Every week or so, I call directly to PGN in Guatemala to find out if there has been any movement in our case. Sometimes I get through, and sometimes I don't. Since today is Labor Day here, I thought I'd take advantage of the non-Guatemalan holiday to try to catch someone there in the morning.
I was pleasantly surprised to have someone answer the call immediately... in English! Very interesting. It could help that the Guatemalan press has picked up the story about the letter to Secretary Clinton (see yesterday's post below). The story has hit the national news here in the U.S. as well. Maybe, just maybe this latest flurry of media attention will be noticed by someone with the power to do something, and we'll get some positive action soon!
Today I learned that Debora's file is still waiting to be reviewed by the lawyer in the minors section of PGN (I still really don't know what that means exactly). This particular lawyer is attending a convention in Antigua this week; therefore she will not be able to review the case until next week. After her review, it either gets one more signature and then goes to the delivery window for pickup, or it will be sent for another review and letter from the public ministry office.
If the case gets sent for additional review at the public ministry office, they estimate this will require approximately one more month. I've learned the hard way that "one more month" is a polite Guatemalan expression for "several more months."
Sigh... I just want her home for Christmas this year. Is that too much to ask?
Everyone please pray, pray, PRAY that this PGN lawyer who is spending time at a convention in Antigua right now comes back to Guatemala City refreshed and in a great mood with lots of energy so that she will quickly sign off on our case the very day she gets back! Pray that she does NOT send the file to the public ministry, but instead, sees right through all this silly beauracracy and gives us a favorable, speedy review so that it can be sent for the final signature that will get us out of PGN. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PGN...SIGN OFF ON THE CASE NOW AND SEND THE FILE TO THE PICK-UP WINDOW!!!!
Meanwhile, I've got a contact in Congressman John Boehner's office waiting in the wings ready to pressure the Embassy as soon as the file gets transferred back to the U.S. side of things. They can't do anything at all right now while it's in Guatemalan hands. Once we are officially "out" of PGN, there are still more hoops to jump through... but with a little advocacy, we might be able to navigate that part fairly quickly.
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1 comment:
wow, that is great that that letter was sent by 57 congressmen. woo hoo. maybe there is pressure on HIllary now. I'm praying for you and your file to be finished!
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