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"We have very little control over what happens in our lives, but we have a lot of control over how we integrate and remember what happens. It is precisely these spiritual choices that determine whether we live our lives with dignity." --Henri Nouwen

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Update on Casa Quivira--Sunday, August 19

Here's the another follow up to my post of a few days ago:


  • A good article from the Boston Globe about the standoff

  • The latest press release from the director of Casa Quivira:
    PRESS STATEMENT
    17 August 2007

    Two children from Casa Quivira handed over to their legally adoptive parents. Late last night after much pressure from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and lawyers from Casa Quivira a judge’s order was enforced which resulted in two children being united with their legal parents. For more than 36 hours the Guatemalan President’s Office for Social Welfare (Secretaria de Bienestar Social de la Presidencia, SBSP) refused to recognize the judicial order and illegally detained the children.

    Earlier yesterday Casa Quivira attorneys had filed a writ of habeas corpus (exhibicion personal ) to seek relief for the unlawful detention of the children by the SBSP only to have it immediately rejected by the judge in Antigua, Guatemala. Today these same attorneys will seek to file a separate request to have the legal custody of the remaining 43 children recognized and to have the Guatemalan President’s Office for Social Welfare immediately cease their unlawful occupation of the private property of Casa Quivira.

    Reports from the Casa Quivira lawyers are that the health of the children is deteriorating along with the hygienic conditions of the home and that Casa Quivira nannies and nurses are being obstructed from performing their duties by SBSP personnel.

    Further appeals to the Office of Human Rights in Antigua, Guatemala by attorneys from Casa Quivira have been rejected. Another appeal will be made today to the Human Rights Office in Guatemala City, Guatemala. If these appeals fail Casa Quivira attorneys will seek to file a complaint in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica. All avenues of justice will continue to be pursued until the legal custody of the children entrusted to the care of Casa Quivira is restored.

    Clifford Phillips
    Director
    Casa Quivira

Posted by Richard L. Smith at 9:02 AM

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