Here is the story and I would like to comment on certain parts: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/13444303/pm-asked-to-step-into-family-row/
New Zealand's ambassador in Jakarta is helping the family of a disabled man who is being held in Indonesia by his mother, Prime Minister John Key says.
Simon Donaldson, 26, is an Indonesian-born New Zealand citizen suffering from leukodystrophy which causes deteriorating motor skills and bouts of amnesia.
His Whanganui-born father, David Donaldson, and his Indonesian mother, Yuhanie Marisa Latina, separated 20 years ago.
Despite his father being granted sold custody of the couple's children, Mr Donaldson has lived with his mother in the Indonesian city of Surabaya for the last eight years after he asked to be with her.
Mr Donaldson's father and siblings say his condition has deteriorated and he has a poor quality of life, but his mother is refusing to release him and keeps him chained up, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Mr Key is visiting Indonesia and the family asked him to help them.
"He is technically and legally able to come back to New Zealand and get medical support," Mr Key told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.
"We are working on the issue but it's a very complex case."
Mr Key says ambassador David Taylor raised Mr Donaldson's situation with Indonesian government ministers on Sunday.
"I can't go into all the details for privacy reasons except it's fair to say that if he was to go to New Zealand we're very confident he would get a high level of medical support," Mr Key said.
"Whether he's getting that in Indonesia is a very different issue."
Mr Key says he's seen the New Zealand Herald report but not the photograph of Mr Donaldson chained to a bed.
"We're actively working with the Indonesian government ... but there are complex legal matters, New Zealand can't just walk in for someone who has dual citizenship," he said.
Firstly - HELD IN INDONESIA BY HIS MOTHER? Hey, the man is 26 years old. Yes is he 'handicapped' but he is not a 6 years old. And 4th paragraph done, Mr Donaldson ASKED to go to Surabaya to be with his mother. He has been living in NZ since the separation at the age of 6 till at the age of 18 (where child custody ends as he is now a grown up), where he then asked to move to Surabaya to live with his mother. So if this man is able to voice and say that he wants to be with his mother at the age of 18, if he really wants to come back for treatment in NZ, he would be able to voice it too. He might have dual citizenship or whatever, but he is a grown 26 years old man. He is not mentally handicapped. Is this fight triggered by Mr Donaldson himself or his Kiwi family because they think NZ is a better place?
Mr Donaldson has lived without his biological mother for 12 years and maybe he knows his health has no cure but he misses his mother. Yes, maybe the situation in Indonesia does not help his physical state/health but maybe just maybe this is what he wants. He wants to be with his mother and that is all he wants. Sometimes home is not where you get the best treatment, home is where you feel loved and comfortable.
Pauline, if simon is so happy to be with his Mum, why does she have to chain him to the bed?
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not allowed to see him?
Simon was going to school, playing basketball, chess and interacting with other kids before he went down there but is now in a catatonic state. Look at the picture. he was never like that with me. its all about the money...I will not buy him off her when his place is legally with me.
For what it is worth, I am Simon's dad.
Dear Simon, I am just a blogger but also a mother who dearly would like to return home with my son but cant do so because of the law.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure of the whole story, neither have a seen the picture of Simon chained to the bed.
Are you saying that Simon's mother forbids you from seeing Simon when you were in Indonesia or she forbids you from speaking to Simon on Skype? Either way, I will say it is bad and unethical of her.
But if you do turn up in Indonesia and Simon does want to come home to NZ, there is no stopping him isnt it? I mean he is a NZ citizen. If you turn up and stand at the door, eventually someone has to come out or get the police involved so that you could speak to Simon and asked him what he really wants.
I totally agree that you should NEVER buy your own child off and if the article which has now omitted the fact about $6Mil, then I am definitely on your side. It's just that in a matter of hours, the news article changed its content and omitted the $6mil so I just commented on it. As a mother, I do agree that it is disgraceful if Simon's mum is chaining him to the bed for extortion. But if it is Simon's wish to be with his mum because he is craving for some sort of mother love and he is actually contented being untreated and living in that condition in Indonesia, then I also feel that Simon's wishes be respected since he is a grown man.
Whatever it is, I guess I am just trying to put myself in Simon's shoe when I make these comments on my blog. Like I was trying to comprehend why would he want to leave NZ when he is 18 years old to live with his mother in Indonesia and how did he verbalised it for you to let him go... I mean he cant speak the language, probably not used to the food and culture so I just wonder is it his desire to meet his biological mother.