Amid a mounting row over his guardianship of five-year-old Iruan Ergui Wu, the boy's uncle yesterday publicly rejected allegations that he abducted the child.
With Iruan by his side at a press conference in the Legislative Yuan, held by KMT Legislator Lin Yi-shih (林益世), Wu Huo-yen (吳火眼) detailed the reasons he wants to keep the child in Taiwan.
"I beg you people to understand Iruan's father wanted him to grow up in his fatherland and it's the least I could do for my brother, to fulfill the wish he failed to accomplish before his death," Wu said.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"I know legally Iruan's grandmother stands a better chance than me over custody of the child. But I'll try to win her understanding and persuade her to allow me to take care of Iruan.
"To raise the child, I can endure any hardship and I'll never complain about that. I can also give up any properties my brother left with Iruan in Brazil as long as Iruan's grandmother allows me to take care of him," the uncle said.
Iruan's story gained national attention following a press conference on Wednesday held by KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中), although it has already been a hot issue in Brazil for months.
Iruan, born out of wedlock to a Brazilian mother and Taiwanese father, was taken back to Taiwan by his father Wu Teng-shu (
According to his grandmother, Iruan's trip to Taiwan was supposed to be for only 15 days, after which he would return to Brazil.
Wu Teng-shu died of an unknown aliment shortly after returning to Taiwan with Iruan. Since then the child has lived with his uncle.
Though speaking little Chinese or Hokkien, Iruan's behavior appeared similar to any local child at yesterday's press conference -- sometimes playing with a microphone and a toy from McDonald's and sometimes jumping off his seat to play around with photographers.
Lin emphasized Iruan's case is not one of abduction, as has been alleged in some Brazilian media reports. Lin said he has been trying to help the Wu family, who are from his constituency, resolve the dispute, and he felt it unfair to call Iruan's uncle an abductor.
"Seeing is believing. Look at how close Iruan is to his uncle, I bet you won't believe any accusations of abduction," Lin said.
Katharine Chang (
Chang said the ministry has insisted that the custody dispute be resolved through legal proceedings and that the best interests of the child will be a priority.
In addition, she suggested that both sides continue to negotiate to try and work out a resolution to the impasse.
Chang also said that relatives of Iruan have just filed visa applications with Taiwan's representative office in Brazil for travel to Taiwan.
However, Paulo A.P. Pinto, director of the Brazil Business Center in Taiwan, said yesterday he is getting "angry" and is "disappointed" with the way the Wu family has treated Iruan as a "toy" before the media.
"I'm getting upset with the way he [Iruan's uncle] demonstrated Iruan as a toy before media. And I'm particularly angry with the way he tried to induce the boy to say Taiwan is good and Brazil is not good, which I think will do no good to the understanding between the two countries," Pinto said.
Pinto said Iruan's grandmother remains firm about wanting the child returned to her, although she is not opposed to the idea that Iruan obtain Taiwan nationality.
"But first things first, the boy has to be returned immediately," the director said.
Hou Ping-fu (
Hou said, however, that he could not be sure that such protests would not occur were Iruan to remain in Taiwan.
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