VZCZCXYZ0021
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMV #1411 3471305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131305Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9579

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