My son and I ask for your help

What makes a human being humiliate herself and hunger strike in front of Christiansborg, the Danish Parliament? Powerlessness does, and a so far resultless struggle to regain the right to my son’s and my own life. For the 4^th year my attorney and I are fighting to get the Danish authorities to recognize the injustice they have committed against my son and I, but in spite of well-meaning rhetoric they do NOTHING to help.

Until July 3rd, 1998 I was someone unknown by the general public– a 40 years old, newly divorced mother of my son aged 8. I was living in USA, was educated as paralegal, had been salesperson in a large IT company and was pursuing my MA in Social Work. I had full possession of the house, where my son and I lived, had a healthy economy, excellent retirement funds. All perfectly normal.

My only problem was, that my ex-husband had not yet come to terms with the fact that our marriage was over, and did everything he possibly could to create legal and financial problems for me. This in spite of the fact, that we had reached a complete settlement regarding all practical issues in court in our home town – but this my ex-husband did not respect. He tried to put a chain around my ankle, so that, not even short-term, would I be allowed to travel outside our home state without his written permission, but in this he did not succeed through the court.

In good faith and assurances that all formalities were in order, I went with my son on the 3^rd of June 1998, on our usual, and in our settlement agreed-upon, summer vacation in Denmark to visit with our family. But what was thought to be a relaxing vacation, turned into a nightmare, that I would not wish for anyone.

My ex-husband and his very innovative attorney had, in all secrecy, prepared a devious plan which they immediately set into motion.

Through US and Danish authorities I was without hesitation, and in all secrecy, accused of child abduction and met with a demand to return to the USA immediately. On which ground? None other than invalid legal documents forwarded by my ex-husband’s attorney. Can I document and prove it? Yes. Does it help? No.

But the Danish authorities would, of course, immediately recognize that there were no grounds for the accusations against me? Apparently not, because in spite of my numerous requests to demand valid documentation, a judgement was hastily handed down by the Bailiff’s Court in Aalborg after which I was to be arrested and my son was to be handed over to my ex-husband in the USA. In light of the carefulness, that is normally taken in investigating documents before initiating court proceedings, it is incomprehensible, that it was and is impossible, to get the Danish authorities to investigate anything at all. A few months after the Bailiff’s Court handed down its judgement, my son was abducted to USA and I have, as of now, not seen him for more than 3 years, barely spoken to him.

But the story doesn’t end here? My ex-husband and his attorney simultaneously, in the USA – without my knowledge and presence, had me sentenced to 6 months prison for child abduction. Therefore I cannot return to the USA and fight for my son. The prison sentence was annulled 6 months ago by the American Court but because of passivity by the Danish Central Authority, it was re-instated on my ex-husband’s initiative. Can I document and prove it? Yes. Does it help? No.

My(ex-husband wishes to prevent me from returning to the USA because – while I have been caught in Denmark -he has, with great help from his attorney, gained custody of my son, and besides that taken over everything I ever owned – real estate and monetary values. I have the American Central Authority’s word for, that the legality of the documents forwarded to Denmark, and which are the cause of the calamity, should be investigated thoroughly, but the Danish Authorities are totally dismissive. Can I document and prove it? Yes. Does it help? No.

Did you watch the documentary about Pernille Jørgensen who had to retrieve her children in Egypt? My story is the same. But in my case it regards Denmark and the USA, that both have signed the Hague Convention, which secures children internationally. The politicians so want the public to believe that international conventions solve the problems that can come up in these children cases. Reality is quite different! I have, as mentioned earlier, not seen my son in more than three years, this in spite of the fact that USA and Denmark mutually have ratified the Hague Convention, which should secure that our children don’t loose a parent. No‑one would do anything for, or listen to Pernille Jørgensen. Not until it came to public knowledge via the media and on open screen, how the authorities work when it regards children, did the politicians and public servants react. Obviously, the only thing the politicians and authorities have respect for is the media. They have no respect for the individual and its rights at all.

My attorney Jytte Thorbek has for the last three years worked tirelessly to restore my rights, but so far unsuccessfully. She describes all details of my case in a book, published on April 23^rd this year. The book is titled “Strejftog på juraens slagmark “ (“Journey on the Battlefield of Law”) and hopefully it will initiate a public debate regarding these cases.

After almost 4 years of struggle I began a hunger strike in front of Christiansborg (The Danish Parliament) on April 3^rd and stood there for 10 days. On April 30^th I received a letter from the Danish Central Authority that they intended to close the case. On May 1^st I returned to Christiansborg and I have entered a total hunger strike until the respective authorities recognize and admit their mistakes and re-establish my son’s and my life.

Will you help med get through to the authorities? Thank you in advance and best regard,

Kirsten Chesnut - mobile phone +45 22932409