NPR: Chad Orphan Scandal a 'Kafkaesque' Nightmare

Chad Orphan Scandal a 'Kafkaesque' Nightmare

Sudanese kids protest at the French embassy.

Abd Raouf/AP

Fascinating report today from Eleanor Beardsley, NPR's correspondent in France, on the situation in Chad. That nation had detained 17 Europeans after a French charity tried to take 103 children it said were orphans from Darfur to Europe for adoption.

The United Nations now says most of those kids were actually from Chad, and most have at least one living parent. In many cases, the families desperately want the kids back. The charity, Zoe's Ark, had been warned by the French government in August not to arrange adoptions from the region.

Chadean president Idriss Deby has called for the release of the reporters and the group's Spanish flight crew, but continues to draw the case in the starkest of terms:

"Clearly, their goal is to kidnap and steal these kids from their parents, and sell them to pedophile organizations in Europe, or kill them and sell their organs."

Beardsley calls the situation a "Kafkaesque drama, your worst nightmare" that is "bringing up questions of colonialism, you know, 'the white man rescuing these children.' "

Laura Conaway

8:52 AM ET | 11- 2-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Absolutely this story spooks me. As the story is told, it definitely brings up a scary past and if their intent is truly what Deby claims, that puts a permanent, or at least long-standing fear of charities. We should wonder how long it will be until the story is transparent and we know what ways this Zoe's Ark organization got its validity and permission and what exactly it's feeding into.

Sent by Zac Karanovich | 11:43 AM ET | 11-02-2007

anyone who believes that the old "white man's burden" - manifest destiny philosophy isn't alive and well in the 21st century has seriously deluded themselves for the last 100 years. some people still regard black human beings as just so much chattel and merchandise. but it is spooky, for want of a better word, to read this story. pedophilia and organ removal on one hand - war, starvation and disease on the other. if these zoe's ark people had anything to do with any of this horror, they should all be in prison - quickly and in a hurry - and their ill gotten monies should be distributed to the families of each child they sought to kidnap.

Sent by abena nkromah | 11:47 AM ET | 11-02-2007

Kafkaesque? Sounds more Conradesque to me, but what do I know.

Sent by andy carvin | 1:18 PM ET | 11-02-2007

Spooky? Yes. Surprising? Not really to those familiar with the Franco-African past. At best, this non-profit was naive and paternalistic. They seemed to have been started as a knee-jerk response to the Asian Tsunami by a firefighter - someone who is a professional at rescuing people. But did these people HONESTLY think a government as, shall we say, unorthodox as Deby's would just let them TAKE hundreds of children out of their country WITHOUT going through the UNHCR or the International Red Cross? The hubris is mind-boggling. Clearly the only way they could have pulled it off was with corrupt locals involved. Not necessarily the parents, but who do you think explained to those parents what was happening in their own language? Yes, Darfur is a tragedy playing out on TV, but it is hardly the only one in the world. This whole situation is a strong lesson to those who rush to want to "do something for those poor people". Just because you feel badly about something, does not qualify you to take matters into your own hands. If this was sort of some elaborate pedophile ring, they will likely get what they deserve through local "justice". And it won't be pretty. Just because people are poor or in horrific situations does not mean we - who are not in those situations - should not try to respect their rights. Shame on this Ark.

Sent by Rachel Lerman | 2:30 PM ET | 11-02-2007

In France, they have laws. In the EU, member nations abide by laws. Why do the French, along with many Europeans nations, feel that they have the absolute right to continue to disregard Chadian laws and stated laws of other African countries. The French in particular are known for their complete disregard and neo-colonialism in Africa. If these "rescuers," as they claimed, felt these poor children needed a better home, to demonstrate their genuine compassion for their sufferings, they should have taken the proper channel of adoption instead of stealing children from their families. They should have set an example for other people and organizations willing to adopt children from Africa and in other parts of the world. I believe the children would have better life in Europe if they don't fall into the hands of pedophiles, as mentioned by the Chadean president Idriss Deby, and other illegal activities; however, the French shouldn't foster Africa's corrupt systems by taking back doors to satisfy their own agendas. If truely the the rescuers acted illegally, i think they should be punished to the maximum of Chadian law. To me, their action would constitute child slavery that's plaguing Africa at the moment!

Sent by Prince | 4:41 PM ET | 11-02-2007

I think its is far more likely the children were being taken for lucrative foreign adoptions rather than organ harvest et al.
What amazes me is the report that a large number of the children had fake medical dressings or IVs on them when boarding the plane--seemingly these props were supposed to help get the kids out successfully.
These fake 'charity workers' were really something else.

Sent by Kelley G | 2:24 AM ET | 11-05-2007

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