boy not kidnapped
Thursday, January 6, 2005 Posted: 0246 GMT (1046 HKT)

(CNN) -- A missing 12-year-old Swedish boy was not kidnapped from a Thai hospital as reports suggested, but he remains among the hundreds of Swedes missing from the tsunami disaster of southern Asia, Swedish and Thai police have said.

The case of Kristian Walker garnered international attention after reports suggested an unknown man left a Thai hospital with the boy, raising fears he might have been snatched by a child trafficker.

A spokeswoman for the Swedish national police, which was assisting Thai police in the investigation, said authorities determined that the boy who left the hospital was not Kristian and that it appears that boy left the hospital legitimately.

"That boy was not Kristian Walker," the police spokeswoman said Wednesday.

It is now believed Kristian never checked into the hospital and that he remains missing along with his mother and 700 other Swedes. "He's still missing," the spokeswoman said. "It's not a crime as we know it."

Jan Eliasson, the Swedish ambassador to the United States, told CNN, "The latest I hear is that the Thai authorities think it is a matter of mistaken identity."

Kristian's grandfather had earlier said reports that the boy could have been kidnapped had given him hope that his grandson is still alive.

"Well, I tell you, I don't know that he's been kidnapped," said Daniel Walker, who is in Thailand helping search for Kristian. "I should say I'm hoping he's been kidnapped as opposed to having been killed initially. Because if he's been kidnapped, there's a possibility that he's alive."

The grandfather said Thai doctors had told him they recognized photographs of Kristian. Thailand's health ministry now says there are no records of him ever being treated at any hospital.

A team of about 20 Swedish police are in Thailand helping local police investigate the 702 missing Swede cases. About six of the police were focusing on Kristian's case.

The initial reports of Kristian possibly being taken from the hospital caught the attention of Interpol, and a group of volunteers was set up to help find missing children amid fears that pedophiles are exploiting the situation.

"There are rumors of gangs that are working around doing this kind of thing," one Swedish volunteer, Erik Liungmann said. "And we just want to do everything we can."

CNN Correspondent Matthew Chance contributed to this report

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Pocket
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #2 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 7:49pm »

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There has to be a special place in hell for these "creatures" who prey on children. :steamed:

« Last Edit: Jan 7^th, 2005, 11:14am by Pocket »

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Pau
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #3 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 9:39pm »

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yeah..... I hope that the affected children would survive this tragic event to them and they be free from these gangs..

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Addams
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #4 on: Jan 6^th, 2005, 10:38pm »

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This is terrible. Beyond anything I could have imagined. I agree with Pocket on this and I hope that these persons are prosecuted if caught committintg such a terrible crime.

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Rhune
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #5 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 1:31am »

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I can't find words to express how upset this whole thing makes me...

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Rhune
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #6 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 1:51am »

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Traffickers threaten Aceh orphans
Thursday, January 6, 2005 Posted: 1:34 AM EST (0634 GMT)

(CNN) -- Indonesian authorities have taken steps to protect displaced or orphaned children from traffickers after last week's tsunami disaster, barring people from leaving the country with children under 16 from its hard-hit Aceh province.

Riaz Saehu, the press secretary for the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, said Jakarta was implementing the measure because "the government would like to protect the children" from potential traffickers.

"We are afraid the children can be taken advantage of," he said.

The disaster is believed to have left as many as 13,000 children orphaned in the region.

But John Budd, a spokesman for the U.N. children's fund UNICEF, said it was unclear how many children had lost parents or were only separated from their families.

Budd said the fears have been stoked by reports from relief agencies that criminal gang members in Aceh have been posing as aid workers or parents.

And a couple was arrested on charges of attempting to traffic in children in the city of Medan, which he said was "notorious" for the practice -- "both for adoption and for the sex trade."

In addition, an e-mail message received by a UNICEF worker in Malaysia offered 300 orphans for adoption, promising that "All paperwork will be taken care of," he said.

"To even start talking about orphans at the moment is utterly premature," he said.

UNICEF is working with Indonesia's government to set up child centers in the region to help reunite orphaned children with members of their extended families, he said.

Indonesian officials and aid workers began setting up a registration system for children Tuesday, Budd said.

"The Indonesian government -- the president and vice president, as well as the police here -- are deeply concerned about it, and we're supporting them," he said.

Another UNICEF official, Simon Ingram, said there are indications "traffickers are active" in the tsunami-stricken regions. Asked about Indonesia barring people leaving the country with young Aceh children, he said, "That was a step we were pleased they took."

Ruud Lubbers, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said it is unclear if trafficking is occurring on a large scale, but "we are trying to prevent it."

"We are prepared for this sort of behavior and terrible things, so we are cautious," he said.

UNICEF has launched a four-point plan to save the children in the region:

-- Focusing on basics such as clean water, adequate sanitation, nutrition and routine medical care.

-- Giving a high priority to identifying children who have lost their families, and reuniting them with their extended families and communities.

-- Ensuring the children are protected from child traffickers and sex predators.

-- Helping children cope with the tragedy by getting them back in school as soon as possible and training teachers about signs of severe trauma.

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luci
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Re: Tsunami Orphans taken into Slavery by Gangs
« Reply #7 on: Jan 7^th, 2005, 10:05am »

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They should be killed on the spot, no trial! Why take up the time when so many people are suffrering their loss of family and homes. So sad the perverts always come out first in these tragedies. This is sickening Cry

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