The Other Shoe Drops?

There have been some reports that Consul General John Lowell (a higher-up at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala) may be lobbying the Guatemalan Congress in favor of Ortega and of a January 1 date for Hague implementation. It's also possible that the U.S. Ambassador may also be lobbying for the same thing.

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Here is a form for those of you who would like to send such a fax or e-mail once again to your appropriate Congressman and Senators, but it would be better if you used your own words:

Dear Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman _____,

I am a constituent writing to ask for your help. As you know, almost 4,000 American families are in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala. The Guatemalan Congress is now deciding how best to bring its adoption system into compliance with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

It has been reported in Guatemalan newspapers that the Consul General to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Mr. John Lowell, has been in contact with Guatemalan congressmen and political party leaders to lobby for a specific bill, the Ortega bill, that threatens to terminate or severely hinder in-process cases, putting the adoption cases of almost 4,000 Americans directly at risk. This, despite the fact that the Guatemalan Congress has indicated its clear intent to bring the Guatemalan adoption process in line with the requirements of the Hague treaty and the various options that are available to any country in developing a Hague-compliant procedure.

Mr. Lowell's actions, if as reported, are unconscionable. First, it is wholly improper for Mr. Lowell to interfere this way with the Guatemalan legislative process - Guatemala should be able to choose, without interference from Mr. Lowell or any other U.S. official, a process that involves both public and accredited private sector actors (like the one we will have in the U.S. when the U.S. implements the treaty next spring). Second, Mr. Lowell's actions are directly contrary to the best interests of the children in the adoption process and to the thousands of Americans who would be adversely affected by the passage of the Ortega bill.

I ask you to take all appropriate action available to you to prompt Mr. Lowell and all U.S. officials in Guatemala to refrain from interfering with the Guatemalan political process regarding intercountry adoption.

[your signature]
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ALSO - MORE IMPORTANTLY:

Call and fax Condoleezza Rice's office and ask her to look into the above matter. She is Lowell's boss (after the Ambassador). We would like to know if John Lowell is acting independently in his interfering/lobbying the Guatemalan congress or is he acting at Secretary of State Rice's instruction?

Phone 202 647 5291
202 647 9572

Fax 202 647 228
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Once again, thank you for your help!