Taiwanese-Brazilian orphan Iruan Ergui Wu (吳憶樺), who has been at the center of an international struggle for his custody over the last few months, began to attend a kindergarten located near the home of his Taiwanese uncle yesterday.
The five-year-old Iruan was born to a Brazilian mother who died in Brazil three years ago and a Taiwanese father, Wu Ding-shu (吳丁樹), the captain of a Taiwan fishing vessel, who died in March this year, 11 days after he brought Iruan from Brazil to his hometown in Chiehting, Kaohsiung County.
Iruan's Taiwanese uncle managed to obtain permanent residence status for the boy last week. The uncle claimed that he did so to fulfill his brother's wish that the child be raised in Taiwan and receive a Chinese-style education.
Although shy, Iruan was the focus of attention at the kindergarten. The owner of the kindergarten said Iruan will be given free enrollment.
Rosa Leocadia Da Silva Ergui, Iruan's Brazilian grandmother who is the boy's legal guardian, came to Taiwan on June 24 to regain custody of the child from his Taiwanese uncle.
Ergui, however, left Taiwan June 27 after failing to resolve the custody dispute over Iruan. Prior to her departure, Ergui said that she will bring the case to court in accordance with Taiwan law.
RSS