Here we go again, just like the Bergen County, New Jersey story below. The fathers rights people are constantly whining about how they are discriminated against. But the real story is quite the opposite. These guys are utterly catered to on a silver platter.
Here we have a dad, ROY KOYAMA, who is demanding that the federal government intervene on his behalf in a private custody case--no questions asked. Even though Mom says the father has abused their daughter, and that she and her child left for Costa Rica for the child's own protection. Even though Dad got a Missouri judge to give him custody by default and without due process--no questions asked.
And did we even go through the motions of investigating the abuse allegations? Of course not. Under the influence of fathers rights ideology, all allegations of abuse by fathers are dismissed as automatically false. No investigation needed before handing the father instant custody on demand.
Need any more evidence of how much power fathers have these days? Suddenly we have a CONGRESSMAN involved and the AMBASSADOR to Costa Rica. How is it these dads automatically get the ear of the mighty and powerful, when mothers who lose their children are consistently ignored? You saw the same mysterious access to major politicians and the media in the David Goldman case, too. Suddenly, even Hilary Clinton and the major networks are jumping for this guy and all the guys like him. Why?
I am taking the liberty of reproducing one of the comments that came with this article, which addresses a lot of the same issues I have raised here. It is (apparently) from the mother herself, though I cannot verify this:
This really is disheartening and I'm sure gives a lack of hope to many women that are trying to protect their children and escape abuse. The fact that a congressmen of the state of Missouri will write a letter in regards to such a serious situation that he has not even at a minimum looked into thoroughly. I have seen Mr. Koyama manipulate bank do***ents before, is this the same thing? I just can't believe it. I can only trust that everything in this situation has and will happen exactly how it needs to happen to keep Emily safe and her best interest in mind. I will always continue to do everything I can to keep her safe and her best interest upheld. I truly wonder if Mr. Koyama really even remembers what the "REAL" story is, since he hasn't been giving the "REAL" story from day one. How can this be happening? A mother is able to escape from verbal, mental, emotional, sexual, physical and patrimonial abuse, takes her children out of the situation as well and that abuser is held up high in the eyes of the public, and is said being helped by congressmen of the state of Missouri, and has been given a default judgment of paternity and custody of A CHILD... not an object, A CHILD. The mother/woman, viewed as a criminal. I pray in the end, all will know the real story and my daughter will not have to suffer in ANY way shape or form for Mr. Koyama to prove a point.
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/94873939.html
Roy Blunt Letter: Return Emily to Springfield from Costa Rica
By KSPR News
Story Created: May 25, 2010 at 5:40 PM CDT
Story Updated: May 25, 2010 at 8:50 PM CDT
A Springfield father is getting some help from Congressman Roy Blunt's office in his effort to get his daughter back from Costa Rica. Roy Koyama has been trying to get Emily back since his ex-wife Trina Atwell claimed abuse and took their child to Costa Rica.
The two have been living there since February of 2009.
Recently a Costa Rica judge ruled Atwell must return Emily to Missouri and let a judge decide who gets custody. Koyama won custody by default earlier when Atwell didn't show up for court.
The congressman's office could not confirm the existence of the letter, but KSPR NEWS obtained a copy you can see here.
http://media.kspr.com/documents/blunt+letter1.pdf
In the letter Blunt reminds the Costa Rica ambassador that a judge should have ruled within six weeks of Koyama's complaint instead of five months later. He adds it's in the "interest of our countries relationship" that Costa Rica returns Emily.