Whenever Deng Huidong sees a little boy around 3 years of age, she can't help but wonder if he's her son. Her son, Ye Ruicong, was snatched by human traffickers more than a year ago when he was just 9 months old. "I imagine how tall he would be, how fast he could run," Huidong said. "I take photos of boys who are about the same age to see; this way I can recognize him if we ever meet one day."
Huidong believes Ruicong was sold, possibly within hours, to a family without a son looking for a male heir. Males come with a premium price tag in China. During a videotaped confession, a woman caught trafficking children two years ago told police that boys can sell for up to $1,200, girls for just more than $200.
Ruicong was gone in an instant. Recalling the abduction, Huidong said a white van slowly drove by while she was just outside her home with her daughter and son. The van stopped and reversed to the Deng household. The doors opened and a man leaned out and grabbed Ruicong. The van then sped off. "It all happened within seconds; they didn't even get out of the car."
Huidong gave chase on foot, screaming. A stranger on a motorcycle offeredto help and together they chased the van until they reached a police car. "I went in that damn police car but after a only a few seconds, they took a sudden turn down another road. I asked why but they just kept silent. I was crying and asking; they simply didn't reply. Later at the police station, I asked why and he told me he was off duty, so it was some one else's responsibility to catch the traffickers."
Talking about adoption, birthparents, abandonment, race, and China with my kids. That's not all we talk about -- but reading this blog, you'll think it's all we do!!!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Official Indifference to the Lost Boys of China
Thanks to Chinazhoumom for the link:
It seems there will be a revolution of the people if this continues. It is not a new problem, but one that is getting more and more media in China.
ReplyDeleteFriends of ours would not take their two year old son to meet the family in China this year due to the fear of this happening. They are taking him next year, but they said there will be more people to watch him and more precautions taken. It is so sad.
We took a leash backpack with us on our journey, as I think another mom did too. We got a good response from many Chinese people although I think her foster family thought we were initially a bit nuts. I did notice that they wanted us to use it to after a day or so once they had talked to our friend/guide and the police officer we were traveling with.
The key is publicity, it has to be known, the police will eventually have to act. In the meantime, what sadness these poor families are suffering and the fear these poor children have. How would they ever find their families, devastating.