Hello everyone,
I wanted to let you all know that I am in Singapore as I write, and we are hopefully on the brink of some very positive news from the Singapore court. On March 3rd, the Singapore judge is scheduled to rule on my motion to have the Singapore court recognize the US Court Order, issued Sept. 14, 2010, awarding full, permanent custody to me. While nothing is certain, there have been numerous indicators throughout this saga that Singapore recognizes that the US is the appropriate forum for determining custody of my sons. I am very, very hopeful that on March 3rd, the judge will rule that the US court order is to be recognized and respected by Singapore, and the boys returned to my custody to be brought home to the United States.
As we have seen in other cases, most notably Sean Goldman's, the most effective tool to impart justice in cases of international parental abduction is the instigation of government-to-government dialogue. Pressure applied through appropriate diplomatic channels makes a difference for our children! This dialogue comes about almost exclusively through the application of public pressure.
Therefore, I respectfully and passionately issue this call to action: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! PLEASE WRITE TO THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY. Please encourage your friends and associates to do the same. Please demand that US diplomates and officials engage Singapore in order to adhere to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and take an active role in ensuring the safe, just and rightful return of these young victims to their father and to their home here in the U.S.
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Use this link to email President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contactU.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Use this link to email Attorney General Holder:
askdoj@usdoj.gov
Office of U.S. Representative Christopher H. Smith - New Jersey
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
p 202-225-3765
f 202-225-7768
If you live in California, please write to Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein and your local congress representative.
Office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
501 I Street, Suite 7-600
Sacramento, CA 95814
Use this link to email Senator Boxer:
http://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm Office of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94101
Use this link to email Senator Feinstein:
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe The paragraph below is a sample that can be used for reaching out to elected officials. Please email, fax, or call your Senators and Congress members in your home state, as they will likely not respond to non-constituents.
Dear (official's name),
Christopher Ko and William Ko are minor children who were abducted to Singapore. The US Government needs to communicate to the Singapore Government that we want the boys returned. I am asking you as my elected official to contact Hillary Clinton - State Dept, Attorney General Holder - Justice Dept and President Obama to ask that they contact their counterparts in the Singapore Government to strongly express our desire to see the boys returned home to the United States. The case is entering its 18th month and it is time my government got involved! Christopher's NCIC case number is M648309789 and William's is M308382442.
On behalf of my boys, William and Christopher, who turn 11 this month, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Andrew Ko
