FORDER CHILDREN REPATRIATION CASE:

UNCLAS MONROVIA 001411

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS, CA/OCS/CI, AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC KOCI LI
SUBJECT: FORDER CHILDREN REPATRIATION CASE:
FATHER TO REMAIN IN LIBERIA

REF: MONROVIA 01367


1. (SBU) Robert Forder, the adoptive father of the seven children
repatriated from Liberia 7 December, has told conoff that he intends
to remain in Liberia for, at least, several more months.


2. (SBU) Forder, who had been up country for several weeks, finally
came to the embassy 11 December at request of conoff. Conoff
explained to Forder that, since he clearly had been unable to care
for his children, Maria Luyken, the director of the children's home
where he left the seven children and to whom he had given a full
power of attorney, had agreed to escort the children back to
Washington State.


3. (SBU) Forder acknowledged that he was now without funds in
Liberia and was not in a position to care for the seven children.
Nevertheless, he expressed disappointment that they have been sent
back to the U.S. as he had been offered free housing for the
children by a Liberian friend. Conoff noted that he had not
completed the formalities to naturalize the Liberian triplets whom
he had adopted in Monrovia in 2005; nor had he shown the intent to
raise them in the United States as was implicit in his obtaining US
immigrant visas for them. Forder also admitted that the children
had not been going to school although he claimed that he had brought
books for the 7 and 11 year old when he took his family with him in
2006 to Liberia. Efforts to hire a teacher, he said, had failed.
Although Forder could not offer a substantial reason for moving to
Liberia in 2006 other than that he liked what he saw during his 2005
visit, he said that he had considered his move to Liberia permanent
when it took place. This included raising all
seven children in Monrovia.


4. (SBU) US citizen John McFadden, a semi-retired medical doctor
who drove Forder to the embassy, said that he had helped to finance
Forder's efforts to mine gold in the Liberian interior. Forder said
that to date these efforts had failed as he could not find good
workers, but he had learned a lot about mining in recent months and
was determined to pursue mining activities on his own. He said that
he gave himself ninety days to make a success as a gold miner. He
would then consider his alternatives. In reply to conoff's question
he said this could include returning to the United States.


5. (SBU) Comment: In a separate conversation with Dr. McFadden
before seeing Forder, the doctor indicated to conoff that he
considered Forder's health at risk if he resumed his consumption of
alcoholic drink. He also said Forder blamed everyone but himself
for the children's return to the U.S. To conoff at the end of
meeting, Forder said that he understood that the USG would act on
behalf of the children and that he could blame no one in Liberia for
their return to the U.S. He also implied that he would expect no
information from Washington State authorities about the seven
children who, he expected, would be placed in foster care. End
Comment.


6. (SBU) Conoff also had Forder complete a registration form. He
has no fixed address in Liberia, but only offered Dr. McFadden as
his contact. He has a cell telephone which works when he is in
Monrovia. Robert Forder was born February 13, 1949 in Minnesota; he
is the bearer of US passport 077486037, issued 8 Feb 2005.
BOOTH