Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday that he will instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find out how the Brazilian authorities are handling the return of a Taiwanese-Brazilian boy to his legal guardian -- his grandmother in southern Brazil -- and to react accordingly.
The premier made the remarks in the Legislative Yuan after Legislator Chen Jie (陳杰) of the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) expressed anger about the way the Brazilian police apparently "forcefully" separated the 9-year-old, Iruan Ergui Wu (吳憶樺), from his aunt, who had accompanied the boy on his journey back to Brazil.
The legislator accused the ministry of "negligence" in protecting a Republic of China national, which he said is shameful.
However, the premier pointed out that there are no diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Brazil and that the ministry in fact went to great lengths to try to mend fences over the international custody battle between the boy's grandmother in Brazil and his uncle in Taiwan.
But he also stressed that if the Brazilian authorities have handled the matter in a way that has caused damage, then the ministry should send officials to learn about the situation.
"If the Brazilian government has overreacted," the premier said, then the ministry should attach importance to the issue and express its attitude on behalf of the government.
Meanwhile, Iruan's Taiwanese relatives and friends will continue to be concerned about Iruan's life in Brazil now that he has returned there, a support group said yesterday.
"We'll continue to be concerned about Iruan's life and education after his return to his legal guardian in Brazil," said Cheng Chih-cheng (
Cheng said his group will continue to offer support and assistance to Iruan through a Sao Paulo city councilor of Chinese descent.
They will negotiate with Ergui to allow Iruan to come to Taiwan for Tomb-Sweeping Day every year to pay tribute to his Taiwanese father.
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